Care home residents are to be allowed routine visits from loved ones once local authorities and local public health directors say it is safe.
Residents will be limited to one designated visitor who will not be allowed to enter the resident’s room unless they are dying. Care homes are being asked to explore potential designated areas such as conservatories, gardens or even drive through visits in car parks.
Care home providers should encourage all visitors to wear a face covering and to wash their hands thoroughly before and after putting it on and taking it off. Visitors should wear appropriate further PPE depending on the need of their visit, including gloves and aprons.
Matt Hancock, Health and Social Care Secretary, said:
“I know how painful it has been for those in care homes not being able to receive visits from their loved ones throughout this period.”
“We are now able to carefully and safely allow visits to care homes, which will be based on local knowledge and circumstances for each care home.”
“It is really important that we don’t undo all of the hard work of care homes over the last few months while ensuring families and friends can be safely reunited so we have put in place guidance that protects everyone.”
The guidance: Visiting care homes during coronavirus - Guidance for making arrangements for limited visits for care homes with the support of their director of public health is for directors of public health, care providers and others who’ll be involved in planning to enable visits to care homes. It sets out:
- the principles of a local approach to visiting arrangements and dynamic risk assessment
- guidance for providers establishing their visiting policy
- guidance for providers taking decisions on visiting for particular residents or groups of residents
- infection control precautions
- communicating with relatives and others about the visiting policy and visiting decisions
People in registered residential care and those in nursing homes for people with learning disabilities, mental health or other disabilities in England will also be able to welcome visitors under the same guidance.
Cream Health Care are a health and social care recruitment agency based in the West Midlands and we specialise in recruiting Care Assistants, Support Workers, Senior Carers and Nurses within Nursing, Residential care and Supported living in Stoke-On-Trent, Hanley, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Telford, Walsall, Cannock, Stafford, West Bromwich and Birmingham.Shropshire and the West Midlands.
We are always looking for experienced carers with a passion for care to join our team. If this interests you, please send a copy of your CV to us or ring us today for a chat on 01782 261552.
To contact the Cream Team about recruitment send an e-mail to: info@creamhealthcare.co.uk or call: 01782 261552.