9 April 2020
DCC staff guidance for dealing with coronavirus (COVID-19)
Public: coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for Devon on our website
Our Customer Service Centre (CSC) has confirmed they have sufficient capacity over the bank holiday weekend to cover expected demand. 0345 155 1015
The CSC will be open between 9.00am–1.00pm Good Friday, Saturday and Easter Monday. It is not planned to open on Easter Sunday.
Joint Leaders' message to all Members
Dear colleague
As we all struggle to come to terms with the COVID-19 outbreak and the impact of self-isolating and social distancing, we hope that you and your families are staying safe and well.
We know you will join us in giving praise and thanks to all those health and social care workers on the frontline and to all the many council staff, including teachers, who are continuing to work so hard to support them, manage our local response to the outbreak, and to keep Devon functioning.
Obviously, this is an unprecedented situation and is having a huge impact on our residents, communities and local businesses. Of most immediate concern is the impact on the elderly and most vulnerable who may be struggling with food supplies, loneliness or financial hardship. We are also mindful that for our most vulnerable children lockdown may pose an even higher degree of risk; encouraging the families of vulnerable children to get into school is an important way of mitigating the risk.
As an elected representative for your area you can have a vital role in helping to pull together the local community response and then to help Devon recover. We know that there are already some amazing examples of members involved in community volunteering, working with town and parish councils to organise vital help for people in their area, or working to make sure businesses can access the help and advice they need.
We know that doing this while working remotely at home and not being able to rely on our traditional ways of networking is particularly challenging. It has become more important than ever that we embrace the technology available to us and find alternative ways to carry on doing our best for the people we serve.
Cabinet and other important council meetings are to be managed using video conferencing technology. And now is perhaps the time, if you haven’t already, to embrace social media to help you communicate and share information quickly. Here is the latest guidance on social media for members (this document can also be found on the Democracy website> Councillors>Information for members).
So thank you for your support and for all you are doing. Together we will help people to get through this and then help everyone to recover and get back on their feet.
Stay safe and well.
John, Rob and Alan
Councillor John Hart, Leader of the Council
Councillor Rob Hannaford, Leader of the Labour Group
Councillor Alan Connett, Leader of Liberal Democrat Group
COVID-19 Prompt Action Fund update
We have had nearly 300 applications for the COVID-19 Prompt Action Fund with 20 of those for the large grants. Successful projects are listed here.
But there have been 74 applications that we can’t fund for a variety of reasons including:
- applications from an individual with no eligible sponsor
- applications to cover furlough costs for staff
- applications that we cannot be confident about in terms of safeguarding (so projects wanting Zoom licences for one-to-one counselling online, or online support for victims of domestic abuse)
- applications from community buildings to cover caretaking costs and utilities (where this is not included as part of a bid to use the building as a food bank or community meals kitchen)
- applications from schools to cover Easter provision for children of key workers (instead, these costs can be recouped through DfE).
Colleagues who are processing the funding say:
"The speed at which we are working and the large number of applications means that it’s been impossible to enter into lengthy communication with applicants.
"Consequently, in some cases, if the applicant hasn’t heard immediately about the progress of their grant or their application has been unsuccessful, they are contacting their local Member to lobby on their behalf.
"While we appreciate that Members want to represent their constituents, it's just a very small team working as quickly as possible to process these requests for funding, and the team's decisions are very transparent and will be open to scrutiny.
"However, the locality budgets are now open so if Members would like to fund one of the declined projects, Members would need to submit a locality budget application."
Support for vulnerable residents
Reminder to still follow Government guidance where possible - staying at home and away from others.
We understand that this isn’t possible for many of our staff providing critical services to members of the public, and for these staff we are arranging for them to have the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) when they are entering households who are self-isolating due to suspected/ confirmed cases of COVID-19, all staff are urged to apply good principles of prevention of infection control measures.
We have been working hard to get the right supply of PPE into Devon and then to the right teams to support children. For staff working in educational settings, the following guidance has been sent out from Department for Education and Public Health England.
We are doing everything we possibly can to ensure that the most vulnerable are protected.
We have not yet had to withdraw any statutory services and are continuing to re-deploy staff where possible to ensure this remains the same for the following weeks.
