Guidance

COVID-19: how to work safely in care homes

Guidance for those working in care homes providing information on how to work safely during this period of sustained transmission of COVID-19.

Published 17 April 2020
Last updated 2 November 2020 — see all updates

• From: Public Health England

Documents

Personal protective equipment (PPE): resource for care workers working in care homes during sustained COVID-19 transmission in England

PDF, 369KB, 27 pages

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COVID-19: putting on and removing PPE – a guide for care homes (video)

HTML

Putting on PPE for care homes

PDF, 228KB, 1 page

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Taking off PPE for care homes

PDF, 263KB, 1 page

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COVID-19 PPE: recommendations for care home workers providing close personal care in direct contact with the resident(s) (for example, touching) OR within 2 metres of any resident who is coughing

HTML

COVID-19 PPE: recommendations for care home workers when within 2 metres of a resident but not delivering personal care or needing to touch them and there is no one within 2 metres who has a cough

HTML

COVID-19 PPE: recommendations for care home workers in any other situation when in a care home and at a distance of 2 metres or more away from residents

HTML

COVID-19 PPE recommendations for care home workers explained

HTML

COVID-19 PPE: recommendations for care home workers providing support to people with learning disabilities or autistic people

HTML

Case scenarios for health care workers

HTML

Details

Advice to those working in care homes on how to work safely during this period of sustained transmission of COVID-19.

The guidance includes:

• PPE recommendations for care home staff
• frequently asked questions on the use of PPE in care homes
• examples which help to identify the correct use of PPE when undertaking activities that require physical contact or activities which do not require physical contact but are carried out in close proximity to residents
• guide to putting on PPE for care homes
• guide to taking off PPE for care homes

These instruction sheets should be used alongside the video guide to putting on and taking off PPE – a guide for care homes

Please note that this guidance is of a general nature and that an employer should consider the specific conditions of each individual place of work and comply with all applicable legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Published 17 April 2020
Last updated 2 November 2020 + show all updates

1. 2 November 2020

   Updated guidance on use of gloves.

2. 7 October 2020

   Added notification that the use of gloves is being reviewed and will be updated shortly.

3. 28 September 2020

   Updated guidance, providing more information on types of gloves.

4. 28 August 2020

   Guidance now available in HTML format.

5. 20 July 2020

   Updated guidance to include recommendation for the use of face masks and coverings in care homes.

6. 15 June 2020

   Updated 'How to work safely in care homes' document to provide important updates as set out on page 2.

7. 27 April 2020

   Information on PPE simplified, flowchart removed, PPE for COVID-19 currently recommended for all care homes during sustained COVID-19 transmission, further text changes and additional FAQs added.

8. 23 April 2020

   Added posters for putting on and taking off PPE.

9. 17 April 2020

   First published.