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Leeds Health and Wellbeing Board

Shielding in LeedsInformation and

Routes to Support

Information from the Multi Agency Bronze

on Shielding Contact: [email protected]

Or Rachael Loftus on 07891 271 054

Information Correct at: 19/06/2020

Leeds Health and Wellbeing Board

These slides are intended to assist anyone

working with people in Leeds who may have

been advised to shield due to their clinical risk

to Covid 19.

The information is collected from a number of

sources and every effort has been made to

ensure that it is accurate. If you find

something has been changed, or there is an

error – please do share that with us, so that

we can keep improving these resources.

• “Shielding” is that advice that has been issued by the NHS to people who have got

existing health conditions that mean they would be likely to have serious

complications if you caught the coronavirus.

• These can be specific conditions or a combination of conditions.

• The advice to shield was issued in letters that talk about people who are “extremely

medically vulnerable” which can be a bit confusing. This just means that people

would possibly have a serious version of Covid-19 if they caught it – not that they

are currently unwell or unhealthy.

• These letters have been sent to people of all ages – the advice to shield is not

specific to any age group.

• These letters are sent to individual people, and this means their medical records

have been reviewed by the NHS to assess their individual risk. These letters are not

sent to general groups of people. Therefore if they have been sent such a letter, we

would advise that they please treat the advice carefully and pay attention to what is

means to them.

What is shielding

Until the end of June 2020, the advice to shield means people are advised to:

• Not leave their home - apart from once a day in the outdoors*

• Strictly limit all contact with people from outside their household

• Minimise contact with people even within their household if those people regularly go outside or into crowded places, observing physical distancing at home wherever possible

• To ensure any deliveries are left at the door

• To strictly avoid any contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus

• To not go out for shopping

• *The advice on accessing the outdoors safely was updated on 31st May. This states that a person should be able to safely go outside once a day with members of their own household. Of if the person who is shielding lives alone, that they can meet up with one other person as long as they maintain a strict physical 2m distance. It is advised that ideally this should be the same person each time, to risk further exposure.

How to shield

https://www.leeds.gov.uk/coronavirus/advice-for-shielded-residents

• Shielding means that other than their own home, people should not enter enclosed areas, specifically other people’s homes, public transport or supermarkets – this is because the COVID19 virus spreads more easily indoors.

• People who are shielding should attend medical appointments when needed, but you should advise that they confirm with the clinic that they are shielding and ask for any additional instructions they would advise, such as wearing a face mask or using designated entrances or waiting areas.

• They should continue to follow all other advice issued by the government, such as protecting themselves at home by not letting people who do not live in their home to enter the house, unless absolutely necessary and with appropriate precautions – such as to meet care needs.

• If someone who shares a home with someone who is shielding is regularly going outside or into crowded places it is advised that they should maintain strict 2m physical distance from the person who is shielding even within the home. It is encourages that everybody in the household washes their hands regularly, and clean rooms (such as kitchens and bathrooms) after each use.

How to shield

Leeds Health and Wellbeing Boardhttps://www.leeds.gov.uk/coronavirus/advice-for-shielded-residents


• For EVERYONE working with the public at this it is strongly recommended that you read the

Government Guidance:

• https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-

vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

• If you are working with someone advised to shield, your work must take place in this strict context.

*You may need to make some adjustments in order to respect the

shielding process.*• If you are working with individuals who are shielding and having read the guidance feel you are

unable to continue doing so, please escalate these concerns to the Multi Agency Bronze Meeting

on Shielding via [email protected] or by contacting Rachael Loftus on 07891 271 054

• It is recommended that you check with anyone you are working with:

– if they have received a letter advising them to shield saying that they are “extremely clinically

vulnerable” to Covid19

– provide support to them to understand its implications, and encourage them to register with

the national shielding programme

– share the local helpline number with them so they are able to seek help at any time, even if

they do not need it now

Working with People who are Shielding


• When people are advised to shield they should

be sent a letter asking them to register:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-

vulnerable

• This is important as it helps local shielding

teams to know that they have definitely received

the advice

• It is also the chance for people to ask for support

to help them shield and this helps us know how

many people locally might need assistance

Shielding Registration


• Leeds has a number of ways to communicate directly with people who are shielding:

• Texts come from an account called “LCC Covid19”. No links are ever used in these

texts.

