Open visiting is not permitted at this time.- Virtual visits are fully supported.
- Garden & windows visits are supported when possible.
As a responsible care home provider and employer, we have been keeping abreast of the latest guidance being produced by Public Health England, the current government body responsible for advising on appropriate actions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the UK. We as a provider also pre empted guidance and commenced work to reduce the impact of COVID-19 since early February.
Public Health England have stated that the most effective method of reducing onward transmission of COVID-19 is via handwashing, good oral hygiene, the wearing of face coverings and social distancing. Below is their guidance on washing your hands with soap and water:
Coronavirus
Wash your hands with soap and water more often for 20 seconds.
Use a tissue to turn off the tap.
Dry hands thoroughly.
It is also very important to:
General guidance is also available to the public : www.gov.uk/coronavirus
Non essential visitors visits to our homes:
Virtual Visits
Virtual visits are fully supported for all parties. These can be conducted via Whatsapp, MS Teams or Zoom. Our preference is Whatsapp. Please call the care home for its Whatsapp number or virtual portal handle. The home will then book in a “Virtual Visiting” slot for you so that a staff member can be assigned to support the visit.
Garden and Window Visits
Both garden and windows visits can be supported at the home. At some homes a visiting POD is available. The form of visit is dependant the ability of all parties to support social distancing and PPE guidance. Visits must be booked in advance and will be limited to one “Designated Visitor”. The Designated Visitor will be required to undertake an assessment before each visit, submit all their contact information, to adhere to the visiting guidance issued on booking, submit to a temperature check and undertake to inform the home should they contract COVID 19, present with an symptoms of COVID 19 or be asked to isolate through the national CONTACT framework. Please call the care home to book an appointment.
Internal Visits
Internal visits can be supported in situations where a loved one is reaching their end of life. Please contact the homes manager for further guidance on these visits.
Please do not attend the home without having a pre-booked appointment, as a visit will not be facilitated.
This approach applies to:
- Placement Enquirers
- All Relatives and friends
- Social workers, residents representatives, CQC and contract managers
- Children under 16 years
- Community Groups using our facilities e.g. Dementia Cafes, Youth Groups, School Visits, Nursery Children
- Students visits
- External Activity Providers/Entertainers
- Healthcare professional
- Professional contractors – who are undertaking essential repairs or health and safety works
- Employment Applicants
- Maintenance contractors for statutory checks maintenance of essential equipment and urgent works/repairs
- Hairdressers – CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW
In all cases if you make the decision to visit then:
- You must strictly adhere to the instructions of our staff team (all instructions are for the ultimate reason of protecting the vulnerable adults in our care, staff may also not have the time to explain the reasons behind each decision on an individual basis but will do so if possible)
- You must strictly adhere to our hand washing / sanitation procedures when entering the home
- You confirm you understand that visiting is by appointment only (so that the number of visiting parties to the building can be limited at any one time)
- That you do not move around the building unaccompanied and use the nursecall system to seek assistance (please be tolerant and patient at these times)
- When moving around the building (on entry and exit) you reduce the incidences of touching the building environment to an absolute minimum
- You confirm you understand that we may not be able to support all requests, we apologies for this in advance and ask that you understand the limitations that this pandemic places on normal activity at the home.
- You confirm that you will respect our hard working staff team and support us to support our Service Users and Staff team to remain as safe as possible.
- You confirm you understand that we may not be able to support all requests, we apologies for this in advance and ask that you understand the limitations that this pandemic places on normal activity at the home.
Please note any items dropped off or delivered will be isolated for 72 hours before being passed on. Please consider this when deciding on items to send, in terms of items that may parish, and in terms of timing i.e delivery in time for a birthday.
Please contact the homes manager should you have any further specific questions or to book an appointment.
Thank you