Guidance for the social care sector on Covid-19

This page contains links to selected information which may help homecare providers provide services during the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

Guidance about COVID-19 is rapidly changing. Please ensure you are using the latest update of the guidance concerned.

Government guidance for the general public

Listing of government guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19), updated frequently.

Listing of legislation and amending regulations: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/

Police response to Living with COVID-19 strategy in England (below) and regulations in Wales: COVID-19 restrictions 
 

Living with COVID plan - 21 February 2022 

The Government in England now has a COVID-19 Response – Living with COVID-19 Plan which replaces regulation with public health measures and guidance.
 

Symptoms and getting medical help

In April 2022, the NHS extended the list of symptoms of COVID-19 beyond high temperature, new continuous cough and loss of taste or smell. The symptoms added were shortness of breath, feeling tired or exhausted, an aching body, a headache, a sore throat, a blocked or runny nose, loss of appetite, diarrhoea or feeling sick or being sick.

The NHS website comments these symptoms are very similar to symptoms of other illnesses, such as colds and flu.

Use this online tool from the NHS to find out what to do if you, or somebody else, has a medical problem: NHS 111 Online - Get medical help.
 

Staying safe and managing infection

Living safely with respiratory infections including COVID-19

People with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19

COVID-19: guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk
 

Shielding clinically extremely vulnerable people

The government shielding programme ended on 15 September 2021. 

Guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19
 

Face coverings

Face covering guidance was withdrawn on 1 April 2022, see Living safely guidance above.

NHS England, Visiting healthcare inpatient settings during the COVID-19 pandemic 
 

Testing

Coronavirus (COVID-19): getting tested

Changes to testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) in England

NHS COVID-19 app - part of the NHS Test and Trace service in England and the NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect programme.
 

Treatment

COVID-19 antibody and antiviral treatments

PCR home testing for people eligible for new COVID-19 treatments


Vaccination

Autumn 2022 vaccination programme - interim advice by JCVI:
C1666-next-steps-for-covid-19-vaccination-22-06-22.pdf (england.nhs.uk)

Who can get the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine

COVID-19 vaccination: booster dose resources

How to get a coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine - NHS

COVID-19 vaccination programme

COVID-19 vaccination: guide for adults

COVID-19 vaccination: a guide for eligible children and young people aged 12 to 17

Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine for children aged 5 to 15 - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Flu vaccine - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
 

Work and leisure

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support


Travel

Travel abroad from England during coronavirus (COVID-19)

Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19)

Foreign travel advice

 

Government guidance for social care providers

Update: Changes to infection control guidance, testing and PPE from 4 April 2022

Following the Government’s Living with COVID-19 policy the following changes to guidance apply from 4 April 2022:


Homecare guidance

Guidance - Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing homecare has been replaced by Infection prevention and control in adult social care: COVID-19 supplement.

NICE - COVID-19 rapid guideline NG 191 - Managing COVID-19 


Staying safe and managing infection

Extended list of COVID-19 symptoms

Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19 

People with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19

COVID-19: management of staff and exposed patients or residents in health and social care settings - guidance withdrawn from 4 April 2022.  See: COVID-19 testing in adult social care and Infection prevention and control in adult social care: COVID-19 supplement.


Risk assessment and shielding the clinically extremely vulnerable

Guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Advice for workplaces (hse.gov.uk)

For more about risk assessment, search for 'risk assessment' in the Homecare Association Content Library (Members only)


PPE and face coverings

Free PPE is to be extended to 31 March 2023: Free PPE for frontline extended for another year

Guidance - COVID-19: Personal protective equipment use for aerosol generating procedures

Guidance - PPE portal: how to order emergency personal protective equipment

Guidance - Personal protective equipment (PPE): local contacts for care providers

Care Provider Alliance - List of commercial suppliers of PPE (scroll down to end).


Testing changes

The regular COVID-19 testing regime for homecare staff changed from daily LFD tests to twice weekly from 4 April 2022.

