Latest information on Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Care and residential services
All social/community and residential services in Wales are advised to note the latest guidance about COVID-19 to reflect current developments:
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Health and social care professionals
- COVID-19: infection prevention and control
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Care home testing guidance
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Care homes testing policy
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Visits to care homes: guidance for providers
If local authorities or Local Health Boards wish to provide a service that would otherwise need to be registered as a care home or domiciliary support service, they must notify us of their intentions in advance, using the Exempt services Notification form.
Resources
- CIW: Adapted Registration Guidance for applicants and providers in response to COVID-19
- Public Health England: Responding to COVID-19, the ethical framework for adult social care
- Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE): Coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for social care
- Social Care Wales: Information and resources to guide you through COVID-19
- Welsh Government: how to work safely in care homes
- Welsh Government: COVID-19 workforce risk assessment tool
Enabling people to meet with family and friends
Following the publication of the Social Care Transition Plan(external link), we expect all providers to welcome and encourage visitors in an open and flexible way. Routine indoor visiting should be supported without restrictions when there is no outbreak. We do not expect there to be inappropriate restrictions on visitor numbers, days people can visit or on the length and frequency of visits. If there is a COVID outbreak at the service, people should still be able to have visits from two designated visitors, at the same time if preferred.
We will consider enforcement action if unnecessary restriction of visitors is undermining people’s rights and breaching regulations. This includes (but is not limited to) Regulations 15, 21,23 and 25.
Childcare and play services
All childcare and play services in Wales are advised to note the latest guidance about COVID-19 to reflect current developments:
- Childcare and play: coronavirus guidance
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): Education and childcare
- Coronavirus (COVID-19): National Minimum Standards for regulated childcare
- Protective measures in childcare settings: Keep Childcare Safe
Although the guidance is mainly directed at schools and education services, the same applies to all childcare and play services. All such services are asked to take note of this guidance and to regularly check the Public Health Wales website where any future updates will be published directly. From this website you can also access advice issued by the UK Government.
Resources
- CIW: Adapted Registration Guidance for applicants and providers in response to COVID-19
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS): Coronavirus resources
- Welsh Government: Keeping children safe in childcare: action cards
If you have a confirmed case of coronavirus, you need to inform us. Please use our notification process for infectious diseases.
Additional resources
- Welsh Government: Find help if you’re struggling because of coronavirus
- Welsh Government: Social care recovery framework: COVID-19
- Learning Disability Wales: resources for people with a learning disability
- Business Wales: COVID-19 Support for Business
- The National Assembly’s Research Service: Coronavirus: help and information for people in Wales
- Books Beyond Words: Free easy read resources to support people through the Coronavirus pandemic
