COVID-19 Testing Guidance for Homecare Workers
Published: 22/03/2022
Please see the latest guidance for homecare workers
For the time being you are to continue to use your own LFT tests - but we will have a supply arriving to your local office in the very near future where you will be able to collect a months supply of LFT tests.
As you are a homecare worker who visits people with care and support needs at their homes, your key responsibilities are to:
• Conduct a daily LFT on the days that you are working before your shift begins. If you are a live-in care assistant, conduct daily LFT’s as close to the beginning of the day as possible and 24 hours apart.
• Register your LFT test results online as soon as you have completed them using our provider Unique Organisation Number (UON).
Our Unique Organisation Numbers
Colchester and Tendring: 41487257
Braintree and Uttlesford: 99854432
If you do not have access to the internet, you can also report results by calling 119.
• If you test positive for COVID-19, follow the guidance COVID-19 Management of staff and exposed patients or residents in health and social care as set out further below within this communication.
• If you get a negative result, continue to follow the infection prevention and control (IPC) measures such as wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), washing your hands, and socially distancing where possible, even if you or the people you care for have had the vaccine.
Reading Test Results
All tests must be reported online whether they are positive, negative or void. You need to use this service every time you complete a self test.
To register a test kit:
1. Got to Report a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result.
2. Select who you are reporting the result for, either ‘Myself’ or ‘Someone else’.
3. Create an account (you will only have to do this once and it will remember your personal details for when you have to register test results each time).
4. Select ‘It’s for a social care service’ when asked who the test was for.
5. Select ‘I work in social care and receive rests from my place of work or I work in an open residential children’s home’.
6. Enter the Unique Organisation Number (UON)
7. Check the details for the Unique Organisation Number
8. Select ‘When the date the test was taken’
9. Enter the ‘Test strip ID number’
10. Select your gender
11. Select your ethnic group
12. Select which best describes your background
13. Enter your occupation
14. Enter your postcode and select your home address
15. Enter you NHS Number
16. Select if you would ‘Yes’ if you would like a text and email confirmation for this test result
17. Select your LFT result
Report a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test result
COVID-19 Management of staff and exposed patients or resident in health and social care
Guidance for health and social care staff on COVID-19 symptoms, test results and being identified as a contact of a case
All staff who come into contact with COVID-19 cases – whether or not they are protected by the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) – should remain vigilant to the possibility of contracting infection and should follow the guidance as follows if you develop symptoms.
The main symptoms of COVID-19 are recent onset of any of the following:
• A new continuous cough
• A high temperature
• A loss of, or change in, your normal senses of taste or smell (anosmia)
For most people, COVID-19 will be a mild illness. However, if you have any of the symptoms listed above, even if those symptoms are mild, you should stay at home and arrange to have a PCR test.
Staff who have received one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine and who have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19 or have a positive LFT or PCR test result, should still follow this guidance. This is because it is still possible to get COVID-19 and spread it to others, even if you are vaccinated.
If a staff member develops COVID-19 Symptoms
If you develop any of the main symptoms of COVID-19, however mild:
• You should follow the Stay at home guidance and arrange to have a PCR test through the NHS Test and Trace service, as soon as possible (testing is most sensitive within 3 days of the development of symptoms)
• If at home (off-duty), you should not attend work whilst awaiting your PCR test result and should notify Bluebird Care immediately.
• If at work, you should inform Bluebird Care and return home as soon as possible.
• If you have already taken an LFT test and the result was positive you should follow the following advice.
If a staff member receives a positive LFT or PCR test result
If you receive a positive LFT or PCR test result, you must complete a period of self-isolation. The isolation period includes the day the symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you do not have symptoms), also described as day 0.
You do not need to take a PCR test if you have already taken an LFT test and the result was positive, unless:
• You wish to claim the Test and Trace Support Payment
• You have a positive day 2 LFT test after arriving in England
You may be able to end your self-isolation period before the end of 10 days.
You can take an LFT test from the fifth day of your isolation period, and another LFT test on the following day. The second LFT test should be taken at least 24 hours later. If both LFT test results are negative, you may end their self-isolation immediately after the second negative LFT test result and can return to work that same day provided you meet the criteria listed below. You should not take the LFT test before the fifth day of your isolation period and should only end your self-isolation following 2 consecutive negative LFT tests which should be taken at least 24 hours apart.
