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Coronavirus (COVID-19) information for care providers

Guidance for organisations who provide social care services in Leicester.

Following the government announcement of a second national lockdown from Thursday 5 November, we are currently establishing what the implications are for social care provision. We will issue an update on our web pages as soon as possible. Thank you for your continued support and invaluable service delivery during these unprecedented times.

Other general information

The Department of Health and Social Care have launched an online portal for adult social care providers to make the latest guidance on COVID-19 easier to find.

Supported Living and Domiciliary Care

Providers may want to signpost clients to MyChoice. MyChoice is our online directory of commissioned services for carers and residents.

All providers are asked to update any service changes (such as change of opening hours or location) by contacting MyChoice.

You may wish to register for CQC’s email newsletter to receive the latest guidance and news from them.

Postal communication suspended

Please note that all CQC offices are now closed and they have therefore stopped all communication by post. If you need to contact CQC, find out what other ways you can get in touch with them.

Communication by post has also stopped for mental health notifications (section 61 reports). Find out more about mental health notifications on the CQC website.

Skills for Care are hosting virtual Registered Managers’ network meetings each week so that providers can discuss common issues and explore solutions together. They have also set up a WhatsApp group for Registered Managers.

To access the meetings or WhatsApp group, contact Leicester’s Skills for Care locality manager Matthew Errington: matthew.errington@skillsforcare.org.uk

The Skills for Care offer for Registered Managers also includes an advice line, recorded webinars on COVID-19 topics and guidance and a Facebook group.

Read: Guidance for care staff supporting adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults

NHS Grab and Go Guide

The Grab and Go guide has been designed to give the information that doctors and nurses will need if someone you support goes into hospital because of COVID-19 and, for example, is struggling to breathe. This should be used alongside a hospital passport.

Read the Grab and Go guidance notes (PDF)
Access the Grab and Go form (PDF)

Easy read resources

The resources below offer practical advice for preventing the spread of coronavirus in an easy to understand format. Organisations providing services to people with learning disabilities, dementia, or other impairments or illnesses that affect understanding may wish to use these resources to communicate key messages with the people using their services.

Information on looking after your physical and mental health  

Stay at home: what to do if you or someone you share your home with has coronavirus symptoms

Guides to help you stay safe and well

Latest guidance from the government

The coronavirus vaccine and what we know about it so far

Find out about changes to local NHS services on the Leicester Clinical Commissioning Group website.

This includes information on Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s new designated phone line (0116 295 3060) for people of all ages in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to access urgent NHS mental health support 24 hours a day.

Remote verification of death

The LLR Local Medical Committee (LMC) have released their Protocol for the Remote Verification of Death. This should be followed where there has been a request for a GP or a trained Health Care Practitioner (tHCP) to verify an expected and natural death so that verification of the death can be as timely and safe as possible. The protocol can be found on the LLR LMC website.

Accessing dental services

Routine dental check-ups and procedures have been stopped as part of the response to COVID-19. However, there are still procedures in place for people who are experiencing dental pain.

If someone is experiencing dental pain or is very concerned about their teeth and/or mouth they should:
  • Call their dentist
  • If they do not have a regular dentist, or it is outside of business hours, call NHS 111 who will ask a series of triaging questions offer advice or support – this can include, if necessary, antibiotics or further triage and possible treatment at an appropriate centre.
The same standard charges currently apply if treatment is necessary. However, those on low income can apply for the NHS Low Income Scheme. If needed, translation can be accessed via LanguageLine (0845 310 9900).

People should not turn up to their dental practice as they are closed to the public.

If someone you provide care and support for experiences any issues with this process or if you have any questions, please contact m who will be able to answer questions and, if necessary, escalate the problem with Public Health England.

The Health and Safety Executive have provided a guidance note on carrying out  thorough examination and testing of equipment during the COVID-19 outbreak. This included an example scenario on the testing of hoists and lifting accessories in a social care setting (page 9).



Get in touch

Like providers, all teams are likely to experience huge demand during the COVID-19 situation. We will do our best over this period to support providers and would request that during busy periods, this is kept to urgent or critical contact. Our contracts and assurance service can be contacted using the following emails:

For care and support issues not related to our contracts and assurance service contact our helpline: