January 2024 No additional updates
From 22nd December 2022, DHSC have revised the COVID19 supplement to the infection and prevention and control resource guidance for adult social care.
The guidance is updated to enable care homes to initiate their own risk assessments and determine outbreak measures should they feel able to do so.
- PPE Guidance – universal face masking has been removed from the guidance. This will come into effect at Greystones when we have no suspected or confirmed cases of COVID19. If COVID19 has been detected in the home, mask wearing will be a requirement until the home is fully clear of the virus, this will be determined by the required testing routine.
Previous Guidance:
Please note that from Wednesday 15th December, restrictions on care home visitors were reintroduced by the government to protect residents and staff from the new Covid variant, Omicron.
Our Home Manager, Patricia Ball along with her home management team are in the best position to determine where and how visits are booked and take place so they can be sure they are safely managed. Every decision made by the home will be to keep your loved ones, our colleagues and visitors safe and the updated visiting policy based on the new guidance being implemented at BCVS Homes is now as follows:
- Residents can nominate up to three nominated visitors plus their essential care giver who will be able to make regular visits, please contact Greystones if you need to advise them of the named nominated individuals so that they can ensure their records are up to date.
- Staff and essential care giver testing arrangements have changed. The testing arrangements are a weekly PCR test, a minimum of three lateral flow tests a week: one on the same day as a PCR test; a second test two to three days later; and a third two to three days after. A test should also always be carried out on the day of visiting by an essential care giver in line with any visitor to the home. More testing may be needed, such as during outbreaks and will be in line with care home staff and you will be advised of any changes.
- Fully vaccinated residents visiting family and friends outside the care home will be asked to take a lateral flow test on alternate days for two weeks after each outing, while those not vaccinated will have to isolate following an outside visit.
We know that regular visits are hugely beneficial to the wellbeing, mental health and quality of life of our residents. We will continue to consider risk assessments and guidance alongside residents’ rights and wishes whilst also continuing to limit mixing between visitors as the most effective ways to protect them. Greystones will continue to limit the amount of visitors that come in and how often due the amount of space and layout of the building and all visits will continue to be pre-booked as this will help you to get the most out of your visits, by ensuring that we have the required staff and support in place to sufficiently conduct testing and adhere to PPE and infection control guidelines.
If any residents have any specific vulnerabilities or essential needs relating to visiting arrangements, the home management will initiate an approach to contact friends and families about the opportunity of an essential care giver role so that an individual risk assessment can be set with the involvement of both residents and friends and families. Should you have any questions about the essential care giver role, please contact Patricia Ball directly on 01225 317972 or Greystones@bcvshomes.co.uk.
Visiting Policy – Lateral Flow Device testing
A Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test must continue to be carried out prior to your visit to Greystones, as this is the fast and easy way to test those who do not have symptoms of COVID-19, but who may still be spreading the virus. If you would like to obtain a test from us to take home in preparation for your next visit, please let the duty manager know and a test can be provided.
If you are being tested for coronavirus at Greystones before your visit, we kindly ask that you arrive 30 minutes before your pre-booked visit to ensure that we have enough time to accommodate the testing process and if you self-test before arrival at Greystones, please be prepared to show evidence of a negative test on arrival.
If you have any questions on how the latest guidance is being implemented at Greystones, please do not hesitate to get in touch on 01225 317972 or Greystones@bcvshomes.co.uk.
The festivities are already in full swing at Greystones and may we take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Visiting Update 5th July 2021
Five nominated vistors and overnight stays with a risk assessment are permitted within government guidance. Please contact the homes directly to make arrangements.
Visiting Update 23rd April 2021
In line with Government Guidance, residents can nominate up to 2 named visitors who will be able to enter the care home for regular visits (and will be able to visit together or separately as preferred). Visitors should be tested using rapid lateral flow tests before every visit, must wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow all other infection control measures which we will guide you on during visits. Visitors and residents are advised to keep physical contact to a minimum. Visitors and residents may wish to hold hands, but should bear in mind that any physical contact increases the risk of transmission. For this reason there should not be close physical contact such as hugging
In addition to their 2 named visitors, residents with higher care needs can also choose to nominate an essential care giver.
