COVID-19 Chief Executive, Joanne Roney OBE all staff message

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Tuesday 21 April 2020

Dear Colleague,

With each day that passes, I am time and time again bowled over by the incredible stories I am hearing from our staff and partners. The remarkable work being carried out to help our residents, to help save lives and to help us emerge from this crisis as a strong and united city is simply outstanding.

Day in and day out, our food-response teams and volunteers deliver much-needed supplies to families in need across the city. The lengths that staff and teams are going to in order to meet and exceed the needs of our residents is nothing short of outstanding. As well as this, the efforts of colleagues at the Manchester Local Care Organisation to carry out testing of our front-line staff at a drive-through swabbing service has been remarkable. Over 700 front-line staff have been swabbed, resulting in 250 being able to return to work. I’m sure you have heard too, of the opening of another new drive-through testing facility at the Etihad campus. The facility is set to provide testing for front-line staff from across Manchester and Trafford, including NHS staff, care workers, other key workers, and their household members.

Of course, it’s important that you – our fantastic staff – are supported too. That’s why we have been routinely sharing messages about how you can look after your own health and wellbeing, as well as the ways we can support you to stay healthy, both physically and mentally. Now, more than ever, it is so important to know that you are safe and well, as the ask of you in these difficult times is so great. Know that I and your senior management group are so grateful for everything you are doing and the resilience you have shown in the face of this crisis.

As much as we are responding to the immediate need as we face it now, there will also come a time when we will need to play a role in helping our city and the nation recover from this crisis. That’s why I, along with other senior leaders at the Council, have been working with colleagues across the Core Cities to help create a stronger, fairer future for the UK. To thrive in the aftermath of coronavirus, we must reimagine the future now and act together to deliver it. Further updates will be shared about this work, so keep an eye out for it in upcoming broadcasts.

Without you, our dedicated and committed workforce, this council and this city would not be in as strong a position to cope as we face this unprecedented crisis. You are all doing a fantastic job, and it goes without saying that you are without a doubt a credit to this city.

Each Friday, Sir Richard and I are sharing the stories of our tremendous staff, so please keep sending them in. Whether that’s in an email, by making a video, sharing a poem, or a piece of artwork, we want to see it. Please get in touch by emailing internalcomms@manchester.gov.uk.

Thank you

Joanne

Essential services need your help

In the past few weeks, we have been sharing key information about the importance of putting yourself forward to help colleagues and services in need. If you are not already working for an essential service during this period, could you make a difference to help essential services and colleagues?

The response has been positive so far, including from Strategic Housing Project Officer Rob Poole, who stepped forward to offer his support at Blackley Crematorium. He recognised the importance of the work done there, and because of his technical background he volunteered to work with Bereavement Services as a cremation technician. The service he is supporting is incredibly grateful for his help. Along with his colleagues in Strategic Housing, we are incredibly proud of him for making a difference where it’s needed.

However, there are still services that need help, so please have a look at the different roles and activities that need filling, and register to do something different by completing our Google form.

Your manager and the team in HR may start to talk to you about possible temporary redeployment to help deliver services and activities to residents and communities. Any redeployment will be seen as temporary and will take account of your skills, experience and personal circumstances. You will receive an induction, regular support from HR and, if applicable to the role, training and the necessary personal protective equipment.

Expenses for working from home

If you are required to work from home due to COVID-19, you can claim expenses of up to £6 a week from HMRC (£4 for previous tax years) to compensate for increased costs, eg. heating and electricity. To make a claim you will need to complete an online form or postal form, both of which can be found via GOV.UK.

You claim retrospectively for expenses, so if you’re home because of COVID-19, it may be best to wait until you’re back at work so you can make the whole claim at once. 

NHS Health at Home campaign

A new campaign has been launched to help people manage their health at home and easily access NHS services online. The Health at Home webpage gives information on how to:

• Contact your GP
• Order repeat prescriptions
• Manage long-term conditions
• Maintain your mental and physical wellbeing.

This information can be accessed at: nhs.uk/health-at-home

Cyber security

With many of us currently working from home due to COVID-19, there could be the temptation to let down our guard against online fraudsters. Yet now, maybe more than ever, when online – for work and in your personal life – it's important to stay safe and remain vigilant to the threats posed by cyber criminals. 

