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Coronavirus help and support

Coronavirus help and support

CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION PACK

WHAT WE NEED YOU TO KNOW

In this pack, you will find information such as the measures all staff and service users should take to ensure the risk of spreading the virus, what to do if you’re concerned that someone has symptoms.

Should have any questions, or would like further information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.

At Committed2Care, we will make every effort to ensure that safe, effective procedures are in place for staff and Service Users, as well as the wider community in an effort to help prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19), protect the NHS, and save lives.

As the spread of the virus is resulting in response requirements changing daily, we at Committed2Care Ltd will ensure we stay up to date with reliable sources of information and have the flexibility to respond when required.

We recognise that the outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus SARS coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) which results in the disease COVID-19 is a fast-moving situation. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that this is now a pandemic. As care providers, ensuring robust infection control and business continuity plans form part of preparing business at Committed2Care Ltd for any events that can cause disruption to the normal business.

Committed2Care Ltd will ensure that staff are aware of and understand the importance of pandemic preparedness and will carry out preparations by following the checklist in the Pandemic Policy and Procedure at Committed2Care Ltd. We understand that business continuity planning involves all aspects of the business and, to be effective, we must work with our partners, suppliers and commissioners to ensure that a safe and effective service can be maintained.

We also understand that we have a responsibility for ensuring that staff follow good infection control and prevention techniques, and that we support Service Users with this, too. We will ensure staff have access to reliable information to reduce anxiety and dispel any myths and inaccurate information that may cause worry or distress to staff, Service Users or the wider public.

Reducing the Risk of Contracting or Spreading the Virus

Committed2Care Ltd will ensure that staff, when not at work, follow the WHO and Public Health England advice to reduce the risk of contracting the virus as well as the risk of spreading it. We will also support Service Users to follow the government requirements and remind them that failure to follow this can result in a fine.

You can only leave your home:

  • To shop for basic essentials – only when you really need to
  • To do one form of exercise per day – such as a run, walk or cycle, alone or with people from your household
  • For any medical need – for example, to visit a pharmacy or deliver essential supplies to a vulnerable person
  • To travel to and from work – but only where this is absolutely necessary and working from home is not an option

Further measures:

  • Wash your hands regularly and properly for at least 20 seconds using soap and running water. Do not use shared towels to dry your hands – use a paper towel or clean towel.
  • Use hand sanitizer when it is not possible to wash hands with soap and water. Hand sanitizer must contain 60% alcohol to be effective. Let this dry on your skin before you touch anything
  • Maintain at least 2 metres (6 foot) distance between you and anyone else unless carrying out care duties which require close or physical contact. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has or is carrying the disease
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses, even when gloves are worn. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick
  • Practice respiratory hygiene. Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. If you do not have a tissue, use your sleeve. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately and wash your hands, or use hand sanitiser if you do not have immediate access to soap and running water. Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19. Clean clothes should be put on at least once per day. If you are leaving the house for a purpose deemed “essential”, shower/bath on your return home if possible, and put worn clothes straight in to wash. Staff delivering care services should wear clean clothes for each shift.

If you have a fever (37.8 degrees or above) a new persistent cough, or new shortness of breath, you must self isolate for 7 days. The NHS advice below must be followed;

  • If you have symptoms of coronavirus infection (COVID-19), however mild, stay at home and do not leave your house for 7 days from when your symptoms started
  • If you live with someone who has symptoms, you will need to stay at home for 14 days from the day their symptoms started. This is because it can take 14 days for symptoms to appear
  • If more than 1 person at home has symptoms, stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person started having symptoms
  • If you get symptoms, stay at home for 7 days from when your symptoms start, even if it means you are at home for longer than 14 days
  • If you do not get symptoms, you can stop staying at home after 14 days

Social Distancing

Social distancing measures are steps you can take to reduce social interaction between people. This will help reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19).

  • Avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough
  • Avoid non-essential use of public transport when possible
  • Work from home where possible. Your employer should support you to do this. Please refer to employer guidance for more information
  • Avoid large and small gatherings in public spaces, noting that pubs, restaurants, leisure centres and similar venues are currently shut as infections spread easily in closed spaces where people gather together.
  • Avoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media
  • Use telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services

Everyone should be trying to follow these measures as much as is practicable.

We strongly advise you to follow the above measures as much as you can and to significantly limit your face-to-face interaction with friends and family if possible, particularly if you:

  • are over 70
  • have an underlying health condition
  • are pregnant

This advice is likely to be in place for some weeks.

Hand Washing

On top of normal infection control and prevention of cross-contamination prevention practices e.g. when handling continence products, staff should wash their hands:

  • Before leaving home
  • On arrival at work
  • After using the toilet
  • After touching pets
  • After breaks and sporting activities
  • Before food preparation
  • After using public transport
  • Before eating any food, including snacks
  • Before leaving work
  • On arrival at home

Confidentiality

Committed2Care Ltd will follow confidentiality and GDPR policies and procedures to ensure the details of staff involved in caring for Service Users with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 is kept confidential. Employees should also respect each other’s confidentially and take care not to inadvertently share information with others, including when using social media.