We can also continue to offer visits to other friends or family members through arrangements such as outdoor visiting, rooms with substantial screens, visiting pods, or from behind windows
Visiting Update 6th March 2021
In light of the government’s announcement on February 22nd, we are delighted that we can soon safely begin face-to-face visits from the 8th of March. We would like to again offer our sincere thanks to our incredible care teams, and a huge thank you also for your support and kind understanding throughout these difficult times. We are very much looking forward to seeing your familiar faces again soon. We shall share more details and update you on the visiting procedure in coming days. To swiftly address any concerns you may have at any point, please speak with the Home Managers or a member of the team directly at the home either by telephone or email.
COVID 19 – UPDATE Friday 8th January 2020
As a result of the national lockdown you will be aware that Government guidelines have suspended in-room visits for care home residents. As infections in the local community have recently increased, we have reluctantly been required to temporarily withdraw our visiting provision for internal visits that have been taking place in the conservatory and garden rooms. Visits deemed essential or the health or well-being of the resident will still be considered on a case by case basis with the Registered Home Managers as before.
On a positive note, we are filled with optimism due to the COVID19 vaccinations gradually becoming available to our Residents and staff and further testing recently becoming available to our staff.
Staff Testing & Vaccinations
All of our care home staff at Bathampton Manor and Greystones will undergo three tests per week; 1 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test and 2 Lateral Flow Tests (LFT). The staff members will be swabbed, prior to coming in to work, to rule out any risk of spreading COVID19. We are believe that this is the highest level of protection that we can offer to our Residents whilst they are awaiting the vaccine.
Vaccinations are due to commence in the week beginning 12th January and we have actively encouraged all of our staff to take part in the process. Many GP surgeries are preparing for mass roll-out of vaccinations for Residents. If your loved one is unable to make decisions, and you feel that it is in their best interest to have one, please contact the home for the relevant consent forms that we need to be signed by their power of attorney for health and welfare.
COVID 19 – UPDATE Sunday 6th December 2020
The homes are open to visitors by appointment, we now have a portable perspex screen in each home and visits inside the home have resumed at Greystones.
COVID 19 – UPDATE Monday 23rd November 2020
Since the Government’s announcement of a national lockdown in England on 5th November, BCVS Homes have received guidance on how this lockdown affects visits to care homes and details of our approach during lockdown is outlined as follows;
- Our teams are following guidance around social distancing, respiratory and hand hygiene members and the correct wearing of PPE.
- We have been taking advantage of all available testing, ensuring colleagues have a weekly COVID-19 test and residents are tested once a month wherever possible.
- We have introduced protocols to support family visits that are as safe and enjoyable as possible for all involved whilst complying with Government guidance and are continuing to invest in new technologies to maintain family connections. Moveable Perspex screens have been built for both homes.
- We have measures in place to limit the number of non-essential people coming into our homes, including a strong focus on reducing agency workers , ensuring our teams only work in one care home and postponing all non-essential visits.
If you would like to receive regular updates from BCVS Homes directly into your inbox, please email your details to Marie@bcvshomes.co.uk and we will add you to our distribution list.
COVID 19 – UPDATE Monday 7th September 2020
BCVS Homes are pleased to report that we continue to have no suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in either of our homes.
A great deal of consideration is being given as to how we manage visitors and we are now taking bookings for external visits. Please find attached our visiting policy and protocol.
/sites/default/files/visiting%20policy%20and%20protocol%20BM.pdf
COVID 19 – UPDATE Monday 8th June 2020
BCVS Homes are pleased to report that we continue to have no suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in either of our homes. Testing kits are now available and all tests taken to date have provided a negative result.
We appreciate that as the lockdown rules loosen, friends and family members of our residential homes, who have been very supportive throughout this crisis are nurturing hopes of a relaxation in our visiting policy.
We are aware of the devastating consequences of the virus in other care homes and with this in the forefront of our minds, for the time being, we are keeping our doors closed until 30th June in line with shielding guidance. We do feel that by locking down to visitors the residents have been able to move around freely and enjoy the outdoors.
