Guidance

COVID-19: how to work safely in domiciliary care in England

A resource for those working in domiciliary care providing information on the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 27 April 2020
• Last updated: 24 January 2022 — See all updates

This publication was withdrawn on 4 April 2022

This guidance has been superseded by information in Infection prevention and control in adult social care: COVID-19 supplement.

Documents

[Withdrawn] Personal protective equipment (PPE): resource for care workers delivering domiciliary care during sustained COVID-19 transmission in England

HTML

[Withdrawn] How to work safely - Putting on PPE guide

PDF, 315 KB, 1 page

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[Withdrawn] How to work safely - Taking off PPE guide

PDF, 673 KB, 1 page

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Details

This resource is primarily for care workers and providers delivering care in the following settings:

• visiting homecare
• extra care housing
• live-in homecare

This resource should be used alongside the video guide to putting on and taking off PPE. Although the video is titled as being for workers in care homes, the content is just as relevant for home care.

Please note that this guidance is of a general nature and that an employer should consider the specific conditions of each individual place of work and comply with all applicable legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

There may be further information specific to each country in the United Kingdom, as this guidance was written by Public Health England primarily for an English health professional audience. To see if country specific information is available, please refer to Health Protection Scotland, Public Health Wales, or Public Health Agency in Northern Ireland.

Published 27 April 2020
Last updated 24 January 2022 + show all updates

1. 24 January 2022

   Removed out of date self-isolation policy information from the 'What has changed' section.

2. 26 August 2021

   References to FFP2 and N95 removed.

3. 19 August 2021

   Added link to management of staff and exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings.

4. 17 August 2021

   Updated in line with changes to self-isolation for contacts from 16 August.

5. 9 August 2021

   Inclusion of paragraph on what PPE to use when supporting an individual or client on visits out.

6. 19 July 2021

   Updated to reflect changes to guidance in Step 4 of the roadmap. Updated section on types of masks that can be used for domestic duties when 2 metres or more from the client.

7. 5 July 2021

   Added new section on use of PPE for live-in careworkers.

8. 9 June 2021

   Updated infographics for putting on and taking off PPE.

9. 18 May 2021

   Added note explaining that the infographics are being reviewed and will be updated shortly in line with the guidance.

10. 6 April 2021

    Introduced recommendations to change PPE after each episode of personal care, and new recommendations around use of eye protection when delivering personal care within 2 metres. Guidance provided in HTML format only.

11. 2 November 2020

    Updated guidance on the use of gloves.

12. 7 October 2020

    Added notification that the use of gloves is being reviewed and will be updated shortly.

13. 29 September 2020

    Updated guidance, providing more information on types of gloves.

14. 28 August 2020

    Guidance now available in HTML format.

15. 20 July 2020

    Updated guidance to include recommendation for the use of face masks and coverings in social care settings.

16. 15 June 2020

    Updated 'Personal protective equipment (PPE): a resource for care workers delivering homecare (domiciliary care) in England' document to provide important updates as set out on page 2.

17. 1 June 2020

    Updated Personal protective equipment (PPE): a resource for care workers delivering homecare (domiciliary care) in England.

18. 30 April 2020

    Added guides for putting on and taking off personal protective equipment

19. 27 April 2020

    First published.