• Emails are sent from a verified Gov Delivery account. These emails will never ask for

personal details.

• Landline telephone calls are made from the Leeds Helpline. Anyone who is suspicious

that a call may be fraudulent is advised to hang up and redial the LCC number.

• Letters will be sent periodically to people who do not have access to electronic

communications.

• Local updates will appear on the dedicated Shielding webpage on the Leeds City

Council website: www.leeds.gov.uk/Coronavirus/advice-for-shielded-residents

• In Leeds there is a Multi Agency “Bronze” meeting on Shielding. This feeds in to the city’s

command and control structures for dealing with the pandemic. Anyone who wishes to

escalate a concern around shielding can contact this group by email:

[email protected]

Local Shielding Communication


The following slides show the routes to support for anyone

shielding. This should help you advise or support someone

to access:

• Food

• Employment or Financial Advice

• Medicines

• Emotional Support

• Transport

• Wellbeing

Local Support for Shielding


Support Accessed Through

Priority Delivery Slots

at supermarkets

Must answer “NO” to the question on essential

supplies during shielding registration

Must have an account with the supermarket

Individuals must register as shielding

at:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-

extremely-vulnerable

Free “Basic Box”

delivered to doorstep

Provided by central government via food

wholesalers. Weekly box of essentials but with

no ability to adjust for dietary requirements.

Must answer “NO” to the question on essential

supplies during registration

Individuals must register as shielding

at:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-

extremely-vulnerable

People on restricted

diets

Dealt with on a case by case basis via the

helpline.

Call the Leeds

HELPLINE: 0113 3781877

Volunteer assisted

shopping

Local volunteers will go to a supermarket with a

person’s own shopping list. This allows people

to choose and pay for their own groceries. The

Council issues a ‘safe pay’ voucher to

volunteers and the person is recharged only for

the items purchased.

Suitable for someone who cannot get an online

delivery or does not want to do an online shop.

Call the Leeds

HELPLINE: 0113 3781877

Emergency food

parcels for people in

immediate need*

Food parcels contain enough food for a few

days and can be tailored to urgent needs,

including baby food. Not means tested but offer

of welfare advice is made, and followed up if

more than 4 emergency parcels are requested

Individuals: call the Leeds

HELPLINE: 0113 3781877

Referrers: use the “Referral for

Emergency Food Provision Form from

[email protected]

Routes to Support: FOOD


Emergency Food Aid: There have been some major changes to the

way food is being provided in different schemes in the city. Please note the

following:


We Care Leeds

/ Leeds FAN

From Monday 11th May, We Care Leeds will

be significantly scaling back their food box

delivery service, so referrals will no longer be

made to them via Leeds FAN, in the way they

have been for the last few weeks.

Contact Leeds FAN

for advice and signposting ONLY

[email protected]

Leeds North

and West /

South and East

Foodbank

From Monday 4th May, all of the foodbank

outlets closed to the public and instead, food

parcels are being delivered directly to homes

by a team of delivery drivers. The foodbank

centres will continue to receive referrals and

provide food parcels for Leeds residents.

To register as an agency for online referrals,

please contact either of the foodbanks directly

by email:

[email protected]

[email protected]

FareShareAnyone can apply to be a Community Food

Member of FareShare. Membership is free for

the time being. More details are here.

E-mail Pete Barringer on:

[email protected]

Asda Asda is contacting customers who have registered on the Government’s database

to offer them a “priority pass” which entitles them to free, recurring delivery slots.

It has introduced a shopping card for volunteers who are shopping for those who

can’t leave the house. It can be topped up in a similar way to an e-gift card and

sent to the volunteer, or left in a safe space for them to collect. This means that

you don’t have to hand over cash to neighbours or volunteers and there’s no need

for an exchange of bank details.

Iceland Iceland is contacting customers who are on the Government’s database to offer

exclusive times for them to book a slot. You can register as a new customer on

their website.Sainsbury’s Sainsbury’s is contacting everyone they are informed of from the Government’s

database to offer them delivery slots. This is open to existing and new Sainsbury’s

customers.

Tesco Tesco is contacting existing customers who have registered for support on the

Government’s database to offer priority delivery slots. You can register as a new

customer on their website.