The change in policy followed a significant campaign by the Homecare Association on the practicality of daily tests, whether this level of frequency is necessary for infection control, when the NHS uses twice weekly testing, and the cost in terms of staff time and administration. There is information on the changes here: 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult social care services

Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing in extra care and supported living settings

Members who are encountering issues obtaining test kits, or any other issues concerning testing, are welcome to call the member helpline for advice or email [email protected]
 

Other guidance:

Guidance - COVID-19 PCR home test kit instructions 

NHS resources - changes to testing for coronavirus in England

Guidance - How tests and testing kits for coronavirus (COVID-19) work

Guidance - For patients, the public and professional users: a guide to COVID-19 tests and testing kits

Video on how to use a home testing kit


Vaccination

See Information on COVID-19 vaccination and supporting take up, which includes support available for employers in encouraging take up in their workforce, at: 

Guidance for the social care sector on Covid-19

Vaccination as a condition of deployment regulations were revoked ahead of 1 April 2022 when they were originally due to come into effect.

The current guidance on vaccination is in: Infection prevention and control in adult social care: COVID-19 supplement

Other information:

Subject to JCVI advice, further vaccinations (boosters) may be recommended for people who are most vulnerable to serious outcomes from COVID-19 this autumn.  Ahead of that, a spring booster for groups JCVI consider to be at particularly high risk is recommended. For more, see Health and Social Care Secretary's statement and JCVI's press release on Spring booster.

COVID-19 vaccination: spring booster resources

COVID-19 vaccination: for people with a weakened immune system

COVID-19 vaccination: booster vaccination resources

COVID-19 vaccination: guide for adults

COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a

Eligibility for vaccination and booking: Who can get the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine

Information supporting take-up:

Public Health England - Employer Toolkit - Coronavirus Resource centre

DHSC's Questions and Answers on vaccination

Webinar: Your Questions Answered on the COVID-19 vaccine - YouTube, 21 May 2021.

Flu vaccination, which is encouraged alongside COVID-19 vaccination: Annual flu programme

Flu vaccination guidance for social care workers

Pregnancy and fertility:

COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a

COVID-19 vaccination: women of childbearing age, currently pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding

Guidance - Safety of COVID-19 vaccines when given in pregnancy

COVID-19 vaccines, pregnancy and breastfeeding (rcog.org.uk)

BFS & ARCS Covid-19 Vaccines & Fertility - updated FAQs - British Fertility Society

Children:

COVID-19 vaccination: resources for children aged 5 to 11 years

COVID-19 vaccination: a guide for eligible children and young people aged 12 to 17

COVID-19 vaccination: a guide for eligible children and young people aged 16 to 17

Information for children and young people on what to expect after COVID-19 vaccination

Side effects of vaccination:

COVID-19 vaccination and rare side effects - collection of guidance. 
 

Commissioning and social care funding

General information on council support: Coronavirus: council information and support | Local Government Association

The ASC Infection Control and Testing Fund closed on 31 March 2022.  The following withdrawn guidance is retained for reference:

Adult Social Care Infection Control and Testing Fund: round 3 - collection of guidance and grant condition documents relating to funding to end March 2022.

Multi-million pound fund to boost adult social care workforce - workforce retention and recruitment fund, announced on 21 October 2021, with funding to end March 2022.

Workforce Recruitment and Retention Fund for adult social care, round 2

Adult Social Care Omicron Support Fund

The Homecare Association continues to campaign for more funding to support the homecare sector during the pandemic: Homecare Association's response to changes to IPC guidance and funding

Travel, visas and migration

Travel abroad from England during coronavirus This includes rules for entering England, and demonstrating your COVID-19 vaccination status to enter specific countries from England.

Travel to England from another country during coronavirus

Health and social care staff can claim immigration health surcharge reimbursement. The scheme to exempt non-EEA nationals applying for a health and care visa to work in a health or social care setting, in an eligible occupation, from paying the immigration health surcharge is described here: IHS Reimbursement Scheme

Guidance Immigration health surcharge - applying for a refund

Guidance (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents

Health and Care Worker visa

UK visa sponsorship for employers: Overview

Biggest visa boost for social care as Health and Care Visa scheme expanded
 

Other guidance

Data protection and coronavirus information hub | ICO

Guidance, Steps to take following the death of a person who worked in adult social care in England. This includes bereavement resources for the social care workforce.

NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme for families of members of the workforce in England who sadly pass away as a result of contracting COVID-19 at work. Main page for the scheme, information re Wales. The schemes are closing (In England the scheme closed from 1 April 2022 and in Wales, it will close from 1 July 2022) but claims are still invited in respect of deaths prior to closure date for a further year.

Guidance, Coronavirus (COVID-19): looking after people who lack mental capacity, 

Living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19

People with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19

COVID-19 hospital discharge service requirements

Guidance around free-of-charge DBS applications and new fast-track Barred List check service, in response to COVID-19, Disclosure and Barring Service.

CQC interim guidance on DBS and other recruitment checks, for providers recruiting staff and volunteers to health and social care services in response to coronavirus (COVID-19). 

Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace

Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Advice for workplaces (hse.gov.uk)

COVID-19: ventilation of indoor spaces to stop the spread of coronavirus

Coronavirus: advice for employers and employees advice from ACAS on sick pay, including for those who self-isolate on medical and non-medical advice.

Support for businesses and other government guidance

Advice for businesses

Working safely and risk assessment

HSE guidance: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Advice for workplaces

Government guidance: Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including (COVID-19) in the workplace

Ventilation in the workplace (hse.gov.uk)

For Homecare Association resources on risk assessment, search in our Content Library.


Testing in workplaces

Health and social care workpalces - see Testing section in: Guidance for the social care sector on Covid-19

Other workplaces: Get coronavirus tests for your employees.  It is no longer possible to order free lateral flow tests.

Furlough scheme (Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - CJRS)

 Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Collection of guidance.  The scheme ended on 30 September 2021.

Equality and Human Rights Commission: Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for employers, on  selecting employees fairly for furlough or redundancy.

Financial support and tax

COVID-19: financial support for businesses, Collection of guidance, including schemes which have now ended.

Guidance: Help and support if your business is affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) 

Guidance - Check which expenses are taxable if your employee works from home due to coronavirus (COVID-19)

Workforce, annual leave, SSP, apprenticeships

The Coronavirus Statutory Sick Pay Scheme has closed.  Last claims had to be submitted by 24 March 2022.

The previous SSP scheme now applies: Statutory Sick Pay (SSP): employer guide: Overview

Guidance - Holiday entitlement and pay during coronavirus (COVID-19).


Schools and Education

Health protection in education and childcare settings

The Department for Education's The Skills Toolkit online training courses help people acquire new skills.

Transport

People with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19

Getting an MOT. Provisions relating to the pandemic have ended.

Information on COVID-19 vaccination, vaccine hesitancy and supporting take-up

Update: Changes to infection control guidance, testing and PPE from 4 April 2022

Following the issue of the Government’s Living with COVID-19 plan:


Information on vaccination

The Homecare Association is a strong supporter of vaccination.  We remain keen to ensure that as many homecare workers as possible receive both COVID-19 and ‘flu vaccines, as there is good evidence these protect the recipient from serious illness. To this end, we are working with colleagues in NHS England and others to try to encourage any unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated staff to be vaccinated.  For more, see Help for Social Care Employers from NHS England and local authorities below and for statistics, see statistics on take-up.

There are resources to assist homecare employers in encouraging vaccination take up at:

Help for employers in encouraging vaccination take up

Current position

From April 2022, the current government policy on vaccination of staff working in adult social care is in the vaccination section of Infection prevention and control in adult social care: COVID-19 supplement

Vaccination as a condition of deployment in homecare (VCOD)

Regulations implementing vaccination as a condition of deployment in community settings, including homecare, from 1 April 2022 were revoked from 15 March 2022, following a reversal in government policy.  This move was welcomed by the Homecare Association: Homecare Association welcomes reversal of VCOD regulations. 


