Like many organisations, the services NHG provides require a high degree of face-to-face contact.
As of 22 June, here is how we have changed the delivery of some of our services:
Dealing with anti-social behaviour (ASB)
While we still encourage you to report ASB to us, where possible
we are asking staff to use video and telephone interviews. With staff not able to visit, in order for us to build a case we rely on you to gather as much evidence as possible.
While we have had increased reports of household noise during lockdown, new forms of ASB, such as hosting parties or coughing at people, are also being considered.
Domestic abuse
We have been raising awareness among frontline staff regarding how to spot signs of possible domestic abuse during the lockdown and discreetly check in with residents. This could include seeing an increase in ASB, noise/nuisance reports or repairs requests.
Staff have also been taught how to report instances of domestic abuse to the right agencies. As ever, we invite you to get in touch should you need support. More information and support.
Lettings
During the first weeks of lockdown, we were only allowed to do lettings in emergency situations. Now that the government has lifted restrictions on moving home, we are supporting people who want to move but we are still avoiding mass viewings.
To minimise physical contact for you and our staff, we are piloting online viewings and only doing face-to-face viewings if the applicant is genuinely interested. Throughout the viewing, applicants are asked to respect social distancing measures and staff carry out a risk assessment beforehand. This is to ensure that nobody who plans to attend a viewing has coronavirus symptoms.
Finally, we have scrapped in person sign-ups and are using online tenancy agreements and forms.
Estate inspections
With lockdown restrictions easing, we have re-started inspecting high priority blocks and estates, and over 450 resident monitors are supporting us (to become an estate monitor, see our article).
We are continuing to look at how we can get colleagues safely back into your communities.