Walsall Council Winter Preparedness 2014 By Adam Biggs (Health Emergency Planner)

Content  Background  Social Care Arrangements  Emergency Planning Arrangements  Public Health Arrangements  Keep Warm, Keep Well Leaflet  Walsall Weather Page  Questions

Background  Responsibility every year to ensure winter arrangements are in place  Public Health responsible for Walsall Cold Weather Plan and key health messages  Different Service roles required during winter from gritting to care  Joint working between Council and Health services is developed and dovetailed where appropriate

Social Care  General information on inclement weather plans can be found on the council website  Individual Carers of customers will be contacted directly by Social Care staff of any cancelation of transport  Service arrangement in place to minimise disruption  We have a team of staff who watch over vulnerable service users and are on duty to respond as required Please contact for further information on: When can you ring?  During inclement weather between 7:45am – 17:00pm  None inclement weather between 8:30am -17:00pm

Emergency Planning  Development of winter preparedness  Business Continuity planning – maintain Council services  24/7 emergency response  Communication plan outlining how internal and external communication will be developed  Coordination of resources required e.g. Rest Centres opened in response to severe weather

Public Health  Statutory responsibility over health advice/protection of Walsall population i.e. Health Checks & Infectious disease  Cold Weather Planning – health advice to the public “The Cold Weather Plan for England is a framework intended to protect the population from harm to health from cold weather. It aims to prevent the major avoidable effects on health during periods of cold weather in England by alerting people to the negative health effects of cold weather, and enabling them to prepare and respond appropriately.”

Public Health Arrangements Gaining Assurance with key partners i.e. Care Homes Ensuring Actions are taken from Walsall Council, Walsall CCG and Walsall Health Trust Ensuring Accountability and Responsibility through action cards Ensuring Joint Approach within Walsall i.e. Voluntary Sector

Keep Warm, Keep Well Leaflet

Walsall Weather page Up-to-date Weather Information Weather Advice Health Advice Updates Blogging system

Thank you for listening