how to write a personal statement for a support worker job

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Writing a Personal Statement for a Support Worker Job

Table of Contents

A support worker’s role is one of the most rewarding positions in healthcare. It provides an opportunity to connect deeply with individuals, families, and communities while making a real difference in their lives.

Writing a personal statement for a support worker job requires a special skill set that combines compassion, empathy, and understanding. And writing a successful personal statement is essential to stand out from the crowd and secure the role you want.

This article will provide guidance on how to write an effective support worker personal statement to create a lasting impression on potential employers.

What Is a Support Worker Personal Statement?

A Support Worker personal statement is a document that articulates an individual’s qualifications and experiences . It demonstrates their dedication to the profession. It can be seen as an opportunity for applicants to showcase their credentials and reflect on how they are best suited for the role.

The statement provides insight into a candidate’s values, objectives, and aspirations. It should include meaningful anecdotes and examples of successful work performed to illustrate the applicant’s proficiency within the sector. It is an invaluable tool in helping employers identify potential candidates who possess the necessary traits and abilities required by the position.

Tips for Writing a Personal Statement for a Support Worker Job

Keep the following tips in mind for writing an effective personal statement for a support worker job :

Demonstrate Your Passion for the Job

When writing a personal statement, you must demonstrate your enthusiasm and dedication to becoming a support worker. Discuss how you have engaged in meaningful service with those around you, such as volunteering or interning with underserved individuals. This shows employers that you have an established interest in this field and have worked hard to gain experience and skills related to it.

Highlight Your Qualifications

It is essential to emphasize any certifications or degrees you possess that are relevant to the role of a support worker. Discuss any past experiences that demonstrate your ability to succeed in this position, such as previous jobs working with people in need of assistance.

Mention Specific Transferable Skills

Be sure to mention any skills that might benefit your work as a support worker. It could be excellent communication, strong organization and problem-solving abilities, and the capability to manage tasks simultaneously. Explain how these qualities will help you provide quality care and assistance to others.

Stress Your Commitment

Employers often seek out applicants who display loyalty and commitment when making hiring decisions. Make sure to illustrate why you would make a great support worker. Emphasize your dependability and willingness to go above and beyond what is asked of you.

Discuss Your Traits

Providing insight into some of your positive traits. Having compassion for others, being patient, or possessing emotional intelligence can further strengthen your personal statement. By listing examples of how you’ve used these attributes in other positions, you can demonstrate the value they will add to your potential employer.

Include Any Relevant Hobbies

List any hobbies or activities that relate directly to providing support and demonstrating caring behaviors. For instance, you might enjoy cooking. Explain how helping prepare meals for those who may not have access to them provides assistance and companionship at once.

Use Proper Language

Ensure that your personal statement does not get overlooked due to errors in grammar or spelling. Always proofread your work carefully before submitting it. Writing with clarity and using proper punctuation throughout will help set you apart from other applicants.

Support Worker Personal Statement Example

A support worker’s overall responsibility is to work alongside those with disabilities to provide support and guidance to those who need it. And to acquire a job as a support worker, you need to write a stellar personal statement that perfectly conveys your skills and attributes. Here’s a support worker personal statement to inspire you to write one.

Personal Statement Example

I have a strong passion for helping others and an innate desire to see people reach their full potential. I possess a combination of experience, empathy, and enthusiasm that uniquely qualifies me to be an excellent support worker.

My interest in becoming a support worker grew when I saw its positive impact on those around me. Witnessing the transformation from helplessness to hope was awe-inspiring and motivated me to make my own contribution. Having worked with numerous vulnerable individuals throughout my career, I have developed a deep understanding of different needs and situations.

I also bring extensive experience working with diverse populations, specifically with those with physical or mental impairments or who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. My success lies in providing compassionate care while maintaining professional boundaries and discretion. Additionally, I can draw upon past successes to devise practical solutions for difficult issues faced by those in need of support.

