Download our latest Social Care highlights for England below. It features the latest updates on claiming back statutory sick pay paid to employees, a cold weather alert, COVID updates and more!
You can also download a PDF version here to share it with your team.
Alternatively, read the update here:
COVID-19 – Free PPE for frontline extended for another year – Published 13th January
Press release highlighting that the offer for free PPE to frontline health and social care staff has been extended until 31st March 2023. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Self-isolation rules for those with COVID-19 can end after five full days following two negative LFDs – Press Release 13th January
Press release highlighting that people with COVID-19 in England can end their self-isolation after five full days, as long as they test negative on day 5 and day 6. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Supported Living Services during COVID-19 – Updated 13th January
Guidance updated to reflect changes to self-isolation advice, for people receiving a positive COVID-19 test, as well as advice around the Omicron variant. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Guidance on care home visiting – Updated 13th January
Guidance updated to reflect the need not to do a confirmatory PCR test should a positive lateral flow test be received. For more information click here.
Cold Weather Alert issued by UKHSA – Updated 14th January
Cold weather alert extended by the UKHSA. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Advice for pregnant employees – Updated 14th January
Guidance updated to provide additional guidance to pregnant employees and employers of pregnant women who are 26 weeks pregnant and beyond. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Enabling safe and effective volunteering – Updated 14th January
Guidance updated to reflect changes to self-isolation rules. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme: Claiming financial support – Updated 14th January
Guidance updated in relation to eligibility for the scheme, which can be a positive PCR or an assisted rapid lateral flow test. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Guidance for households with possible coronavirus infections – Updated 17th January
Guidance updated to reflect changes to self-isolation rules. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – How to quarantine at home after international travel – Updated 17th January
Guidance updated to reflect changes to self-isolation rules. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – How to stay safe and help prevent the spread – Updated 17th January
Guidance updated to reflect changes to self-isolation rules. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Management of staff and exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings – Updated 17th January
Guidance updated to reflect the change in isolation period in hospitals from 14 to 10 days for cases and contacts of cases of COVID-19 and includes new changes to self-isolation periods for staff in health and care settings. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – NHS Test and Trace in the workplace – Updated 17th January
Guidance updated to include information on precautionary testing for critical workers. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Coronavirus testing for adult social care settings – Updated 18th January
Guidance updated to include information on giving feedback about your test kit or reporting harm. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – How to stay safe and help prevent the spread – Updated 18th January
Guidance updated to reflect new testing and isolation rules. For more information click here.
Cold Weather Alert issued by UKHSA – Updated 18th January
Cold weather alert extended by the UKHSA. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – PM Statement to the House of Commons on COVID-19 – Updated 19th January
Statement to the House of Commons highlighting the move from Plan B to Plan A in England. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Claim back statutory sick pay paid to your employees due to coronavirus – Updated 19th January
Guidance updated to highlight that the scheme has been reintroduced. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Announced move from Plan B to Plan A in England – Updated 19th January
Following the Government’s announcement of a move from Plan B to Plan A in England the following guidances have been updated:
How to stay safe and prevent the spread
Working safely during coronavirus
Enabling safe and effective volunteering during coronavirus
COVID-19 – England to return to Plan A following the success of the booster programme – Press Statement 19th January
Statement highlighting the move from Plan B to Plan A in England. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – How to do a coronavirus rapid lateral flow test – Updated 19th January
Updated information about the video for SunScreen tests. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Testing in adult care homes – Updated 20th January
Guidance updated to reflect removal of a confirmatory PCR after a positive LFT and updated advice on testing within 90 days of a positive result. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Vaccination of workers in social care settings other than care homes: operational guidance – Published 20th January
Operational guidance published to support the implementation of mandatory vaccination requirements in the wider social care setting by 1 April 2022. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Vaccination of people working or deployed in care homes: operational guidance – Updated 20th January
Guidance updated following additional regulations coming into force on 6 January 2022. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Admission and care of people in care homes – Updated 20th January
Guidance updated in line with clinical guidance from the UKHSA. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Supported Living services during coronavirus – Updated 21st January
Guidance updated for staff members who have developed COVID-19 syptoms or test positive on an LFT or PCR test, as well as information on isolation guidelines. For more information click here.
Cold Weather Alert issued by UKHSA – Updated 21st January
Cold weather alert extended by the UKHSA. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Working safely during coronavirus – Updated 21st January
Guidance updated to reflect new requirements and the need to not work from home where people can. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – PPE portal: how to order COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) – Updated 21st January
Guidance updated to highlight that it is a legal requirement that FFP3 masks must be fit tested on all health and care staff who may be required to wear one. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – How to work safely in domiciliary care in England – Updated 24th January
Guidance updated to reflect new self-isolation rules in place. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Travel to England from another country – Updated 24th January
The Government have announced a change in testing and quarantine rules for international travel to England from 11th February, as a result the following guidance has been updated:
Travel to England from another country
Coronavirus testing before you travel to England
Travel abroad from England during Coronavirus (COVID-19)
How to quarantine at home after international travel
COVID-19 – Face coverings: when to wear one, exemptions and what makes a good one – Updated 25th January
Guidance updated to reflect that from 27th January face coverings are no longer a legal requirement. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – Coronavirus Testing – Updated 26th January
Since the Government’s announcement that confirmatory PCR tests after a positive LFT and updated advice on testing within 90 days of a positive result, the following guidance has been updated:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing service for extra care and supported living settings
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for homecare workers: information for agencies
COVID-19 – Government eases social care restrictions after booster success – Press Release 26th January
Press release on restrictions that were introduced due to Omicron being lifted from Monday 31st January with unlimited visiting in care homes to be reintroduced and self-isolation after an outbreak being reduced from 28 to 14 days. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – How to stay safe and help prevent the spread – Updated 27th January
Guidance updated in key chapters including NHS Pass, face coverings and travelling to the UK. For more information click here.
COVID-19 – England returns to Plan A as regulations on face coverings and COVID passes change today – Updated 27th January
Press release detailing the move to Plan A requirements. For more information click here.
Policy Updates
- All coronavirus policies and Resource Centre documents continue to be reviewed and updated in light of government updates please see your dashboard for the latest changes
Risk Assessment Updates
- All risk assessments continue to be updated in light of government updates