Practical Advice, Articles & Guidance
We are going through unprecedented times and understand that over the past week, many of us have transitioned to new ways of working at short notice.
In order to help support each other through these challenges and changes, we’ve pulled together some resources from trusted sources on resilience, remote working, mental health, and wellbeing, alongside some sharable resources to help support you and your teams over the coming weeks.
We’ll be updating the information on this page on a regular basis, so please feel free to get in touch if you have any resources such as blogs, videos or infographics you’d like to share.
Resource Hub
Resilience Resources
Remote Working Resources
Mental Health & Wellbeing Resources
Shareable Resources
Virtual Recruitment Resources
Watch this space
We are continually creating new resources to help support you in your development. Watch this space for new content.
Knowledge Sharing
Working Parents/Carers and Childcare during Covid-19 closures: Safeguarding Risks/Implications
It’s vital to ensure that organisations are aware of all the safeguarding risks associated with distance learning and children in the workplace. We are here to help our customers who are affected by the impact of Covid-19 in these challenging times and have created this guide on some of the safeguarding risks and implications.
This content has been shared with us by Solace Business Partner, Zurich.
Zurich Risk Insights: The Cyber Dimension of the Coronavirus
Now is also the time to be vigilant against cyber-attacks. Since the beginning of February a five-fold increase in the number of cyber incidents has been noted, particularly in Europe. In addition to generating awareness the document aims to outline practical tips for companies and individuals on how to mitigate cyber risks in the current situation and beyond. Read the article here.
This content has been shared with us by Solace Business Partner, Zurich.
Celebrating the work of library staff during the COVID-19 epidemic
A new video series explores how public library services have been responding to the coronavirus epidemic and the new roles and skills their teams have been taking on. Featuring Tower Hamlets, Gateshead, Merton, Bracknell Forest, Slough and Buckinghamshire Councils, the videos come from Solace business partner Activist Group.
This content has been shared with us by Solace Business Partner, Activist
Forthcoming Legal Events and Resources
Articles, news, and details of future events covering law, COVID-19, and local government are available to view on Bevan Brittan’s resource page.
This content has been shared with us by Solace Business Partner, Bevan Brittan.
MHCLG Call for Interviewees
MHCLG’S Local Digital Collaboration Unit are currently conducting research into how to effectively increase cyber resilience and security within local authorities. If you are working within a local authority and have responsibility for cyber resilience, and would like to participate in their work, please complete this short form.
The team are looking for the following:
– Senior Leadership Team members
– Cyber Responsible tech persons
– Service Managers (non-IT, child care family support etc)
– Procurement roles
– Chief Security Officer (CSO), Chief Data Officer (CDO), CISOs
Your participation will involve 2-3 one hour sessions over the next 10 weeks (25th May – 24th July), at a time that’s convenient to you. Each one hour session will be held remotely via a video conferencing tool.
The C19 National Foresight Working Group
The C19 National Foresight Working Group has written a briefing paper in order to build a (provisional) picture about who is likely to be most affected by Covid-19 and the impacts from measures we had to implement. Using data in this way, the group intends to build existing and emerging risk profiles from Covid-19.
Following feedback, the have created a bespoke app to share practice between LRFs. The C19 Foresight LRF Similarity App enables you to find similar Local Resilience Forums in England and Wales based on single or multiple parameters. Read more on the app here.
Outdoors activity advice
The Ordnance Survey has worked with Natural England to create a website that brings together current advice from government, councils and other outdoor organisations, so the public can decide where to go and what to do outside. The site allows visitors to search by activity and location for suggestions and ideas about how they can get outside safely.
Inner Circle Consulting Webinar
Solace business partner Inner Circle Consulting are holding a free webinar focusing on the tools that Councils can employ to implement resilience, recovery, and rebuilding of high streets, town centres, and retail areas. It will take place on Tuesday, 9 June, 8:30am-9:30am including a Q&A. Register for the free webinar here.