A key factor in my work as a support worker is effectively communicating with service users and understanding their requirements. In this regard, I am adept at building trustful relationships and fostering mutual respect. Moreover, I remain open-minded and strive to recognize any additional services they may require. Ultimately, what drives me to succeed is empowering the lives of vulnerable adults and enabling them to become independent.

I believe I possess all the required abilities, principles, and experiences to fulfill the position of a support worker. I look forward to joining your team and playing an integral part in making a difference in the lives of those needing assistance.

In conclusion, expressing your unique qualifications and social skills is vital when crafting a personal statement for support worker applications. Take the time to read up on what employers are looking for.

Think about how you can apply this to your own story and use language that reflects your experience and expertise in the field . If done correctly, your application should stand out from the rest and make a lasting impression.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

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How to write a Support Worker cover letter (with examples)

Your Support Worker cover letter, sometimes called a supporting statement, is a one page document submitted alongside your CV. It’s an opportunity to stand out from other applicants and convince the recruiter you’re the right person for the job.

On average, it takes recruiters six seconds to decide if someone is suitable for a job. 1 Therefore, a well written Support Worker cover letter can increase your chances of getting an interview .

If you’re looking for a job as a Support Worker, why not apply for one of our roles at Alina Homecare today? We don’t require a cover letter or CV, so it only takes two minutes to apply!

If you’ve already perfected your Support Worker CV and want your application to stand out, this guide will help you understand what to include in your cover letter. We’ve included tips and examples to give you a better chance of getting an interview.

How to write a Support Worker cover letter

Your cover letter should always be personalised and specific to the job you’re applying for. Therefore, it’s important to research both the job and hiring company so that your cover letter is tailored to the role.

Try not to repeat what’s already in your CV. Instead, provide examples of how your work and life experiences and achievements are applicable to the role of a Support Worker. Take this opportunity to show off your key Support Worker skills and leave an impression on the recruiter. You want to make sure you sell yourself!

Your cover letter needs to be concise but persuasive. Good communication is a key skill for the role of a Support Worker so make sure you demonstrate this throughout.

Your cover letter should follow a clear format and include the following:

• Introduction

Cover letter header

Your cover letter header is the first thing the recruiter will see so make it look professional. For instance, if you have a header on your CV, follow the same format on your cover letter to create consistency and show professionalism.

Start your Support Worker cover letter by providing your contact details in the header so the recruiter can contact you. This is usually located in the top right hand corner of the page. Include essential information such as your full name, email address and phone number.

On the left hand side, write the names of the recruiter and the company you’re applying to. You should have this information to hand after you’ve done your research on the job role. If it’s not clear who the recruiter is then you can address your cover letter to the Recruiting Manager.

The following image shows how to lay out your Support Worker cover letter header:

Cover letter greeting

Always start your cover letter with ‘Dear’ and if you know the name of the recruiter, then address them directly.

When addressing someone by their name, you should only use the prefixes Mr. or Ms. If you’re unsure whether the recruiter is male or female, you don’t want to start off on the wrong foot and misgender them. Instead, use their full name, such as ‘Dear Alex Rider’, or you can simply put ‘Dear Recruiting Manager’.

Cover letter introduction

The introduction to your Support Worker cover letter is your opportunity to grab the recruiter’s attention and explain why they should choose you.

Here are some ideas of what you might want to include in your introduction:

• The role you have applied for. In the opening few lines of your cover letter, it’s a good idea to mention the position you’re applying for. The recruiter most likely receives many applications for other job roles so be clear about the position you’re interested in
• Your interest in the position and company. What is it that made you apply for the role of Support Worker at this company? Use your research to comment on the values of the company and why you want to work with them
• Outline your qualifications. Identify any skills or qualifications you have and explain how they would help you to be a great Support Worker. If you’re applying with no previous experience, explain how your previous work and life experiences are applicable to this role

Cover letter main body

Once you’ve explained why you’re a great fit for the role, you want to convince the recruiter you deserve an interview.

