Coronavirus Safety – Lambeth and Southwark Housing Association

Coronavirus Safety

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COVID-19 Update February 2021

We appreciate your patience, understanding and the many positive conversations held with tenants over the lockdown period.

Our staff can continue to be contacted by telephone phone and by email.  Zoom can also be used to communicate with us.

I am pleased to announce that our contractors are now able to provide a routine repair service in most cases, however there will be challenges.  Social distancing must be maintained when visiting homes and contractors may also ask certain questions to ensure your and their safety.

It is important that you let us and our contractors know in advance if any member of your household is self isolating.

In accordance with government guidelines those businesses that can operate remotely should continue to do so.  With this in mind LSHA want to move to an arrangement whereby we can take appointment only visitors to the office. This is for the safety of visitors as well as staff.    We are unsure of when this will happen as it does depend on changes in government guide lines.

Keep safe,

All at LSHA

Coronavirus Safety

The health and safety of our residents and colleagues is our top priority. So we’re doing all we can to keep you safe and protect the services that are most important to you during the current coronavirus outbreak.

If you’re due a repair, please don’t be offended if you are called beforehand to make sure that you’re OK.

If you are self-isolating because you think you may have picked up the virus, we’ll arrange another time to come and carry out the repair, when you’re better. We’re really sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

If you’re unwell but your repair is an emergency, we’ll put special measures in place to get your repair done (see below). If for any reason this isn’t possible, we’ll talk to you about whether there’s another way we can gain access and sort out the issue.

If we do carry out a repair for you, operatives will probably be wearing protective clothing, such as face masks and gloves. This is to protect them and you.

How to avoid catching or spreading coronavirus

There are some simple things you can do to help protect yourself and others against coronavirus.

Do
• always wash your hands when you get home or into work
• use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
• put used tissues in the bin straight away and wash your hands afterwards
• try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell

Don’t
• touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

Please read the latest advice from Public Health England to see how you can keep yourself and your family safe.

What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus.

Help and advice

Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about how we’re maintaining services and helping keep you safe, reassured and informed:

  • If you cancel my appointment because I’m unwell or self-isolating, when will my new one be?

    We’re doing all we can to keep our residents safe and our services up and running. If we’ve cancelled your appointment because you’re unwell or self-isolating, we’ll ask you to get back in touch when you’re feeling better, or your period of isolation is over, to arrange a new appointment.

  • if I want to cancel my appointment, how can I arrange a new one?

    If you would like to cancel an existing appointment until things get back to normal, that’s fine. Just let us know now, and get back in touch when you feel comfortable to make a new appointment.

  • I’m self-isolating, but my repair is urgent. When will it be done?

    We understand that some of you, particularly our older residents or people with a medical condition, are self-isolating so as not to put yourselves at risk.

    If you’re ill or self-isolating and your repair is an emergency, such as a major leak or boiler failure, we’ll put special measures in place to get your repair done. Where possible, our contractors will wear special protective clothing so that they can carry out the work urgently.

    If for any reason this isn’t possible, we’ll talk to you about whether there’s another way we can gain access and sort out the issue.

  • How can I be sure your contractors won’t infect me when they carry out a repair?

    Our contractors’ staff are checking in daily to confirm they feel fit to work. Our contractors won’t send a colleague who’s unwell into a resident’s home.

    When they’re working in your home, operatives will probably be wearing protective clothing, such as face masks and gloves. This is to protect them and you.

  • I can’t work because of the coronavirus and I’m struggling to pay my rent. Can you help?

    Yes, of course. We’ll provide advice, support and guidance if you’re having difficulty in paying your rent. This can include putting payment plans in place or supporting you to claim benefits you’re entitled to.

    We welcome the fact that the government has extended statutory sick pay to people affected by coronavirus. However, if you’re not eligible for it, we’d urge you to claim Universal Credit or Employment Support Allowance – and we’ll help you do that if you need us to.

  • How do I contact LSHA with a general query?

    We are doing all we can to maintain a good level of cover. We hope to have staff in the office on all working days but, following government advice, we ask you not to visit the office unless the matter is urgent. If, for whatever reason, we are unable to open the office you can still contact us through the main office number 020 7735 3935. We may not be able to respond straight away but do leave a message and we will respond as soon as we can.

    While staff are able to work, even remotely, they will respond to direct emails. Alternatively please use the info@lsha.org.uk address which will be checked regularly.

  • How do I contact LSHA for an emergency repair?

    Our contractors’ emergency repairs numbers should be in operation throughout the current situation:

    Emergency Repairs: A & E Elkins Ltd – 07432 054 504

    Central Heating Repairs: OneStop Contractors Ltd – 07946 314 749