Richmond.gov.uk
My Account
  1. Home
  2. Services
  3. Public health
  4. Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  5. Guidance regarding COVID-19
  6. Guidance for social, community and residential care providers

Infection prevention control

Latest information and guidance on care home infection prevention controls (IPC).

New IPC guidance specific to care homes

The guidance is for people responsible for setting and maintaining standards of IPC within adult social care in England, such as care managers.

​View the COVID-19 supplement for information on the changes that apply. This sets out how to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in adult social care settings in England and on measures that remain unchanged.​​​  

It should be read with the infection prevention and control (IPC) resource for adult social care, which should be used as the basis for any IPC response. 

This guidance now also includes all information on COVID-19 testing in adult social care, and details the testing regimes for all staff, as well as any resident and outbreak testing where applicable.

Updated DHSC COVID-19 guidance

Summary of changes from 3 April 2023.

Staff or service users with symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19

Symptomatic testing is now advised only for those eligible for COVID-19 treatments and during suspected outbreaks in care homes.

Staff or service users with a positive COVID-19 test result

People who test positive for COVID-19 can return to their usual activities after 5 days if they feel well and no longer have a high temperature.

Testing no longer required for individuals to return to normal before 10 days following a positive test.

Outbreaks in care homes

Only the first five residents with symptoms of a respiratory infection will be asked to take an LFD test to identify if there is an outbreak of COVID-19. This is in addition to ongoing testing for symptomatic individuals eligible for COVID-19 treatments. Removal of PCR and whole home testing.

Outbreak measures can be lifted 5 days after the last suspected or confirmed case.

No difference between advice for small care homes and other care homes.

Health protections teams (HPTs) can advise wider testing where there are specific concerns.

Visiting arrangements in care homes

Updated to be explicit that there should not be any restrictions on visits out for individuals who are not symptomatic or who have not tested positive in any circumstance.

Admission of care home residents

Those being admitted from hospital will take an LFD test within 48 hours before discharge. No requirement for PCR tests.

Admissions from the community are no longer advised to test.

Ordering tests

Removal of ‘COVID-19 testing in adult social care’ guidance, with remaining elements added into COVID-19 supplement.

Removal of PCR testing and references to this.

No requirement for rapid response testing for care homes and high-risk extra care and supported living.

Closure of dedicated test ordering routes for adult day care centres, home care, social care workers, personal assistants, and shared lives carers. Individuals working in these services can order tests via GOV.UK if they are eligible for COVID-19 treatments.

Masks

Updated to reflect announcement on use of masks: the guidance now recommends a risk-based approach. The guidance has also been updated to reflect changes to outbreak management in care homes that enable providers to initiate risk assessment themselves. Added a section covering if a member of staff is symptomatic or tests positive for COVID-19.

PPE

Updated to add links to COVID-19 PPE guide for adult social care services and settings, COVID-19 PPE guide for unpaid carers, and PPE guide for non-aerosol generating procedures.

For more information:

Maintaining IPC, PPE, acting promptly on results and outbreak measures remains important. The information below is a quick reference.

Continued importance of testing and IPC measures
IPC measures
Vaccination As many people as possible getting vaccinated and boosted
PPE Maintaining PPE adherence to keep people safe
Testing Continued symptomatic testing to identify positive cases
Acting on results Isolating/staying far away upon a positive test result, following rapid response/outbreak protocols and/or obtaining therapeutics
Outbreak measures Alerting HPTs and following outbreak measures to prevent further transmission
Visiting Ensuring residents can have at least one visitor - even if isolating or in outbreak

Prevention and Control of Infections Code of Practice 

The code of practice document has been updated to reflect changes to the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, and the role of infection prevention and control (IPC) (including cleanliness) in optimising antimicrobial use and reducing antimicrobial resistance. The new document takes account of changes to the IPC landscape and nomenclature that have occurred since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read Health and Social Care Act 2008: code of practice on the prevention and control of infections

Summary guidance for ASC providers

These summarised tables (GOV.UK) are designed to highlight where guidance about COVID-19 for ASC specifically for care homes has been changed. Topics include: clarified suctioning and tracheostomy procedures, Dementia considerations and the wearing of masks by visitors, covering staff, shifts away from asymptomatic testing, new staff testing, residents, admissions, managing contact with people with COVID, discharge from hospital into a care home, resident symptomatic management and visiting arrangements.

Includes updated section on face masks: Visitors as well as staff might consider wearing a mask if they are aware they are a household or overnight contact of someone who has had a positive test result for COVID-19.

Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs)

AGPs are medical procedures that can cause the release of particles from the respiratory tract which can increase the risk of airborne transmission to those in the immediate area. AGPs in the community include suctioning procedures on people with tracheostomies, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or ventilatory support.

A FFP3 respirator is required when carrying out an AGP on a resident with known or suspected COVID-19 or other infection spread by the airborne or droplet route. The use of FFP3 respirators is governed by Health and Safety regulations which state that the user must be trained and fit tested. There are regulated recommended companies/trainers who can be sourced to undertake fit testing (enquire through your local Public Health Team at PublicHealthEnquiries@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk).

Workers should wear a 11R face mask when carrying out AGPs on residents not known or suspected to have COVID-19 or other infection spread by the airborne or droplet route.

Gloves and eye protection should also be used, and gowns instead of aprons.

Identify any residents with AGPs and ensure that workers who may be exposed have been fit tested, are trained and that a ready supply of FFP3 respirators are available.

National resources on IPC

Up to: COVID-19 guidance for social, community and residential care providers

Updated: 19 April 2023

Stay up to date! Make sure you subscribe to our email updates.