Analysis on Pavements and Social Distancing
New spatial analysis has found that most pavements around the country are less than 3 metres wide, making it difficult for pedestrians to remain 2 metres apart and follow government guidelines for social distancing. Using measurements from Ordnance Survey, Solace Business Partner Esri UK has created a map of all pavement widths, discovering that only 30% of Great Britain’s pavements are at least 3 metres wide. Maps were created to help local authorities make walking safer for the public.
How can councils best support care providers through these unprecedented times?
A new blog hightlights the need for collaborative working and sharing of information between councils and providers (as well as health partners, and actionable up-to-date insight to help councils make informed decisions. It was written by Nick Clarke, Head of Social Care Consulting at Solace Business Partner, Grant Thornton, and was published by ADASS.
Blogs & Useful Articles
PHE blog: novel coronavirus - what you need to know
Public Health England is addressing common questions on its Public Health Matters blog.
PHE blog: what is contact tracing?
One of the ways in which PHE seek to protect the public from infectious diseases like novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is contact tracing. In this blog Nick Phin, Deputy Director at PHE’s National Infections Service, answers some questions about what is contract tracing.
PHE blog: what is self-isolation and why is it important?
Public Health England explains what self-isolation is, why it is important, and which groups are currently being advised to self-isolate.
PHE Campaign Resource Centre: novel coronavirus
Public Health England has launched a UK-wide public information campaign to advise the public on how to slow the spread of coronavirus and reduce the impact on NHS services. Its Campaign Resource Centre holds materials that can be used by councils for distribution to their communities.
Coronavirus - what you need to know
A useful page of regularly updated FAQs put together by Public Health England.
Claiming benefits
The Department for Work and Pensions has published information on coronavirus and claiming benefits on its Understanding Universal Credit website.
COVID-19 outbreak - councillor guidance
The Local Government Association have developed a COVID-19 guide for councillors, focusing on issues relevant to their involvement in leading and protecting their communities during the coronavirus outbreak, as well as in delivering the full range of normal council services.
A Whole New World: Public Service in the time of Coronavirus
A blog by Adrian Brown, Executive Director, Centre for Public Impact, Andy Brogan, Partner, Easier Inc, Anna Randle, Chief Executive, Collaborate CIC & Toby Lowe, Newcastle Business School.
Coronavirus is creating a huge number of radical challenges for “public servants” from all sectors. How will we care for people when our workforce is sick or isolated? How will people reliant on gig economy jobs put food on the table? These and other incredible challenges are creating a whole new world for public servants to work within.
Twenty tips for guarding against depression and anxiety in the era of self-isolation
Those of us who joined us at our 2019 Solace Summit may remember Alastair Campbell's talk which focused on mental health. In this blog, Alastair shares twenty tips for guarding against depression and anxiety in the era of self-isolation.
Beyond COVID-19
Long-term Solace sponsor EY have published a report via their think tank, EYQ which provides some insights into the new normal that lies beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, and what considerations business leaders should factor into planning for the new normal today.
How to help
Across the UK, hundreds of groups have sprung up in order to help support the most vulnerable people in our communities.
To find a mutual aid group in your area, click here to visit the COVID Mutual Aid site.
Your NHS Needs You!
NHS Volunteer Responders has been set up to support the NHS during the COVID-19 outbreak. To do this we need an ‘army’ of volunteers who can support the 1.5m people in England who are at most risk from the virus to stay well. Our doctors, nurses and other professionals will be able to refer people in to NHS Volunteer Responders and be confident that they have been matched with a reliable, named volunteer.
To register your interest, click here to be taken to the Good Sam site.
Ways to Help During the Coronavirus Crisis
We’ve put together a short guide for anyone wondering how they can help during the Coronavirus crisis.
Click here to download your copy, and feel free to let us know if you know of any other non-profits supporting the most vulnerable during the crisis we can help to raise awareness of.
A video from The Guardian
In this short video from The Guardian, Australian academic, psychologist and author Lea Waters discusses how altruistic behaviours are vital for our mental health as we come to grips both personally and as a society with the coronavirus crisis.
Click here to watch the video on The Guardian website.