Test and Trace Support Payment
After each LFT test, you should report the test results on the GOV.UK website.
You may return to work if you meet the following criteria:
• Your symptoms have resolved, or your only symptoms are cough or anosmia which can last for several weeks.
• If you work with patients or customers who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 (as determined by Bluebird Care) consideration should be taken before redeployment.
• You should continue to undertake daily LFT tests for the remaining days of isolation period even if you have already returned to work. For example:
1 If the first LFT test result was negative on the fifth day, and the second LFT test result is negative on the sixth day, you can return to work but should continue to take LFT tests on days 7, 8, 9 and 10.
2 If any of these LFT test results are positive the staff member should isolate and should wait 24 hours before taking the next LFT test.
3 On the days you are working, the LFT test should be taken prior to beginning your shift as close as possible to the start time.
4 You must continue to comply with all relevant infection control precautions and PPE must be work properly throughout the day.
The likelihood of a positive LFD test in the absence of a high temperature after 10 days is low. If your LFT test is still positive on the 10th day, you should continue to take daily LFT tests, and can return to work after a single negative LFT test result.
The likelihood of a positive LFT test after 14 days is considerably lower. If your LFT test result is still positive on the 14th day, you can stop testing and return to work on day 15. If you work with patients or customer who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 (as determined by Bluebird Care) consideration should be taken before redeployment.
Manager can undertake a risk assessment of staff who test positive between 10 and 14 days and who do not have a high temperature, with a view to them returning to work depending on the work environment.
Any staff admitted to hospital with COVID-19 symptoms will be subject to the guidance of isolation for patients within guidance for stepdown of infection control precautions and discharging COVID-19 patients
There is additional guidance on reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the Stay at home guidance.
Stepdown of infection control precautions
Returning to work criteria for suspected of confirmed COVID-19 cases
If a staff member is symptomatic when returning to work after a negative PCR test or after their isolation period has ended
Staff who receive a negative PCR test result can usually return to work providing they are medically fit to do so, subject to discussion with Bluebird Care and a local risk assessment.
If medically fit to do so, staff who receive a positive PCR test result can return to work after their isolation period has ended, provided their symptoms have resolved or if their only symptoms are a cough or anosmia, which can last for several weeks.
Staff who receive an inconclusive PCR test result should continue to self-isolate and arrange another PCR test. They can return to work after their isolation period has ended.
If a staff member is identified as a contact of a COVID-19 case
If a staff member is providing care to or is in close contact with an individual with COVID-19 infection and wearing the correct PPE appropriately in accordance with the UK infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance and How to work safe guidance, they will not be considered as a contact for the purposes of contact tracing and isolation. This applies regardless of the vaccination status of the staff member.
If there has been a breach of recommended PPE during the care episode they the staff member would be considered a contact and should follow the advice below.
In non-patient facing areas, IPC precautions may unintentionally be less stringently adhered to – if IPC precautions have been compromised or PPE has been worn incorrectly or breached, the staff member should be considered a contact and follow the advice below.
UK infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance
Exemptions from self-isolation if a staff member is fully vaccinated and is identified as a contact case
Staff members notified that they are a contact of a COVID-19 case are not required to self-isolate if they are fully vaccinated. They should inform Bluebird Care immediately if they are required to work in the 10 days following their last contact with a COVID-19 case.
If the staff member develops symptoms of COVID-19 during this period, they must follow the isolation guidance as set out above.
If an unvaccinated or partially vaccinated staff member is identified as a contact of a COVID-19 case
If an unvaccinated or partially vaccinated staff member is notified as a contact of COVID-19 case, by NHS Test and Trace or their workplace, they must self-isolate unless they are exempt (because they are under 18, unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons or are taking part or have taken part in a clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine) and follow Stay at home guidance.
If a staff member and is exempt form self-isolation in the community they should not attend work, or should be redeployed for the period of time they would be required to self-isolate.
Repeat testing for COVID-19
Exemptions from routine testing for individuals who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days
Fragments of inactive virus can be persistently detected by PCR in respiratory tract samples following infection, and for some time after a person has completed their isolation period and is no longer infectious.
