Overview

Regularly updated guidance and information can be found on this website and at:

• The Care Provider Alliance’s COVID-19 Resources Page
• The government’s COVID-19 advice page
• The government’s Social Care Guidance Hub
• There has been an update to COVID-19 symptoms – 18.03.20

The tabs at the top of this page contain more specific pieces of information and guidance which you need to know. Please note those who are shielding because they are extremely vulnerable (updated 18.5.20).

Please also note the new guidance on lifting the lockdown:

• Lockdown lifting plan – Updated 26.5.20
• FAQ on new lockdown rules – 22.5.20
• Staying Alert and Safe (Social Distancing) – 22.5.20
• Staying Safe outside your home – 22.5.20

If you have any questions about the guidance or question for DHSC about COVID-19 please let us know at [email protected] and we will seek a response.

We are also working closely with other members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Adult Social Care (APPG) to influence parliamentarians.

Links to Important Guidance

PHE, DHSC & NHS are developing guidance for a variety of professional groups on handling the novel coronavirus COVID-19 in the UK. This section gives a quick overview of guidance. Please see the tabs at the top of the page for further information and guidance.

• Letter from DHSC about Test and Trace for social care workers – 29.5.20
• Changes to the Furlough Scheme – 29.5.20
• Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund – 29.5.20
• Test and Trace Guidance – 28.5.20
• Guidance on accessing testing – Updated 28.5.20
• Guidance on safeguarding adults with dementia – 28.5.20
• Safer Travel Guidance for Passengers – Updated 28.5.20
• Join Social Care Recruitment Platform – 28.5.20
• Guidance for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for employers here and employees here Updated 28.5.20
• Guidance on how to calculate 80% of your employees’ salaries – Updated 28.5.20
• CQC Guidance on Mental Capacity Act -Updated 26.5.20
• SSP Guidance: How to claim SSP paid to employees – Updated 26.5.20
• Guidance are for employers and businesses – Updated 25.5.20
• Infection Control Fund Grant Conditions – 22.5.20
• Infection Control Fund Grant Condition Letter from Minister – 22.5.20
• Guidance on the provision of home care – 22.5.20
• FAQ on LA Care Home Support Planning – 22.5.20
• Note on the Capacity Tracker – 22.5.20
• Antibody testing programme – 22.5.20
• FAQ on new lockdown rules – Updated 22.5.20
• Care Home Support Package+MSC Letter-Updated 22.5.20
• Protocol for care homes and funeral directors – 21.5.20
• Social Landlords and Moving House – 21.5.20
• Guidance on PPE & Infection Prevention and control guidance -Updated 21.5.20
• Considerations of Acute PPE Shortages – Updated 21.5.20
• CPA Business Continuity guidance and planning template – 20.5.20
• Care Act Easements: guidance for local authorities – updated 20.4.20
• Key Workers: Guidance for who constitutes key workers & Guidance for parents and carers – Updated 20.5.20
• CQC interim guidance on DBS and other recruitment checks -19.5.20
• Accessing nurses redeployed to social care – Updated 19.5.20
• Guidance on admission and care of people in care homes – updated 19.5.20 (under review)
• Letter to social housing residents – 18.5.20
• Guidance for providers of services for people who use drugs and alcohol – 18.5.20
• Guidance for first responders and those in close contact with symptomatic people – Updated 18.5.20
• Guidance on shielding and protecting extremely vulnerable people – 18.5.20
• Guidance for care of the deceased with suspected or confirmed coronavirus – updated 15.5.20
• Wellbeing and Mental Health Support Package for Social Care Staff – 15.5.20
• CPA Briefing: Insurance, Risk and Liabilities – 15.5.20
• Guidance for charitable homelessness and rough sleeping organisations – 14.5.20
• NHS operating framework for urgent and planned services in hospital settings during COVID-19 – 14.5.20
• Guidance on safeguarding in faith-based organisations – 13.5.20
• Letter from Rosamond Roughton – Roll out of whole care home testing – 13.5.20
• Factsheet – Care Home Testing (aimed at Directors of Public Health) -13.5.20
• Care Homes Testing Matrix (includes a route for home care) – 13.5.20
• Guidance on dementia in care homes and COVID-19 – 12.5.20
• Furlough Scheme extended until the end of October 2020– 12.5.20
• Location of Testing Sites – 12.5.20
• Transport and Travel Guidance – 12.5.20
• Clinical guide for supporting compassionate visiting arrangements for those receiving care at the end of life – 11.5.20
• Advance Care Plan guidance and editable template–11.5.20
• The government’s Health and wellbeing of the adult social care workforce – 11.05.20
• Testing portal for Care Home Staff and Residents – 11.5.20
• Making your own face coverings – 11.5.20
• DHSC Response to deaths of workers in social care + process for reporting – 11.5.20
• Step by step guide to Job Retention Scheme – Updated 11.5.20
• New Testing Route Announced by Minister for Care– 7.5.20 
• Guidance for people receiving direct payments – Updated 7.5.20
• Verification of Death in Times of Emergency – 5.5.20
• Bounce Back Loans – 4.5.20
• Managing a Fall that may require an ambulance during COVID-19 – 4.5.20
• Guidance on Primary Care Standard Operating Procedures – updated 1.5.20
• Testing Privacy Notice – with details about home testing – 1.5.20
• Guidance on Priority Medicines for Palliative and End of Life Care During a Pandemic – 1.5.20
• CQC Emergency Support Framework – 1.5.20
• No VAT on PPE – 30.4.20
• How to Work Safely in Domiciliary Care – 30.4.20
• NICE Rapid Guidelines – Managing symptoms (including at the end of life) in the community – 30.4.20
• Reuse of medicines in a care home or hospice – 28.4.20
• HMT & DHSC: The Furlough Scheme and Adult Social Care -Updated 27.4.20
• How to Work Safely in Care Homes – Updated 27.4.20
• Guidance for care staff supporting adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults – 24.4.20
• Guidance for those providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults – 24.4.20
• Guidance for Remote Verification of Expected Death – 24.4.20
• Guidance for those involved in managing COVID-19 deaths – 21.4.20
• Joint statement on Data Collection and Trackers – 17.4.20
• Social Care Action Plan – updated 16.4.20
• PPE Plan – Updated 15.4.20
• BGS Good Practice Guide on managing the COVID-19 pandemic in care homes – 14.4.20
• Coronavirus (COVID-19): looking after people who lack mental capacity (DoLS) – 9.4.20
• Guidance on providing unpaid care to friends and family – 8.4.20
• Prioritisation within Community Health Services – updated 2.4.20
• DHSC’s letter about the Parallel Supply Chain – 1.4.20
  
• Guidance for public mental health and wellbeing – updated 31.3.20
• Joint Statement: Supporting disabled people through the coronavirus outbreak – 31.3.20
• Text, Explanatory Notes and Summary of The Coronavirus Bill – 26.3.20
• Guidance for hostels or day centres for people rough sleeping – Updated 25.3.20
• DHSC’s ethical framework for adult social care – 19.3.20
• Guidance note for local authority commissioners – 13.3.20
• Resources such as leaflets, posters, guides and resource packs can be found here.
• Helix Centre end of life care toolkits for carers at home
• RCGP COVID19 Resource Hub
• Association of Palliative Medicine – COVID-19 and Palliative, End of Life and Bereavement Care in Secondary Care – Role of the specialty and guidance to aid care.

International Perspective

The Care Policy and Evaluation Centre at LSE and the International Long Term Policy Network have produced a resource hub of materials on social care and COVID-19 from around the world.  Read more here