Springfield Healthcare have established an Infection Prevention Champions team (IPC) in which representatives from each home come together to regularly review government guidance, best practice and deliver training to all staff to ensure they are fully aware of their own responsibilities in helping to maintain a safe environment within the homes. The IPC team are on hand 24-hours a day, to provide information or offer guidance should any of our staff require it.
There are many aspects to infection prevention, but we have outlined a few key areas below:
PPE
Throughout this pandemic, our care homes have been fully supplied and remain well stocked with high quality personal protective equipment (PPE) that complies with government requirements. Screens have also been put in place on all reception desks.
CLEANING AND HYGIENE
Our housekeeping teams are rigorous in ensuring our homes provide a sterile environment for our residents. Our preventative measures include uniforms not being worn outside of the care homes, increased cleaning and disinfecting regimes, frequent hand washing and use of antibacterial gels, installation of mobile hand washing units, maintaining social distancing where possible and the correct use of PPE.
TESTING
Regular COVID-19 tests are being carried out on all staff, and where possible, our residents too. We temperature check all staff, along with any care professionals, prior to their entry into the home.
NEW ADMISSIONS
All our care homes remain open to new admissions, and strict safety measures have been put in place in accordance with government guidelines so this can continue. To ensure our residents and staff remain safe, we are currently unable to facilitate an in person show round of any of our care homes. However, to provide those looking for a care home with the ability to see and experience our facilities first hand, we are in the process of creating a “virtual tour” of each home which will be available on our websites soon, if not already.
We have adapted our daily routines to keep everyone safe, but as far as possible with minimal impact on the lives of our residents. The care we provide remains the same high-quality service we pride ourselves on, our kitchens continue to serve a variety of delicious and nutritious meals, and our activities team continue to look after the well-being and entertainment of our residents. We understand it has been difficult for all during lockdown, especially as we had to cease all visits in the homes to protect everyone within them. To ensure our residents and their loved ones can keep in contact, we have been facilitating calls between loved ones with the aid of technology and are now starting visits where they can be accommodated safely.
Throughout this pandemic, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have continued to assess care homes to ensure the required standards of care are maintained. They have also introduced a new framework to evaluate how a care provider has managed Coronavirus and its challenges, and their ability to deliver safe care. All our care homes have now been assessed and we are proud to advise that all have passed.
We hope this has brought clarity, and reassurance that our commitment to consistently meet the highest standards of care has not been compromised during this time. Our team is available to answer any further questions or offer guidance and advice on the services we provide.
