Adult social care update
Your latest round up of care sector news, guidance and resources
Visiting arrangements in care homes from 19 July: latest guidance, Q&A and other resources Image created by freepik.com If you haven't seen it already, Information relating to visiting arrangements in care homes in England has been updated. This guidance came into effect on 19 July 2021 and applies to residential care homes and care home residents of all ages. Read the guidance on how to manage visits out of care homes too.
Now that most legal coronavirus restrictions have lifted across England, care colleagues and the general public will want as much reassurance as possible their relatives continue to be protected in care homes and other settings by the highest standards of care and support.
Skills for Care has updated its site with information and resources from the Department of Health and Social Care, to help your staff and visitors adapt to the recent changes.
Additions to the site include a letter from our Minister for Care, Helen Whately, an updated Q&A, and a letter and poster for care managers to download and share with visitors highlighting the continued need to observe infection prevention and control measures.
Frontline care and NHS staff can continue to work in exceptional circumstances rather than self isolate Image supplied by freepik.com As of this week, double vaccinated frontline care and NHS staff in England, who have been told to self-isolate, will be permitted to attend work in exceptional circumstances, with a revised testing regime.
This will include staff who have been contacted as a close contact of a case of COVID-19 by NHS Test and Trace, or advised to self-isolate by the NHS Covid-19 app.
The measure also includes frontline health staff and those working for independent healthcare providers, palliative and end of life care services, and hospices.
All other infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, including full use of personal protective equipment (PPE), remain in force for all staff in health and care settings.
The measure is being introduced to alleviate pressure on NHS and care services and will be contingent on staff members only working after having a negative PCR test and also taking daily negative lateral flow tests for a minimum of seven days.
Health and care staff who do test positive for COVID-19 must of course continue to self isolate in accordance with current guidance.
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