It may not come as too much of a surprise to you that we talked today about the risks of coming together again. The conversation started with a chat about the concert in Liverpool that took place over the weekend. There was a sense of it feeling a bit bonkers, but wondered if we can learn from what they did to reduce risk and keep safe, given that we don’t necessarily want to continue to stay in our isolated bubbles.
Paul said they have met for their fourth group walk and there was much admiration for a chap who walked with his walker around the park despite being puffed out!
Irene said that DEEP Vibes met for their first walk and it was just brilliant. Everybody loved it.
Another facilitator was feeling very frustrated and sad by her sense of letting the people she supports down. Her organisation are very clear about not engaging in any face to face meetings or activities. Yet, as an individual, she knows that so many of the people she knows want to and would benefit from meeting up.
Maq said that a first step in to the big wide world is a step made easier by the safety and confidence boost of our group member friends. Meeting your group will help build your confidence to face the big wide world again when you are ready.
Irene has kindly shared the risk assessments for the group on their Scarborough beach walks.
Risk Assessment July 2020 Socially distanced Walk on North Bay Beach.
Risk Assessment August 2020 S Brokered socially distanced walk or picnic.
We then discussed how sometimes we need to really highlight the benefits to people. We need to be explicit about the benefits outweighing the risks. Dementia Adventure have a risk/benefit template which is useful to look at to think about embedding this in your own risk assessment.
Copy of Template DA Out and About 2020
We also talked about some steps that could be easily adopted as procedure for meeting up.
- Every person in a group can have a care worker allocated – so although there is a limit of six people meeting you can still have extra numbers in a group if you are a care worker.
- All people should have had both COVID jabs.
- All people should complete a negative lateral flow test a couple of days before and on the day on the meeting. Anybody can order a lateral flow test kit containing 7 tests from the website https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests
- Agree to meet outdoors
- Agree to wear face masks
- Agree to 2 metre distance
- Complete a risk/benefit assessment with each person
- Use the QR code scanner COVID App for every location e.g. Cafe
One organisation is going to be running a webinar for all staff about being able to come back together again, but they were not sure when this would be.
Hopefully we have a few months where we can embrace the opportunities for meeting up outside. This isn’t going to be easy for everybody and it is worth bearing some key things in mind:
- Ease of getting to where you are meeting
- Check it is not to busy (too many people, too noisy)
- Access to toilets (clean)
- Somewhere to sit (clean)
- Refreshments (bring your own?)
- Rain!!! Be prepared.
Do you have any other top tips?
The next facilitators meeting is on Wednesday 12th May at 12.30. Please book with Anna Anna@myid.org.uk
