New Care Covid19 information.
The health, safety and wellbeing of our Residents and Staff are always our top priorities. We have therefore put in place robust and comprehensive contingency plans to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. Our plans will be kept under regular review and updated as advised by the Public health authorities.
We are currently conducting swab test on all staff weekly and all residents 4 weekly in line with government guidelines. We are picking up a small number of positive cases in some homes amongst both residents and staff. In most cases the individuals are asymptomatic. When a staff member is identified they are sent home to isolate for 10 days, during this period of isolation they remain on full pay. Residents are fully supported and all care is offered in their own bedrooms. Immediate family members are kept fully informed and encouraged to stay in touch through video links.
We are open to admissions into our care homes for those that can no longer manage at home and need the additional support a residential setting can offer. Please contact our enquiry line or your local home to speak the Home Manager who will be happy to answer and questions and will arrange a virtual visit. Please be assured that we are taking the necessary steps to keep our residents and staff safe and well.
Detailed below are the latest guidelines and the steps we are taking to keep our residents and staff safe during this time
Visiting Arrangements
As a company we wish to thank all of our residents, staff and relatives for the ongoing support during what are unprecedented times, as we have all adapted to living during the Covid19 Pandemic.
We ceased visiting arrangement to all of our homes on the 22nd March. We continue to follow advice from the local Director of Public Health and note visiting restrictions may differ from home to home. We have facilitated garden visits when guidance has permitted this. We have measures in place in all of our homes to conduct safe internal visiting over the winter. We will introduce this in line with guidelines once permitted. The visits will still require a minimum of 2 metre social distancing so unfortunately it will be a “no touch” visiting arrangement, but people will be able to see each other in person and speak to each other.
We have been arranging virtual visiting during this very difficult period, using a variety of technological solutions. However, we recognise that this is not a substitute for actually seeing each other.
All of our homes will continue with Skype and or WhatsApp video calling facilities to enable residents to keep in touch with their families. We are confident that our staff will do all they can to ensure that life in our homes remains as comfortable and sociable as possible as we support them with delivering interactive activities, whilst practicing physical distancing.
We understand that this is a worrying time for everyone, and we want to reassure you that we are doing everything we can to ensure that our residents and staff are as safe as possible, and we are following the advice from public health authorities.
Residents Going Out & About
It remains the case that residents are not going out and about unless for hospital appointments that are necessary. The Home will let relatives know if their loved one needs to attend hospital. At this time, however, staff or relatives are not allowed to accompany residents to hospital.
Health Monitoring of Residents
We continue to deliver care to all of our residents in line with their care plans. We are also carrying out twice daily monitoring of resident’s vital signs. This is enabling us to identify when any resident is becoming unwell or has a temperature. Whilst there are many reasons which affect a residents health, if we do detect a change we seek medical advice. In all cases, we will care for the resident in their own room for a period of 14 days and carry out barrier nursing. In all cases we notify the resident’s relatives where we have taken these steps. We can also confirm that all of our residents will receive medical support if they become unwell and will be treated proactively. We are aware of some media reports that medical care is not being given to residents in some care homes. We have not experienced this in any of our homes.
Residents and staff are enjoying social interaction. We continue to conduct well-being activities in smaller groups or 1 to 1’s. We are now using alternative arrangements for other well-being activities so that resident’s wellbeing is maintained in as safe an environment as possible. We are keeping residents and staff 1 metre apart where possible, which in line with guidance for care homes.
Health Monitoring of Staff & Professional Visitors
We continue to take the vital signs of our staff and any professional visitors when they arrive at the home. Anybody with a temperature or symptoms are not allowed in the building.
All staff are to have a swab test weekly and residents monthly to detect any virus.
Our teams were already fully versed in infection control procedures before COVID-19, and at New Care we have always had processes in place to prevent infection. All homes had a score of 95% or more when inspected by the external Infection Control auditors. We use ZERO agency staff in our homes.
Some of our GP’s and other health care professionals are now conducting virtual visits to the home using technological solutions.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
We continue to have sufficient supplies of PPE. We have registered with the NHS who have advised that they can assist us if we are having difficulties obtaining PPE. Currently, we are obtaining plentiful supply from our usual suppliers.
To confirm we have the following stock items in all of our homes in sufficient quantities to meet our needs both immediately and in the foreseeable future:-
- Visors
- Fluid Repellent masks
- Goggles/safety Glasses
- Gloves
- Aprons
- Hats
- Overshoes
Therefore, we would like to reassure you that all of our homes have sufficient PPE. Please be assured that it is an area that we keep under review. We follow or exceed government guidance in terms of the recommended level of PPE for the roles that we carry out.
We also have good supplies of hand soap, hand gel and disposable hand towels, which are supplied, throughout the home. This supports our staff, residents & professional visitors to conduct their hand washing/hand hygiene in line with government guidance.
The well-being of our residents, relatives and staff is of the utmost importance to us and we hope that we have reassured you that this is the case.