Supermarkets - Support for People who are shielding The following supermarkets will prioritise people who are shielding who have registered and answered “no” to the question asking if you have a way

of getting essential supplies delivered:

Aldi Aldi has launched a £25 food parcel for home delivery for customer who are elderly, vulnerable or self-

isolating. It contains a range of store cupboard items and personal care items. The box contents are valued

at £20 with £5 charged for picking, packing and delivery.

Co-op Through the Deliveroo app, household who are isolating can order basic essentials to be delivered (free

delivery) from some local Co-ops. In Leeds, local Co-op stores taking part are: Sovereign Square, Cardigan

Road, Butcher Hill, Hollin Park, Town Street Beeston and Otley Rd.

Marks &

Spencer

Marks & Spencer is working with Deliveroo to deliver groceries from some franchises in BP fuel stations.

Orders are made through the Deliveroo app.

M&S also has a range of food boxes for home delivery, including store cupboard goods, vegetable and fruit

boxes, and a £45 meat box.

M&S has introduced a contactless gift card that means that you don’t have to hand over cash to neighbours

or volunteers and there’s no need for an exchange of bank details.

Morrisons Morrisons has opened a helpline for vulnerable customers who are struggling to get hold of items. Orders

can be placed by calling 0345 611 6111. It has also teamed up with Deliveroo to deliver a selection of

essentials via the app in some areas.

Morrisons has allocated a ‘Community Champion’ in each of its stores who are helping identify people who

may still need support. Morrisons will post information through the doors of those identified.

Waitrose Waitrose is offering “elderly and vulnerable customers” priority access to delivery slots, and has contacted

those who have previously identified themselves in this way when using Waitrose online orders or through

the My Waitrose loyalty scheme.

Waitrose has also launched a volunteer payment card, which can be loaded with credit and then used to

pay for shopping.

Supermarkets - Support for people who are “vulnerable” The following supermarkets have put in place more general support for

people who are vulnerable, elderly or need additional support:



Financial

support and

advice

Referrals can be made for those needing food,

help with gas and electricity top-ups, white

goods and items for babies. Referrals from any

key worker or by individuals calling.

Streamlined support.

Local Welfare Support Scheme:

0113 376 0330

Financial

support

information

Information and resources updated regularly

on the Council website on:

debt

benefits

emergency food

low cost loans

bills or payment holidays

Money Information Centre website:

https://www.leeds.gov.uk/leedsmic

Employment

Advice and

Support

If someone who is shielding is unable to work

from home, and is unable to reach agreement

with their employer about their entitlements,

they should seek immediate Employment

Advice.

**In this case, with the permission of the

person, please escalate these concerns to the

local Shielding Team via:

[email protected] so they can be

relayed nationally.**

Citizens Advice Leeds

0113 223 4400

Routes to Support: Employment/ Financial


Routes to Support: Social and Emotional LifeSupport Accessed Through

Mental health

information

(Adults)

The Leeds MindWell website is full of tips on

different ways you can protect your mental

health, whilst staying home. Information is

available on the coronavirus mental health

information hub web page.

https://www.mindwell-

leeds.org.uk/myself/coronavirus-

mental-health-information-hub

Mental health

information

(Children and

young people)

Children and families, including those who are

shielding, are recommended to look at the

MindMate website for information on managing

mental wellbeing.

https://www.mindmate.org.uk

Check in and

chat

RU OK? has been developed with Leeds City

Council and Leeds Older People's Forum as

an opportunity for positive and friendly

telephone support for people of any age and

background. Volunteers are trained and

supported to provide regular calls to anyone

requiring additional support

Call the Leeds

HELPLINE: 0113 3781877

Enhanced

check in and

chat

DBS checked volunteers providing

additional/supplementary ‘check in and chat’ to

people with social care packages

Call the Leeds

HELPLINE: 0113 3781877



Volunteering

RU OK? is a great opportunity for anyone who

is shielding to volunteer by providing telephone

calls to others. This can be done from your

own home and the cost of calls can be

reimbursed, support and training is available.

Call Harriet on 0113 244 1697 or email on:

[email protected]

Volunteering

Voluntary Action Leeds, through their Doing

Good Leeds platform, are also encouraging

other organisations to advertise any volunteer

roles that would be suitable for someone who

is shielding and interested in helping out,

learning new skills and making new friends

virtually.

https://doinggoodleeds.org.uk/i-want-to-

volunteer/

Routes to Support: Social and Emotional Life 2


• Keeping up with exercise, and building more movement into daily life, helps keep

people physically healthy and improves mental wellbeing. The latest update to the

shielding guidance means people can leave their homes once a day to exercise, as

long as you they do so safely, maintaining strict social distancing at all times.

