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Publication - Advice and guidance

Coronavirus (COVID-19): social care and community based testing guidance

Last updated 23 December 2021 - see all updates
Part of
Coronavirus in Scotland, Health and social care

Guidance on coronavirus testing for the social care sector.

This document is part of a collection

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Setting/pathway

Baseline testing until 17th April

Pathway from 17th April and route

Adult and old people care homes (staff)

Twice weekly LFD and once weekly PCR

No change (NSS)

Adult and older people care home (visitors)

LFD test before visiting (twice weekly for individuals who visit more than twice per week)

No change (NSS) and LFD universal route.

Visiting Health professionals such as district and community nurses and allied health professionals

Twice weekly LFD following

staff testing in NHS Scotland

Non NHS staff who are providing direct health or care can access testing via at the care home

Twice weekly LFD following

staff testing in NHS Scotland

Non NHS staff who are providing direct health or care can access testing via at the care home

Other visiting professionals who do not have workplace testing i.e. agency nursing staff

LFD testing at the care home, or through workplace testing

LFD testing at the care home, or through workplace testing

Care at home

Twice weekly LFD OR once weekly PCR

Twice weekly LFD (NSS direct or NSS via PPE hubs)

Adult day centres

Twice weekly LFD

No change (PPE hubs)

Unpaid carers

No current formal testing pathway. LFD testing obtained via universal route.

Twice weekly LFD (universal route)

Personal assistants

Twice weekly LFD

Twice weekly LFD (PPE hubs)

Learning disability

Twice weekly LFD

Routine asymptomatic testing to end unless providing care in a setting that would be deemed at risk or providing care and support for those deemed at risk. We will work with the sector to determine those staff who should continue to test.

Mental health

Twice weekly LFD

Routine asymptomatic testing to end unless providing care in a setting that would be deemed at risk or providing care and support for those deemed at risk. We will work with the sector to determine those staff who should continue to test.

Social workers

Twice weekly LFD

Routine asymptomatic testing to end

Independent living assessors/care inspectors

Twice weekly LFD

LFD testing when visiting an adult or older person care, up to twice weekly.

Women’s shelters

Twice weekly LFD

Routine asymptomatic testing to end

Addiction services

Once weekly PCR

Routine asymptomatic testing to end

Homelessness services

Once weekly PCR

Routine asymptomatic testing to end

 

Residential accommodation for children

Once weekly PCR

Routine asymptomatic testing to end

Children and young people community settings

 

Twice weekly LFD

Routine asymptomatic testing to end

Short break/respite settings

Twice weekly LFD

Continue if staff support a number of older people for live in care or otherwise agreed to be at high risk. (NSS)

 

Residential rehab (staff)

Twice weekly LFD

Continues for staff if they are providing care and support for older people or otherwise agreed to be at high risk. (NSS)

Sheltered housing/housing with multiple occupancy

Twice weekly LFD

Continue only if staff provide personal care and support to multiple older individuals. (NSS)

 

 

 

First published
15 December 2021
Last updated
23 December 2021 - show all updates

  1. Updated Test supply, delivery and enhanced testing for the sector.

  2. Updated to reflect current situation with Omicron variant.

  3. FAQs updated.

  4. Updated COVID-19 social care testing - Orient Gene webinar slides: September 2021 and main text.

  5. Minor update to remove sentence re. testing webinars.

  6. All sections updated and new documents added to Sector updates, Training and Guidance.

  7. Document added under Sector letters and updates

  8. Updated LFD testing guidance PDF and testing FAQs PDFs published.

  9. Updates to main page, added larger delivery of stock and updated LFD registration form to sector letters, invitation to provide feedback on later flow testing in social care letter (sector letters section) taken offline, infection prevention and control care at home webinars (training section) taken offline.

  10. Revised page title to: social care and community based testing guidance

  11. Added updated information for providers who use the NSS portal to register testing kits, 20 May 2021.

  12. PCR guidance and overview page updated

  13. Overview pages updated and new edition of FAQs included.

  14. Amended page text and added 2 replacement pdfs and 3 new pdfs inc updated FAQs

  15. Updated FAQs

  16. Self testing training slides added as well as a sector update on LFD bulk uploads and logging results.

  17. Content updated to reflect latest position.

  18. Testing FAQs added.

  19. Page content and FAQ and LFD testing guidance updated.

  20. Page title, content and FAQ updated.

  21. Updated sector letters, guidance docs and delivery dates.

  22. Link to guidance added - testing arrangements for care at home and and care home settings.

  23. Links to additional training resources added.

  24. Revised FAQ and LFD staff testing guides.

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