Look at the job description to understand the role of a Support Worker and research what qualities they should have. Here, you want to demonstrate you meet as many of the requirements as possible.

Try to relate your skills to the position. For instance, “As a result of working with several service users at the same time, my organisational abilities are exceptional.”

If you’re particularly good at something which isn’t mentioned as a key quality of a Support Worker, don’t be afraid to include it and say how or why this will help you in this role. For example, you could say that you exercise regularly which is good for your mental health and allows you to meet the demands of the role to the best of your ability.

If you have previous Support Worker experience, this is where you want to mention previous successes. Talk about how you’ve gone above and beyond to support service users. Additionally, include any positive feedback that you received from their family members. This could set you apart from other applicants by revealing how you interact with service users and the level of service you can provide.

Don’t worry if you have no Support Worker experience or even no previous work experience at all. If you’re applying for a job for the first time, you can still mention any positions you’ve held in the past. This could include voluntary positions, education or extracurricular activities.

Key qualities of a Support Worker:

• Passion – be passionate about the support you provide and the needs of the service user. An enthusiastic Support Worker sees their work as a professional duty rather than a job. Ensure your support is focused on the interests of the service user and their families. Go above and beyond to guarantee high quality support is provided
• Patience & empathy – a good Support Worker is empathetic and can put themselves in the shoes of the individuals they support. This allows you to fully understand the needs of the service user and tailor the support you provide around their requirements. Showing patience and understanding of their needs is essential
• Encouragement – a key quality is to understand the importance of a positive attitude. Always greet your service users with a smile. Encourage the people you support to lead a fulfilling life and provide support when needed to ensure they achieve their personal goals
• Reliability – you must be trustworthy and committed to being on time. Be aware of the effect that untimeliness can have on a service user’s routine
• Respectful – always respect the service users’ decisions. Never assume they cannot make choices for themselves
• Excellent communication – a good Support Worker can communicate clearly and sensitively with the people they support and their family members. Being easy to talk to and a good listener is extremely important in providing high quality support

Cover letter conclusion

Once you’ve written a convincing case, thank the recruiter for taking the time to read your cover letter and consider your application. In this section, you can repeat your enthusiasm for the role and why you would be a good addition to the company.

Finish your letter with a polite request for an interview so the recruiter knows you’re eager to progress with your application.

Finally, end your Support Worker cover letter with a professional sign off such as ‘Yours sincerely’ or ‘Kind regards,’ followed by your full name.

Cover letter examples

To help you write your Support Worker cover letter, here are two examples below that follow our recommended structure. While submitting a job application could be stressful, these cover letter examples are a starting point to help you.

There are many ways of writing a good Support Worker cover letter. Make sure you don’t use these examples word for word as a unique and personalised letter is more likely to secure you a better outcome!

Example 1 – No previous experience

Dear Mr. Rider,

I’m writing to apply for the position of a Support Worker at [company name] which I have seen advertised on [where]. I believe I would be a great candidate for this role as I have a passion for caring and making a positive difference in people’s lives.

Although I have no previous experience in this sector, I’m enthusiastic about my work. My current employer frequently gives me high praise for my efficiency, teamwork and punctuality. I have excellent listening, organisational and time management abilities from my previous employment, which are all necessary qualities of a Support Worker.

I’m responsible and dependable, and I understand the need to maintain the confidentiality of service users’ information in this role. I have strong administrative skills so I’m confident I can manage multiple tasks at once.

If my application is successful, I aim to put my existing talents to use while also developing new ones at your company. I’m eager to learn new skills and complete any necessary training to ensure that I have the specialised knowledge required to perform my role.

Becoming a part of your team at [company name] will enable me to fulfil my desire to support young adults, allowing them to maintain their independence in daily life. The prospect of working for a growing business and making a positive impact inspires me. I’m eager to demonstrate how my compassionate and enthusiastic attitude may help your service users to have a positive experience.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I hope to hear from you with regards to arranging an interview.

