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Deafblind UK extends support prevision for people with sensory loss, including veterans

NATIONAL charity, Deafblind UK has temporarily extended its helpline opening hours to support people who have sight loss, hearing loss or both, through the COVID-19 crisis.  The helpline is also now available to people who have reduced sight and hearing as a result of, or since, serving in the Armed Forces and to people who are supported by smaller sensory loss charities that may not have such provisions.

Director of Operations, Simone Moore said:- "The Coronavirus pandemic is affecting a lot of our members, either emotionally or practically. We have connected people to local support groups who can help them to get food, we have summarised news briefings for people who cannot access that information and we have talked to people who are finding isolation and the increased anxiety all too much to deal with. We have also taught people how to use video calls and accessible technology to keep in touch with their family, which is very rewarding to see! We know that there are a lot more people out there who are affected by sight and hearing loss, who are facing the same challenges as our members."

Deafblind UK's CEO, Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Conway Royal Marines (Retired) said:- "Facing the challenges of making the transition from a military career to life outside the Armed Forces can be daunting for many veterans, but when compounded by sight and hearing loss those challenges are even more significant. We have extended our opening hours and upskilled our teams to enable them to give specialist advice to veterans about pensions and compensation schemes as well as offering emotional support to those who need it."

Deafblind UK's helpline is now open between 08.00 and 20.00 every day of the week. Trained staff are on hand to support people who have any level of sensory loss, their families and anyone who works with them. They can give practical help, information and advice and offer in depth emotional support to people who need it.

The helpline can be accessed in the following ways:-

Phone:- 0800 132320.
Text:- 07950 008870.
Text Relay:- 18001 then 0800 132320.
Facetime:- Helpline.DBUK@DeafBlind.Org.UK (Not BSL)
BSL video relay:- DeafBlind.Org.UK/BSL.

Funding boot for Liverpool care providers during Coronavirus Pandemic

LIVERPOOL City Council is to cover the pay of workers in the adult social work sector who are self isolating or off sick due to Coronavirus. The move, believed to be among the 1st in the country by a local authority; is part of an initial ₤6 million package of emergency measures approved by the Council's Cabinet on 21 April 2020, designed to support adult social care providers through the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding will help care homes and home care providers with increases in demand and costs arising from their response to the virus.

The aim is to give them a level of financial security and cash flow so they can operate effectively, including:-

►  Paying staff who are self isolating due to Coronavirus their full wage (not those shielding)
►  Covering the cost of sickness, overtime and employing additional agency staff
►  Supplying additional PPE to staff in line with government guidance

The proposals have been developed in partnership with partners to support the sector, ease the financial burden and fund the additional costs anticipated until the end of June 2020.  The costs are being paid as the equivalent of 1 week's worth of contract which can then be used over the next few months to meet the needs of residents and service users.

Other measures approved include:-

►  Paying for home care and supported living based on 'planned' level of activity, rather than on the basis of the hours delivered. This will secure a steady and ongoing supply of homecare in the City to meet the expected increase in demand at the peak of the pandemic.

►  Making a 1 week block payment to residential and nursing homes to cover the costs of lower occupancy rates due to an outbreak or infection control measures such as not taking in new residents.

►  Maintaining payments for day support services and community support services (which have significantly reduced) at pre-pandemic levels so they can retain buildings and services.

►  Paying homelessness services such as temporary accommodation, domestic abuse refuges, rehabilitation services and rough sleeping services equivalent to 1 week's contract value to cover the cost of extra staffing and providing food to service users

►  Speeding up payments or paying in advance rather than arrears to improve cash flow.

Separately, the Council has already invested ₤10.7 million to cover the cost of wage inflation and the increase in the National Living Wage (NLW) across the sector, as well as specialist services such as homelessness, advocacy services and mental health.

Cabinet member for adult social care, Councillor Paul Brant, said:- "Our adult social care organisations are right on the frontline with the NHS in handling the response to the Coronavirus pandemic and it is absolutely vital we provide them with the support they need to get them through the current crisis. We have worked in partnership with the sector to come up with a comprehensive set of proposals to ease the strain on their finances over the next few months and give them as much flexibility as possible. This includes a commitment to give them extra funding to cover the cost of paying in full those staff who can't work because they are self isolating or recovering from COVID-19. We are determined to make sure the thousands of people supported in care homes and at home, those who are our neighbours, our relatives and our friends, continue to get the services they need so they continue living in safety and comfort."