The COVID trauma response working group are ‘a group of specialist trauma clinicians, trauma researchers and wellbeing leads. The working group is coordinated by staff in the Institute of Mental Health at University College London and are working in conjunction with academic, clinical and social care colleagues across the UK. This guidance has drawn on published research on care home workers’ experiences of working in the context of COVID-19 and other previous similar pandemics, from literature on psychosocial support for care home workers and on clinical and management expertise. The aim is to provide evidence-based and trauma-informed guidance which will be useful for managers and decision makers in the psychosocial response to COVID-19.’

Guidance is based on ‘a rapid synthesis of published research, expert clinical opinion and the experiences of care home mangers and staff.  It is intended for managers and decision makers who are involved in supporting staff working in care home settings. The care home workforce is a skilled, dedicated and sometimes undervalued group, who are currently at the frontline of COVID-19.

Care home workers face many of the same challenges as front line NHS staff and previously published guidance will be relevant and applicable to both (www.traumagroup.org). This includes prioritising physical health and safety, providing relevant job-specific training, giving clear and consistent communication, promoting existing coping strategies and supporting team cohesion and peer support.’ ‘Care home workers also face unique and additional challenges.’ the guidance describes 14 of those challenges.  The guidance also provides recommendations for managers and decision makers in supporting care home workers during COVID-19 in areas such as:

• Provision of basic needs
• Information about COVID-19
• Clear and systematic protocols for dealing with residents and staff who are symptomatic
• Effective communication, camaraderie, and social support
• Support psychological wellbeing
• Grief and bereavement training and support
• Self-care

This resource has been produced by the COVID trauma response working group at UCL, but may be useful for ENRICH readers. For more information click on this link