Safety first as we deliver Kairos services

My last update here was on 31 July. At that point, we thought the virus was under control in the UK. Alas, today we learn that the number of cases has risen across the country. The reason for the spike, we are told, is young people going back to school/university and/or socialising in large numbers without adhering to social distancing. The Government has announced that, from Monday 14 September, social gatherings of more than six people are not allowed either in our homes or outdoors. The requirements set out do not apply to the workplace. However, where there are movement and meetings of people we must be very careful: always maintaining social distance, sanitising hands, wearing masks etc.

Our Bethwin Road residential rehab and Linden Grove abstinence support hostel continue to maintain provision to isolate individuals, if necessary. Both still have a ‘no visitor’ policy. Both have clear sanitising stations inside their front doors (as have all Move-On houses).

Bethwin Road has had an increase in referrals and Linden Grove is currently operating a waiting list. Bethwin Road is taking the temperature of everyone who enters the building. Both services have a policy of immediate testing if anyone displays symptoms.

The Aftercare Programme is operating confidently within all requirements and recommendations and intends to keep numbers at a maximum of eight for the foreseeable future.

The Garden Day Programme has arranged and put plans in place to restart face-to-face group work and counselling from 5 October. As 66 Nunhead Lane is being refurbished, group meetings will be held at a Southwark Council facility on Nunhead Green. I will update you on this nearer the reopening date.

The Move-On team continues to work tirelessly to support its residents. Again, there are large numbers of referrals. May I remind all residents to keep adhering to the basics, which have been spelled out over the past weeks/months. Our collective vigilance is important and I think it has helped to keep our houses virus-free. Team members are now visiting their houses on a weekly basis. Maintenance work is being carried out throughout the houses. Hard as it seems, we must keep to our ‘no visitor’ policy for the time being.

Kairos+ counselling service for residents of our supported Move-on houses is meeting with management on Thursday 17 September to look at expanding the service. Two further locations for counselling are planned in the near future – one in south London and one in north London. This service is now coming to the end of its second year as a pilot and it has proven to be invaluable. It is wonderful that Kairos can benefit from an expansion of the service.

Keep vigilant, keep alert and keep safe!