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17 August 2021
Updated guidance has been issued on care home visiting
This guidance applies from 16 August 2021 (yesterday, when it was issued) and replaces previous guidance on care home visiting. This guidance applies to residential care homes and care home residents of all ages. There is separate guidance for supported living and extra care settings.
This guidance is for directors of public health, care providers and others who will be involved in planning to enable visits to care homes. It sets out:
- an overview of the visiting practices supported by this guidance
- advice for providers when establishing their visiting policy
- advice for providers when taking visiting decisions for particular residents or groups of residents
- advice on delivering safe visiting, with and without testing
- information on visiting in exceptional circumstances such as end of life
This guidance should be read alongside arrangements for visiting out of the care home.
The measures described in this guidance relate to visits with friends and family that take place within care home premises. Guidance relating to visits where the resident leaves the care home premises are described in our guidance on visits out of care homes.
....and guidance remains unchanged on use of PPE equipment in care homes
Due to vulnerabilities of care home residents there is no change to PPE use in care homes.
This guidance is intended for all care workers working in care homes in England. It can also be applied to visitors or essential care-givers within the care home setting.
This guidance is of general nature and is intended to be compatible with legislation. In the case that information in this guidance differs from a requirement in legislation, the legislation should be followed. The guidance remains under review and may be updated in line with the changing situation as required.
Employers and managers must provide workers with safe conditions of work, complying with all applicable legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Health and Social Care Act 2008: code of practice on the prevention and control of infections.
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