Derbyshire council announces staff will be redeployed to ensure elderly and vulnerable are getting supplies

The redeployed staff will primarily be working from home offering support and help by calling residents who have let North East District Council know they are self-isolating.

The authority will be working in partnership with Derbyshire County Council, which is coordinating help and ensuring supplies reach those in need, along with Rykneld Homes.

They have formed a Community Support Team to oversee the operation and identify those residents most in need across the District.

To ensure the most vulnerable have access to the supplies, staff from the council and Rykneld Homes, which provides housing services fr North East Derbyshire, will be redeployed as part of the operation to ensure maximum resources are made available to help local communities.

Council leader, Councillor Martin Thacker, MBE, said, “We are working together to support our residents, parish council’s and most vulnerable who are affected by this virus, and will do all we possibly can to help.

“We have taken important, decisive action, to ensure that staff who are not in essential service areas are re-deployed, resourcing the Community Support Team and offering help to those who need it most.

“This is a key time, where we want our residents to know they can rely on us to support them when they need it most. We urge anyone in our district who is in need to let us know by filling in the online form or calling us so we can help.”

The council is also working with a network of town and parish councils to deliver vital grassroots support where needed.

Steps being taken include contacting all tenants who are over seventy or classed as vulnerable to identify their needs; ensuring additional staff are able to offer increased out of hours support for the vulnerable; and drawing up a register of staff who are able to provide emergency services and who are prepared to work weekends and evenings if necessary.

Registration can be made on the website www.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk or by calling 01246 231111.