UPDATED: 20 July 2021
The Government roadmap has moved into the next step with many restrictions lifting from 19 July 2021. As we look forward to resuming a more normal way of life, we wanted to thank you for bearing with us throughout lockdown.
While we continued to provide services with some adjustments throughout this pandemic in line with Government guidance, since April 2021 a large majority of our services returned to where they were pre-pandemic.
This includes repairs, which returned to a full service when we resumed carrying out non-critical repairs inside properties. Emergency Repairs, Gas Safety and Electrical Safety checks to your homes carried on and still do as usual.
Despite restrictions being lifted, Covid-19 has not gone away and it is important that we remain cautious. Your safety and the safety of our employees continues to be our priority.
Our offices and working practices are Covid-secure with risk assessments in place. Many of our colleagues who have been working from home have now started returning to our offices.
You will also be able to visit us in person, as Baker House re-opens to the public. Please consider whether you need to make your visit in person and only visit the office if absolutely necessary. Where possible please use telephone contact.
Repairs service
Our repairs service is running as usual and we continue to carry out Emergency Repairs, non-critical repairs, Gas and Electrical Safety checks to your homes.
Our connect contact service is always on hand to take you calls. When requesting a repair please advise us if you or anybody in household is shielding / vulnerable etc. In households where someone is isolating due to having COVID – 19 symptoms or has been advised to shield we will only carry out repairs to remedy a direct risk to the safety of the household. In these cases our operative will wear PPE including face mask and gloves.
Help us to Help you
While we have taken the necessary measures for our technicians to work safely in your home there are steps you can take to prevent the spread of the virus. Please:
- Confirm that you and members of your household are feeling well when booking an appointment.
- Allow our technicians access to your home to complete the repair or gas safety check.
- Clear any personal items in or around the area our technician will be working on.
- Maintain a safe distance from our technicians at all times keeping children and pets away.
- Open windows if possible to allow fresh air to circulate.
- Wear a face covering if you wish whilst our technicians are working in your home.
Further advice for when we attend a repair or maintenance appointment:
- Upon arrival our technician will display their official identification
- They will ask you to confirm that everyone in the house is currently feeling well
- If our technician needs to discuss aspects of the repair with you, they may ask to speak to you outside of the property.
- For most routine tasks (where none of the household has symptoms of COVID – 19 or is shielding) our technicians are not required to wear face masks; again this is in line with current Government workplace guidelines.
- Please do not offer our technicians tea, coffee or other refreshments and do not pass anything to them.
Gas and electrical safety checks
Our gas and electrical safety checks are continuing and we will contact you to make an appointment if your home is due a visit. We understand that many of our residents may be anxious of allowing our engineers to enter their homes during the pandemic, however, we can assure you that these essential checks are to ensure the continued safety of you and your family. Our operatives will only be required to enter rooms where your appliances are present and will ensure a safe distance is maintained at all times.
Rent payment and money advice
If your income is affected by the coronavirus pandemic and you are struggling to pay your rent, we’re here to help. Please call our Connect contact service, who can arrange for you to speak to our expert money advice team. We can help you:
- set up new payment methods if you usually pay by cash and are self‐isolating
- accept lower payments if you are unsure of your future income
- issue foodbank vouchers
- signpost to debt advice
- complete grant applications
- make further referrals to local private and volunteer agencies for food provision.
Coronavirus community support
We have pulled together a list of community support services which you may find helpful if you are in need during the Coronavirus outbreak. They include foodbanks and delivery services, mental health support, general advice and local Facebook groups you can join. Please visit our Group member websites for more information.
Anti-social behaviour
Our tenancy safety team can be contacted, via Connect, to discuss any problems with nuisance or noise that you may be experiencing.
Independent Living and Supported Housing Schemes
We have made our independent living schemes COVID secure in line with government guidance and all scheme based employees are working on site. Dining rooms re-opened from 17 May. As the restrictions have changed, we have kept residents up to date via welfare calls and also by letters and posters around the schemes.
Our communal lounges re-opened on 17 May on an appointment only basis. Residents are encouraged to observe a safe distance and be respectful to other residents particularly when inviting external visitors into their schemes. This is not something we can enforce as we have no legal powers to do so and our schemes are not staffed 24/7.
Supported Housing
Many of our supported housing schemes have on‐site staff providing a 24 hour service. We are continuing to run these services, albeit on some occasions with reduced staffing levels. We will utilise colleagues from across Jigsaw Support to ensure we maintain our supported housing services, both 24 hour and visiting support. Our outreach services such as Housing First continue to support complex clients, in line with government guidance on staying safe.
Void works
Adhering to our safe working practices, our operatives continue to work on the refurbishment of our current empty homes to enable them to be ready for when new tenants are ready to move in.
Lettings
We continued to let newly built properties handed over by developers from the beginning of the pandemic and carry on as usual with our other homes. Working with local authority homelessness services we ensure we let properties to those in need.
Neighbourhood activities
So far we have been able to carry out certain neighbourhood activities and events subject to Government guidelines to keep you and our employees safe. With restrictions now lifted, we are resuming more of our usual work across the neighbourhoods where we have homes. Please keep an eye on our website and social media for future updates on Neighbourhood activity.
Grounds Maintenance
We have made changes to the way we carry out grounds maintenance during the pandemic. As always, our main priority is the health and wellbeing of our customers and employees.
Our service is now back to pre-pandemic levels and our team will help ensure the grounds are maintained at the usual high standard.
Offices and Customer Hubs
Our offices are Covid-secure with risk assessments in place. Many of our colleagues who have been working from home have now started returning to our offices. Our offices are open to the public on an appointment only basis with the exception of Baker House, Miles Platting where customers can drop in without the need for an appointment.
Stay informed
We realise that as things move back to some sort of normality, the situation may change yet again. We will be keeping a close eye on any further Government announcements and provide further updates as this evolves.
Please regularly check our website as we will be publishing further guidance taking account of advice from central Government and Public Health England.
Keep safe and follow the official government advice for the public here.
