Our response to Coronavirus: Safe and welcoming places to live

As England’s largest not-for-profit provider of care and housing to older people, we understand the considerable impact Coronavirus is having on the way we all live. 

We’ve harnessed the expertise of colleagues across Anchor Hanover to ensure we’re not only following the latest government infection-control guidance, but doing so to create the safe and welcoming homes that we’ve been proud to provide for more than 50 years.

A message from Anchor Hanover Chief Executive, Jane Ashcroft CBE

Here’s how we’re ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our residents is central to everything we do – while offering a welcoming home to everyone who lives with us.

Care homes

Safe

• Skilled care teams trained in infection-control
• Personal protective equipment worn and substantial quantities of PPE available as a result of our robust supply chains
• Our homes were among the first in the country to take part in the government’s care home testing programme in July – and have been regularly testing colleagues and residents since
• We’re a member of the British Institute of Cleaning Science, giving us access to specialist cleaning advice and support
• A two-week settling-in period for new residents, with a dedicated package of one-to-one activities and support before they can join other residents. This settling-in period is fully compliant with Public Health England guidance – but with the Anchor Hanover personalised touch

Welcoming

• Virtual showrounds available so potential residents can meet the care team and take a virtual tour of our homes 
• From day one of moving in, our housekeeping teams make sure bedrooms and laundry services are tailored to our residents’ needs
• Expert catering teams creating delicious menus from freshly-prepared ingredients  
• A range of safe visiting options for loved ones. We appreciate the government-imposed limit on face-to-face contact with family and friends during the pandemic is upsetting, and so have invested significantly to provide options bespoke to individual homes. Check with the home manager for details
• Care teams skilled in technology to help our residents connect by Skype, Facetime, or our new app for sharing photos, videos, updates and memories
• Creative activity programmes developed by our in-house team of wellness coordinators, from person-centred activities to home-wide events, such as our hugely popular Summer of Sport 2020 activity, which saw care home residents taking part in a range of sporting challenges in disciplines such as basketball, football and table tennis, a huge hit on social media, check out #SummerofSport2020 to find out more. 

Housing

In our retirement housing, we are continuing to provide the following services, outside of any local restrictions:

•  Our housing managers are working on site to help coordinate and manage resident queries, health and safety checks and property contractors 
• Where local circumstances allow, our communal areas including gardens remain open
• We continue to limit the number of visitors to help protect the health and safety of our residents and recommend that any visitors wear face coverings
• Residents can meet with members of their support bubble in the communal gardens. But we strongly encourage residents to meet their friends and relatives away from the housing location unless they are providing them with essential care
• Residents have access to Anchor Hanover on Call, our 24-hour emergency contact service 
• Contractors are carrying out repairs and some improvement works on site, ensuring they are following Covid-safe measures
• We are welcoming new residents, through lettings and sales, in accordance with government guidance
• Residents 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 residents to make payments, update details etc.

Our housing managers are in regular contact with residents and update them about any changes which may affect their location, such as local restrictions.

We are continuously monitoring the situation and official advice. Our Executive Team and Operational Teams are holding regular coronavirus calls to ensure effective following and sharing of government guidance. 

The safety and wellbeing of our residents and colleagues is paramount. We are taking every possible step to safeguard this while continuing to support our residents. 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 25 September 2020)

Download the risk assessment for our Bradford office (updated 1 September 2020)

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