What we know so far

Who should read this and why?

• All Executive Teams, Boards, Supported and Sheltered Housing Managers and Tenancy Enforcement Teams.
• Sheltered Schemes and Supported Housing will play a key role in shielding groups at a higher risk from Covid-19.
• On 19 March 2020, the Government published guidance on the ethical framework for adult social care for Covid-19 in addition to other guidance.

What should you consider doing?

• Introducing urgent policies for controlling the spread of Covid-19 within Sheltered Schemes and Supported Housing.
• Temporarily stopping or limited all non-essential visits from friends, family members and external organisations.
• All visits to be by prior appointment and screening to ask if visitors have any symptoms or if they are part of a self-isolation due to a family member living with them and having symptoms.
• Consider alternatives to visiting such as Skype and/or phone calls to keep in touch with residents.
• Temporary closures of communal areas to avoid the spread of transmission.
• Rotas or time slots for exercise for residents.
• Increased cleaning of communal areas.
• The use of personal protective equipment if required.

What must you continue doing?

• Facilitate essential visits from medical specialists.
• Carry out essential buildings maintenance were necessary.
• Ensuring all staff and contractors are following all relevant guidance.
• Ensuring staff members and contractors who are unwell and/or have had contact with someone who has the virus stay away from the scheme.

How to Enforce

• Use of the full range of methods to combat breach of tenancy and ASB including meetings, warning letters, mediation, acceptable behaviour contracts, possession proceedings or injunctions.
• Emergency legislation may limit the use of possession.

What we will be doing

• Producing further practical guidance as soon as we know more information and the answers to the questions above.

How to stay up-to-date with the latest government advice and guidance:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-to-employers-and-businesses-about-covid-19/guidance-for-employers-and-businesses-on-coronavirus-covid-19
• https://www.hps.scot.nhs.uk/web-resources-container/covid-19-guidance-for-non-healthcare-settings/
• https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice
• https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/news/covid-19-coronavirus