Updated 2 April to include list of Tower Hamlets Council approved care agencies
Most people will have a contingency plan in their existing support plan. But it might only include things like “rely on other PAs/carers” or “get a family member to help” or “get extra support from an agency”. These options might not be possible at the moment because other people might get ill, or be forced to isolate separately from you. In addition many agencies are currently under extreme pressure because their own staff are already self-isolating.
So it’s important that you think now about what would happen if your current arrangements aren’t going to work. Remember that this might happen at short notice, and be for 7 or 14 days. Consider asking yourself the following questions, and discussing them with people around you:
- What would happen if you became ill?
- What would happen if your PA/carer became ill (when at home, or on a shift)?
- What would you do if someone you live with develops symptoms (and therefore the household needs to isolate for 14 days)?
- What would you do if someone your PA/carer lives with develops symptoms (and therefore their whole household needs to isolate for 14 days)?
- Have you contacted agencies (or maybe former PAs/carers) for backup arrangements in advance?You can also contact organisations like PA Pool or Independent Living Alternatives.
- Have you got a list of other family and friends that could help out as a matter of last resort?
- Is there anyone you need to train on anything now (e.g. using specialist equipment, or manual handling training)?
- Have you considered using community-based help or other ways of getting access to things like food?
Contacting local care agencies
Tower Hamlets Council have provided the list of home care agencies below. They operate on a locality basis, and it’s advised that direct payments users contact their locality provider first. This will reduce the amount of travelling for care workers as well as the risk of cross infection. But you can contact any provider as not all providers will have capacity to provide additional support. They are under pressure because of extra demand, and reduced availability of their own staff pool.