Background to the VCOD policy

Following a consultation on making vaccination a condition of deployment (VCOD) for frontline workers in the NHS and community settings, including homecare, the Government announced on 9 November 2021 that full COVID-19 vaccination would become a requirement for staff with face to face contact with service users from 1 April 2022.  COVID-19 boosters and flu vaccination were not included in these proposals.

Statement by Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid, 9 November 2021

Homecare Association's response to vaccination as a condition of deployment

Government publish response to the Vaccination as a Condition of Deployment consultation 

Mandatory vaccination for all of health and social care - The new rules explained, Matthew Wort of Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP

DHSC Stakeholder QA - Vaccination as a condition of deployment in health and care

Revoking vaccination as a condition of deployment across all health and social care: consultation response - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Regulations making COVID-19 vaccination a condition of deployment to end
 

COVID-19 vaccination programme - general leaflets

There is a collection of documents relating to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme at: COVID-19 vaccination programme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The collection includes guidance, training resources, consent forms and letters, leaflets, posters and resources.  There are links to programme documents, like JCVI advice.

Leaflets, such as the COVID-19 vaccination: guide for adults are available in 23 languages, with easy-read and accessible formats.

There is information on who is eligible for the jab, side effects, ingredients of the jab and booking an appointment for a jab on the NHS website at:

Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

A video is available for the public on both winter vaccines,

Standard operating procedure - how frontline care staff can access COVID-19 booster vaccinations

DHSC and NHSEI webinar on booster vaccinations within the adult social care sector, chaired by Sir David Pearson, Chair of the Boosters Task Force, 3 February. Recording: https://youtu.be/yajxR05fFjU.

Accompanying paper:  Protecting the adult social care sector - Social care (blog.gov.uk)

The Care Provider Alliance maintains a list of information at: COVID-19 vaccination - Care Provider Alliance

Subject to JCVI advice, further vaccinations (boosters) may be recommended for people who are most vulnerable to serious outcomes from COVID-19 this autumn (2022). Ahead of that, a spring booster for groups JCVI consider to be at particularly high risk is recommended.  For more, see Health and Social Care Secretary's statement and JCVI's press release on Spring booster.

COVID-19 vaccination: spring booster resources

COVID-19 vaccination: for people with a weakened immune system

COVID-19 vaccination: booster vaccination resources

COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a

Eligibility for vaccination and booking: Who can get the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine

Information to help address vaccine hesitancy

There is information on COVID-19 vaccination, which is aimed at encouraging take-up and countering online disinformation.

Technical health information on COVID-19 vaccination and who should receive it:

COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Vaccine information in community languages:

NHS England and NHS Improvement London » COVID-19 vaccine communication materials.

These are video clips by NHS doctors, nurses and other frontline staff to reassure communities that COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and have been independently tested to the highest standards.  They are recorded in 18 languages by NHS staff in London and the aim is for the clips to be shared among friends, families, faith and community groups via text messages and social media. There is a downloadable script in English.


Questions and Answers on vaccination for health and social care stakeholders

These are Questions and Answers on vaccination (not official guidance), prepared by the Department of Health and Social Care for stakeholders.  These are updated regularly and include action Government is taking on issues, like encouraging take up within BAME communities: DHSC's Questions and Answers on vaccination

Webinar – Your questions answered on the COVID-19 vaccine

This is a recording of a DHSC webinar for careworkers held in May 2021, featuring the former Vaccines Minister Nadim Zahawi.  Professor Jonathan Van Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Dr Nicki Kanani, GP and Deputy Lead of the COVID-19 Programme answer questions on topics such as side effects, and pregnancy and fertility.

Webinar: Your Questions Answered on the COVID-19 vaccine - YouTube, 21 May 2021.