Yours sincerely, Jane Doe

Example 2 – Previous experience

Dear Recruiting Manager,

I’m very keen to apply for the position of Support Worker at [company name] as advertised on [where]. With over five years’ experience working as a Support Worker, I believe I would make a strong addition to your team.

In previous positions, I’ve successfully managed a demanding caseload of individuals with varying degrees of learning and physical disabilities. I have experience working with service users in challenging situations and I can handle such matters in a calm and sensitive manner.

I have a caring and compassionate nature, as well as a genuine interest in helping others to lead fulfilling lives. I’m comfortable working with service users of all ages and varying levels of ability. I use my considerate and non-judgemental attitude to carefully determine the needs of the individuals I support.

I always encourage conversation and show joy in listening to service users’ stories about their lives, family and friends to help build trusting relationships. I’m reliable at timekeeping because I understand the effect lateness can have on a service user’s routine. I’m used to working flexible hours, including nights and on weekends.

I’ve recently completed my NVQ Level 3 Diploma in Health & Social Care, and I have certifications in CPR and First Aid. The attached CV provides further details about how my qualifications and previous experience will make me an ideal match for your team.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my application. I would be grateful for the chance to be a part of such an amazing company and I hope to hear from you soon to organise an interview.

Kind regards, Jane Doe

Cover letter tips

It’s important to make your Support Worker cover letter personalised and ensure that it represents you. Recruiters receive many cover letters so will be able to tell if you have copied a template from the internet. Use examples to help you but make sure your final copy is unique and customised to the company you’re applying for!

Use these extra tips to add a personal touch:

Writing style – use the right tone to match the company you’re applying for. A cover letter should be professional, but you also want to write in a way that reflects you as a person

Format – match the format and design to your CV. Your cover letter is an extension of your CV, so you want it to be clear the documents are a complete package. If you need help with writing your CV, download our Support Worker CV template

Spell check – make sure your cover letter is free of any grammatical or spelling mistakes. Try to read your cover letter out loud or ask a friend or family member to proofread it for you. You could also use an online program such as Microsoft Word which has a built in spell check function

Be concise – write a cover letter that shows how you fulfil the requirements of a Support Worker. Use your own work and life experiences to show you can do the job. Write about personal or professional achievements but don’t tell a story that is too wordy or long. If you have gaps in your work history, take this opportunity to explain them

Be appropriate – avoid mentioning anything which is not necessary in a cover letter. Don’t mention why you’re looking for a new position in case it comes across as being negative about your current employer. Avoid talking about salary expectations as it’s too early to discuss at this stage. This can make it look like you’re more interested in the benefits the company can provide, rather than how you can benefit the company

Be honest – avoid mentioning anything untruthful or emphasising any skills that you don’t have. If you’re invited for an interview and are asked about any of these, this could be detrimental. Focus only on the skills and experience that you do have and how they can be applied to this job. Make it clear that you’re willing to learn!

Now that you know how to write the perfect Support Worker cover letter, get started now !

Email our Jobs Team or apply below to join Alina Homecare Disability Support.

1. My Perfect CV, “CV Examples and Samples” , Reviewed 19 April 2023

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How to write an effective personal statement for a social work job

Many people incorporate a short personal statement at the top of their cv, but social work employers may ask for more. jonathan coxon, managing director of social work recruitment consultancy liquid personnel, gives six tips on how to sell yourself..

When applying for a social work job, you may be asked to write a covering letter or separate personal statement to accompany your application. More likely you will be asked to complete a specific application form for the employer, which will include a question along the lines of: “Please give your reasons for applying for this job and what you will bring to the team.” Here are six top tips on how to showcase your ability: 1. One size does not fit all One personal statement is not suitable for multiple applications – your statement should be tailored to each role you are applying for. Refer closely to the job description, the person specification – including any essential and desirable requirements – and any other relevant guidance provided by the employer. Focus on clearly explaining how your experience and skills will fulfil and exceed their requirements. 2. Demonstrate your knowledge with facts Don’t just make broad statements. It’s not sufficient to say: “I have a strong working knowledge of child protection procedures.” Instead, back this up with meaningful examples, such as: “I have worked in a child protection team for X months”, “I have completed a placement in a local authority child protection team”, “I have received additional training in recognising signs of abuse and neglect”, “I have held a caseload of X child protection cases”, or “I can conduct section 47 investigations to a high standard.” 3. Be concise and explicit Avoid waffle and ensure you put your points across in a concise way, keeping your statement relevant to the job in question. Rather than just describing your skills and experience, explain exactly why this is relevant to the organisation and how they will benefit from employing you. 4. Take your time Draft your personal statement carefully. If you’re filling in an application form, don’t just start writing directly onto the form – plan your answer first. Remember that this is one of your best chances to showcase your skills during the application process. Employers will have to read a massive selection of applications and CVs from potential new recruits, so yours needs to stand out and sell yourself well. There is a good chance that the job you’re applying for will involve written work (e.g. report writing), so your statement will provide the employer with a very clear indication of your written skills. This is another reason to plan carefully and check thoroughly. 5. Show you care Express your enthusiasm for the role and use positive language. One of the most important qualities for a social worker is a genuine desire to support other people, so make sure this comes across in your writing. 6. Remember the basics Read any instructions carefully and stick to the rules set out by the employer. Check if there is a word limit and whether you are allowed to use additional pages for your answer. Finally, and crucially, check your spelling and grammar thoroughly and ask someone else to take a look for you.

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Sample Supporting Statements

For Students and Newly Registered Nurses, Nursing Support Workers, and Nurses and Midwives.

The supporting statement is the most important part of your job application. This is effectively where you convince the employer that you're the right person for the job and explain why they should hire you.

This page offers sample supporting statements and a tutorial to help you. we can also offer feedback on your supporting statement via email..

Different employers will have different instructions or expectations with regards to supporting statements, but generally they'll be looking to see if you're applying for the right reasons and that you meet the essential criteria. If you haven't already done so, read the general advice on writing job applications first. To help give you an idea, have a look at our sample supporting statements which have been written to correlate to a sample Person Specification. In particular, pay attention to the way the sample supporting statements:

• Cover all the essential criteria listed in the Person Specification
• Use examples or evidence to demonstrate how the criteria is met
• Follow the order of the Person Specification as much as possible.

The samples should be used as a guide only. Your own supporting statement should be structured around the job and person specification you're applying for. You may also want to watch the Supporting Statements tutorial below.

• Apply for jobs that are right for you
• Never write a 'one size fits all' supporting statement
• Explain why you want the job, showing your passion/interest and motivation
• Demonstrate how you meet all the essential criteria from the person specification using examples or evidence
• Demonstrate how you meet any organisational/trust values if there are any
• Imagine you're being asked the question, "Why should we hire you?"
• Run a spelling and grammar check

Supporting Statement Tutorial Preview

Resources for nurses and midwives: improve your employability or explore options and ideas if you're at a career crossroads.

Career resources for Healthcare Assistants, Assistant Practitioners, Nursing Associates and Support Workers.

Resources to help you write your first nursing CV or job application, and tips on how to stand out at interview.

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Health and social care personal statement example.

Due to previous experiences of working with a range of people in the care sector I believe that throughout my time on various work placements with people who have disabilities and difficulties in communicating, along with the experiences gained throughout my studies, my wish to pursue a career in the care profession has grown.

To further my interest in working with and around people I completed a course in childcare. Throughout this course I was able to gain valuable experience of working with special needs children. While this was very challenging I also found it an extremely rewarding and enjoyable experience.

To further my knowledge and passion for working with people I took a health and social care advanced course and took a weeks experience in a day centre that involves working with people who suffer from difficulties in communicating and having disabilities.

This again helped to broaden my understanding of working with people and also how to deal with children and adults with disabilities. Within my spare time I have researched the job role and requirements for health promotion to find out what is involved.

