This information was last updated on 22 October 2020

• The latest version of the local outbreak and control plan, can be found here.

The local outbreak prevention and control plan outlines the approach Northumberland County Council will take to work collaboratively with our partners and stakeholders to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and to act quickly to manage clusters or outbreaks where they are suspected or confirmed. It will ensure we are prepared to effectively contain and reduce the spread within the community.

The Northumberland Health and Wellbeing Board will take on the role of the COVID-19 Control Board and, through strategic oversight of the plan, will be responsible for its development and delivery.

The local outbreak prevention and control plan was approved at the Health and Wellbeing Board on 9 July. It is a dynamic document which will be reviewed and amended regularly to reflect the latest guidance, evidence and thinking. 

The Northumberland COVID 19 Health Protection Board will act as a senior operational group by bringing together professional leads from the organisations involved. This will be chaired by the Director of Public Health.

 

Communications and Engagement Strategy

Over recent weeks an extensive stakeholder mapping exercise has been carried out, speaking with key people from the five priority areas to build an understanding of how each communicates, to identify working and what’s not, and identify any gaps where further work and support is required. 

Interviews have been carried out with key professionals, including council officers, partner public and voluntary sector organisations, senior education and clinical staff, and businesses and commercial networks, to inform this work.  

This was a comprehensive exercise, which has informed the development of the Local COVID-19 Outbreak Prevention and Control Plan Communications and Engagement Strategy.

Priorities

We have identified 5 priority areas as part of the Northumberland plan:

1. Care homes and residential settings
2. Educational settings
3. Complex individuals and communities
4. Complex settings
5. Workplaces and businesses

For each of these priorities we have wrap around teams that will work to prevent outbreaks in these settings and manage any outbreaks with Public Health England should they occur. 

If you would like to give feedback on the plan, contact us with your comments and suggestions.

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