Communication and Coronavirus
DISCLAIMER: This content was provided during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is currently being retained as a record of information that we shared but does not reflect existing guidance. Visit DHSC website.
Keeping your staff, people who use your services and their families informed about what you are doing to protect and care for them during the coronavirus outbreak is challenging. You need to be honest and open, but also reassuring and calm in order to not unduly raise anxiety levels.
The CPA developed advice and information to help care providers communicate about coronavirus.
Every Story Matters – 30 June 2023 – UK Covid-10 Inquiry Team
Every Story Matters is the UK Covid-19 Inquiry Team’s listening exercise and is an opportunity for anyone in the UK to share their experience of the pandemic. This will feed into the evidence that will ultimately influence the Inquiry's recommendations.
The exercise is now live on our website, where you can find further info and a link to the 'Share Your Experience' online form. Paper participation method is also available. Telephone participation will be offered later in the year and they are also planning some community events.
There is also a communications toolkit on the Covid inquiry website. It's full of downloadable assets (in English and Welsh) to support partner organisations in promoting #EveryStoryMatters via their channels.
Follow the Inquiry on Twitter @CovidInquiryUK
Launch of new AI and Digital Regulations Service
The AI and Digital Regulations Service supports the development and widespread adoption of safe, innovative, value-adding technologies in health and social care. It provides guidance on how to identify, pilot and rollout such technologies at scale.
This is a joint statement from the Relatives & Residents Association and the National Care Forum, endorsed by the Care Provider Alliance, the Care Quality Commission and Skills for Care. It sets out shared expectations and good practice relating to the importance of clear, open, transparent and regular communications during the COVID-19 crisis between care providers and the families of their residents. Read the joint press release on NCF website.
Information for CPA member associations - CPA (PDF)
Tips and advice for the ten CPA member associations on communicating with their care provider members during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Information for care providers – CPA (PDF)
Tips and advice for care providers on communicating with their staff and people who use services.
You can share this official information with staff, people who use services and carers:
- Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: What you can and can’t do – 29 March 2020 - GOV.UK
- NHS Advert on COVID-19 featuring the Chief Medical Officer – YouTube
- Public Health England – campaign materials – PHE
- Overview of coronavirus – NHS
- Coronavirus online symptom checker – NHS111
- Staying at home advice - NHS
- Blog on coronavirus: What you need to know - Public Health England
- Information on coronavirus – World Health Organisation
- Translated information on coronavirus – Doctors of the World and British Red Cross
- Translated hospital entry and discharge letters for patients – 9 April 2020 – GOV.UK
- Tech firms to help care home residents and patients connect with loved ones – 9 April – GOV.UK
Public information videos on coronavirus – April 2020 – GOV.UK§
A new public information video is available and can be shared from these social media links
Easy read guidance is for people, including children, who are at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus because of an underlying health condition, and for their family, friends and carers. It is intended for use in situations where the extremely vulnerable person is living in their own home, with or without additional support. This includes the extremely clinically vulnerable people living in long-term care facilities.
Stay at home guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. Includes easy read version, and translated versions.
Government cracks down on spread of false coronavirus information online – 30 March 2020 – GOV.UK
Specialist units are operating to combat misinformation about coronavirus and five to ten incidents are being identified and tackled each day.
COVID-19 Media background briefing – 26 March 2020 – CPA
CPA background briefing for journalists: Social care has always been a key part of the overall world of care and health. Now, more than ever, social care has a vital and important part to play in supporting whole communities in the fight against COVID-19 and keeping many different groups of vulnerable people safe.
See all related information on coronavirus.