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Care during Covid

Lilian Faithfull Care has taken decisive early action at all stages through the Covid-19 pandemic to protect our residents and teams. In this dynamic situation our proactive measures are regularly reviewed and carefully balanced with residents’ overall mental well-being. Constant vigilance through every aspect of the running of our homes is ensuring we remain a safe ‘home for life’.

We are working in close partnership with Public Health England and Gloucestershire County Council, and our early action has meant we have often been ahead of government guidance.

We were privileged to be at the forefront of the vaccination and booster roll-out. Thanks to strong relationships with all our PPE suppliers we have not suffered any shortages and have a robust testing regime for residents and staff. We have invested in new equipment, such as automatic hand sanitisers, UV light and anti-viral fogging machines to strengthen cleaning regimes. We have invested in technology increasing the number of iPads and similar devices to enable more virtual visits. We have safe arrangements for visiting within the homes, and for trips outside. There are special arrangements for visiting those receiving end of life care. We have a Covid-19 secure admissions procedure to enable us to welcome new residents to our homes. Currently all new staff recruited are required to be vaccinated unless otherwise exempt.

We are grateful to our local communities, schools and other organisations who are continuing to support with virtual links as well as letters, postcards and pictures and we know much more is planned; this means so much to our residents and staff alike.

Welcoming new residents safely

New residents are welcomed into the home only if they have had a negative Covid-19 test; this policy has remained paramount throughout the pandemic.  To find out more about how we welcome new residents please contact our home managers.

Vaccine roll out

We are delighted that all our homes have been visited by vaccination teams from their local GP surgeries to offer booster vaccines to both residents and staff.

Faithfull House took part in an NHS pilot programme in December 2020 becoming one of the first six homes in England to be offered the vaccine. We were privileged that our staff were amongst the first to be receiving vaccinations at Gloucester Royal Hospital and are now receiving their booster doses.

Testing

In accordance with current government guidelines staff take a lateral flow tests twice a week. If a resident feels unwell, they are automatically tested the same day.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

All staff continue to wear PPE and visitors are also encourage to do so.

The strong relationships we have with our PPE suppliers has meant we have not suffered any shortages throughout the pandemic and we continue to have plentiful supplies.

Equally important is the correct use of PPE and all our staff have completed virtual training to ensure its effective and safe use. We have regular reminders at the start of shifts regarding the safe ‘donning and doffing’ of PPE as well as spot checks on correct usage throughout the homes. This includes masks, gloves, aprons along with googles, visors and gowns where appropriate.

Cleaning and Cleanliness

A wide range of measures have been added to strengthen cleanliness and cleaning regimes including;

  1. Automatic hand sanitiser machines are at key locations throughout the homes to enable staff and residents to use without touching
  2. Entrances and key touch points within the homes are cleaned every hour
  3. Anti-viral fogging machines are used within the home
  4. UV light machines are located in key communal areas for continual protection
  5. The housekeeping teams ensure all rooms are cleaned down each day and the whole home is deep cleaned weekly

Visiting and trips out

Residents are able to receive visitors, by appointment, and make trips out of the home.  Please visit our Visiting during Covid page for more information

Special provision is made for visiting those receiving end of life care, please talk to the home managers to find out more.

For those looking for care and wishing to visit to find out more about our homes we are offering live video tours and conversations with our staff, please contact the homes to find out more.

In the event of a positive test

If a staff member tests positive they leave the site immediately and do not return to work until after the self-isolation period AND has a negative Covid-19 test.

Families are contacted immediately if it is assessed that there is an increased risk for any resident.

If a resident tests positive they self-isolate within their room and care is given with a raft of extra measures (barrier nursing) to prevent further spread which includes extra PPE and the closing of individual floors or bubbles.

The Health Protection Agency legislate that we close our doors whenever two infectious cases in a home are reported (this also includes Norovirus, Flu and Chest infections).  We follow IPC (infection prevention control) regulations when caring for our residents under these circumstances.

Virtual ways to keep in touch

Each home has devices such as iPads to enable residents to contact loved ones through live video links on facetime, Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp etc. If residents need assistance, then these sessions are usually pre-booked so that staff can ensure they are available to facilitate. Over the last few months we have purchased extra devices for each home to increase the opportunities for these virtual get-togethers.

Activities

Our Activity Coordinators have adapted their usual busy schedules to suit the current restrictions. The team continue to provide a wide range of activities to create different points of interest and stimulation each day.

There is a wide array of art and craft activities, active indoor games such as bowls, gentle exercise sessions, virtual singalongs, gardening and flower arranging, baking , jigsaws, board games and cinema nights. They are even continuing links with local schools and colleges with letters, postcards and virtual visits.  The Lilian Faithfull minibus also goes out on tours when possible so residents enjoy seeing the beautiful local area. The imagination and ingenuity of our teams are on display every day!

Follow our facebook page for our weekly updates (scroll to the top of this page and click ‘f’ located in the top left hand corner).

Further information

To find out more about any aspect of the way we are responding to Covid-19 or any other issue please contact our home managers (details available on our Get in touch page) or email mailbox@lilianfaithfull.co.uk

To read the updated government guidance for care homes in full click on the link below;

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visiting-care-homes-during-coronavirus/update-on-policies-for-visiting-arrangements-in-care-homes

We are incredibly proud of how our staff are responding to the challenges that Covid-19 has brought. Their professionalism has been outstanding and their kindness, compassion and positive attitude has remained steadfast. Staff and residents often talk of how the people that live and work in our homes are like an extended family to them. This strong sense of community is proving more valuable than ever.

Martin Hughes, CEO Lilian Faithfull Care