Our Covid-19 team has put many measures in place to ensure the people we support and our staff are kept safe and supported during this challenging time. We will continue to update this page as more information is available.
Latest update
December 2021
In light of the increased risks imposed by Omicron we now find ourselves in another time of uncertainty. Clarification from DHSC on the Omicron variant can be read here.
As a provider of care homes we are following the guidance on admissions, visiting, inflection prevention, control measures provided by DHSC. Guidance on self-isolation for confirmed cases of the Omicron variant is here.
Staff who are office based, where possible, are working from home during this time.
Family members of the people we support are being contacted with an update regarding visits and protocols.
Our responseÂ
On the right hand side you’ll find link to our latest letters, resources, guidance notes and our policies written and updated throughout the pandemic.Â
It is important that we share how our staff are working to best support the people in our services and their families. We have included policies and easy read documents that detail our response to Covid-19.Â
There are also some lighter activities for you to enjoy.Â
Previous Updates
01 May 2021
The guidance for visits out of care homes in England was updated on the 1 May.
Supplementary guidance on the changes on visits out of care homes to spend time outdoors, from the 4 May, can be read here.
12 April 2021
We are currently working to government guidance on care home visiting. This was updated on the 6 April and applies from the 12 April.
Read the government guidance (this guidance was updated on the 4 May 2021)
Additionally, you will find a range of updated guidance documents to the right, this includes new activities, additional information on vaccinations and road maps that support us as we move through the phases out of lock down.
8 January 2021
- The Prime Minister announced National Lockdown restrictions for the whole of England on 4 January 2021 and indicated these measure would be in place until at least mid-February 2021.
- The National Lockdown restrictions and the new variant of COVID-19 means that for many people the start of this New Year will be a time of worry.
- Although we are concerned about the welfare of the people we support and our staff we are heartened by the fact that the things that have helped us to keep people safe in 2020 are the same in 2021 – we just need to be even more careful.
- We expect a good number of the people we support and all of our staff to have been offered the COVID-19 vaccine by mid-February 2021. We are hopeful that this will go a long way towards making it easier to enable our services to operate the way they did previously.
The following measures are now in place:
- Our supported services remain open to support our residents. And, at this time, continue to prohibit visitors from attending our services, in order to protect the people we support.
- Our care home services will continue to support with the appropriate restrictions in place and our day services are now closed; except for Maesbury Metals which continues to provide support to the most vulnerable.
- If you do have a loved one staying at one of our homes, do contact that home directly.
- Our education centres remain open for pupils and students at our Livability Victoria School and Livability Nash College; this is a governmental requirement.
- Our wellbeing centre, Livability Holton Lee is now closed until further notice.
- Vaccinations are being rolled out – we will continue to update as we have more information.
- Our national office employees are working remotely and will continue to provide colleagues with IT, finance and HR support remotely during office hours Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, you can call us on 020 7452 2000 or email us at info@livability.org.uk
7 September 2020
Coronavirus (Covid-19) updates from Livability. The safety and wellbeing of both the people we support and colleagues is our top priority. Read our latest updates on our services here. Visit NHS UK for coronavirus health information and advice on the government response to coronavirus.
We are pleased to announce that after much hard work, our learning and wellbeing services are open in accordance with government guidelines.
Livability Victoria School currently open to some low risk students and Livability Nash College also welcomed it, students, back this September.
Livability Holton Lee, our wellbeing centre has adopted a phrased re-opening approach. The site will now be open Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm. There will be no access to any of the buildings, toilets, bird hides or gym equipment until further notice.
Our services remain open to support our residents. And, at this time, limit visitors from attending our services, in order to protect the people we support.
Our national office employees are working remotely and continue to provide colleagues with IT, finance, HR, supporter and communications support remotely during office hours Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, you can call us on 020 7452 2000 or email us at info@livability.org.uk
You can read government guidance for schools here and NHS guidance here.
8 June 2020
At Livability we continue to focus on the health and welfare of the people we support, and the health and welfare of our staff and volunteers.
Our education centres Livability Nash College Campus and Victoria Education Centre are now open, in accordance with government guidelines.
Livability Holton Lee, our wellbeing centre remains closed and staff are working remotely wherever possible.
Our services remain open to support our residents. And, at this time, continue to prohibit visitors from attending our services, in order to protect the people we support.
Our staff are doing all they can to keep the people we support connected to family and friends. If you do have a loved one staying at one of our homes, do contact that home directly.
Our national office employees are working remotely and will continue to provide colleagues with IT, finance, HR, supporter and communications support remotely during office hours Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, you can call us on 020 7452 2000 or email us at info@livability.org.uk
General post, gifts and deliveries sent to us during this period will be kept securely and processed once the office reopens.
Thank you for your continued support, for your messages and your giving during this challenging period. At this time, and where possible, please do donate through our website here or call our Supporter Services Team on 020 7452 2121 for other ways to donate.
Do continue to take care of yourselves, your loved ones and your community.
Sally Chivers,
CEO Livability
25 March 2020
At Livability we continue to focus on the health and welfare of the people we support, and the health and welfare of our staff and volunteers.
Due to the unfolding situation with Coronavirus (COVID-19), and for the time being, staff from the National Office are working remotely. Livability education buildings and wellbeing centres are now closed for regular business, this includes Victoria Education Centre, Nash College and Holton Lee, where staff are working remotely wherever possible.
Our services remain open to support our residents. And, at this time, we have stopped visitors from attending our services and encourage you to follow the government social distancing requirements. The government has given clear guidance that people should only leave home for very limited purposes:
- Shopping for basic necessities, as infrequently as possible
- One form of exercise a day – for example, a run, walk, or cycle – alone or with members of your household
- Any medical need, to provide care or to help a vulnerable person
- Travelling to and from work, but only where this is absolutely necessary and cannot be done from home.
If you do have a loved one staying at one of our homes, do contact that home directly.
Our national office employees are working remotely and will continue to provide colleagues with IT, finance and HR support remotely during office hours Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm, you can call us on 020 7452 2000 or email us at info@livability.org.uk
General post, gifts and deliveries sent to us during this period will be kept securely and processed once the office reopens.
Thank you for your continued support, for your messages and your giving during this challenging period. At this time, and where possible, please do donate through our website here or call our Supporter Services Team on 020 7452 2121 for other ways to donate.
We are in this together, and over the coming days, we’ll be exploring ways to offer partner and supporter led support remotely. This could be by phone, email or online activities, so please visit this page for updates.
Do take care of yourselves, your loved ones and your community.
Sally Chivers,
CEO Livability
Note:
For further updates and guidance from the UK, Northern Ireland and Wales Governments visit:
UK Government on the gov.uk website by clicking here.
Wales Government on the gov.wales website by clicking here.
Northern Ireland Government on hseni.gov.uk website by clicking here.
The UK Department for Education also has launched a new helpline to answer questions about COVID-19 related to education. Staff, parents and young people can contact the helpline as follows:
Phone: 0800 046 8687
Email: DfE.coronavirushelpline@education.gov.uk
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday)