Where staff are suspected or confirmed to have contracted COVID-19, their personal details should be treated as confidential, as they would be for any other Committed2Care Ltd Service User.

Safe Staffing

In the event of an outbreak of COVID-19, where staff are moved from other areas to support work on COVID-19, assessments will be made on the ability to continue to deliver safe and effective care in the services affected. Steps will be taken to mitigate any risks resulting from staff moving to other areas. Committed2Care Ltd will, as part of pandemic preparedness, assess whether any staff need additional training or support.

Reducing the Risk of Stigmatization

Stigma occurs when people negatively associate an infectious disease, such as COVID-19, with a specific population. In the case of COVID-19, there are an increasing number of reports of public stigmatization against people from areas affected by the epidemic. This means people are being labelled, stereotyped, separated, and/or experiencing loss of status and discrimination because of a potential negative affiliation with the disease. Committed2Care Ltd will ensure staff understand the importance of preventing and addressing social stigma by making sure facts are available to staff and Service Users.

Actions if a Service User Meets the Criteria and Displays Symptoms

If a Service User complains of symptoms staff must make sure;

  • The Service User is safe, and withdraw the Service User’s contact with anyone else in the premises
  • They immediately wash their hands and avoid touching the face, nose, mouth or eyes
  • They contact 111 for advice or 999 if an emergency (if they are seriously ill or injured or their life is at risk)
  • They contact Committed2Care Ltd as soon as possible and advise of the situation. This must be a high priority
  • They do not attend any other Service Users, visit their GP or travel in the community until advice is sought
  • Whilst they wait for advice from NHS 111 or an ambulance to arrive, staff should remain at least 2 metres from all other people. They should avoid touching people, surfaces and objects, and cover their mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when they cough or sneeze and put the tissue in a bag then throw the tissue in the bin. If they do not have any tissues available, they should cough and sneeze into the crook of their elbow
  • If they need to go to the bathroom whilst waiting for medical assistance, they should use a separate bathroom if available. This will apply only to the period of time while waiting for transport to hospital

Action if a Member of Staff Reports Symptoms

  • Committed2Care Ltd will ensure that the member of staff self-isolates for 7 days
  • If the member of staff has no symptoms, they can return to work on day 8
  • Committed2Care Ltd must contact Tamworth Borough Council and the local health protection team for advice including whether the premises need to close and other staff self-isolate
  • Advice will be given to the member of staff if they need to self-isolate and what action will need to take place for any Service Users that they may have had contact with
  • Committed2Care Ltd must ensure that confidentiality is maintained and that records are held in line with Data Protection Act requirements
  • Committed2Care Ltd should follow their Sickness Absence Policy and Procedure and ensure that it follows government guidance which states that if an employee or worker has to self-isolate, they should receive any Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) due to them.
  • Committed2Care Ltd will need to put into action the business continuity plan and liaise with Tamworth Borough Council and the CQC if there are concerns about staffing

Isolation Notes Online

Isolation notes will provide staff of Committed2Care Ltd with evidence for their employer that they have been advised to self-isolate due to coronavirus, either because they have symptoms or they live with someone who has symptoms, and so cannot work.

As isolation notes can be obtained without contacting a doctor, this will reduce the pressure on GP surgeries and prevent people needing to leave their homes.

For the first seven days off work, employees can self-certify so they do not need any evidence for Committed2Care Ltd. After that, Committed2Care Ltd may ask for evidence of sickness absence. Where this is related to having symptoms of coronavirus or living with someone who has symptoms, the isolation note can be used to provide evidence of the advice to self-isolate.

Cleaning the Office and Workplace Where There are Confirmed Cases of COVID-19

Committed2Care Ltd will follow Public Health England guidance on cleaning. Coronavirus symptoms are similar to a flu-like illness and include cough, fever, or shortness of breath. Once symptomatic, all surfaces that the person has come into contact with must be cleaned including:

  • All surfaces and objects which are visibly contaminated with body fluids
  • All potentially contaminated high-contact areas such as toilets, door handles, telephones
  • Clothing and linen used by the person should be set aside pending assessment of the person by a healthcare professional

Rubbish Disposal Including Tissues

All waste that has been in contact with the individual with symptoms, including used tissues, continence pads and other items soiled with bodily fluids, must be put in a plastic rubbish bag and tied. These bags should be placed into another bag, tied securely and kept separate from other waste within the room. This must be put aside for at least 72 hours before being disposed of as normal.

Raising Concerns

Committed2Care Ltd has effective procedures in place to allow staff to raise any concerns in relation to equipment, policies and processes for managing COVID-19 at the earliest opportunity. All staff must be aware of the Whistleblowing Policy and Procedure at Committed2Care Ltd and be able to raise concerns without any fear, and receive timely feedback on their concerns.

