Coronavirus

HACM Coronavirus Statement

Coronavirus has had a profound effect on all areas of our lives; and in particular, the lives of our clients who are reliant on the services we provide. We have been, and we will continue to monitor and respond to the changing Coronavirus situation. In doing so, we will follow the current advice and guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England. As government advice changes, we will adapt our advice, support and service provision to our clients accordingly.

Central to our Coronavirus response is the health and welfare of our clients. We understand that the Coronavirus can have a negative impact on mental wellbeing, as well as physical health, so we aim to minimise social isolation during this difficult time. That is why our support workers have been issued with personal protective equipment and started to receive their Coronavirus vaccinations. This should enable essential contact with clients to continue, whilst keeping the risk of infection as low as is reasonably possible.

At present, our Case Managers have reduced client contact to essential visits only. This means that appointments that would have taken place ‘in person’ are now happening using telephone and video technology. Our Case Managers understand that this may present a challenge to some clients, so they take an accommodating approach to remote contact, providing support and flexibility around using the client’s preferred means of communication. When in person visits gradually resume, all clients can be assured that our Case Managers have now received their first Covid vaccination. 

We have considered each client’s situation by assessing risk, providing advice where appropriate, seeking advice where required, and acting in line with in our clients’ best interests. We will continue to maintain contact with each client and provide case management input in line with client need.

We are also working with our care and therapy providers to ensure that client safety is prioritised. Where therapy providers are able to conduct sessions remotely, using technology, we support this. Where therapists require face to face client contact to conduct therapy, we request that they do so with appropriate safety measures in place.   

Finally, we would like to reassure you that, during this difficult period, we understand that life needs to continue for our clients and our clients need to be kept informed of things as the  situation changes. Currently, the HACM Office is running with a minimal presence to maintain staff safety. However, our office staff are also working from home to ensure that service provision to our clients continues. Whilst we understand that Coronavirus has required us to make changes to all our lives, we would like to reassure you that our clients still remain at the heart of what we do.