New Care Covid19 information May 2021
All New Care homes are open to new admissions and we are now conducting in house visits for those looking for care. These visits will be subject to a negative Lateral Flow test and will carefully managed to maintain the safety of our residents and staff. Please contact the home for further information.
The health, safety and wellbeing of our Residents and Staff are always our top priorities. We have 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.
Vaccine and testing program
The role out of the vaccine programme has played a significant part in increasing confidence in the safety of our homes. The vast majority of our staff are fully supportive of the Company’s COVID-19 vaccine policy and now have now received both vaccines. In addition all of our residents have agreed to have the vaccine and most have now received their second dose.
All new starters being employed by New Care since 1st March 2021 have been required and have agreed to have the vaccine, unless exempt.
We are continuing to follow guidance around swabbing both PCR and LFD. If a staff member was to test positive they are sent home to isolate for 10 days, during this period of isolation they remain on full pay. If a residents tests positive they will be fully supported and all care will be offered in their own bedrooms. Immediate family members will be 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. We are confident that the infection control measures we have in place along with the vaccine programme and regular testing ensure our homes are a safe a place as possible for residents and staff. 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 safe viewing of the home. 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.
Further to the recent government guidance regarding face to face visiting, we are delighted to advise that from 17th May all residents can have visits from 5 nominated family members or friends. We expect this number will be increased in line with the road map set out by the government. Visitors must wear PPE and have a negative Lateral Flow test prior to the visit. Please contact our homes for more information. Residents are now able to leave the home without the need to isolate for 14 days on their return.
In addition to the new visiting process all of our homes will continue with garden visits, 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.
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 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.
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 and 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.
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 a full 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. Our homes are all fully open to admissions and we will be happy to discuss our care services with you.