• There are also ways that people can move more whilst at home. Any movement is

good, particularly if it makes someone feel a little bit warm and makes them breathe

a little faster. Small chunks of movement every day helps increase energy. There are

ways people can move well at home:

– Strength and balance exercises that will help to keep people strong and steady

on your feet.

– Aerobic exercise that warms a person up and gets them breathing slightly harder

to help them keep fit and well.

– Breaking up periods of inactivity, such as sitting or lying down throughout the day

with movement and activities.

Leeds City Council has released a handy new booklet aimed at helping people stay

active whilst at home:

https://www.leeds.gov.uk/docs/Keeping%20Well%20at%20Home.pdf

Staying physically active at home


Routes to Support: Medication


Priority delivery

of repeat

prescriptions

Access granted through National Data to

Pharmacy.

Some local pharmacies may task NHS

Volunteers/ Good SAM to assist them with this.

Some local pharmacies may use NHS Home

Delivery Service to support them to deliver

this.

Updates on availability/ changes to delivery

made directly to person shielding from their

local pharmacy.

Direct approach to person’s local

pharmacy

Priority delivery

of controlled

drugs

Priority delivery for people on methadone or

withdrawl-scripts who are shieldingContact Forward Leeds:

0113 887 2477

[email protected]

Supported

delivery of any

prescriptions

Any (non-controlled) prescriptions for

individuals can be tasked to Volunteers for

local pick up/drop off (including safe ways to

pay for prescriptions if needed)

Requests made by individuals to the

HELPLINE: 0113 378 1877



For Pharmacies

delivering to

people who are

shielding

Pharmacists requiring support for an urgent

delivery, backed up by Council and volunteer

fleet

Pharmacists/ partners request via Email

[email protected]

For Primary

Care

Primary care requiring support for an urgent

need (e.g. if availability a problem in

usual/local pharmacy and prescription needs

to be filled elsewhere) backed up by Council

and volunteer fleet

Request via Email [email protected]

For anyoneNeighbours encouraged to collect

prescriptions for people who are known to

them

Promoted through community messaging.

Including offer of back up via helpline if

neighbours unable to do so.

Routes to Support: Medication 2


• In general, shielding means that other than their own home, people who are shielding

should not enter enclosed areas, for example other people’s homes, public transport

or supermarkets – this is because the COVID19 virus spreads more easily indoors.

• However, some medical appointments and treatments must be attended in person.

Health and care settings are taking additional precautions to ensure that they are as

safe as they can be for everyone at this time.

• If you are asking someone to attend an appointment or treatment in person whilst

they are shielding, you should

– BE CLEAR with them that you understand they are shielding

– ADVISE them on safe ways to travel to and from the appointment

– REASSURE them on any additional precautions you or they will be taking in the

clinic

– ENSURE they know that there may be changes in the layout of clinics, in the

way they should enter and exit buildings or additional procedures to follow upon

arrival to minimise any additional contact with others

Routes to Support: Transportation


Routes to Support: Transportation


People who

usually use

Patient

Transport

Service

Advice given by each Clinic on IF patient should

attend in person and if passenger transport can

handle this safely.

Transport arranged via existing passenger

transport system or via NHS responders where

needed by the clinic.

Shielding individuals can call

NHS Volunteer Responders by calling

0808 196 3646 between 8am and 8pm.

Transport for

anyone who

has been asked

to attend a

clinic in person

If clinics were unable to book passenger transport

and a person is unable to travel to an

appointment safely, Volunteer drivers can be

assigned.

Call the Leeds

HELPLINE: 0113 3781877


Routes to Support: Safeguarding


If you are

concerned for

the safety of a

child

Advice is available from the Duty & Advice

Team during office hours. And from the

Children’s Emergency Duty team on

evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Office Hours, Tel:

0113 376 0336

Out of hours, Tel:

0113 535 0600

Help for adults

concerned

about a child

NSPCC advice line. NSPCC Tel: 0808 800 5000

Help for

children and

young people

Childline via telephone or online.

