Advice and support for the care sector

We, along with Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust have increased our support to all the care homes in Torbay during this difficult time.

We are working very closely with Devon County Council and all our care home providers are encouraged to use the Devon Provider Engagement Network. This is a web-based information and engagement tool which provides up to date advice and helps them to raise any issues.

We know staffing in care homes is a concern and we are reviewing this regularly, the homes can escalate any issues with us as they happen. We are working with providers to look at how staff can be used more flexibly across the care home sector and how new staff can be trained in providing care quickly.

We will continue to support homes in the decisions they may have to make regarding restriction of visitors and movement of residents during this period.

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust's website provides lots of useful supporting information for care homes and other care settings in connection with COVID-19 and related.

Visiting arrangements for Torbay care homes - new guidance

The national guidance on visiting arrangements in care homes published on 22 July 2020 requires the Director of Public Health to make a risk assessment with regard to visiting a care home in the area we administer.

Currently, our COVID-19 incidence, and therefore risk levels in Torbay, are very low and Dr Caroline Dimond, Director of Public Health for Torbay, has stated that there are no restrictions recommended at the moment, providing there is adherence to all the precautions set out in the guidance, including the need for a dynamic risk assessment and adherence to any additional advice or guidance from the local infection-control lead from Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, and the local Public Health England Health Protection Team. We will be reviewing the position regularly in conjunction with our Adult Social Care colleagues in Torbay Council and Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, and continue to communicate this through this page and regular communications with care homes.

On occasion, a local situation may arise where the advice from Public Health England is that visiting should be suspended. Under these circumstances, the Care Home will be notified of this until such time that it is deemed safe to do recommence visits.

We continue to recognise and support the role of care home providers in defining their visitor policies as long as these are in line with government guidance on visiting care homes and on working safely in care homes, comply with the advice of the Director of Public Health, and result from a dynamic risk assessment. We encourage care home providers to communicate their policy to the family and friends of their residents including through publication on their website, and we ask that visitors conduct themselves accordingly.

Everyone is being reminded to:

always carry tissues with you and use them to catch your cough or sneeze, then bin the tissue and wash your hands with soap and water
wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after using public transport
avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
avoid close contact with people who are unwell.

If you are working in a community or social care setting, guidance on the use of PPE can be found on the Torbay Council website.

Read the latest advice and guidance about coronavirus COVID-19.