Covid-19 & Mental Health
The Association has been working with our membership as well as sector partners, including The Care Provider Alliance, to create a repository where you can access key guidance and useful resources for your organisation. We have been working for, and on behalf of, the voluntary and community mental health sector and the wider health and social care sector to ensure that the sector is fully represented.
The Association is a part of the national mental health response providing support to address the mental health aspect of the Covid-19 outbreak; we are working closely with colleagues at NHS England and Improvement, Public Health England and the Department of Health and Social Care.
As a country, we all need to do what we can to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus. That is why the government has given clear guidance on self-isolation, household isolation and social distancing.
Currently, The Association's team is working remotely around the country and will continue to work with members and deliver member services as normal. However, we ask you to please email us instead of phoning and if we've missed anything in this section or you'd like to contribute information or resources, please email info@amhp.org.uk.
Key links:
Managing your mental health >> here
Financial support during Covid-19 >> here
Updates from the Government >> here
Updates from The Care Provider Alliance >> here
Supporting Mental Health in Communities During Covid-19: Bringing VCSE and Statutory Services Together
Dania Hanif
Published: April 3, 2020
The global coronavirus outbreak is putting the mental as well as physical health of people around the world under strain. For people with existing mental health difficulties, this may be especially pronounced, at a time when mental health services are stretched and coping with higher sickness absence due to the virus. Across the UK, voluntary…
Read moreGuidance on Infection Prevention and Control
Dania Hanif
Published: April 2, 2020
This guidance outlines the infection prevention and control advice for health and social care providers involved in receiving, assessing and caring for patients who are a possible or confirmed case of COVID-19. It should be used in conjunction with local policies. On 2 April 2020, the main changes to previous guidance are: enhanced PPE recommendations for a wide…
Read moreGuidance on Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Dania Hanif
Published: April 2, 2020
This revised guidance concerns use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by health and social care workers, in the context of the current COVID-19 pandemic. It supersedes previous PPE guidance. This guidance relates solely to considerations of PPE, represents one section of infection prevention and control guidance for COVID-19 and should be used in conjunction with local policies. Read…
Read moreLGA Briefing - Protecting Vulnerable People
Dania Hanif
Published: April 1, 2020
Many councils will already have made significant progress in developing systems to support and protect people who are vulnerable as a result of the COVID-19 emergency, and this note is therefore intended to assist them by providing a point of cross-reference. Website Link
Read moreIAPT Guide for Delivering Treatment Remotely
Dania Hanif
Published: April 1, 2020
This guidance is for IAPT providers and their clinical teams who are planning for the continued delivery of IAPT services via non face-to-face methods. It is intended to support the contingency planning already underway for a range of resource-constrained scenarios. It will be updated as required.
Read moreCare Act Easements
Dania Hanif
Published: April 1, 2020
This guidance sets out how Local Authorities can use the new Care Act easements, created under the Coronavirus Act 2020, to ensure the best possible care for people in our society during this exceptional period. Read the new guidance for Local Authorities here.
Read moreLetter to SoS Matt Hancock from the LGA and ADASS
Dania Hanif
Published: March 31, 2020
A joint letter from the Local Government Association (LGA) and Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) to the Secretary of State regarding PPE provision for the adult social care sector was sent on 27 March.
Read moreAdapting Service Delivery
Dania Hanif
Published: March 30, 2020
Information from SCVO on adapting services to digital and remote channels Key principles Start with user needs – spend time understanding what your service users need to do, and which digital channels they find easy to use. See this guide from Cast on the principles behind developing good digital services. Remember the need to protect privacy and support good…
Read moreLetter from the SoS to the Social Care Workforce
Dania Hanif
Published: March 30, 2020
Letter from Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock to the social care workforce thanking them for their help on coronavirus so far.
Read moreGuidance for the Public on Mental Health and Wellbeing
Dania Hanif
Published: March 30, 2020
This guide provides advice on how to look after your mental health and wellbeing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. For wider guidance on how to protect yourself and others, and actions to take if you think you may have contracted the virus please see Coronavirus (COVID-19): what you need to do Read the guidance here.
Read moreWeekly Sector Announcements
Dania Hanif
Published: March 27, 2020
Sector Announcements for week ending 27 March Secretary of State letter to local authority commissioners of adult social care (PDF) – 19 March – Department of Health and Social Care Letter from SoS Matt Hancock to chief executives. £1.6bn of funding to go to local authorities to help respond to COVID-19 pressures across all services.…
Read moreGuidance for the role and use of non-invasive respiratory support in adult patients with coronavirus
Dania Hanif
Published: March 27, 2020
This document should be used to guide clinicians on the appropriate use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), non-invasive ventilation (NIV, here referring to bilevel positive airway pressure, BiPAP) and high flow nasal oxygen (HFNO, such as OptiflowTM) in patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. Published evidence, clinical guidelines and personal communications with colleagues in…
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