Agenda item - UPDATE ON COMMUNITY RESILIENCE WORK UNDERTAKEN DURING COVID 19

Agenda item

UPDATE ON COMMUNITY RESILIENCE WORK UNDERTAKEN DURING COVID 19

To receive a report from the Executive Director – Resources.

Minutes:

Councillor Caliskan introduced an item on the Community Resilience Work undertaken during the Covid 19 period - the ‘Enfield Stands Together Programme’. 

 

The aim of the programme created by Enfield Council and Enfield Voluntary Action was to bring together key local partners and organisations to co-ordinate efforts across the borough to organise volunteers and get help to those people who needed it during the Covid crisis.

 

A presentation was given by Fay Hammond (Acting Executive Director Resources, Financial Management Services) which set out the methods of communication used and explained how the programme evolved and the services provided. It also explained the governance of the programme and its budget.

 

The following was highlighted:

  • The initial meeting of the Community Resilience Forum was held on the 19 March 2020 which set out the terms of reference of the unit as a time limited task focused group established to assist the local authority with the help of key strategic community partners in managing the response to the coronavirus pandemic.
  • We have worked with core partners including -  Age UK Enfield, Citizens Advice, Enfield Voluntary Action, NHS, North Enfield food Bank, The Felix Project, Healthwatch and many more.
  • A call centre was set up using #1966, an inbound call centre which went live on 25 March. An on-line form is also available. Calls could be for a request for food, support picking up prescriptions also expanded to include financial hardship referrals.
  • Outbound calls made which initially targeted the NHS shielded list for Enfield residents. Letters sent to all over 70’s in the borough letting them know of the telephone line. 
  • The food distribution warehouse was opened on the 31 March and 645 food parcels were delivered in less than a week. Within the first week the call centre contacted all those who needed medication.
  • The community pantry was set up in partnership with the Felix project. It allows groups and charities who support their communities with cooked meals to pick up essential food supplies and ingredients.
  • All shielded residents have been called.  It was noted that many people were not previously known to us as vulnerable. 
  • Members of staff who were taking calls were given ‘strength-based training’ and experienced managers worked with them.  It was necessary to ensure help could be provided from colleagues for those who called with mental health issues. It was essential that the correct people were placed in appropriate positions and that they had the necessary skills needed. Volunteers who already had DBS checks also provided help.
  • The highest number of shielded residents were found in Enfield Highway and Turkey Street wards. The wards with the most deprived residents tended to have the most food packages delivered.
  • Up to 5 May over 1,700 friendly phone calls were made to support people feeling isolated In the long term it is hoped that help may be sustained for these residents through the voluntary sector.
  • Small grants for cooked food programme was launched – worth £20k to help local communities get cooked food to those who were isolated.
  • The Internal Project management board were meeting daily and the Enfield Standard Together report and updates sent to Gold and Silver. Updates were sent to Cabinet Member for Finance, the Leader and the Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance.  A ‘JustGiving’ donations page was launched with a separate bank account – money allocated for food – currently donations of £32k received.
  • The estimate is now approximately £2 million, as reported to Cabinet. This includes £220,000 rent and other building costs and £60,000 staffing costs.

 

Councillor Erbil thanked all community groups, volunteers, councillors and officers for the help they have provided for the Enfield Stands Together Programme. She was proud of the way the community had come together to provide support in response to the Covid19.  

 

The following questions/ issues were raised and answers provided:

 

Q1. Although we do not know how long the pandemic will last are you able to tell me what future plans there are for this programme?

 

It is difficult to state our future plans because whilst the initial peak for the pandemic appears to have passed there are still many deaths from Covid reported every day and there may be a second wave in future therefore our support needs to remain.

 

Q2. Regarding the food package deliveries, we make I understand there are also Government food packages, do we have support from the Government to supply both?

 

The food packages from Government was just one pallet of quite poor quality. We started the process of supplying food 3 weeks before the government supplies were received – it was crucial that residents received our deliveries early to ensure that they stayed in their own homes as they needed to isolate. It was also stated that the government packages were very standard they did not allow for particular dietary requirements and was only for one person - insufficient for families

 

Q3. What were the challenges we met in contacting the ‘shielded’ list of residents that had been provided by the NHS?

 

The main challenge we faced was that the initial list of 3000 to 4000 residents on the NHS shielded list often did not give contact details.  It was therefore necessary for outbound calls to be made and letters sent to ensure everyone was contacted as quickly as possible.

 

Q4. The small grants for cooked food programme to help local communities get cooked food where has this money come from?

 

The council had set aside £3 million of its reserves to create a Covid-19 Fund. 

It was estimated that the costs of the pandemic to the council is approximately £68m. Total funding from Government is £17.9m.  Communities had been able to provide a lot of food for a relatively small sum of money.

 

Q5. An exit strategy is needed – what conditions will you set to decide whether existing efforts are eventually wound down?

 

Those people who are shielded still need to stay at home, with the easing of lockdown we will assess next steps – It should be remembered that this is an invaluable service for those who may die should they get the virus.

 

Q6. What processes took place when people rang for free food?  I understand other local authorities looked to see if there were other people in the house who could go and get supplies and whether they were able to afford to pay for the food?

 

We wanted to respond quickly to ensure people stayed at home – we targeted those over 70’s and those on the shielded list.  Some residents suggested paying for food provided and in those cases we directed them to the ‘JustGiving’ page.

 

Q7. Why was it decided to rent the food hub on Great Cambridge Road?

 

We deliberately chose this location as it was where the Felix project is based.  They had fresh food here and this has helped in provision of supplies.

 

Q8. Will the community pantry continue going forward?

 

Providing food packages has been important and this model of supporting community groups with the ‘pantry’ has been invaluable it is hoped this may continue.

 

Q9. Can you elaborate on the training you mention had been provided in supporting people with mental health issues?

 

This was an area of concern because some people rang with mental health issues, with some saying they felt suicidal.  We needed to be sure we dealt with people in the correct way therefore training was provided to ensure people were put in touch with the correct authority and that those answering calls were given support - ‘strength based training’ from Adult Social Care colleagues and access to a support from professionals with mental health training specifically procured for the call centre to provide support for staff that were worried or effected by the calls that they had taken.

 

Councillor Caliskan spoke of the pharmacy prescription service which provided a great service – the service expected from the government was not delivered and therefore we ‘filled the gap’.

 

Cllr Caliskan informed the meeting that she had written to the Secretary of State outlining concerns regarding funding and the fact the government have rowed back from their initial commitment. Cllr Caliskan had invited the leader of the opposition to sign the letter, however she mentioned that Cllr Laban had declined to do this.

 

Cllr Caliskan provided clarity regarding why the Supply Centre had moved to running 6 days a week. She addressed a criticism made by Cllr Laban that the decision to move to 6 days a week was costing the council too much money. Cllr Caliskan and Fay Hammond explained that this came with no additional expenditure and that it was necessary in order to be able to allow for time to pack and deliver packages because of the increase in demand.

 

Councillor Erbil thanked Fay Hammond and officers for the presentation.

 

Councillor Laban on behalf of the opposition thanked everyone who worked at the food hub and this was shared by all at this meeting.

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