Our response to coronavirus: Safe and welcoming places to live

As the country moves out of the pandemic, we’re delighted that many of the restrictions placed on us all are starting to be lifted. It’s reassuring to be returning to normal, no more so than in the increasing levels of face-to-face contact residents and their families can enjoy.

As England’s largest not-for-profit provider of care and housing to older people, the safety and wellbeing of those living and working in our care homes and retirement communities has always been our priority – never more so than today. 

And while the way we do things has changed slightly due to coronavirus, we continue to safely welcome new residents, with all the processes and procedures in place following advice from government and our regulators, to ensure everyone has a home where they can love living in later life.

Care homes

• We understand how important visits are for everyone and are pleased that government guidelines have been eased again to allow residents to nominate up to five named people who will be able to visit regularly, supported by testing. Our homes continue to offer visits to other friends or family members through outdoor visits or inside spaces with a screen
• Vaccinations have been offered to all residents and staff
• Regular whole home Covid-19 testing – we have a robust approach to routinely testing all residents and colleagues
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) which complies with government standards is worn by all colleagues
• In person show rounds are available for you and your loved-one to look around the home, by appointment and subject to testing and safety guidelines. Virtual how show round and “meet the team” video calls are also available
• A tailored settling-in period for new residents, with a dedicated package of one-to-one activities and support that maintains everyone’s safety while settling into the home
• Experts in infection control – as members of the British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) we take cleaning and cleanliness extremely seriously, with high standards of housekeeping and deep-cleaning using the highest quality products
• Creative activity programmes developed by our in-house team of wellness coordinators, from person-centred activities to home-wide events
• Our commitment to deliver safe care is recognised by The Care Quality Commission (CQC) and we’re proud to be the most compliant large provider of residential care in the country.

Retirement housing

• Our housing managers are in regular contact with residents and update them about any changes in government guidance which may affect their location.
• We have limited the number of visitors to help protect the health and safety of our residents and recommend that any residents, colleagues, contractors and essential visitors wear face coverings in public or enclosed areas
• Residents can use the communal gardens, adhering to social distancing and following government guidance. But we strongly encourage residents to meet friends and family away from the housing location unless they are providing essential care
• Residents continue to have access to Anchor Hanover on Call, our 24-hour emergency contact service 
• Our housing managers are continuing to help coordinate and manage resident queries, health and safety checks and property contractors 
• Contractors are carrying out repairs and some improvement works on site, and are following COVID-safe measures
• We are safely welcoming new residents, through lettings and sales, in accordance with government guidance
• Residents continue to have access to: 
  • a catering service where this is part of the resident's normal service
  • BeWise, our welfare benefits and energy switching advice service
  • online services for some residents to make payments, update details etc.

As we move out of the pandemic, we continue to monitor the situation and ensure we follow and share government guidance.

We will continue to take every possible step to maintain the safety and wellbeing of our residents and colleagues. We have also published the risk assessment for our Bradford office below, as required by the latest guidance.

Useful websites

The following websites also contain useful guidance:

• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
• https://111.nhs.uk/service/COVID-19/
• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public

Useful documents

Download our housing residents' FAQs (updated 28 May 2021)

Download the risk assessment for our Bradford office (updated 1 June 2021)

Download the Staying COVID-19 Secure notice for our Bradford office