A great deal of consideration is being given as to how we manage visitors and we look forward to communicating this in the near future.
COVID-19 – UPDATE Monday 11th May 2020
Following the Prime Minister’s announcement we have considered the new guidelines in line with our action plan going forward to ensure the safety and well being of our residents.
We appreciate that you will be aware of the media focusing and reporting on the national crisis in care homes and we would like you to know that neither of our homes have had any suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19. Our staff are well equipped to protect themselves, we have sufficient stocks of PPE sourced through the BANES Council and we have also purchased additional items to ensure that we remain well stocked in case of an emergency or national shortage of PPE from government supplies. We now have access to equipment to test residents on site and remote facilities available to test staff.
As we have been successful in preventing COVID-19 from entering the homes, please be aware that our visiting restrictions will still apply to continue to protect our residents and staff for a minimum of three weeks. Please continue to contact the Home Managers with any queries, we will continue to maintain contact via virtual technology as often as we can.
BCVS Homes has an occupational sick pay scheme and staff will be paid this benefit if they experience any symptoms of COVID-19 and need to self-isolate. There have been some minor staffing shortfalls due to isolating or shielding and we are extremely proud of our staff who have remained dedicated and committed during this time to care for our residents and the Board of Directors have introduced a bonus scheme in the short term with the aim to support our front line staff through this period.
COVID-19 – 19 UPDATE Wednesday 15 April 2020
Residents enjoyed the Easter weekend and it was lovely to see our staff engage in activities within the homes, the residents were in good spirits and were able to don their Easter bonnets outside in the sun.
Stringent infection control continues and we have no suspected cases of coronavirus. Testing and PPE go hand in hand and are at the forefront of our minds and we welcome the Health Secretary’s pledge that there will be a coronavirus test for everyone in a care home who needs one, testing for all residents discharged from hospital and a testing centre will be available for our staff in Bristol.
Our amazing skilled key workers continue to provide outstanding care around the clock.
COVID-19 – 19 UPDATE Monday 30 March 2020
We remain grateful to our dedicated staff teams who are stepping up during this time. We have no suspected cases of coronavirus. If you would like to make contact with your relative, please contact the Home Manager and we will do our best to arrange video communication.
COVID-19 – 19 UPDATE Wednesday 25 March 2020
We are grateful to our fabulous staff teams at both homes to whom have provided a reassuring calm to the Association during uncertain times. It has been joyous to see residents having the opportunity to relax in the sunshine today!
COVID-19 – 19 UPDATE Wednesday 15 April 2020
Residents enjoyed the Easter weekend and it was lovely to see our staff engage in activities within the homes, the residents were in good spirits and were able to don their Easter bonnets outside in the sun.
Stringent infection control continues and we have no suspected cases of coronavirus. Testing and PPE go hand in hand and are at the forefront of our minds and we welcome the Health Secretary’s pledge that there will be a coronavirus test for everyone in a care home who needs one, testing for all residents discharged from hospital and a testing centre will be available for our staff in Bristol.
Our amazing skilled key workers continue to provide outstanding care around the clock.
COVID-19 – 19 UPDATE Monday 30 March 2020
We remain grateful to our dedicated staff teams who are stepping up during this time. We have no suspected cases of coronavirus. If you would like to make contact with your relative, please contact the Home Manager and we will do our best to arrange video communication.
COVID-19 – 19 UPDATE Wednesday 25 March 2020
We are grateful to our fabulous staff teams at both homes to whom have provided a reassuring calm to the Association during uncertain times. It has been joyous to see residents having the opportunity to relax in the sunshine today!
COVID – 19 Update Monday 23 March 2020
As a result of the stringent goverment restrictions placed on us this evening, both Greystones and Bathampton Manor will be closed to all relatives and friends for the next three weeks.
We regret having to take this action and have delayed it as long as possible. The safety of our residents and staff are our highest concern and I am sure you will understand the measures we have to take at the present time. Please ring the homes if you would like to speak to the Home Manager and team about your loved one or discuss arranging video communication.
