Latest Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information
The welfare, safety and happiness of residents, team members and visitors is our number one priority. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our additional stringent measures are constantly reviewed to ensure we continue to meet Government and Public Health guidance, for everyone’s safety and wellbeing, whilst continuing to offer a comfortable and happy place to live, work and visit.
Welcoming new residents
Our caring teams are ready to welcome new residents into our homes so that we can be there for those who need care and support.
As part of our warm welcome, a nominated family member can help new residents settle in on their first day. We have clear protocols in place and ensure that new residents moving into our homes, whether from a local hospital or the community, have a negative COVID-19 test result in advance.
If a period of self-isolation is required, residents are supported to feel at home in their bedroom and will not feel alone. Every new resident will have proposed activities to participate in during this time, supported by various members of the team to cater for their individual needs and ensure they are comfortable throughout each day.
Family Visiting
Regular contact with loved ones is essential for the mental and physical wellbeing of our residents and so we are pleased to be able to offer a range of visiting options for family members and friends. Our visiting is in line with Government guidance, which is detailed in our Visitor Guidance and Protocols.
We ask that you rearrange your visit to the care home if you are self-isolating, have tested positive or experienced symptoms of Covid-19 in the past 14 days. In addition please do not visit if you are showing symptoms of other transmissible viruses or infections, such as cough, high temperature, diarrhoea or vomiting, until at least 5 days after you feel better.
We are committed to facilitating the role of the Essential Visitor (Scotland) that is available for each resident. This person, chosen by the resident where possible, can provide them with additional health, physical and psychological wellbeing support during visits and are able to continue with indoor bedroom visits, even when there is an outbreak within the home. Additional measures, such as an individual risk assessment, a regular testing programme and use of PPE are required as part of this role. The way in which these visits take place will be individual to each resident, depending on their needs and the support being provided by their family member.
In England we support each resident to have one visitor who can visit in all circumstances, including during periods of outbreak within the home and periods of self-isolation.
Across our homes, our team members also continue to offer video calls to ensure residents keep in touch with their nearest and dearest when a visit in person is not possible.
Testing
Our care home teams continue regular testing for team members and residents, in line with the relevant Government guidance.
Our testing programme is carried out alongside all our other measures to minimise infection transmission so that we can continue to offer safe visits for families and welcome into our homes new residents who need care and support.
Vaccinations
We have seen the positive impact the vaccination programme has provided in giving protection and so we are supporting all of our residents and team members to take up their Covid booster vaccination as and when they are eligible.