Additional resources to address vaccine hesitancy

Proof of medical exemption from vaccination:

COVID-19 medical exemptions: proving you are unable to get vaccinated

 

Vaccination and pregnancy

There is a section in COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a on pregnancy and fertility and COVID-19 vaccination and information at:

Department of Health and Social Care information states:

  • Vaccination remains the best way to protect against the known risks of Covid-19 in pregnancy for both mother and baby, including admission to intensive care and premature birth.
  • Research shows pregnant women are more likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19 and 98 per cent of those in hospital due to COVID-19 are unvaccinated. Published data from mid-July show no pregnant woman who has had two doses of the vaccine was hospitalised from COVID-19 in the UK.  
  • Pregnant women are also more likely to have severe COVID-19 infection if they are overweight or obese. The Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG) and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) recommend vaccination as one of the best defences against severe infection. The JCVI recommends Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines as the preferred vaccines for pregnant women coming for their first dose.
  • Advice for all women of childbearing age, pregnant or breastfeeding is here. If you are 40 or over, and are booking your COVID-19 vaccination on NBS you’ll be asked if you are pregnant. This is to make sure people who are pregnant are only shown appointments for Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
  • Here is a video from Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Chief Midwife for NHS England and NHS Improvement.
  • NHS England » NHS encourages pregnant women to get COVID-19 vaccine

Vaccination and fertility

Sources of information include the British Fertility Society, Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).

BFS & ARCS Covid-19 Vaccines & Fertility - updated FAQs - British Fertility Society and Association of Reproductive and Clinical Scientists 

The RCOG FAQs are here – Also on this page is a video from Prof Lucy Chappell about how the vaccine does not impact fertility. 

There is a British Medical Journal article showing there is ‘no evidence that vaccines can affect fertility’. 

Help for social care employers from NHS England and local authorities

Update on support for homecare employers - November 2021

The NHS is targeting support at providers with more than 100 unvaccinated frontline staff, as identified by Capacity Tracker. These organisations are being contacted by the NHS vaccination deployment programme and are encouraged to take up the webinars and one-to-one conversations between individual staff and culturally and clinically appropriate professionals offered.  

Other providers who are concerned should contact their local authority vaccination lead and use the resources on increasing take up.

Support from the NHS and local authorities to encourage vaccination take-up - October 2021

There are many online resources to help people understand the benefits of vaccination and to address frequently raised concerns.

However, these resources are not always enough to persuade those who have a variety of fears to proceed with vaccination.

From work with care homes, there is evidence that one-to-one or small group discussions with vaccine hesitant workers can help to dispel their concerns and lead to higher take up.

In addition to NHS targeted support, at the local level, support can be developed in partnership with local government, public health and Integrated Care System (ICS) leads.

If you wish to enquire about local support with vaccine hesitancy you can find a list of contacts from the Local Government Association here.

We strongly encourage homecare providers to explore the options for one-to-one and small group discussions, and the help we have described above, including contacting their local vaccination lead to see what support they can offer. 

Flu vaccination

The influenza vaccination programme is running alongside the COVID-19 vaccination programme. 

National flu immunisation programme 2022 to 2023 letter - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Careworkers are strongly encouraged to book a flu jab – see Flu vaccination guidance for social care workers.

Careworkers can book their own free flu vaccinations at Boots pharmacies, who assure us that there are sufficient supplies of vaccines available this year, unlike previous years: https://www.boots.com/online/pharmacy-services/winter-flu-jab-services

There is a joint communication campaign for winter vaccines (COVID-19 boosters and flu jab).  Promotional resources are available from: 

Health and Social Care Workers Winter | Campaign Resource Centre (phe.gov.uk) 

Plus information in a letter from the Department of Health and Social Care’s Director, Claire Armstrong to local authorities and adult social care providers.

 

Information for family carers and informal carers

COVID-19 supplement.which includes guidance on vaccination, personal protective equipment (PPE), and testing.

SCIE, COVID-19 guide for carers and family supporting adults and children with learning disabilities or autistic adults and children.

Information from Carers UK for informal carers.

Looking after family or friends after they leave hospital.

Alzheimer's Society, Coronavirus: Information for people affected by dementia.

Diabetes UK, Coronavirus (COVID-19) and diabetes- updates  Helpline.

Information on surviving a critical illness, ICUsteps.

Guidance - Support for the bereaved.

