“You can call us” is the latest message to Nottingham people who are self-isolating and need support.
The Council’s Customer Hub on 0115 915 5555 is the phone number that can connect self-isolating people to community support groups and neighbourhood volunteer teams. This line will be open 9am-5pm Monday to Friday or you can visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/coronavirus.
Nottingham City Council has plans in place to keep essential social services running even in the event that its workforce is affected by Covid-19. The council’s priority is to continue providing support to the most vulnerable people – such as those needing Adult Social Care services because they are elderly or have underlying health conditions.
Key to the council’s response is the recognition that care is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution, and this pandemic needs a tailored approach which recognises that people have different care needs.
Similar to the well-advertised NHS ‘Choose Well’ campaign, the council is aiming to make people aware of the range of care and support options available to them:
- Many people will need to self-isolate but will have good support networks of friends and neighbours available to help them.
- Some people will need to self-isolate and DO NOT have support available. The Council phone line will connect these people with community support and volunteers.
- A proportion of people have been identified by the NHS as extremely vulnerable and in need of ‘Shielding Measures’. These people are entitled to receive a Government organised support package of groceries, pharmacy deliveries and social isolation support.
- Current users of Adult Social Care services are already deemed vulnerable and receive an established care package which the council will continue to provide.
Cllr Rebecca Langton, Portfolio Holder for Communities, said: “Lots of people will be in a situation where they’re having to self-isolate, and lots of those people will already have friends and family who can help them out.
“Nottingham’s a place where a lot of people get on and we look after our neighbours already, so the first thing we’re asking is for people to keep things local and be a good neighbour where you can.
“If everybody in the city who was able looked out for their neighbours, then that means there is a lot of support in place for people.
“If you don’t have those support networks, so if you don’t have friends, family or neighbours who might be able to help you, then we want to make sure you’re not alone during self-isolation.
“So people who are self-isolating can ring us on our Customer Hub number (0115 915 5555), and you’ll be put through to somebody who can help to make sure you get your prescription picked up, some groceries collected, or maybe just arrange for a volunteer to have a regular phone chat to help you overcome the isolation.
“The third level of support will be to those who have serious underlying health conditions, and have been told to self-isolate for 12 weeks by the NHS, this is known as ‘shielding’.
“The final tier of help is for those who are already receiving Adult Social Care, be it in their own home or in a care home. We will continue to provide these services to our most vulnerable and those people who need to be referred into our care through the NHS.”
A social media graphic has been communicated through all the council’s channels and people are encouraged to share using #NottinghamTogether so everyone is aware of the support available – Together we can look after each other!