
Reminder of care home visitation guidance in light of changing tiers
Irrespective of the Tier in which a provider is based, visits to care homes may continue. Indoor visits are permitted for those in Tiers 1

Updated guidance on Tier 4 care home visiting arrangements
The Department of Health and Social Care (“DHSC”) guidance, ‘Tier 4: Stay at Home: What you can and cannot do in areas with a very

Marked difference in the way Ofsted has chosen to return to the inspection of children’s homes
Ofsted confirmed on 3 December 2020 that it will not return to conducting rated visits of children’s social care providers until April 2021. It will

CQC reveals interim findings of its ‘Review of DNACPR decisions during the COVID-19 pandemic’
CQC finds that some Do Not Attempt CPR orders in care homes during the pandemic may have been inappropriately put in place The CQC’s initial

Chief Coroner’s Annual Report raises points for health and social care sector
The Chief Coroner’s annual report makes for some interesting reading for the health and social care sector. There were 386 prevention of future deaths reports

Care Homes to allow visitors with negative COVID-19 test
From 2 December 2020 visitors to care homes will once again be able to visit residents within care homes if they receive a negative COVID-19

Scotland follows Wales in offering bonus to health and care staff
Scotland has announced it will be providing a £500 bonus to care workers and NHS staff as soon as possible as a reward for working

Health Secretary sets out intention to safely increase visitors allowed into care homes
The Government’s most recent winter plan announced on 23 November 2020 that it was committed to provide twice weekly testing for regular visits for up

GPs urge CQC to halt all non-essential inspections of practices
The BMA has written to the Government to request that CQC’s inspection activity be stopped in order for GPs to focus on the effort to

Update: CQC’s review of DNACPR during the pandemic
On 12 October 2020, CQC reported that the Department of Health and Social Care (‘DHSC’) asked the regulator to review how Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary

Majority of care workers receive below the living wage in England
The Real Living Wage is only earned by a quarter of care workers across England. Whilst paying the Living Wage is a voluntary rate this

Reminder to health and social care employers – Beware of HSE Covid-19 Spot Checks
Providers are reminded that the HSE is carrying out (often unannounced) spot checks on employers in all types of businesses to ensure workplaces are Covid-19

New GMC guidance on decision making and consent
The General Medical Council (“GMC”) has published guidance titled, ‘Guidance on professional standards and ethics for doctors: Decision making and consent’ and it came into

Public Health report reveals 78 patients were sent to care homes in Scotland after testing positive for COVID-19
A report published today by Public Health Scotland reveals that 78 patients who had tested positive for COVID 19 were discharged from hospitals to care

Home Secretary refuses to broaden the “shortage occupations list” to include senior care workers
The shortage occupations list is a list of jobs which are given preferential treatment by the UK in respect of the immigration status of applicants