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“Our social care sector continues to serve as a shining example to the world, for the dedication, kindness and empathy our workforce is displaying in dealing with this pandemic.
“Mental Health Awareness week has come at a particularly salient time this year. As care workers, on the front line of this pandemic, it is of the utmost importance you look after your own mental health and wellbeing, so you can continue to look after others. We should also remain mindful of the increased anxiety and loneliness vulnerable members of our community, such as older people, may be feeling during the pandemic.
“Recently, I made a ‘virtual’ visit to meet with Samaritans and Hospice UK, to discuss our partnership to extend their listening, bereavement and trauma support lines to all social care workers. It hit home how incredibly important it is to be able to reach out and speak to trained staff, particularly at the moment, when you are going above and beyond for those in your care.
“I also met with staff and residents from Peverel Court Group’s, Bartlett’s care home in Buckinghamshire, via video call. I was able to see how NHSX’s Facebook Portal trial is helping residents stay in touch with family and friends. A highlight was meeting Hilda, a sprightly and active 103-year-old, who uses the technology to stay in touch with her family and boost her fundraising for Alzheimer's Society. You can support her fundraising, here.
“Earlier this week, we announced that everyone over the age of five, experiencing symptoms of coronavirus, is now eligible for a test. This is an important step in our new test and trace service, part of our strategy to overcome the virus.
"As we increase our capacity to test more people, we have announced a target to deliver tests to all care homes, where the primary clients are older people or those with dementia, by 6 June. Care homes can register for testing via our online portal, here.
“I remain immensely proud of all those working on the frontline in the social care sector and thank you for your continued dedication and hard work."
- Helen Whately, Minister for Care
Latest on testing
Everyone over the age of 5 experiencing coronavirus symptoms can now book testing via the citizen portal. These symptoms now also include a loss of, or change in, normal sense of smell or taste, as well as a new continuous cough or a high temperature. The general public can access the test here.
Essential workers and members of their household who have symptoms, should continue to register for a test through the Self-Referral and Employer Portals on GOV.UK. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own eligibility definitions for essential workers.
Care Homes in England can continue to register for delivery of tests for all their staff and residents, whether or not they have symptoms: http://www.gov.uk/apply-coronavirus-test-care-home. The daily capacity for these tests is 30,000. The target is to deliver tests to all care homes, where the primary clients are older people or those with dementia, by early June. Expansion of testing to other care settings and re-testing of care homes will be guided by clinical advice.
Mental health helplines for social care workers
Samaritans, working with NHS England, have extended their coronavirus helpline to all social care workers. Social care staff will be able to speak to a trained Samaritans adviser, who will provide a non-judgmental listening ear, a safe space to offload and signposting to other services. The wellbeing support line is available 7am-11pm, 7 days a week. Call: 0300 131 7000.
Hospice UK have also extended their bereavement and trauma support hotline to everyone working in social care, with specialist counsellors available to support staff who have experienced trauma, stress or anxiety through their work. The helpline is available 8am-8pm, 7 days a week, call: 0300 3034434.
Mental health and wellbeing guidance for the adult social care workforce has also been published on the CARE app to support staff and employers through the coronavirus pandemic.
Blog: We need to be there for our unpaid carers more than ever
In this week’s blog, Gareth Howells ,CEO of Carers Trust, explains how coronavirus is impacting the lives of unpaid carers. He talks about what Carers Trust is doing, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Care and others, to support them during the pandemic.
Offers from internet providers to care homes
NHSX and NHS Digital have worked with telecommunications companies to publish a series of offers to help care homes and care providers get on the internet, or upgrade existing internet connectivity, during the pandemic.
Bereavement scheme extended
We are extending the offer of indefinite leave to remain, free of charge, to the families and dependants of all NHS support staff and social care workers who die as result of contracting coronavirus. The offer of indefinite leave to remain will be effective immediately and retrospectively.
This communication has been sent by the Care Quality Commission on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.
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