COVID Guidance

Guidance on the Coronavirus is changing on a very frequent basis to reflect the latest advice and developing situation.

All Government updates can be found here:

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance and support – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The government also collects all Covid-19 Adult Social Care guidance here:

• Summary of changes to COVID-19 guidance for adult social care providers – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk))

Further information of particular interest and relevance to adult social care providers is listed here:

• Free personal protective equipment (PPE) scheme – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (DHSC, 30/09/21)
• Guidance for local authorities and clinical commissioning groups in the delivery of direct payments and personal health budgets (Department of Health and Social Care)
• Using direct payments during the coronavirus outbreak: full guidance for people receiving direct payments and personal assistants (Department of Health and Social Care, updated 26/01/2022)
• Guidance for care of the deceased with suspected or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) (updated 14/03/22)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing home care (Department of Health and Social Care, updated 18/02/2022)

UKHSA (formerly Public Health England) Resources

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Resource Centre This is a repository of resources and communications toolkits coving all areas of the response to COVID-19, including infection prevention and control and vaccinations produced by Public Health England that is regularly updated, including some in partnership with other organisations including Carers UK, Rethink, the Stroke association and Mencap.

• COVID-19 testing in adult social care – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Testing for professionals visiting care homes – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
  • Medical devices given exceptional use authorisations during the COVID-19 pandemic
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE):
  • COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing COVID-19
  • Safeguarding adults in care homes
  • Creating a safeguarding culture:  A quick guide for registered managers of care homes
• Department of Health and Social Care:
  • Supported living services during coronavirus (COVID-19)
• NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&E):
  • Updates to general practice regarding COVID-19
  • Mental health, learning disabilities and autism guidance
• Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE)
  • Delivering safe, face-to-face adult day care
  • Mental Capacity Act Forum: Coronavirus Webinars
  • Practical information: What to consider when re-opening day care services (scie.org.uk)
  • Prevention in social care (May 2021)
  • COVID-19 guide for care staff supporting adults with learning disabilities or autistic adults (scie.org.uk)
• Office of the Public Guardian
  • Making and registering an LPA during the coronavirus outbreak
  • Coronavirus (COVID-19): Office of the Public Guardian response
• British Geriatrics Society:
  • Coronavirus and older people resource series 

• Health and Care Video Library:  How to use a pulse oximeter at home (28/05/2021)
• University College London have produced a decision guide to support practitioners and family carers of people with dementia during Covid-19 as part of the NHS England Dementia wellbeing in the COVID-19 pandemic guide (21/05/2021)
• National Institute for Health Research (NIHR):  Patients living with dementia who ‘walk with purpose or intent’ in the COVID-19 crisis (added 22/04/2020)
• Video (8 min): Meeting the Needs of People with Dementia Living in Care Homes during Covid-19 (May 2020)
• Managing a fall that may require an ambulance during the COVID-19 pandemic (added May 2020)
• The British Psychological Society: Supporting older people and people living with dementia during self-isolation (08/04/2020)
• VitalTalk:  COVID communication guide
• Digital Social Care: Covid-19 Guidance

Updated 16/03/22

From 24/02/22 England is following the new plan ‘Living with Covid‘.  However, all organisations still have a legal duty to manage risk as outlined in Coronavirus: how to stay safe and help prevent the spread (Cabinet Office)

Should you require any further advice regarding the steps you should be taking to reduce the transmission risk, please email us at ASCCovid19@somerset.gov.uk.

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has published guidance commissioned by the Department for Health and Social Care to support day services for vulnerable adults to operate in a safe manner. Somerset County Council asks that all day service providers follow this guidance, drawing attention to the request for transparency with service users, families, the Local Authority and other providers regarding risk assessments both business wide and for individuals.

Please see this document for the Acute Risk Assessment Pathway (April 2022)

The Somerset COVID-19 Local Outbreak Management Plan Dashboard is updated daily with the latest information about infection rates in Somerset.  To view the dashboard follow this link.

Updated 10/02/2022

• COVID-19: Free-of-charge DBS applications and fast-track Barred List check service
• COVID-19: How DBS is supporting the fight against coronavirus

• Travel abroad from England during coronavirus (COVID-19) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (Department for Transport)
• Travel to England from another country during coronavirus (COVID-19) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) (Department for Transport)
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers (Department for Transport)