United call for more Government economic support
We've joined forces with other local authorities in Devon to make a united call for more urgent Government support for the county’s economy after a new report estimates that the coronavirus pandemic could place 123,000 jobs at risk.
Welfare and schooling
As a local authority, we have to ensure enough school places for the children of key workers and vulnerable children. We are keeping open as many schools as possible. Schools return from their Easter holiday on Tuesday 14 April.
Each school has a link contact in DCC, to help resolve any of the issues schools are struggling. Our transport team is fully involved in the process so that transport needs can be flexible to ensure appropriate transport arrangements are in place.
Councillor James McInnes said:
"We've had many schools open over the Easter Holidays and many for seven days a week, and for extended hours, to ensure key workers are as available as possible.
We've updated the Education and Families public web pages to provide information the latest school openings for Easter.
Over the past few weeks schools have been undertaking a risk assessment of all vulnerable children and submitting their findings to us, where they are being moderated/agreed with social care and early help as appropriate.
Guidance has also been issued to schools and DCC staff which outline the RAG rating criteria and how to escalate safeguarding concerns for children.
The DfE has issued guidance on free school meals. Schools are encouraged to carry on their local arrangements. The cost of the national voucher scheme is being picked up centrally.
The Government has introduced new legislation that gives flexibility to relax the legislation on SEND however, where possible we will not relax our statutory duty.
Find out what this means for children, parents and schools in Devon on our website.
Supporting and protecting our children in care
Colleagues in Early Help, including Health Visitors School Nurses and Children's Centres are working together to create a robust safety net for vulnerable children. The focus for the Disabled Children's Service is children with underlying health vulnerabilities and children with complex neuro-developmental disorders.
This week (w/b 6 April) we have seen a significant strengthening of partners coming together to respond. Social workers have risk-assessed all of their children and are completely aware of those who are at greatest risk today and know that this could be different tomorrow.
DfE guidance has been issued regarding children's social work practice. We will follow this guidance and continue to work with staff and providers to ensure children and young people are kept safe.
Councillor James McInnes said:
"We are continuing to focus on key lessons learnt from our recent Ofsted Inspection. This week we welcome Vivien Lines, Improvement Director and Shaeda Alam, Improvement Lead to the team to ensure that this process happens as rapidly as possible and to ensure all key groups of young people get the best care as possible. This is especially important now throughout the pandemic."
Hundreds answer the call to help care
We've started this week by welcoming the first cohort of trainees for the new Healthcare Assistant roles. These positions will provide essential support to health and social care providers. More than 600 people have registered so far, and with more to follow we hope.
We've also taken a decision to increase the amounts we pay to care providers, so that in turn they can pay their care workers significantly more per hour. We think that this will help boost recruitment to the sector, and it should help care providers retain staff once we're beyond coronavirus.
Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, said:
“At a time of national crises and with services under huge strain, I am proud to say that hundreds of people have stood up and said that they want to help.
"Healthcare Assistants will play a vital role in our care homes, hospitals and in our communities over the coming weeks and months, and I’m in no doubt that they will help save lives."
The first group of trainees began their training with a three-day fast-track course taught by a team of experienced social workers and health and care professionals. Once trained the new recruits will be deployed to a variety of settings including people’s homes, hospitals and care homes. They will support people with their personal care needs including eating, drinking and washing, which will reduce the pressure on existing health and care staff.
Find out more, including how to register, on the the Proud to Care website.
NHS Volunteer Responders can help us support our vulnerable residents
Members can call on NHS Responder Volunteers to help us make sure that vulnerable residents who are self-isolating get the support they need to stay safe and well at home during this difficult time, particularly if support is not easily accessed or available from local community volunteer groups. Volunteers will carry out simple, non-medical tasks.
Members can access the live system to match people who need support with NHS Responder Volunteers, on behalf of communities with their .gov.uk work email (and anyone with a local authority or NHS email address can access it to request help).
Support for vulnerable people who are 'shielding'
The NHS has identified people who have a high risk of getting severely ill if they catch coronavirus (COVID-19), because of their underlying health conditions.