Asymptomatic staff, patients and residents who so not have severe immunosuppression, and who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 by LFT or PCR test should be exempt from routine testing PCR test within 90 days from their initial illness onset or test date,
This does not apply if they:
• Develop new COVID-19 symptoms
• Are required to take a PCR test upon entry into the UK
Routine testing with LFT tests within 90 days of a positive test
If a staff member has returned to work after testing positive for COVID-19, they should resume routine LFT testing, even if this is within 90 days of the positive COVID-19 test result. If staff, patients or residents are tested with an LFT test within 90 days of a positive LFT or PCR test and the result is positive, they should start a new period of self-isolation.
Isolation requirements for repeat positive test results 90 days or more after a prior positive test
If an individual is re-tested 90 days or more after their initial illness onset or prior test date, and is found to be PCR positive, this should be considered as a possible new infection. They must immediately self-isolate from when their symptoms started or their test date if they do not have symptoms and follow Stay at home guidance.
COVID-19 Management of staff and exposed patients or resident in health and social care
Guidance for health and social care staff on COVID-19 symptoms, test results and being identified as a contact of a case
All staff who come into contact with COVID-19 cases – whether or not they are protected by the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) – should remain vigilant to the possibility of contracting infection and should follow the guidance as follows if you develop symptoms.
The main symptoms of COVID-19 are recent onset of any of the following:
• A new continuous cough
• A high temperature
• A loss of, or change in, your normal senses of taste or smell (anosmia)
For most people, COVID-19 will be a mild illness. However, if you have any of the symptoms listed above, even if those symptoms are mild, you should stay at home and arrange to have a PCR test.
Staff who have received one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine and who have any of the main symptoms of COVID-19 or have a positive LFT or PCR test result, should still follow this guidance. This is because it is still possible to get COVID-19 and spread it to others, even if you are vaccinated.
If a staff member develops COVID-19 Symptoms
If you develop any of the main symptoms of COVID-19, however mild:
• You should follow the Stay at home guidance and arrange to have a PCR test through the NHS Test and Trace service, as soon as possible (testing is most sensitive within 3 days of the development of symptoms)
• If at home (off-duty), you should not attend work whilst awaiting your PCR test result and should notify Bluebird Care immediately.
• If at work, you should inform Bluebird Care and return home as soon as possible.
• If you have already taken an LFT test and the result was positive you should follow the following advice.
If a staff member receives a positive LFT or PCR test result
If you receive a positive LFT or PCR test result, you must complete a period of self-isolation. The isolation period includes the day the symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you do not have symptoms), also described as day 0.
You do not need to take a PCR test if you have already taken an LFT test and the result was positive, unless:
• You wish to claim the Test and Trace Support Payment
• You have a positive day 2 LFT test after arriving in England
You may be able to end your self-isolation period before the end of 10 days.
You can take an LFT test from the fifth day of your isolation period, and another LFT test on the following day. The second LFT test should be taken at least 24 hours later. If both LFT test results are negative, you may end their self-isolation immediately after the second negative LFT test result and can return to work that same day provided you meet the criteria listed below. You should not take the LFT test before the fifth day of your isolation period and should only end your self-isolation following 2 consecutive negative LFT tests which should be taken at least 24 hours apart.
Test and Trace Support Payment
After each LFT test, you should report the test results on the GOV.UK website.
You may return to work if you meet the following criteria:
• Your symptoms have resolved, or your only symptoms are cough or anosmia which can last for several weeks.
• If you work with patients or customers who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 (as determined by Bluebird Care) consideration should be taken before redeployment.
• You should continue to undertake daily LFT tests for the remaining days of isolation period even if you have already returned to work. For example:
1 If the first LFT test result was negative on the fifth day, and the second LFT test result is negative on the sixth day, you can return to work but should continue to take LFT tests on days 7, 8, 9 and 10.
2 If any of these LFT test results are positive the staff member should isolate and should wait 24 hours before taking the next LFT test.
3 On the days you are working, the LFT test should be taken prior to beginning your shift as close as possible to the start time.
4 You must continue to comply with all relevant infection control precautions and PPE must be work properly throughout the day.
