Care Homes to be proud of throughout East Anglia

IMPORTANT: COVID-19 (Coronavirus) UPDATED 04/03/2021

Black Swan always prioritises the care and safety of our residents and staff.

Black Swan homes are well placed and prepared to respond to a range of viral outbreaks. We note that the guidelines in regard to best practice containment recommendations for COVID-19 are developing and changing daily.

Our response to the risk of exposure and treatment of COVID-19 is entirely based on the information and guidance materials issued and regularly updated by the Department of Health.

We will continue to work proactively and in partnership with the Department of Health, who is leading England’s response and developing recommendations for Aged Care providers.

Black Swan continues to assess the risk and take steps to prevent, detect and control the spread of infections.

What we are currently doing:

Only admitting residents with a NEGATIVE COVID test into our homes
Testing our staff for COVID weekly, the government has announced that we will be able to do this twice weekly from December
Testing our residents for COVID monthly, the government has announced that we will be able to do this weekly from December
Restricting unnecessary visitors to our homes
Taking the temperatures of staff before they start work and any visitors
Taking our Residents temperatures twice a day
Asking anyone who has been to hospital to remain in their room for 14 days. We are then using masks, aprons and gloves whilst caring for them.
Ensuring any Resident wishing to shield themselves, can do safely
All care staff working inside our homes are wearing Type IIR fluid resistant masks as advised by Public Health England
We are fogging our homes monthly with a product called Nordic Chem as an additional, supplementary measure, to our enhanced cleaning (we have been doing this since July). This chemical has a 30 day efficacy against coronavirus

We have made it clear to our managers that they must be open and honest at all times with family members to ensure that they remain well informed of what is happening within the home.

We made the decision to enable outside visiting and this has been facilitated since July 6th, with socially distanced visiting areas in the homes outdoor spaces to ensure our residents, staff and residents loved ones are safe and at the lowest possible risk. Each area has minimal surfaces to allow for a more sanitary environment and easier deep cleaning protocol between visits, alcohol hand gel is provided, and residents family members are required to wear masks for the duration of the visit.

We have now implemented secure indoor visiting areas which will be cleaned between visits, and kept separate from the rest of the home using screens. Outside visits are still our preferred option but we understand that the British weather can be unpredictable and cold. We are following all government guidance in relation to indoor visits, which was updated today.

From 8th March we will be facilitating the following:

Indoor visits with the benefit of LFT

Government guidance stipulates:

Visits should be limited to no more than 1 constant visitors per resident. Where a resident has capacity, the named visitor will be their decision and it will be recorded within their care plan. Where a resident lacks capacity, a best interest decision will be recorded.
Visitors must pre-book — ad-hoc visits are unlikely to be able to be facilitated.
In line with NHS Test and Trace guidance, a record should be kept of any visitors as well as the person and/or people they interact with.
Visitors should be encouraged to follow social distancing as much as possible while on-site and to keep personal interaction to a minimum. Government guidance is that there should be no close physical contact such as hugging. Visitors and residents may wish to hold hands but should bear in mind that any contact increases the risk of transmission.
Whilst in the home visitors must wear the same PPE that staff are required to wear. This includes Type IIR masks that are provided by the home, aprons and gloves.
Visitors must complete a LFT before every visit and complete a consent form. Visitors who have tested positive within the previous 90 days do not require a LFT but must provide evidence of their positive test. A record of this must be kept.
All visitors must be briefed on Infection Prevention Measures and agree to adhere to our visitation policies.
Where possible the visit should be in the visitor room, the resident’s bedroom or an area of the home away from other residents.
Visitors should have no contact with other residents and minimal contact with care home staff (less than 15 minutes/2 metres). Where needed, conversations with staff can be arranged over the phone following an in-person visit.

*Please keep up to date with our goings on in the homes on the news page of our website*

Black Swan Care Group prides itself in putting residents’ needs and feelings first.

We have multiple care homes spread across East Anglia providing an expert care service for those who need it the most.

We offer an adaptable service; facilities are continually reviewed and updated in order to provide a safe environment in which the needs of every individual are met.

We work collaboratively with our residents; their input and involvement allow us to provide a care package tailored to suit their own unique and specific needs.

Our highly skilled staff are given the skills and confidence that they need in order to deliver the highest standards of care and support to every resident.

Every person matters and will be treated equally, compassionately and with the utmost respect & dignity.

Independence, choice and individuality are at the core of our values.

We cannot replace home, but that should never stop us trying.