Updated 19.7.2021
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
We have made a list of questions we are most often asked. We will update these regularly.
Question: I’m worried about the relaxation of the rules. What should I do to keep safe?
Answer: We understand that people may feel worried about the changes to the restrictions. The Government’s full guidance is available at here. We will share links to any other guidance if things change.
Remember that you should still…
▪️ Wear a face covering when asked to
▪️ Take a test if you have any symptoms
▪️ Self isolate (this means stay at home away from others) if you are asked to
Question: Are there pop up vaccine clinics I can go to in Cheshire West?
Answer: Yes. We will share the place and time of pop up clinics on our Facebook page. You can also find the information for your area on your local council website.
Question: Can my Personal Assistant(s)(PA) get regular Covid 19 tests?
Answer: Yes.
Your PA(s) can now get a weekly Coronavirus (Covid19) test offered by NHS Test and Trace.
They will need to sign up to a webinar (online training) where they will get all the information they need to get their regular tests.
For more information and to sign up for the webinar go to the government website Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for personal assistants – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
For testing ,a personal assistant as someone who is directly employed by an individual (or self-employed) to provide care and support to enable them to live as independently as possible.
If the website isn’t working / there are no home test kits available please try again as soon as possible after 8am or 12pm when test kit allocations are refreshed.
If you’re having difficulties, call 119 between 7am and 11pm for assistance and say you’re a personal assistant (PA) or calling on behalf on your PA.
If your PA has to self isolate, they may be entitled to a payment of £500.
Links to advice on coronavirus
Below are links to general advice and information
These links are to information or support not managed by Disability Positive but may be useful:
Links and downloads
- Coronavirus overview – nhs.uk website
- National lockdown: Stay at Home – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Coronavirus Vaccines – nhs.uk website
- Reasonable adjustments for Covid vaccine for adults with autism – template
- Care plan for Covid vaccine for adults with autism -template
- Guidance on Covid-19 for people who receive a Direct Payment GOV.UK website
- Easy read guide to coronavirus
- Easy read guide to Coronavirus Vaccination
- Coronavirus: NHS Advice – nhs.uk website
- NHS Coronavirus 111 Service
- Coronavirus: latest information and advice – GOV.UK website
- Cheshire West and Chester Council Coronavirus information
- Cheshire West and Chester Council FAQs on Coronavirus
- Live Well Cheshire West and Chester – advice and information
- Cheshire East Council Coronavirus Information
- Lancashire County Council Coronavirus Information
- Bolton Council Coronavirus Information
- Advice on Coronavirus for carers from Carers UK
- Facebook support group ‘The Bunker’. This is a support group for disabled people who are self isolating and employ a personal assistant.
- Coping with Coronavirus Wordless books
Pop-up Vaccination Clinics – Cheshire West (over 40’s)
COVID-19 Roving Vaccination Clinics – from Monday 21st June 2021 (updated) Are you aged 40 or over and haven’t yet had your FIRST vaccination against COVID-19 or do you know someone who falls into this group (family member, friend, neighbour,…
Continue Reading Pop-up Vaccination Clinics – Cheshire West (over 40’s)
Disability Positive signs open statement to government and NHS
Disability Positive has signed an open statement today (19 February 2021) calling on the government and NHS to recognise the impact of Coronavirus on the lives of disabled people. Along with many other disabled people’s organisations and allies, we want…
Continue Reading Disability Positive signs open statement to government and NHS
Unpaid Carers Offered Covid 19 Vaccine
Did you know that if you are an unpaid carer you can get a Covid 19 vaccine? The NHS is now offering the Covid 19 vaccine to people in priority group 6, which includes adult carers. This means people who…
Winter Grant Scheme – Cheshire West & Chester
Cheshire West and Chester Council winter grant scheme has now CLOSED. Are you struggling due to Covid-19?Do you need a bit of extra help with buying food and paying bills this winter ? We have been given funding as part…
Continue Reading Winter Grant Scheme – Cheshire West & Chester
Covid-19 Vaccine Scam – BEWARE!
Cheshire Police warn residents of an email scam inviting you for a Covid-19 vaccine.
Coronavirus: Don’t forget – new national rules from Thursday 5th November 2020
The new lock down restrictions start midnight tonight until the 2nd December 2020. Here’s what we should and shouldn’t do.
