Question reference: S5W-31808
- Asked by: Jackie Baillie, MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 14 September 2020
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Current status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 23 September 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether individual risk assessments are being carried out for people with learning disabilities living in supported accommodation or care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, or whether it is blanket guidance that is being applied.
Answer
Guidance issued by the Scottish Government recommends that care homes and supported accommodation carry out individual risk assessments to ensure all residents, including those with learning disabilities, are safe. The guidance also outlines that potential application of any of the recommendations of national guidance should always take place on consideration of the individual facts and circumstance of residents, and on consideration of these against the wider risks posed to the other care home residents from the virus. In doing so, a full and robust risk assessment should be carried out.
Assessments should take the individual’s needs into account to ensure services can be adapted in line with relevant guidance and approaches agreed with local NHS Boards, Health Protection Teams and the Care Inspectorate.
From 7 September, in care settings not registered as for older adults, day and overnight visits may resume following an individual risk assessment of the person’s need for this and an individual risk assessment of the visit.