The Corona Virus pandemic is a worrying time for our clients, their families and our home care teams. At Good Oaks our priority is to provide homecare and live-in care in a safe way that protects both our staff and clients.
Weekly Covid-19 Testing
All members of staff are now undertaking weekly PCR tests, with strict, rapid protocols in place for any positive results. PCR tests are the most accurate tests available at the moment, and are used by the NHS Test and Trace service, as well as routine testing for hospital staff and social care teams, like us.
Home Carer Covid-19 Vaccinations
We are expecting to have received our first vaccines by the end of February, with immunity building in the few weeks after the initial jab. This will be a huge step forward to protect our clients and colleagues, but we won’t become complacent. Even after vaccination, we’ll still keep our extremely strict Infection Control procedures in place until it is safe to put alternative measures in place.
Providing Care Safely
We want to reassure clients and families that we are putting in place protective measures to prevent both staff and clients from becoming unwell.
Our Home Carers have all received thorough infection control training, and carefully follow infection control procedures using appropriate PPE and hand hygiene.
We are carefully following advice from Public Health England and other partners such as the UKHCA and CQC to ensure we are doing everything we can to protect our staff and clients.
We have offered enhanced services for those who are self-isolating, such as regular phone calls, shopping trips, and picking up prescriptions where needed. We communicate regularly with our clients and their families to keep them abreast of the situation and will continue to do as the situation develops.
We have also worked with partners to draw up contingency plans to minimise any possible service disruption from the government’s social distancing strategy, and from people becoming unwell.
Update – 13th January 2021 – we are now delighted to announce that we have rolled out weekly testing of all staff in our organisation. This is a further safeguard to prevent transmission. We are currently working with the NHS and Local Authorities planning home carer vaccinations over the next two months, which will ensure we further protect our staff, clients and their families.
Useful Resources
Our thoughts on the safety of Live-in Care during Covid-19 lockdown
For advice on Coronavirus symptoms and tips on prevention, please go to the NHS website or Public Health England. It is important to keep up-to-date with developments, as official guidance is changing daily.
World Health Organisation (WHO) – WHO has provided useful advice for the public: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
Age UK – For COVID-19 information and advice for older people, please see: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/health-wellbeing/conditions-illnesses/coronavirus/
Our Thanks
During this incredibly difficult time the reaction of the nation has been incredible to behold. We would particularly like to thank:
- Our amazing members of staff who have adapted to new ways of working and never lost of sight of our mission; “to be the go-to provider of quality care at home.”
- Our clients and their families. They have been so supportive and careful to protect their loved ones and our staff through providing soap and water to our carers, and respecting self-isolating relatives therefore looking after themselves and others.
- A huge range of organisations, companies and institutions who have turned their hand to helping in any way they can. Conker Gin have been fantastic providing us with enough hand sanitiser for a long time, and Arts University Bournemouth have fabricated face shields to help us look after clients who display Covid-19 symptoms.
