Jan 2023
Family and friends letter: 23 January
Letter from Robert Black, Care Quality Director about changes to OSJCT mask protocol.
Dear family member or friend,
Happy New Year. I hope that many of you were able to join care home activities over the Christmas period in person and keep up to date with activities in the home of your loved one through social media and updates from home managers. We are looking forward to another busy year of entertainment and activities for residents and employees in our homes. Thank you for your support in minimising the risk of winter illness transmission in our care homes by following handwashing protocols, getting vaccinated and staying away from our services if you feel unwell.
I am writing to share with you changes to our policy on mask wearing in OSJCT care homes. Since the Government updated its guidance on mask wearing and outbreaks in adult social care (Mask and outbreak guidance updated in care settings - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), we have kept our policy under regular review. As cases of winter illness have declined since the beginning of the year, we can now confirm that under normal circumstances, the wearing of masks in OSJCT care homes by employees and visitors will no longer be mandatory. Where a home is experiencing an outbreak of any kind (this may be due to cases of flu or other infectious illnesses) we will require masks are worn by visitors and employees as part of our infection prevention and control protocols. Visitors will be informed when a home is in outbreak and posters will be displayed on entrance doors.
We have made this decision after careful consideration, based on data on infections in our homes, and thorough risk assessments. We track infection rates among residents and employees on a daily basis and should the risks change, we would be able to swiftly reintroduce mask wearing in some or all of our homes.
Any visitor or employee who wishes to wear a facemask is welcome to do so, and free facemasks, gloves and disposable aprons will continue to be available from personal, protective equipment (PPE) stations in homes. In some circumstances, OSJCT carers and managers will also don PPE for example to provide personal care to residents.
If you have any concerns about this change, or if there is anything else you wish to discuss, please contact the home manager. With best wishes,
Robert Black, OSJCT Care Quality Director