New guidance on mask wearing in our homes

We are pleased to confirm that we are implementing the guidance that has been provided by The Department of Health and Social Care in relation to COVID-19 policies.

The guidance, effective from Monday 19th December, outlines that care workers and visitors to care homes do not routinely need to wear a face mask at all times in care settings.

We welcome this change in guidance and we are pleased to inform you that we will be implementing the changes in the coming days in our homes.



There remains a number of circumstances where the use of face masks will be required, as detailed below.

The new guidance enables care homes to make their own risk-based decisions on when face masks are used and can initiate their own outbreak risk assessments to make decisions about which outbreak measures make sense for their individual settings.

Decisions around wearing masks will be based on factors like the risk to specific individuals, if the setting is in an outbreak, or the preferences of the individual receiving care. Support remains available from health protection teams and other local partners for care homes when needed.

Care workers and visitors to our care homes will be required to wear masks to minimise the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in certain circumstances. These are:

• If the person being cared for is known or suspected to have COVID-19.
• If the member of staff is in a household or overnight contact of someone who has had a positive test result for COVID-19.
• If the care setting is in an outbreak.
• If people receiving care ask for staff to wear face masks, and staff should, of course, work in whatever way will make the person they are caring for most comfortable.

Other transmissible viruses such as flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and norovirus can be just as dangerous to care home residents as COVID-19. If visitors have any symptoms that suggest other transmissible viruses and infections, such as cough, high temperature, diarrhoea, or vomiting, they should avoid the care home until at least 5 days after they feel better.

We have updated our policies including our Visiting Policy and Responsible Visitors Code to reflect the changes and these are available on request. If you, or your loved ones have any questions or queries, please feel free to any member of staff at our care homes.

We very much look forward to seeing the beautiful smiles of our visitors and staff again. We will continue to do everything we can to keep everybody safe and well.

We would also like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Happy Christmas and New Year.