COVID-19 Multi Agency Update - Monday 6 April
Cumbria County Council
Help keep children safe
Following a 40% drop in the number of people contacting the authorities with concerns about a child being neglected or abused, the public is being urged to help keep children safe.
The significant drop comes after most schools across the county have closed and lockdown restrictions put in place. Now, with children less visible in their communities and people severely limiting their social contact, the risk that the signs of abuse or neglect are being missed has increased.
In Cumbria the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub manages all contacts from people concerned about the welfare of a child or young person. In the last week the hub received 177 contacts, down from 297 in the last week of February.
Gill Rigg, Chair of Cumbria’s Safeguarding Children Partnership said:
“With children being inside and not at school it is obviously far more difficult to know if children are safe and well. This is a big challenge and clearly with people observing lockdown restrictions themselves they will see children in their communities less often. But we are asking people to remember that children will not stop being abused or neglected just because of coronavirus and if they do have any reason to be concerned they should get in touch.”
People can report concerns in the following ways:
- Call the Cumbria Safeguarding Hub on 0333 240 1727
- Call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000
- If a child is at immediate risk of harm call 999.
- Children can contact childline.org.uk if they do not feel safe on 0800 1111
Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board (CSAB)
As the situation with COVID-19 develops, Cumbria Safeguarding Adults Board and our partners continue to work together and remain committed to protecting adults with care and support needs from abuse and neglect.
During these difficult times we want to make sure, the most vulnerable in our communities are safe and that we protect them. Abuse can happen anywhere and take many forms including, physical, emotional, sexual and financial. To find out more about how to spot the signs please visit our website cumbriasab.org.uk
We are asking members of the public, volunteers and local communities to be vigilant and if they see something, which doesn’t feel right, report it.
Safeguarding adults from the risk of abuse or neglect and the processes in place to make enquiries and protect individuals is very much business as usual. Please if you see something, say something and report it.
Concerns will always be taken seriously and will be dealt with confidentially. Professionals will make the necessary enquiries to ensure that the adult at risk is safeguarded from abuse and they are supported to take action and make choices which enable them to retain control over their own life.
If you are concerned that an adult (18 years and over) is at risk of abuse or neglect please call:
Copeland and Allerdale - 0300 303 3589
Carlisle and Eden - 0300 303 3249
Furness and South Lakes - 0300 303 2704
Out of Hours 01228 526690
In an emergency and if the person is in immediate danger, call 999
CSAB will continue to work closely with our colleagues to ensure that we protect the most vulnerable adults in our community.
Remember see something, say something.
Reminder - emergency support service available
Cumbria County Council and partners have launched a new emergency support service for people at high risk of becoming seriously ill, as a result of COVID-19, and who do not have support available from friends, family or neighbours.
The Emergency telephone support line is 0800 783 1966.
Or you can email your request for help to COVID19support@cumbria.gov.uk
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service
Fire safety warning issued after wild fire on Cumbria fells
Firefighters from across Cumbria have tackled two significant wildfires in the last week, which may have been started deliberately. The incidents occurred in Newlands, near Keswick on Thursday 2 April, and Over Water, near Uldale on Sunday 5 April.
Investigations are currently underway to establish the cause of both fires.
Nathaniel Hooton, Area Manager, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, said:
“It is disappointing to see incidents that could have been avoided. Wild fires spread quickly, threaten local wildlife and tackling the fire takes a large amount of the Fire Service’s time and resources. This is especially important at a time when we are supporting the national effort to respond to the Coronavirus outbreak and focusing our valuable resources on helping our partners and supporting Cumbria’s communities and vulnerable people.”
In line with Government guidance people are reminded not to make non-essential journeys, in order to help stop the spread of Covid-19.
Government guidance - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do
For more information about fire safety outdoors, go to https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/cumbriafire/services/safetyathome/outdoorsafety.asp
Allerdale Borough Council
Business support grants
Business support grants to those affected by the Coronavirus continue to be available. Allerdale Borough Council is administering the payments and has now processed 642 in total, as of Friday, April 3.
The payments awarded so far total £7.35m. As of yesterday the council had received 1,687 applications.
Some businesses need to apply for the support and can do so via the council's website: https://www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/coronavirus/coronavirus-business-grants-claims/.
Carlisle City Council
Planning
Our planning team is still dealing with planning applications and is continuing to provide support:
- Our team is working remotely from home but can still can be contacted by email.
- Face to face meetings, including duty planner facilities are no longer possible.
- We aim to continue to inspect application sites where required and possible. All visits will be unaccompanied.
- If we are not able to see the area of your proposal or the adjacent properties from public viewpoints, we may ask you to take photographs and send them to us. We will not arrange to enter your property or private garden spaces as we need to respect social distancing.
- If a visit cannot be undertaken and you are not able to provide photographs the determination of your application may be delayed.
- Applications validated on or after 23 March 2020 which would normally be publicised by site notice will also be publicised by letter to adjoining properties where possible which we normally do although there may be a slight delay in sending letters out.
For current planning applications, please send comments, amended plans or other information to EDAdmin@carlisle.gov.uk
Those applications which would normally go to the Development Committee will be deferred with the agreement of the applicant until a meeting is convened. However, the government is looking at ways to set up virtual committees. We are waiting for the government to issue the detailed guidance and when it has been issued, we will update you.
