|
|
Staff ‘doing their bit’ to support our frontline response
|
|
|
|
Just a week after we launched our staff deployment programme aimed at better directing resources to support our frontline response to the COVID-19 emergency, we’ve been speaking to some of you who are already making a difference.
Syma Kadri, who usually works in the Estates Team, is now working as Operations Manager at the borough’s Essential Supplies Hub (pictured left with co-workers Kreena Patel and Alexandra James). The hub has delivered more than 170 food packages to our most vulnerable residents since being set up last week, as well as providing a further 61 food packages for Homeless Action Barnet and supplying 14 food banks with ready meals and other supplies. She said: “Taking on this role has been hard work and every day there are a new set of priorities to juggle. But knowing that our work is helping to protect people, by providing them with the essentials they need without having to go out of the house, is incredibly rewarding. I also want to say a massive thank you to all our volunteers at the hub and the Passenger
Transport Service drivers who have been making deliveries across the borough.”
Supporting the registration service, outside of her normal role within Governance, is Maria Lugangira. She has been deployed to the Registration and Nationality Service's management team to support operational duties including the collation of statistics to assist in the reporting of death registration figures to Public Health. She said: “For me, the demand on our frontline services is beyond comprehension and I wanted to do whatever I could to help and support them. It’s also more personal for me, as not only do I work in Barnet but I live here, as do some of my family and friends.”
Lily Barnett normally works as a Public Health Strategist, but when a number of her regular projects were put on hold, she moved across to support the Adult Social Care Triage team. She said: “I like talking to people and this enables me to help residents who need someone to listen to their worries and get them the support they need. The best thing about volunteering is joining together with different teams to help those who are most vulnerable.”
If you want to join Syma, Maria and Lily as part of our frontline response, apply to the staff deployment programme. Find out all you need to know here.
COVID-19 News in Brief - further updates
- if you are making any requests for food or essential supplies for residents, please do so via the Community Help Hub and not directly to the Essential Supplies Hub
- changes have been made to Accounts Payable processes as a result of COVID-19 - click here to find out how to ensure smooth payment to suppliers during this time.
|
|
|
|
Welcome to the COVID-19 (virtual) BECC office
|
|
Leader of the Council thanks staff for their efforts
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Borough Emergency Control Centre (BECC) is a tried, tested and vital element of emergency response arrangements to large scale emergencies which has been set up many times in the past to deal with incidents.
However, it has never had to deal with an emergency the size and scale of COVID-19. Added to that, since mid-March it has had to operate virtually as a result of the Government’s restrictions on social distancing.
This week, First Team has been speaking to Katie Wood, Resilience Adviser and a member of the BECC, about how the team has had to rapidly adapt, change and respond. She said: “The BECC is in place to help build an information picture of the emergency and helps to develop situation reports and briefings for CMT. The BECC manages all requests that come through related to the COVID emergency situation.”
Since opening five weeks ago, the team has been dealing with around 500 enquiries a day. These have ranged from requests to collate data, to supporting PPE requirements, dealing with all key worker letter requests, and responding to questions from Members and MPs.
The team has made great use of our Skype video and audio technology (pictured above), with calls at the beginning of the day and in the afternoon, instant messaging throughout the day and use of a team Whatsapp group.
Katie added: “COVID has created a new set of challenges, but we are still interacting as much as possible as if we were all still in the room together within the BECC at Colindale.”
The BECC will continue to operate over the coming weeks, making decisions as and where necessary to co-ordinate Barnet’s multi-faceted response to this unique emergency.
If you need to contact the BECC, it is open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 2pm on weekends and bank holidays. Contact the BECC by emailing covid19@barnet.gov.uk.
|
|
This week, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Dan Thomas, has written to thank staff for their efforts as we pull together to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. He writes: “The last three or four weeks have been among the most challenging for me as Leader, and more widely for the council, as we have pulled together a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the centre of this response has been you, our staff, who have worked so hard to put in place a range of new arrangements to ensure that we can support our most vulnerable residents while continuing to deliver critical services that the people of Barnet expect.
“Earlier this week, I volunteered at the newly created Essential Supplies Hub, staffed by a small team of dedicated volunteers. Food and other essential supplies are arriving there daily, ready to be distributed to those that are self-isolating, or being shielded, or otherwise face difficulty during this time. So far, over 170 parcels have been delivered to residents and it is quite astounding to see the scale of the operation that has been turned around in such a short space of time.