Marie Kelly-Perkins, Company Secretary/HR Manager
COVID – 19 Update Wednesday 18 March 2020
As the guidance around Coronavirus (COVID-19) develops each day and the number of confirmed cases increases we cannot deny the risk this virus poses for those in our care.
If you need to visit the homes, please contact the Home Manager prior to your visit to make the necessary arrangements.
Following advice by the government on the vulnerability of the over 70s we have made the difficult but responsible decision to partially lock down our homes to all but the most essential visitors required to either to protect the health of our residents, or to ensure that buildings remain safe and essential supplies are delivered. We will continue to welcome new residents and employees following our strict protocols. For now, this means that we are respectfully asking relatives and loved ones to think whether their visit is necessary and if you feel you need to visit, requests should be made to the Home Manager.
COVID – 19 Update Tuesday 17 March 2020
BCVS Homes have signed up to the National Care Force. This is a nationwide network of care providers,healthcare workers and volunteers ready to support the most vulnerable members of society and care providers though the challenges we face due to coronavirus.
COVID – 19 Update Sunday 15 March 2020
COVID-19 is a new virus and scientists are still learning about it’s characteristics including the incubation period and transmissibility. BCVS Homes are well placed and prepared to respond to a range of viral outbreaks. We note that the guidelines in regard to best practice containment recommendations for COVID-19 are developing and changing daily.
Our early preparation and response planning to the risk of exposure and treatment of COVID-19 is entirely based on the information and guidance materials issued and regularly updated by the Department of Health.
We have made the decision to restrict non-essential entry into our homes and will continue to review our policies. Whilst we are yet to restrict family visits, we have been asked for our opinion by some family representatives as to whether we think they should visit, our general response is that we are not actively encouraging regular visits. Please do not visit if you are feeling unwell in any way and have been abroad in the last 7 days.
Where your visit is essential, you will notice an increased level of infection control. You will be asked to wash your hands and we would prefer you to hold your visit in your relative’s room. Please use the washing and toilet facilities closest to your relative’s room. The increased level of infection control methods involve regular disinfection of surfaces that are regularly handled and more frequent laundering of residents clothing and bedding where necessary. We are expecting our mobile sinks to arrive on Wednesday.
We are currently looking into improving broadband reception in both of our homes and ensuring residents have access to communication opportunies such as Skype, Facetime and WhatsApp.
BCVS Homes continues to assess the risk and take steps to prevent, detect and control the spread of infections.
We appreciate this is a difficult and uncertain time for everyone and if you would like further information, please feel free to contact us through the feedback option on the website or email Marie@bcvshomes.co.uk or alternatively telephone the homes directly.
BCVS HOMES Coronavirus Covid-19 Notice Friday 13 March 2020
As you will all know there is worldwide concern about the spread of the Covid-19 Virus.
At BCVS Homes residential care homes, Bathampton Manor and Greystones, we are following official government advice and have strict preventative measures in place;
We have posted notices to ask all visitors to be aware of their health and not to visit if they are unwell, particularly having visited one of the more highly affected countries.
There are handwashing facilities in all of our homes and sanitiser gel dispensers and we would ask visitors to wash their hands or use the gel when entering and leaving the building.
We have ordered mobile sinks which we will position at the front door to allow visitors to more easily wash their hands on entering and leaving the building.
We have changed our cleaning schedules to provide further protection and amended our operating procedures accordingly.
We are restricting large gatherings, bus trips, non-essential works and delivery drivers are no longer entering the building. We have cancelled all external entertainers.
We have taken the decision not to stop family visitors to the home at this time because we believe that it is better to maintain resident contact with their family and friends at the best possible level while we still can.
Of course, if official advice changes or we believe circumstances have progressed further, we will take all necessary decisions including stopping visits if required. At that point, we will endeavour to maintain communication including telephone and video links with families and friends, although this will inevitably be limited.
We have posted a copy of this notice on our website at www.bcvshomes.co.uk and would ask that you monitor any updates from us at this address in the coming weeks.