On 15 October 2020 the Department of Health and Social Care (‘DHSC’) published updated guidance in relation to visiting arrangements in care homes. The DHSC guidance, ‘Update on policies for visiting arrangements in care homes’ applies to care homes in England. The DHSC states that care providers should follow the updated guidance to ensure that …
DHSC update on visiting arrangements in care homes Read More »
On 18 September 2020 the Social Care COVID -19 Support Taskforce produced its final report, advice and recommendations. The Taskforce was commissioned in June 2020 and completed its work in August 2020 reporting to the Minister of State for Care. It consisted of leaders from across government and from the social care sector and was …
The Social Care COVID-19 Support Taskforce Report Read More »
An Englishman’s home is his castle! Or so it is said. A care provider’s home is their citadel. Without permission, no one can insist on entering absent the owner’s consent, whoever they may be, except with a warrant for a specified purpose in the case of the Police and on any ground, the CQC . …
COVID-19: Can the CQC insist on coming into your home? Read More »
The Government implore social care workers alongside their NHS colleagues to take the flu vaccine to protect themselves, the people that they care for and their colleagues. The flu vaccine is offered free of charge to frontline social care workers from a GP or pharmacy which marks an improvement in access to the vaccine. Last …
As the pandemic crisis threatens to overwhelm the sector again the Government has released its Winter Plan to help prepare the country for a second wave. Nythan Smith has reflected on this document and highlights the below headlines that will be useful for adult social care providers: £546m additional funding for the Infection Control fund …
The COVID-19 Winter Plan: Headlines for the adult social care sector Read More »
The Government wrote to care homes and local authority partners on 11 September 2020 confirming that there has been an increase in the number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus in care homes. The rise in numbers seems to be affecting staff rather than residents, but given the proximity within the settings it might follow that …
Increase in confirmed Coronavirus cases amongst care home staff Read More »
The National Care Forum has written to the Government to ask that it reverses its decision to not monitor CQC inspectors regularly prior to attending physical inspections within care settings. In the letter the soundness of the decision taken by the Government not to make the testing for Covid-19 of CQC inspectors mandatory is questioned. …
On 25 August 2020 the DHSC published what might be described as a “one stop shop” guidance document called “Overview of adult social care guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19) This page provides information for adult social care providers about COVID-19 guidance and support on the areas listed below and will be updated to reflect new DHSC, NHS …
DHSC publish “Overview of adult social care guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19)” Read More »
Following criticism of how Public Health England has handled the coronavirus pandemic, today, 18 August 2020, Matt Hancock has unveiled the National Institute for Health Protection, to replace Public Health England, to defend UK from infectious diseases and biological weapons. The Government has said: “The National Institute for Health Protection (NIHP) will bring together the …
National Institute for Health Protection replaces Public Health England Read More »
On 14 August 2020, the Government published updates to its guidance on admission and care of residents in a care home. The guidance, ‘Admission and care of residents during COVID-19 incident in a care home’ updates the previous ‘Admission and care of residents during COVID-19 incident in a care home’ guidance published on 2 April …
Updated guidance ‘Admission and care of residents in a care home during COVID-19′ Read More »
Ridouts is a team of specialist health and social care lawyers, providing dedicated legal advice for care homes, GP practices, children’s homes, dental practices, domiciliary and home care agencies, supported and independent living services and both private and NHS hospitals.
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