Mountside Visiting Policy – July 2022

At this point in the Covid 19 journey, Mountside has decided that we want to gradually improve the enhancement the quality of life of resident by relaxing the restrictions in place but we will continue to follow the government guidance in relation to visiting.

Vaccination

Vaccination is one of our best defences to combat infection. It significantly reduces the transmission of the virus. It is strongly recommended that all visitors take any opportunity to be vaccinated before conducting visits.

Guidance for visits

• There is no limit on the number of people who can visit a resident, and no restrictions on the number who can visit at any one time. We would ask people to make practical consideration of the space that they are entering and if you are considering a large group then please talk to the Home Manager first.
• There is no appointment system in place but we ask that you ring beforehand to let us know that you are coming.
• Visitors should not enter Mountside if they are feeling unwell, even if they have tested negative for Covid-19, are fully vaccinated and have received their booster. Transmissible viruses such as flu, respiratory syncytial virus and norovirus can be just as dangerous to care home residents as Covid-19. If visitors have any symptoms that suggest other transmissible viruses and infections, such as cough, high temperature, diarrhoea or vomiting, they should avoid Mountside until at least 5 days after they feel better.
• Visitors are asked to take their temperature on attendance and we ask that they consider taking a lateral flow test before they visit.
• Visits take place in the resident’s bedroom or outside in the gardens. If visitors are outside we ask that they consider social distancing with other residents and visitors.
• Visitors will wear a mask throughout their visit are asked to wash or gel their hands when they arrive. If a visitor wishes to eat or drink with their resident then they can take off their mask, again considering social distancing and putting their mask back on when they have finished eating or drinking.

Visits involving children and young people

Children who are 11 or older will need to wear masks in the same way as adults.
Very young children will need to be supported by their family to stay in the bedroom of the resident they are visiting.

Visiting during outbreak

An outbreak consists of 2 or more positive (or clinically suspected) linked cases of Covid-19, within the home within a 14-day period. This applies to both staff and residents and includes PCR and lateral flow test results.

If an outbreak is suspected, Mountside will conduct a risk assessment with the local Health Protection Team to see if the clinical situation can be considered an outbreak and if outbreak management measures are needed.

Outbreak measures would include:

• temporarily stopping or reducing communal activities
• closure of the home to further admissions
• restriction of movement of staff providing direct care to avoid ‘seeding’ of outbreaks between different settings
• proportionate changes to visiting: some forms of visiting should continue if individual risk assessments are carried out. It is likely that one visitor at a time per resident would always be able to visit.
• this number can be flexible in the case that the visitor requires accompaniment (for example if they require support, or for a parent accompanying a child). End-of-life visiting will always be supported and testing is not required in any circumstances for an end-of-life visit.

Outbreak restrictions will be in place for different lengths of time, depending on the characteristics of the home, the outbreak and the results of outbreak testing.

Close contacts

Visitors who are advised that they are close contact of someone with Covid-19 are asked to undertake a lateral flow test every time they intend to visit, and to not attend if that test is positive.

Visits outside the home

Mountside residents will no longer be asked to isolate following any visits out of the care home (including following emergency hospital stays) and will not be asked to take a test following a visit out.