COVID-19 Measures | Safe, but not isolated at Heron House Taunton Residential Care Home

Safe, but not isolated

Paula Howlett, manager of Heron House Taunton

“Since the start of the pandemic, we have taken a range of measures to really go the extra mile with our staff, our processes and our facilities to ensure that our residents continue to enjoy as ‘normal’ a lifestyle as possible, whilst maintaining the very highest standards of safety.

We are proud of our success and maintained safe visiting from loved ones since June. We have created our own ‘bubbles’ and an adapted activities programme to allow residents to continue to socialise. We have constructed Covid secure cabins for visiting.

In summary, I think we can truthfully say to anyone who needs residential care but is hanging on at home, possibly on their own – and certainly without the level of care they need - that at Heron House Taunton they will be safer, better looked after, have a more active and enjoyable social life, and need not fear being cut off from their loved-ones.”

Paula Howlett
Manager

Additional Trained Staff

We don’t employ any casual staff, only our own, fully trained employees.

Early on in the pandemic, we hired additional personnel to support a 7 day a week activity programme and to ensure that we are able to offer the extra support required to enable visiting in a Covid-secure environment.

We have also continued our ongoing staff training programmes via both an online e-learning platform and face to face in the home.

For us, a homely, ‘family’ environment with well-trained, caring staff continues to come as standard.

Our Testing & Screening Routine

We maintain a rigorous infection control regime, including:

Twice weekly staff testing

Screening of all visitors

Robust policies and procedures on infection control measures within the home

On-site hairdressers and chiropodist are part of the weekly testing regime, to enable continued services

A separate entrance for all staff, where they are screened before entry

All staff wear fluid repellent masks creating protection for both staff and residents throughout the days and night

Carers to wear full PPE when providing personal care

Sensitively adapted admissions process for new residents

The Registered Manager sends out regular updates to ensure that relatives, friends, carers, residents and staff are fully informed of the developments and changes in the home and government guidance.

Covid-secure Visitor Facilities

We have made special visiting arrangements to enable our residents to continue to enjoy contact with loved ones from outside the home.

Our Lockdown Activities Programme

Heron House residents are a part of their own ‘Bubble’ and are therefore able to mix and attend activities throughout the day and evenings.