The Government has published new guidance about how best to support people in supported living accommodation in England including managing visits and support bubbles.

As there is still a risk of COVID-19 spreading across the UK, although visits can take place, these should remain limited. Providers will be following guidance on staying alert and safe social distancing as well as any local tightening of lockdown measures.

The guidance also recognises that despite restrictions there are important reasons for having in-person visits, as not having these may be difficult for some people to understand and could lead to distress.

What are the rules for visiting people in supporting living accommodation?

The Government says that visitors should stick to the following rules:

• If the person in the supported living accommodation has a garden that you can go into without going through a shared building then you should use this space.
• Explore as many alternatives as you can to visiting a person in their home, such as, the use of telephones and video calls and arranging walks in the park or outdoor spaces where you can. Unless the person is shielding then current shielding advice should be followed.
• Keep a two metre distance from the person where possible.
• Avoid contact with other residents and have as little contact as possible with supported living staff.

Can I go inside to visit someone?

The Government’s advice is that where no garden area is available, then you can visit the person in their own room. Where you can, call support staff beforehand to arrange an in-person visit. When visiting you should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds both when you arrive and when you leave and you should try to minimise contact with other people who live there and staff as much as possible.

How many people can visit a person in supported living accommodation?

The Government has advised that the number visiting should be limited to the current guidance on group meetings to help you to be able to socially distance.

Do I have to wear a mask to visit someone who lives in supported living accommodation?

You should wear a face-covering, which doesn’t have to be a medical or surgical mask, when visiting someone in supported living accommodation. If the person you are visiting has difficulty with people wearing face-coverings, the supported living accommodation should have discussed this with them beforehand and support decision making around whether visitors can remove their face-coverings.

If you are exempt from wearing a face-covering and need to cough you should take sensible precautions, such as, covering your mouth and nose with a tissue, immediately throwing away the tissue into a disposable rubbish bag and washing your hands for at least 20 seconds afterwards.

What we’re doing

We are telling the Government about your experiences of the coronavirus outbreak so it knows what life is like for autistic people and their families. If you want to share your experiences with us, or any worries or concerns you have, please send an email to stories@nas.org.uk.

If you want advice or are worried about these changes, you can find out more about what help and support is available.