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Guidance

COVID-19: how to work safely in domiciliary care in England

A resource for those working in domiciliary care providing information on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Updates to this page

From:
UK Health Security Agency
Published:
27 April 2020
Last updated:
24 January 2022
Show all updates

  1. Removed out of date self-isolation policy information from the 'What has changed' section.

  2. References to FFP2 and N95 removed.

  3. Added link to management of staff and exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings.

  4. Updated in line with changes to self-isolation for contacts from 16 August.

  5. Inclusion of paragraph on what PPE to use when supporting an individual or client on visits out.

  6. Updated to reflect changes to guidance in Step 4 of the roadmap. Updated section on types of masks that can be used for domestic duties when 2 metres or more from the client.

  7. Added new section on use of PPE for live-in careworkers.

  8. Updated infographics for putting on and taking off PPE.

  9. Added note explaining that the infographics are being reviewed and will be updated shortly in line with the guidance.

  10. Introduced recommendations to change PPE after each episode of personal care, and new recommendations around use of eye protection when delivering personal care within 2 metres. Guidance provided in HTML format only.

  11. Updated guidance on the use of gloves.

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

  13. Updated guidance, providing more information on types of gloves.

  14. Guidance now available in HTML format.

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

  16. Updated 'Personal protective equipment (PPE): a resource for care workers delivering homecare (domiciliary care) in England' document to provide important updates as set out on page 2.

  17. Updated Personal protective equipment (PPE): a resource for care workers delivering homecare (domiciliary care) in England.

  18. Added guides for putting on and taking off personal protective equipment

  19. First published.

This publication was withdrawn on

This guidance has been superseded by information in Infection prevention and control in adult social care: COVID-19 supplement.

Documents

[Withdrawn] Personal protective equipment (PPE): resource for care workers delivering domiciliary care during sustained COVID-19 transmission in England

HTML

[Withdrawn] How to work safely - Putting on PPE guide

PDF, 315 KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@phe.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

[Withdrawn] How to work safely - Taking off PPE guide

PDF, 673 KB, 1 page

This file may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@phe.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

Details

This resource is primarily for care workers and providers delivering care in the following settings:

  • visiting homecare
  • extra care housing
  • live-in homecare

This resource should be used alongside the video guide to putting on and taking off PPE. Although the video is titled as being for workers in care homes, the content is just as relevant for home care.

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.

There may be further information specific to each country in the United Kingdom, as this guidance was written by Public Health England primarily for an English health professional audience. To see if country specific information is available, please refer to Health Protection Scotland, Public Health Wales, or Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland.

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