Guidance for Avanta Care Workers and Internal Staff
We advise you to stay updated with the government guidance – this is a fast-moving area and the guidance is being updated daily at 2 p.m.
Link : Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice on the gov.uk website includes:
- Advice from the FCO (foreign and commonwealth office) which particularly relates to anyone travelling to or back from countries and areas affected by the virus
- An updated list of countries/areas that are affected and advice about actions to be taken when returning to the UK form those places
- Guidance issued by Public Health England and the Department for Health
Workers in the healthcare sector should also review the Link: Guidance for healthcare providers: healthcare workers with relevant travel, healthcare or household contact history.
Additional guidance is likely to be added to the gov.uk website so do review this regularly, putting ‘coronavirus’ into the search function.
Information about Coronavirus and how to reduce the spread of infection, in particular:
- Symptoms of Coronavirus
- Basic hygiene to help protect themselves and others
- Where they can get more information
- When they should seek medical guidance if they have or may have been exposed to the virus
Symptoms:
At the time of writing the common symptoms are:
- Respiratory symptoms
- Fever, cough
- Shortness of breath
- Breathing difficulties
Important Advice
Hygiene:
The current guidance is to:
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
- Put used tissues in the bin immediately – Catch It, Bin It, Kill It.
- Wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
- Before leaving home
- On arrival at work
- After using the toilet
- After breaks and sporting activities
- Before food preparation
- Before eating any food, including snacks
- Before leaving work
- On arrival at home
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
Important Advice
Information for workers on assignment:
Workers are advised to follow the specific procedures at the assignment:
Care Homes should be well prepared for outbreaks of infectious diseases and they should follow strict protocols to avoid residents, service users, staff and agency workers becoming unwell.
You should always follow their strict infection control and cleaning guidelines to protect the residents, service users, staff and agency workers from infection.
If you suspect that you have the virus you must tell your care home line manager and inform Avanta Care as soon as possible, including if you are already on sick leave or on annual leave.
You must tell them in detail:
o Why you need to self-isolate
o If it relates to your own travel – where you have travelled to (Including the town not just the country) and what dates
o If it relates to contact with a suspected or confirmed case of coronavirus – full details of who you have had contact with, when, whether it is a confirmed case of coronavirus or why It is suspected