The likelihood of a positive LFD test in the absence of a high temperature after 10 days is low. If your LFT test is still positive on the 10th day, you should continue to take daily LFT tests, and can return to work after a single negative LFT test result.
The likelihood of a positive LFT test after 14 days is considerably lower. If your LFT test result is still positive on the 14th day, you can stop testing and return to work on day 15. If you work with patients or customer who are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 (as determined by Bluebird Care) consideration should be taken before redeployment.
Manager can undertake a risk assessment of staff who test positive between 10 and 14 days and who do not have a high temperature, with a view to them returning to work depending on the work environment.
Any staff admitted to hospital with COVID-19 symptoms will be subject to the guidance of isolation for patients within guidance for stepdown of infection control precautions and discharging COVID-19 patients
There is additional guidance on reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the Stay at home guidance.
Stepdown of infection control precautions
Returning to work criteria for suspected of confirmed COVID-19 cases
If a staff member is symptomatic when returning to work after a negative PCR test or after their isolation period has ended
Staff who receive a negative PCR test result can usually return to work providing they are medically fit to do so, subject to discussion with Bluebird Care and a local risk assessment.
If medically fit to do so, staff who receive a positive PCR test result can return to work after their isolation period has ended, provided their symptoms have resolved or if their only symptoms are a cough or anosmia, which can last for several weeks.
Staff who receive an inconclusive PCR test result should continue to self-isolate and arrange another PCR test. They can return to work after their isolation period has ended.
If a staff member is identified as a contact of a COVID-19 case
If a staff member is providing care to or is in close contact with an individual with COVID-19 infection and wearing the correct PPE appropriately in accordance with the UK infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance and How to work safe guidance, they will not be considered as a contact for the purposes of contact tracing and isolation. This applies regardless of the vaccination status of the staff member.
If there has been a breach of recommended PPE during the care episode they the staff member would be considered a contact and should follow the advice below.
In non-patient facing areas, IPC precautions may unintentionally be less stringently adhered to – if IPC precautions have been compromised or PPE has been worn incorrectly or breached, the staff member should be considered a contact and follow the advice below.
UK infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance
Exemptions from self-isolation if a staff member is fully vaccinated and is identified as a contact case
Staff members notified that they are a contact of a COVID-19 case are not required to self-isolate if they are fully vaccinated. They should inform Bluebird Care immediately if they are required to work in the 10 days following their last contact with a COVID-19 case.
If the staff member develops symptoms of COVID-19 during this period, they must follow the isolation guidance as set out above.
If an unvaccinated or partially vaccinated staff member is identified as a contact of a COVID-19 case
If an unvaccinated or partially vaccinated staff member is notified as a contact of COVID-19 case, by NHS Test and Trace or their workplace, they must self-isolate unless they are exempt (because they are under 18, unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons or are taking part or have taken part in a clinical trial for a COVID-19 vaccine) and follow Stay at home guidance.
If a staff member and is exempt form self-isolation in the community they should not attend work, or should be redeployed for the period of time they would be required to self-isolate.
Repeat testing for COVID-19
Exemptions from routine testing for individuals who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 within 90 days
Fragments of inactive virus can be persistently detected by PCR in respiratory tract samples following infection, and for some time after a person has completed their isolation period and is no longer infectious.
Asymptomatic staff, patients and residents who so not have severe immunosuppression, and who have previously tested positive for COVID-19 by LFT or PCR test should be exempt from routine testing PCR test within 90 days from their initial illness onset or test date,
This does not apply if they:
• Develop new COVID-19 symptoms
• Are required to take a PCR test upon entry into the UK
Routine testing with LFT tests within 90 days of a positive test
If a staff member has returned to work after testing positive for COVID-19, they should resume routine LFT testing, even if this is within 90 days of the positive COVID-19 test result. If staff, patients or residents are tested with an LFT test within 90 days of a positive LFT or PCR test and the result is positive, they should start a new period of self-isolation.
Isolation requirements for repeat positive test results 90 days or more after a prior positive test
If an individual is re-tested 90 days or more after their initial illness onset or prior test date, and is found to be PCR positive, this should be considered as a possible new infection. They must immediately self-isolate from when their symptoms started or their test date if they do not have symptoms and follow Stay at home guidance.