We are aware that, for many, the current primary focus will be on the response to the coronavirus situation, but we do need all our staff to continue to play a vital role so we don’t fall victim to criminal hackers.

Be alert, and beware of phishing emails that trick you into opening malicious attachments leading to fraudsters stealing confidential personal information. Legitimate emails and communications should never ask you to supply your user name and password.

Coronavirus scammers are also calling home phones and sending text messages to mobile phones; these contain misinformation or could leave you out of pocket if you fall victim. 

Remember your cyber training: if it ‘Just Doesn’t Look Right’ (JDLR), you should report it immediately to the ICT Service Desk, or email our Cyber Security team: ICT.Security@manchester.gov.uk

If you have not yet completed your mandatory online Cyber Security training, there is still time for you to do so. To find your invitation to access the course, search your emails for the subject: Manchester City Council Cyber Security Training, sent by mcc.compliance@metacompliance.com.

Food response – can you help?

The Council’s community response team is currently distributing more than 2,000 support packages to households across Manchester that are struggling to put food on the table during the coronavirus lockdown. The response and support has been phenomenal, but more supplies will be needed to meet demand. 

Teams of Council staff, volunteers and voluntary organisations are working around the clock to keep vulnerable people fed, but there are some things you may be able to help with. If you work with partners or know of any business that buys stock in large quantities, could they spare food and other supplies to support the effort:

• Any non-perishable food – in particular UHT milk
• Cans of food of any type
• Logistic and delivery support – ideally with refrigerated vans that we can use to make deliveries, but also cool boxes or other cold storage
• Carrier bags (can be branded).

If the answer is yes to any of the above, then please email food.response@manchester.gov.uk with details.

Helping your food go further

Our partners Love Food give advice about how to make food stay fresher and last longer; they also offer ideas on what to do with leftovers. 

You can find out about:

• Where to store food to help it last longer
• The recipes that make the most of the food you have and prevent waste.

Take extra care if exercising around water

This week it’s national Drowning Prevention Week, which reminds us to always ensure we stay safe around open water.

Area Manager Paul Fearnhead from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service said: 

“Where possible we ask that you stay away from open water, but if you do find yourself near water while exercising, then please take extra care and be mindful that there are fewer people around at the moment to raise the alarm if you find yourself in difficulty.

“We ask that you let someone know where you are going to exercise and when you are coming back if possible, and always abide by any signage you see. Also, be sure to look out for hazards around water, stick to proper paths, and bear in mind social distancing ahead of venturing out to exercise – often paths along canals and rivers are narrow.

“We also want to remind dog owners never to enter the water if their dog jumps or falls in. Most dogs manage to scramble out, but some owners are not so lucky.”

Keep up to date with the latest information and news

We want to ensure you are informed and supported during this uncertain time. We aim to send regular communications to you, whether you are working from home or self-isolating.

Managers are to ensure they can contact all offline staff, and those who are absent, to check they have access to all the information and support they need.

Staff are strongly advised to:

• Check their work mailbox daily for updates from Chief Executive Joanne Roney and/or Manchester City Council, and their manager
• Visit the Council’s website for advice for residents, businesses and other non-staff-specific information 
• Sign up for COVID-19 MCC updates – please note this bulletin will not include staff-specific information. For this, you must refer to staff broadcasts
• Check out the Government’s new Coronavirus Information Service, now available on WhatsApp 
• Check our regularly updated FAQs on the intranet. 

Staff without intranet access can find the FAQs on a secure extra-net and the intranet.

Remember that Public Health England and the NHS are the primary sources for coronavirus news and updates.

If you have questions or concerns

In the first instance, staff should speak to their line manager directly, as they are more familiar with your role and how your service is responding to this situation. If your manager is absent, please speak to another senior officer in your team or service. 

The Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) is a 24/7 support service for all employees, as well as their partner and children living in the same household. The EAP offers high-quality support with immediate access to counselling, in addition to financial, legal, family and medical advice:

• Visit www.healthassuredeap.co.uk (username MCC, password EAP)
• Use the health e-Hub in your app store (username MCC, password EAP)
• A free confidential phone service is available 24/7. Call 0800 030 5182.