Surrey care home group CHD Living reveals overhaul of health and safety policies to protect residents and staff from coronavirus
CHD Living, which has 13 residences throughout Surrey and also operates two specialist rehabilitation centres and a domiciliary care business, has revealed new measures that they have implemented to safeguard residents, staff – and now visitors – following the introduction of garden and window visits.
Whilst the government have provided no official guidance on visiting, except for at end of life, the group felt compelled to balance the risk of social isolation against the low risk of Coronavirus infection due to its high level of infection control policies and processes at its centres.
Liaising with Public Health England and The Care Quality Commission for advice, the company has enabled families to reunite safely after months of restricted access. Outdoor visitor sessions are now being held regularly across the week at all of CHD Living’s care homes, with up to 2 visitors per resident permitted each time. Visitors are required to undergo a temperature check and to sanitise their hands upon arrival, and masks must be worn throughout the socially distanced visits, which are taking place in the gardens of homes where possible.
Residents cared for in bed due to medical conditions will instead be able to reunite with family members through their windows, and residents cared for in beds above the lower floor are able to have bedside visits in line with an individual risk assessment using the principles set out in the governments guidance – as with end of life visits.
Residents at CHD Living’s Brownscombe Lodge home, where most bedrooms have direct access to outdoor terraces and can be accessed via a courtyard, will also be able to host visitors in their room maintaining safe social distance and using screens for additional safety.
To keep residents further connected with loved ones, CHD Living are in the process of upgrading the Wi-Fi across all homes, so that a strong internet connection is received in every communal and individual room.
Other measures currently being taken by CHD Living, whose homes have been free of coronavirus for over one and a half months with no symptoms present, include regular testing for residents and carers, and plenty of PPE.
To further safeguard residents and staff, the group – which welcomes admissions across its homes – is operating a quarantine period for new residents, whereby a coronavirus test will be carried out prior to admission and a 14-day period of self-isolation supported upon arrival at the home.
CHD Living’s domiciliary care offering, CHD Care at Home, which offers 24/7 at-home support to those who need it most, is also welcoming new customers. With extensive control measures in place to minimise the risk of infection transmission to employees, clients, families and the community-at-large, in accordance with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) regulations, the service continues to offer unrivalled assistance with everyday tasks, social activities and personal care.
Speaking of the new implementations, Shaleeza Hasham, Head of Hospitality and Communications at CHD Living said: “The health and safety of our recipients of care, staff and visitors remains the utmost priority, however as a family business that recognises the importance of staying connected with loved ones, we fully appreciate that this has been a difficult time for many – particularly our residents who have been unable to receive visits as a result of the pandemic.
With this in mind, we wanted to reinstate visits as soon as feasibly possible, without of course putting anyone at risk whilst the virus is still very much active. We have been following government guidance and adapting our operations accordingly and on an ongoing basis since March to help control the spread of coronavirus, and we are confident that with our extensive experience and precautionary measures in place that we can safely welcome visitors once again.
Whilst this is welcome step forward, we will continue to review guidance and to adapt our protocols where necessary, taking account of changes in the emerging picture around coronavirus and to ensure the safeguarding of all,” Shaleeza concludes
For more information about CHD Living, please visit: https://chdliving.co.uk/
Full details of CHD Living’s visiting procedure can be found at https://chdliving.co.uk/blog/visiting-policy-update
