The government has today issued a letter outlining that from the 4th May residents will have opportunities to leave their care home to spend time outdoors without then having to isolate for 14 days upon their return. This feels like a very important step forward in that it recognises how important it is for people living within care homes to once again take some tentative first steps back into the community.
The guidance itself has not yet been issued, so as ever the devil will be in the detail.
NCF raised the issue of care home residents effectively being barred from the voting booth under the existing guidance earlier this month. We are therefore pleased that it appears from this letter that the government has recognised the need to protect the inalienable rights of all our citizens to vote in person.
This letter does give a welcome sense of light at the end of the tunnel, however, it is vitally important that the government lays out a clear roadmap for those receiving social care in care homes that makes it crystal clear how long this tunnel is, and what needs to happen in order for care home residents to be able to fully engage with family and friends – both within their home and in their communities.
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Note to Editors:
- The National Care Forum brings together over 130 of the UK’s leading social care organisations, representing large numbers of care providers, offering thousands of services across the country, which are not for profit and always at the heart of community provision. Collectively, these organisations deliver more than £2 billion of social care support to more than 167,000 people in 9,200 settings. The NCF membership body collectively employs more than 95,500 colleagues.
- More information is available on the National Care Forum at www.nationalcareforum.org.uk. @NCFCareForum @vicrayner @NCF_Liz
- For enquiries, please contact Edna Petzen petzen@nationalcareforum.org.uk
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