Coronavirus (COVID-19): Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for personal assistants

Advice for PAs living in the same household as the person they support

Neither I nor the person I support have any symptoms of COVID-19

Follow the general advice.

Wear any PPE such as aprons or gloves as you normally would depending on the type of care you provide. No additional PPE for COVID-19 is required unless you or the person you support is symptomatic of COVID-19 however, face coverings should be worn in line with SG advice.   See the sections below.

Shielding

 Further guidance on shielding is available.

The person I support has COVID-19, symptoms of COVID-19 or has been asked to self-isolate by Test and Protect

Follow the general advice and support them to self-isolate.

Contact your local social work department to make alternative care arrangements. You should not provide direct care if the person you care for develops symptoms of suspected COVID-19, if they are confirmed positive COVID-19 or if they have been asked to self isolate by test and protect. You should seek to make alternative arrangements for care.

Also, follow the guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) on NHS Inform.

• Wear any PPE such as aprons or gloves as you normally would depending on the type of care you provide.
• You should also wear a facemask and eye protection (visor) for the period of time you are providing care for the individual.
• After you have provided care directly to the individual, you should remove the facemask, eye protection (and any other PPE) and maintain a distance of 2 metres or more.
• The facemask should be replaced if it becomes damaged, soiled or uncomfortable.
• When removed PPE must be placed in a disposable bag and then a secondary disposable bag.  It should be tied and held for 72 hours before being placed in the outside household waste bin for collection.  Ensure you perform hand hygiene after removal and disposal of PPE.

Wearing PPE will not remove the risk completely of either becoming infected with COVID-19, or being identified as a close contact through Test & Protect and asked to isolate for the required period but it will reduce the risk considerably.

I (personal assistant) have COVID-19, symptoms of COVID-19 or have been asked to self-isolate by Test and Protect

If you have developed symptoms of COVID-19 and the person you support has no symptoms, you should not provide direct care and seek to make alternative arrangements to support your employer. You can contact your local social work department to make alternative care arrangements.

You should try to stay 2 metres distance from them as much as possible and follow guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) on NHS inform. 

 If the person you care for also has COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19, you can continue to provide care as long as you feel well enough to do so OR where you are unable to make alternative care arrangements you must:

• wear any PPE such as aprons or gloves as you normally would depending on the type of support you provide.
• you should also wear a facemask for the period of time you are providing care for your employer.
• after you have provided care directly to the individual, you should remove the facemask (and any PPE) and maintain a distance of 2 metres or more.
• your facemask should be replaced if it becomes damaged, soiled or uncomfortable.

When removed, place PPE in a disposable bag  and then a secondary disposable bag. It should be tied and held for 72 hours before being placed in the outside household waste bin for collection. Ensure you perform hand hygiene after removal and disposal of PPE.

Wearing PPE will not remove the risk completely of either becoming infected with COVID-19, or being identified as a close contact through Test & Protect and asked to isolate for the required period but it will reduce the risk considerably.

If you work for more than one employer

Follow the advice: clinical guidance for the management of clients accessing care at home, housing support and sheltered housing and Key measures for infection prevention and control | SSSC.