Information for partners and stakeholders

Care & Repair Cymru and Care & Repair Agencies are committed to:

• working together to ensure that we continue to deliver a consistent level of service across Wales;
• balancing a wide range of interests – those of our staff and our clients, their respective families and the wider public, the Welsh Government, our statutory and third sector partners, and our project funders;

• ensuring that we are doing everything we can to support older people's health and well-being at home, especially those most vulnerable. We will do so in a way that minimises any health risks to them and to our staff.

Care & Repair Cymru has closed its office and all staff are working from home. You can still contact the team via our office number – 02920 107580. Our individual contact details are here. We encourage email correspondence rather than paper. If there are items that need to be sent, we are still able to receive post to our office address.

Care & Repair Agency offices across Wales are also closed and most staff working remotely. You can find details of your local agency here, including any specific update to their services. You can also contact your local agency by phoning 0300 111 3333 from a landline.

Caseworkers are delivering their information, advice and assessment services by phone rather than home visit. This can include healthy home advice and information on aids, adaptations and home maintenance to improve older people's home safety, as well as welfare benefit eligibility and claims advice, information on local community support services including hardship funding, and referral to practical services. More proactive, general support will be provided to those most vulnerable clients including those with sensory and cognitive loss, via the Managing Better caseworker team.

Care & Repair Caseworkers work closely with other local teams. They can put clients in touch with a wide range of other support services.

Local handyperson and multi-skilled operative teams are continuing to deliver critical prevention, urgent and/or emergency and hospital discharge works in older people's homes.

Risk assessment procedures have been adjusted to include the specific threat posed by Covid-19. They are tailored to the particular vulnerability of our clients and mean that we are able to continue delivering our services even to those older people who are 'shielding' (at highest risk from the virus) and those showing symptoms.

Handypersons/operatives will carry Compliance Statements confirming the nature of their business and its exemption from the Government's 'stay at home' rules. They will be following Government guidelines on correct hygiene (in relation to themselves, their tools and equipment) and will wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including and not limited to: 

protective (washable/disposable) clothing, masks, gloves, sanitising gel/wipes for hands and tools). They will maintain strict social distancing. Clients will be asked to remain in another room whilst works are being completed in their home.

External work carries a lower risk of virus transmission, however handypersons/ operatives will still wear appropriate PPE, exercise correct hygiene and social distancing in line with government guidelines.

NHS Wales needs help to maximise numbers of beds available in hospitals. Welsh Government will be issuing guidance on new hospital discharge procedures. It is likely to place even greater emphasis on our hospital-to-home working. 

We are committed to working with all our partners in support. If needed and the resources are available, we will increase this service to help patient flow through the hospitals by supporting patients to return to a safe, warm home.

We are committed to working closely with the Welsh Government, local authorities, the Welsh NHS and other third sector organisations to continue to deliver vital services for the most vulnerable older people needing our support and help. Each Care & Repair Agency across Wales will operate a response that is tailored to their area.

We are keen to work with other local, regional and national organisations to make sure that older people get the essential items and support they need, especially during this acute period. If you are developing new services and/or new ways of working, and want to discuss working in partnership with us, please get in touch by phoning 0300 111 3333.

For more information:

https://gov.wales/business-and-employers-coronavirus