ChildLine Tel: 0800 1111

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-

children-safe/reporting-abuse/

To report abuse

or seek advice

about an adult:

Contact Adult Social Care: 0113 222 4401

Out of hours: 0113 378 0644


• We know that shielding is particularly challenging for people living with domestic

abuse. All professionals in Leeds are committed to keeping someone who is shieling

safe – and that should not be a reason for someone not to seek help if they need it.

Help is available.

• Always call the police on 999 in an emergency (press 55 after the emergency

number if you're in danger and not able to speak for help)

• Find alternative accommodation from Leeds Housing Options or Leeds Domestic

Violence Service if you are a experiencing domestic abuse and need to escape –

and tell them if you have been advised to shield.

• Find a safe place to stay with physical 2m distance wherever possible if you need to

leave your home to seek support.

• EmergencySMS service - If you are deaf or can’t verbally communicate you can

register with the Emergency SMS service. Text REGISTER to 999. You will get a

text which tells you what to do next.

Routes to Support: Safeguarding


Routes to Support: SafeguardingSupport Accessed Through

Leeds Domestic

Violence Service

24-hour Helpline for anyone in Leeds wanting

immediate advice, support and information. Emergency

accommodation, support, advice and advocacy to

women, men and families across Leeds.

Tel: 0113 246 0401

www.ldvs.uk/

Leeds Women’s

Aid

Online chat service is available Monday to Friday from

1pm till 3pm. Please go to the to access a confidential

live online live chat for support and help.

Online Chat Service:

https://leedswomensaid.co.uk/

The Mother LoadAdvice for domestic abuse victims on how to keep safe

during self-isolation.the-motherload.co.uk/

Karma NirvanaSupport for victims of honour based abuse and forced

marriagehttps://karmanirvana.org.uk/

Galop LGBT+ anti-violence charity www.galop.org.uk/

Respect

Phoneline

Anonymous and confidential helpline for men and

women who are harming or considering harming their

partners, ex-partners, or families. Advice and

information to promote behaviour change

Respect Helpline: 0808 8024040

Respect Men’s

Advice Line

National Men’s Advice Line for men experiencing

domestic abuse

Tel: 0808 8010327

https://mensadviceline.org.uk/


• Additional efforts need to be made to ensure

people who are shielding are given information

that applies specifically to them, that may differ

to that of the general population. This includes:

– Developing symptoms

– Children returning to school

– Pregnancy

– Safeguarding

Additional information


• People advised to shield should contact

NHS 111 at the first sign of any

coronavirus symptoms

• If someone who is shielding needs to take

a Covid-19 test, they should request a

home test kit and not travel to or attend

the walk to test centre

At the first sign of symptoms…


• Children who have been advised to shield are not expected to return to school in

person at this time. With the support from Leeds Children’s Services schools,

parents, carers and children are being encouraged to discuss and agree suitable

ways to ensure that these children remain in education, with strong social and

emotional connections to school.

• For children who live in a home where someone else is shielding, schools, families

and children are advised to discuss how to make it possible for those children who

can maintain a strict 2m physical distance at all times to return to school. Where this

is not possible, schools, families and children should together be agreeing the right

course of action.

• Anyone experiencing any worries about their child returning to school are advised to

raise these with the school directly. If this cannot be resolved or they would like some

further advice, they can contact the helpline on 0113 378 1877 to request a call from

someone in the local shielding support team

Information for Children in Schools

• Pregnancy alone does NOT require someone to shield

• However, if they have been advised to shield for another reason, or specifically

because they have congenital or acquired heart disease and are pregnant, please

note the following:

• If they are shielding and pregnant it is very important that they continue to have

contact with their midwife so they can provide the maternity care needed to ensure

wellbeing and the safe arrival of baby . This should be by phone or online wherever

possible.

• However, if they have a scheduled hospital or other medical appointment during this

period, they should talk to their Midwife or GP to ensure they continue to receive the

care they need and to determine which of these appointments are absolutely

essential. Hospital may need to cancel or postpone some clinics and appointments.

People are advised to contact hospital/ clinic to confirm all appointments.

• For details about current LTHT Maternity Services and further advice please call :

Leeds Maternity Coronavirus Advice Line 07464907978 or look online at

https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/a-z-of-services/leeds-maternity-care/

Shielding and Pregnancy

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