Our latest COVID Policies
With so many changes being made almost daily, we ask anyone who is intersted in our Full Covid policy to contact us for the latest verion, however please find a brief summary below.
Staff:
Staff need to be aware of the responsibilities of informing the management of any symptoms of the virus. The incubation period of COVID-19 is between 2 and 14 days.
Staff:
Staff need to be aware of the responsibilities of informing the management of any symptoms of the virus. The incubation period of COVID-19 is between 2 and 14 days.
Symptoms of coronavirus
- a fever -high temperature - 38 degrees Celsius or above.
- a cough - this can be any kind of cough, not just dry.
- shortness of breath or breathing difficulties.
- loss or change to your sense of smell or taste – this means that you have noticed that you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal.
These symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness. The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.
If staff exhibit any of the above symptoms, they must stay at home for the required time.
Do not go to your GP, an Outpatient Walk-In or Hospital. Follow the advice given on the above website. Staff must then inform their employer as soon as practicable to inhibit the spread of the virus.
Employers advice will then be given to individual staff who may have contracted the virus on what they must do next including where a sick note has been issued.
Testing for service users and workers guidance
Coronavirus (Covid-19) testing for homecare workers https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-homecare-workers
Coronavirus ( Covid19) getting tested. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested#essential-workers
Employees returning from Annual Leave
All employees returning from certain designated areas must contact NHS 111 and inform their employer, of the advice given before they return to work.
The Government regularly updates the information about COVID-19, and everyone must keep up to date with the latest official advice on travelling to and from certain countries.
(UPDATE AS NECESSARY USING LATEST GOVERNMENT DATA)
This is to delay the spread of infection to both staff and service users.
Staff must be kept up to date through formally identified communication channels.
Employees returning to work
How to travel safely https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers
Guidance for Health and Social Care Staff car sharing for essential Practice https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/covid-19-coronavirus/guidance-hsc-staff-healthcare-workers-and-care-providers/guidance-health-and
How to work safely in peoples own homes
PHE recommends that the best way to reduce any risk of infection is good hygiene and avoiding direct or close contact (closer than 2 metres) with any potentially infected person.
Any member of staff who deals with members of the public from behind a full screen will be protected from airborne particles.
Face Masks
Facemasks are recommended to be worn by symptomatic individuals and those staff involved in care and support to reduce the risk of transmitting the infection to other people. However, guidance from CCG’s, and Health Professionals can vary in different regions of the country and so ensure you follow local advice.
Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-infection-control-fund/about-the-adult-social-care-infection-control-fund
· A Risk Assessment must be carried out for any staff member who is pregnant and/or BAME and/or clinically vulnerable (including 'shielded' employees).
· Hold a meeting with the member of staff (see guidance below).
· Line managers should remember that individual staff have a right to confidentiality about any health condition they may have.
· To enable you to complete the Risk Assessment you can ask staff if they have a condition which is identified in the governments ‘social distancing’ guidance or the ‘shielding’ advice however you do not need to know the specific details of the condition, that is confidential to the staff member.
· Members of staff should be involved in the risk assessment process.
· Where a risk assessment identifies that a staff member is at high risk, staff should be redeployed to a lower-risk area, the Individual should avoid caring for any suspected or confirmed person with COVID-19.
· If they are working in a care role consider if a non-care role is available, should these not be possible, consider home-working if enabled/ operationally feasible.
Service Users:
All steps must be taken to protect and mitigate the spread of the virus to the people who matter most, our service users. Staff must remain calm, diligent and observation will be key to picking up any likely infection source. Close monitoring of service users should be introduced so that any contagion is picked up as early as possible and appropriately reported so that the required measures are put in place. Follow specific government guidance for care homes and community settings.
Service Users:
All steps must be taken to protect and mitigate the spread of the virus to the people who matter most, our service users. Staff must remain calm, diligent and observation will be key to picking up any likely infection source. Close monitoring of service users should be introduced so that any contagion is picked up as early as possible and appropriately reported so that the required measures are put in place. Follow specific government guidance for care homes and community settings.
All service users and their wider support network will be contacted to assess their wellbeing and to inform them that there is a disruption to the service and therefore an interruption or change to their normal service is going to be made. It is important that people are reassured during this time and anyone that is particularly alarmed or distressed should be offered some support.
Reassurance and support to service users are paramount to prevent panic and distress.
SCIE published Covid-19 guide for care staff supporting adults with learning disabilities or autistic adults https://www.scie.org.uk/care-providers/coronavirus-covid-19/learning-disabilities-autism/care-staff
Vaccine Information
Coronavirus Vaccine https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae
A guide for social care staff https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-vaccination-a-guide-for-social-care-staff
NHS Vaccinating Frontline social care workers https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/vaccinating-frontline-social-care-workers/?wp-linkindex=13&utm_campaign=Coronavirus_social_care_update_15.01.21&utm_content=dhsc-mail.co.uk&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Department_of_Health_and_Social_Care
For more information, please click the link below:
Gov.uk Supported Living Services https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supported-living-services-during-coronavirus-covid-19
Easy Read and Accessible Information about Coronavirus https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/coronavirus-covid-19
Adult social care infection control fund; round 2 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-infection-control-fund-round-2
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