“In the background, council staff have also played a massive part in setting up and running our Community Help Hub, now live on the council’s website. Many of you are working outside of your normal daily duties, and working alongside residents and Volunteering Barnet to support charities and faith groups across the borough.
“Meanwhile, others in the organisation such as our colleagues in Street Scene, Adults and Health and Family Services, and IT, as well as partners in The Barnet Group and Re, have continued to provide critical services to our residents at a difficult time, to make sure the borough keeps moving and functioning. It has been a real team effort to provide support, companionship and other essential services, and I could not be more proud of the dedication and commitment you are showing at this time of crisis.
“Finally, times like this make us acutely aware of the importance of our family, friends and loved ones, and many of us may be feeling increased anxieties and concerns. It’s important that as we continue to follow the Government’s advice and guidelines, we also take the time to look after our mental health. You can find a host of helpful resources on looking after our physical and mental health and wellbeing here. As the bank holiday now approaches, please remember: stay at home, and connect with friends and family virtually instead. It’s vital in order to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.”
|
|
|
It’s never too late to give up smoking (or drinking)
|
|
Can you donate to Live Unlimted’s #GiveADongle appeal?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
With the multiple stresses that COVID-19 is creating for everyone, it’s not going to be surprising that people might be smoking more or consuming more alcohol to cope.
However, there is plenty of support out there for those of you who might need a helping hand to manage, or even stop, your smoking or drinking.
Remember with the challenge of trying to quit cigarettes or alcohol – there’s nothing like connecting with people who are also trying to quit, to encourage you along the way.
Quit for Covid is a new national campaign that has launched a ‘live’ smoking support clinic on Twitter every day from 7:30-8:30pm.
Follow @Quitforcovid, where you can visit to ask questions, hear about other smokers trying to quit and get support.
Smoking damages your lungs and weakens your immune system and the coronavirus attacks those same organs. If a smoker gets sick with coronavirus, it will make it more likely they will experience complications and take longer to recover.
Plus, recent research shows that that smokers with COVID-19 are 14 times more likely to develop severe symptoms of the disease – the time to quit is now.
There’s also help for people who want to cut down on their alcohol intake or stop drinking in a safe way. You can also complete the Barnet alcohol test to work out how risky your drinking is and receive support if you need it.
You can speak with an experienced alcohol specialist for free via Skype online coaching sessions, a convenient and confidential way to discuss your drinking and receive expert guidance. Visit barnet.gov.uk to follow up on smoking support services available locally.
|
|
The coronavirus outbreak does not discriminate in the way it has managed to affect every aspect of our daily lives.
Many young people have struggled to adapt to the social restrictions that have been issued by the Government to stem the spread of the virus. Further to this, vulnerable young care leavers have been left especially isolated.
Live Unlimited’s #GiveADongle appeal is asking for people who are able to, to donate the cost of a Pay-as-You-Go WiFi dongle with three months’ worth of data costing £29.99. Providing a dongle will help 150 care leavers in the borough carry on with their college work and speak to their friends, support workers and generally stay connected.
There are currently 309 care leavers living in Barnet, many of them residing on their own in bedsits on low incomes, with no immediate family support and limited social networks. Many of these care leavers don't have home WiFi, laptops or tablets, and only very limited data on their phones.
Children in care, otherwise known as looked after children and care leavers, are particularly vulnerable to anxiety and mental health issues. Figures show that care leavers are four times more likely to have a mental disorder than children in the general population.
Any additional funds raised will be used to buy laptops for those young people who rely on local library or college’s computers, or a media tablet so they can watch films, FaceTime their friends and follow the news.
For further information please contact Sue Cocker, Project Manager, on 020 8359 2325/07970 097 467 or email sue.cocker@barnet.gov.uk. Find out more about the campaign here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/GiveADongle
|
|
|
This email and any attachments may contain privileged or confidential material and is solely for the use of the intended recipient. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender immediately and delete this email. Any views expressed are those of the sender and do not necessarily represent those of the company. The company does not guarantee that this email or any attachments are free from viruses. Unsubscribe
|
|
|
|
|