24th March 2020
This guidance from Public Health England regarding COVID-19 is for operators of registered residential care and nursing homes, including for people with learning disabilities, mental health problems and/or other disabilities.
It sets out advice on how to keep services running, including sharing of the workforce between providers and the deployment of volunteers. It also contains guidance on what to do if staff members contract the virus, alongside advice on reviewing visiting policies.
Last updated on 19 March
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL GUIDANCE
The Care Quality Commission, which regulates the care sector, wrote to providers on 16 March, available here, announcing a halt to routine inspections and a shift towards more remote measures.
Additional advice for care providers is available from the Social Care Institute for Excellence website here.
Supported living
This separate piece of guidance is aimed at providers of care and support delivered in an individual’s home.
It lays out steps that can be taken to keep services running, alongside advice on what to do if someone in supported living has symptoms of the virus. This includes information on personal protective equipment, cleaning and laundry.
Last updated on 19 March
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL GUIDANCE
Around the UK
The Scottish government has provided guidance for social or community care and residential settings here. It includes information on cleaning, visitors and caring for someone with COVID-19 (published on 23 March).
The Welsh government’s guidance for social or community care and residential settings can be found here. It includes information on how to provide care to individuals who are self-isolating (published on 9 March).
Northern Ireland’s government has now published guidance for its domiciliary care provider, which can be found here. It includes information about planning and preparation for the outbreak, supply of PPE equipment and advice for care workers concerned about the disease (published on 17 March).
The Northern Irish government has also published advice for nursing and residential care providers,which can be found here. This includes guidance on infection control and advice about visitations to care homes (published on 17 March).