Continue Reading Coronavirus: Don’t forget – new national rules from Thursday 5th November 2020
Covid-19 Alert Level Post-Code Checker
The Government’s Coronavirus alert post code checker is now live! Enter the postcode of the place you want to find information about. For example where you live, work, or visit. Each area has a Local COVID Alert Level. There are 3…
Cheshire Covid-19 Restrictions
Know your support bubble! As Cheshire has been rated as being on High alert due to the level of the ‘R’ rating, the councils have listed the following restrictions: ℹ️ People must not socialise with anybody outside of their household…
Covid-19 Antibody tests available for Personal Assistants
COVID-19 antibody testing is now available across England for personal assistants who provide support to an adult. An antibody test will tell you if you’ve previously had the virus. If you’re in England you can only register for a test…
Continue Reading Covid-19 Antibody tests available for Personal Assistants
Mencap create an Easy Read guide to the NHS Covid-19 app
Mencap Charity have created an easy read guide for people with learning disabilities on understanding and using the NHS Covid-19 App recently published. Click here for the easy read Covid-19 App guide Mencap also have up to date easy read…
Continue Reading Mencap create an Easy Read guide to the NHS Covid-19 app
Information for parents/carers of children in Cheshire West returning to education
As children have now returned to school you may have concerns or questions with regards to their safety and what you/your child can expect. Livewell (Cheshire West and Chester Council) have a dedicated web page containing information for parents and…
Continue Reading Information for parents/carers of children in Cheshire West returning to education
Disability Positive Virtual AGM
We need you!Our AGM is open to all our members, and if you are not a member yet, there is still time to sign up here Wednesday 30th September6.30 – 8.30pmVia Zoom We want to know:What matters to you?What would…
Guidance change for people who are shielding – Covid19
If you’re clinically extremely vulnerable to the effects of Covid19 you should have received a letter confirming this or have been told directly by your GP or hospital clinician from the onset of the pandemic. You were described as ‘shielding’.…
Continue Reading Guidance change for people who are shielding – Covid19
Calling all Carers! – Carers Strategy Consultation
Groups that support carers in west Cheshire are coming together to ask, ‘What’s it like to be an unpaid carer in 2020?’ This year, because of Coronavirus, people across the area are continuing to face new challenges and carers are…
Continue Reading Calling all Carers! – Carers Strategy Consultation
Increase in self isolation period to contain the virus from spiking – Covid-19
The UK Chief Medical Officers have increased the self-isolation period from 7 to 10 days if you have tested positive for the Coronavirus.Evidence, although still limited, has strengthened and shows that people with COVID-19 who are mildly ill and are…
Continue Reading Increase in self isolation period to contain the virus from spiking – Covid-19
Disabled people’s led organisations challenge government record – Covid-19
27th July 2020 Disabled people’s led organisations from across England, including Disability Positive, have written to the Prime Minister highlighting the devastating impact of the coronavirus crisis on the lives of disabled people. Two thirds of all deaths so far…
Continue Reading Disabled people’s led organisations challenge government record – Covid-19
UK Government issued ‘official exemption card’ for people unable to wear a face-mask – Covid-19
The UK government has issued an official face mask ‘exemption card‘ for people living with disabilities or long term conditions.
Update – Some people with disabilities or long term health conditions are exempt from new face covering rules – Covid-19
Disability Positive CEO said: “I’m delighted that the guidance makes clear that if wearing a face covering is difficult because of disability, health condition or communication issues, then you do not have to wear one”
Exemptions to wearing a face covering where they are mandated – Covid-19
You do not need to wear a face covering if you have a legitimate reason not to. This includes: young children under the age of 11not being able to put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a…
Continue Reading Exemptions to wearing a face covering where they are mandated – Covid-19
Majority of children no longer need to shield – Covid-19
The majority of children currently considered ‘extremely clinically vulnerable’ to the effects of coronavirus (COVID-19) will be able to be removed from the shielded patient list. Evidence from paediatric clinicians shows COVID-19 poses a low risk to children and young…
Continue Reading Majority of children no longer need to shield – Covid-19
Advisory guidance eased for people classed as ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ to the effects of the virus – Covid19
Millions of people shielding from coronavirus (COVID-19) will be advised they can spend more time outside their homes from Monday 6th July. Advisory guidance is to be eased for 2.2 million people who were classed as ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ to…
What I can do that I couldn’t do before from the 4th July 2020 – Covid19
The government has set out its plan to return life to as near normal as we can, for as many people as we can, as quickly and fairly as possible in order to safeguard livelihoods, but in a way that…
Continue Reading What I can do that I couldn’t do before from the 4th July 2020 – Covid19
Plans to ease guidance for over 2 million shielding – Covid-19
Millions of people shielding from coronavirus (COVID-19) will be advised they can spend more time outside their homes from Monday 6 July, the Health and Social Care Secretary has announced. From Monday 6 July, those shielding from coronavirus can gather…
Continue Reading Plans to ease guidance for over 2 million shielding – Covid-19
Not all public toilets are open – includes accessible toilets!
We know not all disabilities are visible, and those who live with Crohns disease, (IBS) Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Colitis type conditions are advised that if they brave the high street it would be best if they check that the…
Continue Reading Not all public toilets are open – includes accessible toilets!
From 15/6/2020 it is Mandatory to wear Face Covering/Masks on all Public Transport – with exemptions…
Passengers who don’t follow the new rules on face coverings will not be allowed to travel on public transport. It remains clear that people should continue to avoid taking public transport (bus, taxi, aeroplane, ferry etc) where possible. By mandating…
What is a ‘Support Bubble’ and who can have one?
From Saturday 13th June people in England, living alone, can have a support bubble with one other household, as part of the government’s latest efforts to address the challenges during the coronavirus lockdown. Single adult households in England, including single…
Continue Reading What is a ‘Support Bubble’ and who can have one?
Updated guidance for people who are shielding from Covid-19
Guidance is for people, including children, who are clinically extremely vulnerable to the affects of Coronavirus plus their family, friends and carers. They should have received a letter advising them to shield or have been told by their GP or hospital clinician.…
Continue Reading Updated guidance for people who are shielding from Covid-19
How does Test and Trace work?
If you have been in contact with someone who tested positive for coronavirus, here’s what will happen:➡️ You will be alerted by text, email or phone if you’re at risk➡️ If contacted, you MUST self-isolate for 14 daysLearn more via UK Government…
NHS Track & Trace
The latest regarding the NHS Test and Trace service is that some people will be asked to self-isolate if they’ve been in close contact with a confirmed case. You must then complete the full 14 day self-isolation… ⚠️BEWARE of scammers…
⚠️ Changes to DBS ID checking guidelines
There have been some temporary changes to DBS ID checking guidelines which may be useful for Individual Employers and Personal Health Budget holders.Please click on the link here for full information.
