Thurrock Coronavirus Community Action has launched

Our community response partnership Thurrock Coronavirus Community Action (TCCA), led by the council with Stronger Together and Thurrock CVS has launched to support our most vulnerable residents identified by the NHS who are following Government shielding guidelines and are completely self-isolating for 12 weeks because they are at very high risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Council staff and volunteers have made contact with and delivered essential items to over 250 people in this category. 

Today, Wednesday 1 April, TCCA have launched an online web enquiry form and helpline for residents who do not fall into the above category but are: 

•  vulnerable due to self-isolation
• have worsening mental or physical health issues
• do not have friends, family or local support in place at this time

This helpline is for Thurrock residents who need help as a priority and are without help in the community. Council staff suporting the TCCA will be on hand to answer questions, help vulnerable residents get access to food, medicines and social contact.

To make an enquiry, residents can go to the Thurrock Coronavirus Community Action web page. A helpline is also available for those who do not have access to the internet: 01375 511 002. The helpline will be open Monday to Sunday, between 9am and 5pm.

The TCCA team will aim to make contact within 48 hours to discuss how to provide support. We will assess the requests for support, prioritise them and match them with the support or volunteers available.

If you want to make a referral to help someone you have identified in the borough as needing support during this challenging time, please complete the web enquiry form in the first instance. 

The TCCA still requires council staff to come forward to provide help and support with the community response. Please contact Mykela Pratt if you are able to offer your support, there are a variety of roles available and any time you would be able to give would be greatly appreciated. 

There are a number of links and guidance that is regulary updated that continues to be useful to us all during this challenging time: 

• Following the latest Government and Public Health England guidance it is important to stay home where possible to help delay the transmission of COVID-19.
  • STAY AT HOME, PROTECT OUR NHS, SAVE LIVES
  • You should only be leaving the house when absolutely necessary for food, medicine, work or exercie 
  • to shop for basic neccessities or pick up medicine
  • to travel to work when you absolutely cannot work from home
  • to exercise once a day, alone or with members of your household
  • always stay two meters/six feet apart
  • do not meet others outside your household, even friends and family
• All staff are encouraged to continue to work from home where possible, please remember that GDPR continues to apply whilst working in an agile setting
• You can read Lyn Carpenter, Chief Executive’s, daily all staff messages on the Intranet, these are also sent each morning as an Everybody Email
• HR continue to update their COVID-19 FAQs regulary 
• Over 660 colleauges have completed the skills audit, thank you! If you have not done this yet, please take a few moments to complete the short skills audit 
• Service changes across the council are continually updaing, please refer to the service update Everybody Emails you are reciving and the council website for the latest information 
• Please continue to cancel or postpone non-essential meetings or carry these out virtually or over the phone - guidance is available to help you set up virtual meetings. Our busy council services need to continue 
• All  face to face training has now been cancelled up to and including Friday 17 April 
• If you have any questions in the first instance, please speak to your manager 

If you experience symptoms of the virus please follow Public Health England guidelines and self-isolate for 14 days. In the event that this happens, please speak with your manager to confirm next steps.

Please look out for the latest updates that will be on the Intranet and sent to you as an Everybody Email.

Remember, stay home and stay safe.