COVID-19

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NHC updates relating to Coronavirus

 

We want to reassure you that the wellbeing of our employees, members and communities is our top priority during the Coronavirus lockdown. We maintain our member-focus, but we have implemented a number of measures to keep our staff and members safe during this time.

All our member services including procurement and events are continuing to operate effectively and as normal but on a remote or virtual basis. All our staff continue to work from home safely where they have been working since the 17th March. We have taken the decision to extend full staff homeworking until at least the end of August 2020, during which time there will be no physical events, no staff travel to member sites, and no office-based working. Our office site at Loftus House is secure and occasional pre-approved individual visits by certain members of staff for business-critical purposes will be allowed.

Following government guidance published on the 11th May 2020 in relation to employer return-to-work considerations following the Covid-19 lockdown, we have produced an NHC Covid-19 risk assessment on the basis of occasional business-critical visits to our office site and a set of protocols to be followed by staff in these circumstances. These protocols have been shared with staff by email and on our intranet. We will be working with our landlord RTC to ensure the safety of those that enter the building and in provision and promotion of frequent handwashing and hygiene practices. There are no circumstances under which we would expect any member of staff to be required to be less than 2 metres from other staff or visitors. We would expect staff time in the office to be minimal and operate on a remote check-in check-out system with line managers. Staff needing to visit the office will be able to access the office by car, foot, or bike and without using public transport. We have provided staff with links to government guidance including the latest guidance on face coverings.

In addition to office hygiene protocols we have also increased our measures to protect the mental health and wellbeing of our staff whilst working from home. As part of this, we are encouraging staff to take their well-earned annual leave during this period, supported by an event and meeting free week during week commencing 24th August 2020. Whilst there will be no engagement activity of any type planned for this particular week, please be assured that we are as busy as ever working with our membership and the sector to identify membership needs and deliver relevant events and services across this difficult period.

 

Our member meetings

All face-to-face meetings are taking place virtually or over the phone.

Our roundtables

Although we’re in uncertain times, we are committed to providing you with opportunities to come together online so we can collectively support each other during this period.

We have already held webinars with the Housing Minister, the CEO of the Regulator of Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman. Further online roundtables for different staff groups across the membership are being arranged all the time. The best way to keep up-to-date is to subscribe to our newsletter.  A full listing is also available at www.myNHC.org.uk.

Please let us know if there are specific issues we can help with by emailing enquiries@northern-consortium.org.uk and we’ll do our very best to include all suggestions.

 

We have moved our conferences online

Our Resident Involvement and Health and Building Safety conferences, both planned for June, will run online – please book as normal and we’ll keep you updated. We’re planning to run live presentations for 2-3 hours, then follow up with full presentations from all speakers on videos which you can access as and when you want to.

Our flagship Northern Housing Summit will take place on the 3rd November. Whatever stage we find ourselves at by November, this year’s Summit will address the latest challenges, and will help the North’s housing sector prepare for the future, bringing members and industry experts together.

We want to support you through the coming months, so please let us know if there are any specific issues or topics you would like us to feature in our roundtables programme and we’ll be able to respond quickly and do what we do best – connecting our members to share, learn, and lead the way.

For the latest information on any NHC event visit www.mynhc.org.uk.

 

Procurement solutions

  • We have been liaising with all our supply partners over recent weeks to ensure we understand any potential disruption to services and will continue to monitor the situation & will give early notice to any members if they are likely to be affected.
  • It’s business as usual, so we will still carry out all of our member meetings – we’ll just do it virtually! Your account executive will be in touch with you with details of how to join any upcoming meetings you have arranged.
  • We have moved all procurement events online. If you are booked onto one of our upcoming events, we will be in touch with you with details of how to join us virtually.

 

Finance and information for current NHC suppliers

All staff are currently working from home for the foreseeable future and we may also have staff unavailable at short notice.

To help us to be able to pay your invoices as efficiently as possible please could you email invoices rather than sending them through the post. Please send all invoices to finance@northern-consortium.org.uk. This email address is monitored by multiple people so if individuals aren’t available your invoice will still be processed.

Invoices received electronically will be processed promptly and will be paid on the next available payment run. We will not be making any payments by cheque payments at this time.

Hard copy invoices that we received prior to 16th March have been processed as normal, however any hard copy invoices after this date are unlikely to have been received or processed. In this case, if you are unable to send an electronic copy, please contact us at the finance email address, or contact us on 0191 566 1000, in order that we can make alternative arrangements and ensure prompt payment.

We would also appreciate it if remittances advices could be sent to finance@northern-consortium.org.uk.

If you have questions about the payment of your invoices, then please email us and we will respond as soon as we are able.

We know the months ahead are going to be challenging for people and businesses, but we will continue to support our members and do everything we can to continue providing outstanding services and delivering value for money.

Contact details for all of our staff members can be found here.