13 Mar 2020

Links to national coronavirus guidance and advice

National guidance and advice for the sector is available so we've pulled some of the key links together to help you. This guidance is often updated so please check it regularly.

Scottish Government guidance

All Scottish Government health, care and social work coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance

Guidance is available for lots of different topics including:

clinical guidance for different types of service
care home guidance (see here for Open with Care visiting and outings from the home guidance)
adults with incapacity
social care assessments
social work
unpaid carers
adult support and protection
testing for health and social care staff
personal protective equipment (PPE)
palliative care.

Scottish Government adult social care guidance

All Scottish Government education and children coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance

Public Health Scotland guidance

Information and guidance for care home settings (adults and older people) this page includes:

COVID-19 information and guidance for care home settings
outbreak control checklist.

COVID-19 - information and guidance for social, community and residential care settings which covers:

community based settings for people with mental health needs
community based settings for people with a learning disability
community based settings for people who misuse substances
supported accommodation settings
rehabilitation services
residential children’s homes
stand alone residential respite for adults (settings not registered as care homes)
stand alone residential respite/short breaks services for children
providing care to individuals in their own home
sheltered housing
hospice settings
prison and detention settings.

Guidance for educational and early learning and childcare settings has been updated and incorporated into general advice for all non-healthcare settings

Public Health Scotland coronavirus page (this page lists the latest publication updates)

Details of vaccination priority groups (issued by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation)

Infection prevention and control

Infection Prevention and Control Manual for Older People and Adult Care Homes

National Infection Prevention and Control Manual

Infection prevention and control standards for health and adult social care settings (Healthcare Improvement Scotland)

Community Infection Prevention and Control COVID-19 Pandemic Appendix 22

Personal Protective equipment (PPE)

See COVID-19 sections within Appendix 22 - Community IPC Pandemic Appendix (scot.nhs.uk)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): use of face coverings in social care settings including adult care homes

Staff health and wellbeing

The National Wellbeing Hub is for everyone working in health and social care. It has lots of resources for individuals and managers.

Coaching for Wellbeing offers free coaching to support all health and social service workers.

The Workforce Specialist Service is a confidential mental health service for health and social care workers.

National Wellbeing Helpline for health and social care workers: 0800 111 4191

COVID-19 Education Recovery Group

COVID-19 Education Recovery Group (CERG) web page on the Education Scotland website with guidance and information for early years and education settings

Qualifications and apprenticeships

Skills Development Scotland Coronavirus (COVID-19) page (includes information on apprenticeships)

Supplementary guidance for SVQ assessment centres to support candidates impacted by COVID-19 pandemic (updated 11 November 2020)

Work placements

We have published a toolkit of information to support placement providers, students and centres to support the safe return of students to placements. Find out more and download the toolkit here. (updated 30 June 2021)