Recycling support
Thanks to all our residents for continuing to recycle. Please help our recycling team by:
- Rinsing tins and jars.
- Make more room in your recycling box and bag, by flattening cardboard containers, squashing cans and plastic bottles and replace bottle tops.
- Also to minimise the risk of littering, fasten your recycling bags and use a green box cover.
Please remember to wash your hands before and after you have handled your bin and recycling containers.
Copeland Borough Council
Copeland Council awards almost £7 million in cash grants
Copeland Council has awarded almost £7 million in cash grants to 550 businesses in Copeland.
A total of £6,955,000 in Government grants has been handed to businesses eligible for either the small business grant fund, or the retail, leisure and hospitality grant fund, dependant on rateable value.
Retail, leisure and hospitality businesses are also eligible for 100 per cent business rate relief, for a period of 12 months, irrespective of rateable value.
Small and rural businesses can register for cash grants of £10,000 and some are eligible for 100 per cent rate relief. Small business awards are dependent on the rateable value being less than £15,000.
Retail, leisure and hospitality businesses with rateable values up to £15,000 can also register for a £10,000 cash grant. Businesses in the same sector with rateable values between £15,001 and £50,999 can register for a cash grant of £25,000.
For more information and to apply for rate relief or cash grants go to https://www.copeland.gov.uk/coronavirus-resources-business, email business.rates@copeland.gov.uk or call 01946 598300.
Easter weekend arrangements
Household recycling and waste collections scheduled on April 10 (Good Friday) will be collected as normal. All collections scheduled for the week April 13 (Easter Monday) will be one day later than normal. This includes a Saturday collection for those due on Friday, April 17.
Residents are reminded that the garden waste collections have not resumed due to staffing levels in relation to the current pandemic.
The following out-of-hours emergency numbers are available during this time:
Homelessness - 01946 427070
Dangerous structures - 01946 427121
Flooding - 01946 427171
Please be reminded that all Copeland Council offices, The Beacon Museum, and Distington Hall Crematorium offices and Chapel of Remembrance, remain closed to the public due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS
Send a message to a loved one in hospital
A new service has been launched offering people the chance to send a message to loved ones so they can stay connected during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The messages can be sent to patients on the trust's inpatient wards.
Visiting is currently suspended on inpatient wards across North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust sites - apart from a few exceptions - because of Coronavirus.
Elaine Crooks, Patient Experience & Involvement Lead for NCIC, said: “We understand how difficult it must be to have a loved one or friend in hospital and not be able to visit them because of Coronavirus.”
“Although many of our patients are able to keep connected via smart phones this is not always possible this is another way that people can reach out to their relatives and can be a source of comfort when they are unwell.”
The Patient Experience and Involvement Team and PALS can support relatives to send a message, they will be printed and laminated and then sent to the relevant ward.
Relatives need to email or phone their message in and include:
· Your loved ones name and date of birth
· Your message with a photograph included as an email attachment if you wish.
Anyone wanting to send a message to a relative in hospital should contact:
Freephone: 0800 633 5547 or 01228 814008 or email PALS@ncic.nhs.uk
The service is available Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm.
More information about visiting restrictions can be found here.
People reminded that other health conditions don’t go away during the CV19 pandemic
People who experience new symptoms and are managing long term conditions are being reminded to seek medical advice if they need it.
In particular those who experience life threatening symptoms, such as chest pain or the signs of a stroke, should still call 999 or go to A+E.
GPs are still supporting people who need medical advice or monitoring and want to reassure people to ask for help if they need it. People can still see their primary care health professionals; they will receive a call back to discuss the issue and may be invited for an appointment.
Distington GP Dr Helen Horton said:
“We have really seen people respond to the Stay at Home message to support our NHS, but we need to make sure that people who should be getting medical support continue to receive it.
“We know that there are lots of things that don’t need an immediate response, but some things do, and other health conditions don’t disappear because we have to prioritise Covid-19.
“We also know some people will be anxious about burdening the NHS at this unprecedented time - so we want people to be sensible. If you need advice check NHS services online or call your Practice and have a telephone conversation. We will be able to reassure you, give you the support you need over the phone, or call you in if it is needed.”
You should call 999 or attend A+E if you experience:
• chest pain
• experience the symptoms of stroke such as a drooping face or slurred speech
• serious injury
People who experience symptoms which may suggest cancer - such as new lumps or new bleeding - can seek NHS advice online at https://www.nhs.uk/ and https://111.nhs.uk/ or speak to their Practice.
People should expect to continue managing ongoing conditions, or ongoing monitoring of treatments, in consultation with their healthcare team. Practices are still offering essential services such as:
• baby immunisations
• postnatal checks
• pre-chemo blood tests
• blood monitoring for medications
• active management of wounds and dressings
At the moment people should NOT expect to be able to request routine reviews such as:
• Routine health checks
• New patient checks
• Routine reviews for some conditions such as asthma, diabetes or blood pressure.
Dr Horton added: “Please think carefully and seek help or advice for new symptoms and if you need regular monitoring.
“If it is something that can wait then please do. But if it can’t, please ring and someone can call you back.”
At this time you might not see your usual healthcare professional or be called to your regular surgery.