We've updated the information on our website today about support for this extremely vulnerable group, including how to register on the Government website. If you are in this group, you may have received a letter or text message from the NHS or been contacted by your GP. The Government will arrange free weekly delivery of food direct to your house, and you can request other sorts of help available to you locally as well.
Helpline for people who have received an NHS Extremely Vulnerable letter
If residents have received an NHS extremely vulnerable letter, registered for support on the Government website but they have not received a food delivery, or they need other help because they are isolated then they can call: Devon Coronavirus Emergency Helpline 0345 155 1011.
How to volunteer and help safely
Many people in the community have been volunteering to offer practical, emotional and social support to their neighbours, communities and the NHS, which is excellent, but they need to do so safely. The Government has published guidance on how to help safely.
We donate £100k to the Devon Coronavirus Response and Recovery Fund
Devon County Council has contributed £100,000 to the Devon Coronavirus Response and Recovery Fund after an emergency appeal was launched by the Devon Community Foundation. The Devon Community Foundation is an organisation that helps distribute funds to charitable and voluntary groups in the county to provide them with sustainable support and enable them to create change in their communities.
By contributing to funds such as this, as well as opening our own funding streams, we hope to reach a greater number of charitable organisations across the county to help support them over this critical time.
Information about grant and funding support
In addition to the grants that we are making available, there are other grants for care workers, community organisations, businesses and individuals, charities, hospitality industry, sports sector, and grants for the arts industry. We've brought information about all of them together on our coronavirus webpages.
Information regarding Public Rights of Way and Coronavirus
We recognise that public rights of way and the cycleway / walking trails in Devon provide an opportunity for local people to take exercise and get some fresh air in these difficult times.
Please follow the link here to the Public Rights of Way webpage for important information and advice concerning use of the public rights of way and recreational trail network at this time, including information for landowners.
If you have queries, please contact our Customer Service Centre or the Public Rights of Way mailbox (publicrightsofway-mailbox@devon.gov.uk).
Virtual careers fair
We're working hard to help local businesses through the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and ensure a strong recovery for the local economy.
Businesses should visit the Heart of the South West Growth Hub to find essential information on available support and advice.
A virtual careers fair has also been launched by the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership and local authorities for all those across the Heart of the South West area who are currently out of work.
Trading Standards advice for hospitality sector
Easter is traditionally seen as the start of the holiday season for many businesses, but our Trading Standards team is reminding owners of guest houses, hotels, campsites and restaurants to remain closed this Easter to help reduce the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Councillor Rufus Gilbert said:
“We know that most businesses are abiding with the new rules. However, where businesses choose to ignore the Government, appropriate enforcement action will be taken.
“We recognise that the hospitality industry is facing real challenges in these uncertain times and we will continue to provide support for people via the Heart of South West Growth Hub.”
Holidaymakers are also reminded that visiting the West Country for leisure is not regarded as essential travel and they risk receiving a fine from the police.
Support for our adopters
We're looking closely at how we can support our adopters over the forthcoming days and weeks. Adopt South West is increasing their offer of virtual support and looking at how they creatively support families, while keeping things running as normally as possible.
We still need adopters! Although it may take the team a little longer at the moment, as they are finding their way through these times, we still need adopters for our children. So please do get in touch with the friendly team.
Can you help record life during lockdown?
The Beaford Archive is a much-loved record of everyday life in northern Devon, containing over 80,000 of James Ravilious's photographs taken at the end of the last century. It's been reopened for the first time in 30 years and North Devonians are now being asked to help compile the coronavirus chapter for future generations.
Find out how to take part on the Beaford Archive website.
The Atkinson Secure Children’s Home say thank you after an Easter surprise
Our staff at Atkinson Secure Children's Home have a special Easter message for Marks & Spencer on behalf of the young people in this short video clip.
Marks & Spencer responded :
"Thank you for the lovely video. We'll make sure the it's forwarded to our team that worked hard to get this arranged."
By pulling together across the Council, with our partners and our communities, we are doing everything we can to help us all through this incredibly difficult time. Thank you to you and your community and stay safe and well.
Please note that all of our sites and offices are closed to the public, except for necessary prearranged visits
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