To build upon these interests further, I am taking up a one week work experience within the health field. I will be spending the first week in a care home focusing on helping elderly people that suffer from dementia and my second week assisting a health promoter to experience a more professional job role in health care. I am looking forward to this valuable experience as it will further consolidate my desire to study health and social care.

I currently work as a sales assistant which has given me a valuable experience of working with people and how to assist their needs in any way possible. During this time I am developing effective communication skills and good working relationships.

In addition to this it is also helping me to show how committed I am to my responsibilities as well as demonstrating good organisation skills. Having to juggle work and school as well as social activities this also shows that I am developing my time keeping skills to make myself more committed and more punctual.

During my first year of sixth form I helped to raise money for the McMillan Cancer trust charity. I also found this very rewarding as I was helping others that were in need, just like during my work placements. I often play sports after sixth form with my friends; this has helped me to develop extra skills in working well in a team.

In addition I have completed voluntary work with a year six class to increase my knowledge of working with young people, another activity that I very much enjoyed and found extremely rewarding. To further my interest in working with people I have recently volunteered to do a level 3 v-volunteering in my spare time, the certificate itself is an accreditation form Newcastle University.

During my spare time I mainly like to dance and sing. I find this is a good way to express myself in addition to help me keep fit. I also attend the gym often to also help keep me fit I also like to attend various different events and take advantage of any activities that I am offered whether it is through school or outside of school.

This helps to increase my confidence and also helps me to meet new people. I feel that university is definitely the right path for me. I am always working extremely hard to achieve the best I can, a feat which I intend to carry on throughout my university years.

I feel I have the necessary skills needed to enjoy university to the full and also be successful in future years. In addition I would also like to go to university to help develop my skills even further so I can gain a good job in the health and social care sector which is always my main interest.

Profile info

This personal statement was written by fayej44 for application in 2011.

fayej44's university choices Newcastle College University of Sunderland

Green : offer made Red : no offer made

fayej44's Comments

This is what i have sent to the universities i am applying to. could people please give me feedback on what you think of how my personal statement sounds please. one of the universities i have apllied for has already recived it and i'm hoping that with this p.s it is good enough.

This personal statement is unrated

Related Personal Statements

Its very good but you should.

Sun, 01/09/2013 - 19:34

Its very good but you should write what universities you had applied for just for the help of other people.

You have written in such simple writing that makes it even more incredible. Well Done. :)

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Background Covid-19 healthcare worker testing, isolation and quarantine policies had to balance risks to patients from the virus and from staff absence. The emergence of the Omicron variant led to dangerous levels of key-worker absence globally.

We evaluated whether using two manufacturers’ lateral flow tests (LFTs) concurrently improved SARS-CoV-2 Omicron detection and was acceptable to hospital staff. In a nested study, to understand risks of return to work after a 5-day isolation/quarantine period, we examined virus culture 5-7 days after positive test or significant exposure.

Methods Fully-vaccinated Liverpool (UK) University Hospitals staff participated (February-May 2022) in a random-order, open-label trial testing whether dual LFTs improved SARS-CoV2 detection, and whether dual swabbing was acceptable to users. Participants used nose-throat swab Innova and nose-only swab Orient Gene LFTs in daily randomised order for 10 days. A user-experience questionnaire was administered on exit. Selected participants gave swabs for viral culture on Days 5-7. Cultures were considered positive if cytopathic effect was apparent or SARs-COV2 N gene sub-genomic RNA was detected.

Results 226 individuals reported 1466 pairs of LFT results. Tests disagreed in 127 cases (8.7%). Orient Gene was more likely (78 cf. 49, P=0.03) to be positive. Orient Gene positive Innova negative result-pairs became more frequent over time (P<0.001). If Innova was swabbed second, it was less likely to agree with a positive Orient Gene result (P=0.005); swabbing first with Innova made no significant difference (P=0.85).