 

Maintaining mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic

Support for frontline careworkers

Health and wellbeing of the adult social care workforce

Mental health resources: Mental health and bereavement support for care workers - Our Frontline

The Care Workers’ Charity launches Mental Health Support Programme

CIPD webinar on supporting the mental health of frontline workers.

Coronavirus resources of the British Psychological Society for professionals and the public.

Our Frontline helplines: support for social care workers 

Support for the public, including young people

Every Mind Matters - simple tips for taking care of mental health.

ANXIETY UK helpline and resources Helpline open until 10.00 pm: 03444 775 774, Text Service: 07537 416 905.

Coronavirus - mental health information and support - Mind

COVID-19 mental health and wellbeing recovery action plan

Coronavirus: Mental Health in the Pandemic | Mental Health Foundation
 

Mental health at work

ACAS guidance on coronavirus and mental health at work 

Health and Safety Executive information on stress at work, and carrying out a stress risk assessment.
HSE launches Working Minds campaign to encourage employers to promote good mental health in work

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Mental health support for employees | CIPD

Check your business insurance to see if it includes a Stress Helpline for employees. Page 9 for those with a Towergate Insurance policy.


Developing a supportive and inclusive workplace culture

NICE has developed a guideline Overview | Mental wellbeing at work | Guidance | NICE.  This looks at developing a supportive and inclusive workplace culture and in particular organisational support, individual support, support from employers for employees at risk of poor mental health and also includes recommendations about local and regional strategies and plans.

NICE have shared links to resources employers may find helpful.  There are further links in the above guidance:


Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Wales: Social Care Wales - wellbeing, Wales wellbeing - sources of support
Scotland: NHS Inform - resources on mental health and well-being
Northern Ireland: Covid-19 App - resources on mental health

Support for individuals and workers with Long Covid

Caring for those recovering from Long Covid

SCIE guide on providing care and support at home to people who have had COVID-19

Guidance - COVID-19: long-term health effects.

Long COVID | Your COVID Recovery

NHS - Long term effects of long covid

NICE rapid guideline on managing the long term effects of Covid


Sickness, absence and return to work

Find help and support if you have long COVID - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

ACAS - Sickness and absence because of long COVID: Long COVID - advice for employers and employees - Acas

CIPD - Managing a return to work after a long absence

Is long COVID a disability? | FSB, The Federation of Small Businesses

Long Covid - how can it best managed by employers?, Anna Dabek (anthonycollins.com)

Long Covid: the symptoms and tips for recovery | BHF

What is long COVID? | Asthma + Lung UK (blf.org.uk)

Tribunal rules long-Covid is a disability (nursingnotes.co.uk)

EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNALS (SCOTLAND) (publishing.service.gov.uk)

 

NHS guidance

C1506-guidelines-for-supporting-our-nhs-people-affected-by-long-covid.pdf (england.nhs.uk)

 

Insurance

Insurance

Coronavirus information - Towergate Insurance Brokers

The general response to the COVID-19 outbreak has been co-ordinated across the UK, with the governments of the devolved nations working closely with the UK Government.

As health and social care are responsibilities devolved to the respective governments of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, some guidance is individual to, or presented differently, by the nation concerned.

 

Wales

Guidance for the public

Welsh government Coronavirus guidance homepage.

 

Homecare guidance

Welsh Government: Health and Social Care Professionals: coronavirus, guidance and services

Public Health Wales: Guidance for Health and Social Care Professionals in Wales

Care Inspectorate Wales: Statements on Coronavirus

Guidance on CIW notification

Transition plan April - June 2022: Infection prevention and control in social care | GOV.WALES

Please note updates in guidance may be emailed to providers via their Care Inspectorate Wales email addresses. If you are operating in Wales, you may wish to check that you are receiving these emails.

 

Clinically extremely vulnerable people and risk assessment

Collection of guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable

 

PPE and face coverings

Infection prevention and control in social care (Social care transition plan) [HTML] | GOV.WALES

Updated guidance on the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for care homes and domiciliary support services

Providers may also need to liaise with their local authorities in relation to accessing PPE and ensuring whether there is any additional guidance at local level. 

