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Housing staff not specified in government list of coronavirus keyworkers
Housing staff have not been specifically included in a list of critical workers published by the government last night – although they may still be covered in a clause catching those “delivering key frontline services”.
The list published by the Department for Education determines which workers can still send their children to school despite the general shutdown of the education system.
Kate Henderson, chief executive of the National Housing Federation (NHF), has called for the government to include frontline housing workers in this category – including those who provide waking watch services in buildings with fire safety defects.
The NHF said it was "in active conversations with the government" and "seeking urgent clarification" on this point.
The organisation added: "It’s vital that frontline housing staff are classified as key workers. We’ll be updating members later today."
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But while last night’s list covers a range of sectors – from utilities to financial services – housing is not specifically mentioned.
A section on key public services does include reference to “charities and workers delivering key frontline services”, but it is not yet clear if this will cover housing staff.
Inside Housing has contacted the Department for Education for clarification.
Ms Henderson had said: “Housing staff supporting vulnerable people on the frontline – from care and outreach workers to those covering waking watches – are vital to keeping communities safe and well. We’re calling on government to class them as key workers so they can continue their essential work.”
The guidance posted by the Department for Education said keyworkers should follow several key steps, including the principle that if children can be kept away from school they should be and they should not be cared for by those in vulnerable groups.
The guidance applies to England, with Community Housing Cymru saying it is seeking “urgent clarification” on whether or not it applies across the UK.
Update at 1.50pm on 20.3.2020:
This story was updated to say that the NHF was seeking clarification from government.
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