Latest guidance for those working in care homes providing information on how to work safely during this period of sustained transmission of COVID-19.
Visits out of care homes
Updated national guidance on visiting from 17/5/21
Number of named visitors will increase from 2 to 5.
The government announced on Monday that from 17 May 2021, every care home resident will be able to nominate up to five named visitors for visits in and out, including an essential care giver where necessary. In addition, residents will also be able to leave the care home for outdoor activities, work, education, medical appointments and activities that form part of a resident’s care plan (e.g. a day care centre) without self-isolating upon return.
Residents will not need to take a test when visiting out either before or after the visit, however where residents are visiting out to somewhere with an existing testing regime, e.g. a workplace, day care centre or education setting, they should participate in the relevant testing regime for that organisation where possible.
The following testing is required for Nominated visitors:
| Essential care givers will need to follow the same testing regime as staff. All other visitors will need to test with a rapid lateral flow test on the day of the visit. Updated visiting guidance will be published in the coming days. |
Out of home visits for residents
Care home residents are now able to participate in out-of-home visits without having to isolate on their return for low risk activities including walks in places such as parks, public gardens and beaches.
Residents will not need to test before or after visiting out and will not need to self-isolate on return. If any resident becomes symptomatic following a visit, they should be tested and self-isolate as per usual and then please contact your local HPT.
Further information about the visiting out announcement can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/arrangements-for-visiting-out-of-the-care-home/visits-out-of-care-homes-supplementary-guidance.
Where visits are accompanied by either a care worker, nominated visitor or essential care giver, they should follow their relevant testing regime. Further information about relevant testing regimes can be found here:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/969406/Adult_Social_Care_Testing_Guidance_visual_v1203.pdf
More changes heading our way to improve visiting.
Visitors will shortly be able to self test at home before visiting. 26/4/21
We’ve received authoriration today to teach regular visitors how to do rapid COVID (LFD) at home so you can test at home before you leave to visit then provide us with evidence of a negative result. We’ve placed an order for smaller at home testing kits and once we’ve received them we’ll be able to provide the kits and the training. We’ll still be providing on site testing for anyone who wishes to keep being tested here or not able to perform a self test to the prescribed standard. Please ask us for further information.
More positive changes on the visiting front (3/4/21)
Please see the latest care home visiting guidance below
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/two-visitors-allowed-in-care-homes-to-reunite-with-loved-ones