Government Guidance
on Coronavirus
This page provides links to Government Guidance given during the Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic
UK COVID-19 VACCINES DELIVERY PLAN - 11th January 2021
The Government has released its plan of how they will build up a supply of vaccines and how it will deploy them.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-covid-19-vaccines-delivery-plan
The publication below gives information about the vaccine being brought to care home residents and care staff and in particular point 5.22 is about social care staff who work in settings beyond care homes, for example directly employed Personal Assistants
UK COVID-19 vaccines delivery plan – published 11th January 2021
The Department of Health have written to Adult Social Care providers regarding supporting frontline social care workers to receive their COVID -19 vaccination – the letter contains Local Authority points of contact for social care worker vaccination (page 9) and links with resources to encourage take up.
This is the link where frontline social care workers can book their coronavirus vaccination: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/
COMMUNITY TESTING - 17th February 2021
Community asymptomatic testing has been introduced to help identify and isolate individuals who have COVID-19 but do not have symptoms and may inadvertently be spreading the virus, these tests sit alongside the deployment of tests to NHS front-line staff, social care and other critical settings.
Department of Health and Social Care have announced the roll out of weekly PCR COVID-19 testing for Personal assistants working in Adult Social Care in England from 17th February 2021. For testing purposes, a PA is someone who is directly employed by an individual (or self employed) to provide care and support to enable them to live as independently as possible – this care could include support in the home or to go out into the community.
Regular asymptomatic testing for Personal Assistants: communications – includes how to place and order, webinar links and additional support guidance for PAs. 17th February 2021
COVID-19 testing for Personal Assistants: Flyer 17th February 2021
TESTING FOR PERSONAL ASSISTANTS - 16th February 2021
The Government have laid out how personal assistants working in adult social care in England can access weekly COVID-19 testing. NHS Test and Trace is making weekly COVID-19 testing available to personal assistants working in adult social care in England. For testing purposes, a ‘personal assistant’ is someone who is directly employed by an individual (or self employed) to provide care and support to enable them to live as independently as possible. This care could include support in the home, or to go out into the community.
Coronavirus testing for personal assistants: Guidance
THE CORONAVIRUS NATIONAL TESTING PROGRAMME – 21st April 2020
As part of the Government’s five-pillar strategy for Coronavirus testing, they are now testing people who have coronavirus-like symptoms to see if they currently have the virus. Their aim is that anyone who needs such a test will be able to have one. But that will take time to achieve and they are building up their testing capacity and offering testing to different groups in a phased approach.
You can find out who is the eligible group to be tested next and how to book a test here and how the testing process works:
The Government have now launched a new self referral portal here: www.gov.uk/coronavirus. All essential workers will be able to register and book a test for themselves and/ or their household member(s) if they have coronavirus-like symptoms. Personal care assistants (PA) are deemed essential workers, and therefore are able to access tests via the self-referral portal.
User guide for essential workers- including personal care assistants- to book a test at a regional testing site or via home delivery.
FURTHER GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE:
Government Guidance – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/
Social Care Sector COVID-19 Support Taskforce: report on first phase of COVID-19 pandemic: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-care-sector-covid-19-support-taskforce-report-on-first-phase-of-covid-19-pandemic
HEALTH AND WELL-BEING RELATED GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE
Government guidance (19th March 2020) – The ethical framework for Adult Social Care
Department of Health (15th April 2020) – COVID-19 Our Action Plan for Adult Social Care:
covid-19-adult-social-care-action-plan
NHS England guidance (13th April updated 11th May 2020) – Advance care planning guidance
https://www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/publication/advance-care-planning-guidance-and-template/
Government guidance – Other conditions and Coronavirus.
Government guidance (15th May 2020) – supporting vulnerable children and young people during the Coronavirus outbreak
Government guidance (26th May 2020) – Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) risk assessment guidance
Government guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 (15th June 2020)
Register if you have a medical condition that makes you ‘extremely vulnerable’ to coronavirus
https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus-extremely-vulnerable
extremely vulnerable group include:
- Solid organ transplant recipients
- People with specific cancers:
- people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radical radiotherapy for lung cancer
- people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma who are at any stage of treatment
- people having immunotherapy or other continuing antibody treatments for cancer
- people having other targeted cancer treatments which can affect the immune system, such as protein kinase inhibitors or PARP inhibitors
- people who have had bone marrow or stem cell transplants in the last 6 months, or who are still taking immunosuppression drugs
- People with severe respiratory conditions including all cystic fibrosis, severe asthma and severe COPD.
- People with rare diseases and inborn errors of metabolism that significantly increase the risk of infections (such as SCID, homozygous sickle cell).
- People on immunosuppression therapies sufficient to significantly increase risk of infection.
- Women who are pregnant with significant heart disease, congenital or acquired.
Government Guidance (27th April 2020) – Coronavirus (COVID-19): adult social care guidance
HEALTHCARE WORKERS, CARERS AND CARE SETTING RELATED GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE
Government Guidance (4th November 2020) – New guidance to support safe care home visits
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-guidance-to-support-safe-care-home-visits-during-lockdown
Government Guidance (18th September 2020) -Adult Social Care: coronavirus (COVID-19) Winter Plan 2020 to 2021
Government Guidance (11th May 2020) – Coronavirus (COVID-19): health and wellbeing of the adult social care workforce
Government guidance (27th April 2020) – A life assurance scheme has been launched that will provide families of eligible workers who have died from coronavirus in the course of their frontline essential work, a £60k payment. This covers PAs as key workers- and they are specifically announced in this release
The responsibility will to rest with the LA/CCG to notify the scheme administrator (NHSBSA) should a PA die from Covid-19 contracted through their frontline duties, even where the individuals acts as the employer. The CCG/LA will also be required to provide appropriate support to the DP holder- be it emotional support, or practical support with care arrangements etc.
Government guidance (April 2020) – Covid 19- Testing for personal care assistants – April 2020
Further information for employers and personal care assistants on testing for frontline workers, who is now eligible for testing for Coronavirus including children under the age of 18. This document provides a list of frequently asked questions, regional test site locations and the action than Employers should take as part of the testing process:
Drafted letter from Department of Heath to Employers of PA’s used in conjunction with the Covid 19- Testing for personal care assistants (see slide 7): Draft letter
Invitation to register for Coronavirus testing- personal care assistants (PAs)
Letter template for PA’s who have asked to be tested, the letter includes the online link to book a test, the list of test centres, what to do when they get to the test centre and how they get their results can be found here: Covid 19- invitation for testing
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/
Government Guidance (3rd April 2020) – For Employees
Government Guidance (26th March, updated 29th May 2020) – Income Support Self Employed Scheme
OTHER USEFUL GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE
Government guidance (18th November 2020) – Using direct payments during the Coronavirus outbreak – Full guidance for people receiving a personal budget or personal health budget
Government guidance (20th May 2020) – The Care Act easements, guidance for Local Authorities
Government guidance (21st April, updated 7th May 2020) – Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for people receiving direct payments.
Government news (23rd March 2020) – Coronavirus Bill: summary of impacts
Government guidance – End of life care.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/end-of-life-care/
Public Health England – New gov Easy read guide for staff supporting people with a learning disability.