Shielding At-Risk Groups

The Government advised on 21st March 2020 that those who are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus must be shielded and protected. The full Public Health England guidance can be found on their website. Shielding is a measure to protect extremely vulnerable people by minimising interaction between those who are extremely vulnerable and others. This means those who are extremely vulnerable should not leave their homes, and within their homes should minimise all non-essential contact with other members of their household.

The following should be practiced by anyone considered ‘at risk’;

  • Strictly avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These symptoms include high temperature, a new and continuous cough, or shortness of breath
  • Do not leave your house
  • Do not attend any gatherings
  • Do not go out for shopping, leisure or travel and, when arranging food or medication deliveries, these should be left at the door to minimise contact
  • Keep in touch using remote technology such as phone, internet, and social media

People falling into this 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 leukemia, 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

The NHS in England is directly contacting people with these conditions to provide further advice. This advice will be in place for 12 weeks.

Supporting Hospital Discharge

Committed2Care Ltd’s Management Team will follow the COVID-19 discharge guidance and will ensure that communication channels remain open.

Working from Home

Where office-based staff at Committed2Care Ltd are able to work from home, Committed2Care Ltd has agreed to the arrangement to minimalise the contact these staff make with others. They will adopt healthy work-from-home practices which includes compliance with Health and Safety. Staff working from home will maintain contact with Service Users and colleagues with whom they would usually interact. Confidentiality will be maintained in line with the Data Protection Act. Meetings with Service Users or external organisations will not take place with the employees at home unless teleconferencing facilities are used. Committed2Care’s Management team will also conduct staff meetings such as appraisals and supervisions with the use of video calling to ensure staff continue to receive support whilst contact is kept to a minimum.

Key Terms and Phrases

Pandemic

A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease COVID-19 was characterised as a Pandemic on 11th March 2020

World Health Organisation

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations that is concerned with world public health

COVID-19

Novel coronavirus is a new strain of coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, China. The virus was named severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease it causes is called COVID- 19

Outbreak

A disease outbreak is the occurrence of disease cases in excess of normal expectancy. The number of cases varies according to the disease-causing agent, and the size and type of previous and existing exposure to the agent

Social Stigma

Social stigma in the context of health is the negative association between a person or group of people who share certain characteristics and a specific disease. In an outbreak, this may mean people are labelled, stereotyped, discriminated against, treated separately, and/or experience loss of status because of a perceived link with a disease. Such treatment can negatively affect those with the disease, as well as their caregivers, family, friends and communities. People who do not have the disease but share other characteristics with this group may also suffer from stigma. The current COVID-19 outbreak has provoked social stigma and discriminatory behaviours against people of certain ethnic backgrounds as well as anyone perceived to have been in contact with the virus

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020

The Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 was put in place with immediate effect on 25th February to impose restrictions on any individual considered by health professionals to be at risk of spreading the virus

The regulations apply to any individuals seeking to leave supported isolation before the current quarantine period of 14 days is complete. It will also apply to future cases during the current coronavirus incident where an individual who may be infected or contaminated could present a risk to public health

Social Distancing

Social distancing measures are steps you can take to reduce the social interaction between people. This will help reduce the transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19)

Health and Social Care Key Workers

This includes but is not limited to doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributers of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment

Staff of Committed2Care Ltd who are providing this service should be aware of the following:

  • The current understanding is that the virus does not survive on surfaces for longer than 72 hours. Regular cleaning of frequently touched hard surfaces and hands will therefore help to reduce the risk of infection
  • It is essential to helping control the spread of the virus that you wash your hands often, with soap and water, or use alcohol sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol if handwashing facilities are not available - this is particularly important after taking public transport
  • Committed2Care Ltd must make sure they have the facts about the new coronavirus or the disease COVID-19 from a reliable source. Public Health England and the Department of Health and Social Care are 2 examples. Staff should read the fact sheet in the Forms section for more information
  • Committed2Care Ltd must have an up to date business continuity plan in place. The Pandemic Policy and Procedure has a checklist to help plan for an outbreak of a disease like COVID-19
  • It’s important that Service Users are made aware of how they can help limit the spread of COVID-19 and that they understand the signs and symptoms of the disease
  • Committed2Care Ltd will need to work closely with Tamworth Borough Council, health providers, suppliers and other agencies to ensure that there is continuity and consistency of care

People affected by this service should be aware of the following:

  • A coronavirus is a type of virus. Coronaviruses are common across the world. Typical symptoms of coronavirus include fever and a cough that may progress to severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. This new virus is called SARS coronavirus-2. The disease it causes is called COVID-19
  • There is no vaccine at the moment for this virus. Washing your hands regularly with soap and water will help prevent the spread of the disease. Try not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
  • Its ok to feel worried or anxious. Committed2Care Ltd has plans in place to make sure you will get the care that you need.

Please note that all information contained on the website was accurate at the time is was produced.