Local residents who have been notified to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace will receive a welfare call from BCP Council’s Together We Can (TWC) team with offer of support and advice.
As the country enters a second wave of increased numbers of confirmed cases of Covid-19, the council will be calling local residents across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole soon after they’ve been notified by Test and Trace to self-isolate to ensure they have the support in place in order to self-isolate successfully.
Councillor Nicola Greene, Portfolio Holder for Covid Resilience, Public Health and Education, BCP Council said:
“It’s really important that residents self-isolate if they are notified by the Test and Trace service to prevent the spread of the virus in the community and to keep themselves safe. We understand that self-isolating may be difficult for some of our residents and so our Together We Can team will be on hand to carry out a welfare check over the phone to ensure they have the support in place.”
Sam Crowe, Director of Public Health for Dorset and BCP Councils said:
“You may be told by NHS Test and Trace to self-isolate or develop COVID-19 symptoms and have to self-isolate. Self-isolation means just that. You cannot leave your home unless you are taking yourself to have a COVID-19 test. This means not going to the shops or going out for exercise.
“I would encourage residents to have a plan in place in case you need to self-isolate. Talk to your friends and family to ask if they can deliver food and medicines to you. If you do not have a network of people you can rely on, then the BCP Council Together We Can helpline is here for residents that need support.”
The Together We Can team will assess a resident’s individual support needs. If a resident is vulnerable and doesn’t have friends, family or neighbours nearby who can help to access food and prescriptions, then support can be offered through the successful volunteer scheme to provide help. Referrals can also be made to access priority supermarket delivery slots and if on a low income, advice will be given about accessing the new Test and Trace benefit payment.
The NHS Test and Trace service works in two ways, firstly, notifying a resident that they have had a confirmed test for coronavirus and advising on the their requirement to isolate and secondly, to contact those who have been in close contact with the confirmed case and inform them of the need to self-isolate.
You can call the Together We Can helpline on 0300 123 7052. The helpline is available 9-5 Monday to Friday and is for anyone who needs support and doesn’t have friends or family to support them.
Together We Can supports BCP Council’s Connected Communities priority by empowering our communities so everyone feels safe, engaged and included.