Update 1 September 2022
The vaccination programme means COVID-19 cases have now fallen to around 40,000 and the risk of transmission has reduced. Deaths have also fallen to the hundreds and hospitalisations to around 6000 in the last seven days. This means wider asymptomatic testing has ended, but symptomatic testing in care settings will continue. The Autumn booster will be rolled out from 12 September. We have asked Carers to still wear PPE when in direct contact with Clients and to test if they have any symptoms.
Update 19 July 2021
England has moved to Step 4
While cases are high and rising, everybody needs to continue to act carefully and remain cautious. The government is keeping in place key protections:
- testing when you have symptoms and targeted asymptomatic testing in education, high risk workplaces and to help people manage their personal risk.
- isolating when positive or when contacted by NHS Test and Trace.
- border quarantine: for all arriving from red list countries and for those people not fully vaccinated arriving from amber list countries.
- the wearing of masks is recommended in shops and on public transport and when in contact with vulnerable people.
Although most legal restrictions have been lifted at Step 4, and many people have been vaccinated, it is still possible to catch and spread COVID-19, even if you are fully vaccinated, and we are still in the third wave of this pandemic in the UK.
COVID-19 will be a feature of our lives for the foreseeable future, so we need to learn to live with it and manage the risk to ourselves and others.
Carers will still wear full PPE when visiting Clients and are encouraged to take weekly PCR tests.
Update 25 January 2021
COVID-19 Vaccination Frontline Social Care workers all sectors: Social Care, Health, Third and Voluntary Sectors
Public Health England have made COVID-19 vaccinations available to all front-line social care workers and this has been offered to all our staff.
Through vaccination of our front-line social care workforce, we aim to help protect individuals from becoming unwell with, or dying from, COVID-19 disease. It will also help reduce the risk of staff spreading infection to vulnerable clients, patients and family members. Once vaccinated staff will continue to wear full PPE and take the same precautions.
Update 14 December 2020
NHS Test and Trace is making weekly COVID-19 testing available to all homecare workers in England. Our staff are now being tested weekly and this is so important as it means our care workers can be sure they are providing the very best care without worrying if they are carrying the virus themselves. This will give peace of mind to our Clients and their families.
Update 01 July 2020
We know the situation around COVID-19 is a worrying time and we wanted to add some reassurance to you about the measures we are taking to protect our Clients and Staff at this time.
Our Carers receive comprehensive training in infection control and are strictly following industry guidance from the UK’s Public Health Authorities and World Health Organisation which includes emphasis on the importance of safe handwashing practice.
In line with the latest Government advice our Carers are working hard to minimise the risk of transmission through safe working procedures. This includes the use of personal protection equipment (PPE) as needed. PPE includes the use of masks, aprons, and gloves when delivering care.
We continue to follow direction provided by the UK’s Public Health Authorities and World Health Organisation and review guidance daily.
We recently participated with PHE in a pilot study to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19 infections among domiciliary care workers in England. In total 19 completed swabs were received from staff at All Seasons Care. Of these 19 were negative for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus which causes COVID-19). 0 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 and were therefore confirmed as not having a current COVID-19 infection. 0% were therefore positive for the virus.
If you have a specific concern about your care needs or the needs of a family member, please contact us and we will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.