|
Morning everyone. I hope you’ve had a lovely weekend. Thank you to all of our frontline workers who were – and are today – out and about in wintry conditions, and a particular shout-out to our teams out gritting the roads!
We have another busy week ahead, with so much important work happening on behalf our our residents, so here's a summary!
Can you help with the vaccine roll-out?
Work to vaccinate as many people as possible against Covid-19 in the coming months, is continuing at pace.
The NHS is doing an incredible job at mobilising this enormous project, with thousands of people already vaccinated in the borough. In the coming weeks, more and more sites will be opening, including a mass vaccination site at the Business Design Centre.
We urgently need council volunteers to act as stewards across a range of sites in the borough. They will make sure the process runs as smoothly as possible for our residents, including ensuring queues are socially distanced, showing people to the right place or assisting people once they have had their vaccine.
Most of us work at the council because we feel passionate about public service and want to help local residents. I’d like to gather together as many people as we can to support the NHS on this vital piece of work and will be asking managers to release staff from their roles wherever possible to make this happen.
If you would like to be involved – be that full-time or for a few shifts a week – please email becc@islington.gov.uk by this Friday (29 January). The minimum commitment is one day a week.
|
Know when and how to get tested for Covid-19
Another week and another rapid (non-symptom) testing site is up and running! Thanks again to the teams involved for their super-efficient work to open the site at St Luke’s Church. With more sites popping up around the borough, it means that more key workers who live or work in Islington and who do not have symptoms can get tested regularly without needing to travel. This is a helpful addition to all the other protective measures that we can follow to reduce risk and stay safe, especially for staff working with vulnerable people or who have interactions with people in their day-to-day work.
If you're in a frontline role, I encourage you to get tested regularly, and there is more about this is on our izzi pages. What I cannot stress enough, though, is that these tests are for people who do not have Covid-19 symptoms. If you think you might have symptoms, you must stay home and book a test on Gov.UK or by calling 119. It may seem like the quick and easy option to go for a test on site, knowing you’ll receive a result quickly and if negative, can get on with your work and life. But doing this could spread the virus and puts others at risk. It is not worth it. Getting a test on Gov.UK or by calling 119 is the only way to be tested if you have symptoms. It is quick – you can get a next-day home test or get tested locally and you will receive results quickly.
|
Planning for this year's elections
The Mayor of London and London Assembly Elections are due to take place on 6 May this year, and I took part in an early planning meeting last week. Elections will be a big focus for me and for all of the directors on Corporate Management Board. Elections involve all services in some way – this year more than ever, as we work to ensure that that the polls are delivered in a Covid-secure way. There’s a lot more uncertainty this year, of course, but planning is continuing apace. We’ll keep you updated!
Mark Taylor is retiring
Mark Taylor, our Director of Learning and Schools is retiring this week. Mark has achieved so much on behalf our children and young people and we would like to thank him for everything he has done in his 20 years at Islington Council. Thank you Mark for your commitment and hard work over the years. We wish you all the very best for your retirement!
A foundation for life
On Tuesday, at Corporate Management Board, we heard the inspiring story of Tia, one of our care leavers, who has been supported by an innovative programme – known as the House project.
The project supports groups of young people to prepare for independent living, and then move into their own council home, and make it their own. The programme has a strong focus on practical skills, as well as personal development and developing social skills and networks.
Tia, had been in care of Islington since she was 14 and joined the House Project when she had just turned 18 and was living in foster care. After successfully completing the programme, she moved into her own one bed council flat in June 2019 and has continued to receive support and actively participate in the project – as a peer researcher, delivering training, and as chair of the project board. She is passionate about the difference the project can make for young people and is an amazing ambassador.
The project is delivered by the Children Looked After Service and is part of a wider National House Project movement. It started in Islington in June 2018 and has so far supported 18 young people to settle into their own properties. You can hear the story of one of those young people on the House Project website
This is really inspiring work that is helping our care leavers reach their potential – and helping to make our borough a fairer place. Stories like these make me so proud of you Team Islington and the difference you make.
|
Have a great week everyone.
Linzi
|