 

Testing

Routine lateral flow testing is available for homecare (as of 28 January 2022, testing is on a twice weekly basis) and providers should have received information about how to access this. Providers experiencing difficulties with accessing workforce testing should contact: [email protected]

Other information on testing is available from: Testing for coronavirus

Guidance for staff who are contacts of positive cases.

Financial support and guidance on self-isolation includes:

COVID-19 contacts: guidance for health and social care staff

Statutory sick pay enhancement scheme

 

Vaccination

Information and resources on the COVID-19 vaccine from Public Health Wales

Welsh Government guidance on vaccination programme

Flu vaccine information

 

Travel

Collection of guidance on travel

 

Support for the care workforce

The Welsh Government have agreed three recognition/bonus payments to social care workers:

2020 - Guidance - Social care workforce special payment scheme

2021 - NHS and social care financial recognition scheme: guidance for social care workers

2022 - £96m investment to give tens of thousands of social care staff a £1,000 extra payment

Social Care Wales are offering a digital Care Worker Card.  

Social Care Wales have collected information and resources on health and well-being for Social Care workers.

The Welsh Government has agreed to a death in service payment for the families of NHS and social care staff in Wales. Press release dated 27 April 2020.

 

Commissioning and social care funding

The Welsh Government had allocated funding to local authorities to administer as a hardship fund in order to support social care providers through the coronavirus pandemic. This had included a £1 per hour temporary fee uplift for local authority or health board commissioned homecare providers (this was agreed until the end of the 2021/22 financial year). 

Other funding has been made available to Local Authorities to support social care delivery, including a £40m 'Recovery Fund' that was announced in September 2021.

 

Other guidance

Welsh government: Strategy and evidence: coronavirus (including control plans / alert levels)

Public Health Wales - Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Social Care Wales coronavirus guidance page.

Scotland

Guidance for the public

Main collection of guidance from Scottish Government

https://www.gov.scot/news/use-of-face-coverings/

Coronavirus (COVID-19), information for the public

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Scotland's Strategic Framework update - February 2022

Homecare guidance

COVID-19 - Information and guidance for social, community and residential care settings

COVID-19 - Guidance for non-healthcare settings

Listing of publications by Health Protection Scotland

Care Inspectorate - https://www.careinspectorate.com/index.php/covid-19

National Infection Prevention and Control Manual: Winter (21/22), Respiratory Infections in Health and Care Settings Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Addendum (scot.nhs.uk)

COVID-19: Clinical Care Guidance for Care at Home, Housing Support and Sheltered Housing

Testing

Getting tested in Scotland

Protect Scotland App

Coronavirus (COVID-19): social care and community-based testing guidance

COVID-19 Vaccination

Resources on vaccination for social care employers and staff: COVID-19 vaccinations - COVID-19 - Public Health Scotland

The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (nhsinform.scot)


Workforce and disclosure

Criminal records checks for COVID-19 response workers

Support for businesses

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance (main collection of guidance for business, healthcare, education and housing).

Information about advice for businesses 

Travel

Coronavirus (COVID-19): international travel

Northern Ireland

Government guidance for the public

Guidance and support, including face coverings.

HSC Public Health Agency, COVID-19: Information for the public

Northern Ireland Executive, Department of Health Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice and updates


Government guidance for health and social care professionals

Stop COVID-19 NI App

HSC Public Health Agency, Guidance for domiciliary care providers in Northern Ireland - COVID-19

Guidance for HSC staff on using PPE

Questions and answers for HSC staff


COVID-19 Vaccination

Domiciliary care workers in Northern Ireland and those employed by independent care agencies can book COVID vaccinations at Trust vaccination centres. 

Information on the Northern Ireland COVID-19 Vaccination Programme

Care worker information leaflet

Online booking arrangements for domiciliary care workers registered with the NISCC.

Information on testing

StopCOVID NI Proximity App

Public Health Agency information on testing in Northern Ireland, including primary care workers


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