Of 311 individuals completing the exit questionnaire, 90.7% reported dual swabbing was easy, 57.1% said it was no barrier to their daily routine and 65.6% preferred dual testing. Respondents had more confidence in dual c.f. single test results (P<0.001).

Viral cultures from Days 5-7 were positive for 6/31 (19.4%, 7.5%-37.5%) and indeterminate for 11/31 (35.5%, 19.2%-54.6%) LFT-positive participants, indicating they were likely still infectious.

Conclusions Dual brand testing increased LFT detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen by a small but meaningful margin and was acceptable to hospital workers. Viral cultures demonstrated that policies recommending safe return to work ∼5 days after Omicron infection/exposure were flawed. Key-workers should be prepared for dynamic self-testing protocols in future pandemics.

Trial registration https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN47058442 (IRAS:311842)

Competing Interest Statement

All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form at https://www.icmje.org/disclosure-of-interest and declare: funding from the Department of Health and Social Care, Economic and Social Research Council, and National Institute for Health and Care Research; no support from any organisation for the submitted work; no financial relationships with any organisations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous three years; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work. IB, TF and MGS were members of the UK Covid-19 Testing Initiatives Evaluation Board but did not take part in sessions where this study was adjudicated. The City of Liverpool received a donation from Innova Medical Group towards the foundation of the Pandemic Institute but neither Innova Medical Group or any other commercial entity gave any support to this study or had any participation in it. Lateral Flow Test supply and company interactions was handled independently by the UK Health Security Agency. LT has received consulting fees from MHRA; and from AstraZeneca and Synairgen, paid to the University of Liverpool; speakers' fees from Eisai Ltd, and support for conference attendance from AstraZeneca.

Clinical Trial

ISRCTN47058442

Clinical Protocols

https://github.com/iain-buchan/cipha/blob/master/SMART_Release_Return.pdf

Funding Statement

This research was commissioned and funded by the UK Health Security Agency and carried out independently by the University of Liverpool. The work was also supported by the Economic and Social Research Council (grant No ES/L011840/1). IB is supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) as senior investigator award NIHR205131. IB and XZ are also supported by the NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Gastrointestinal Infections, a partnership between UKHSA, the University of Liverpool, and the University of Warwick (NIHR200910). MGS and LT are supported by the NIHR Health Protection Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, a partnership between UKHSA, The University of Liverpool and The University of Oxford (NIHR200907). The NIHR had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the article. LT, RPR and XD are supported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Medical Countermeasures Initiative contract 75F40120C00085. The funders had no role in considering the study design or in the collection, analysis, or interpretation of data, writing of the report, or decision to submit the article for publication. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Health Service, NIHR, or Department of Health and Social Care.

Author Declarations

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

The study protocol was developed with the UK Covid-19 Testing Initiatives Evaluation Board (TIEB) and approved by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Urgent Studies Ethics Committee. TIEB was part of the UK Covid-19 testing initiatives evaluation programme, which included academics and public health professionals independent of this study. The motivation for the study came from a request by Merseyside Resilience Forum to UKHSA and NHS England to vary Covid-19 testing policies in response to dangerous levels of NHS staff absence in December 2021. TIEB signed off the study protocol on 4th January 2022 and UKHSA Research Support and Governance Office approved the study on 25th January 2022 as NR0308. The sponsor code for this study is UoL001685 and trial registration code IRAS ID 311842; https://www.isrctn.com/ ISRCTN47058442 .

I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.

I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).

I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable.

↵ * Joint first authors

Expanded discussion section with a conclusion paragraph. Restructured abstract. Expanded data availability statement to include recent upload of anonymised study data to trials registration site. No differences in results or interpretation from the original version.

Data Availability

The study required person identifiable data and the main analyses were conducted on a de-identified extract. The fully anonymised data for reproducing the results are available from https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN47058442 . The study protocol can be downloaded from https://github.com/iain-buchan/cipha/blob/master/SMART_Release_Return.pdf and statistical analysis plan from https://github.com/iain-buchan/cipha/blob/master/SMART_RR_SAP.pdf .

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