DHSC weekly coronavirus social care update

This bulletin was sent at 26-06-2020 02:48 PM BST

The independent regulator of health and social care in England

A message from David Pearson CBE,
Chair of the Social Care Sector COVID-19 Support Taskforce

"Every day, our vibrant and diverse sector looks after people in need of care and support, right across the country. The workforce has strived, throughout this pandemic, to make sure those we care for live the best possible lives, whether in residential or domestic settings. With or without the added challenges of this pandemic, we continue to protect, sustain and transform the lives of thousands of people.

"That’s why, as Chair of the new Social Care Sector Covid-19 Support Taskforce, I want to do everything I can to support care providers and local authorities as they strive to protect their staff and those they care for from infection, as well as ensuring that people do not become distanced from those family friends or from other essential services. These are the things we all need to maintain our wellbeing. With many others from across the sector I will be overseeing the delivery of the measures outlined in the Government’s Social Care Action Plan and Care Homes Support Package (CHSP), the latter, supported by the £600m Infection Control Fund.

"At the end of May, we asked all local authorities to submit care home resilience plans. These plans show the good work already being undertaken to implement the CHSP and control the spread of the virus in care homes. Partners, nationally and locally, are working hard to provide personal protective equipment, testing, a clinical lead for every care home and further support for the workforce, including provision to cover absences and pay staff to remain in one setting. The Taskforce brings together local and central government to make sure these measures are adopted in every care home in England.

"I want to express my immense gratitude and respect to the social care sector’s 1.5 million strong workforce for their incredible service. As we enter the next phase of this pandemic, we must harness our combined efforts to control the spread of the virus and protect the lives of those in our care, our colleagues, families and loved ones."

Click here for more information about the new taskforce

CARE Workforce: join the new platform

Do you work in social care in England? You can now receive the latest coronavirus information, guidance, wellbeing support and discounts direct to your smartphone or inbox.

Download on the App Store, get it on Google Play or sign up to view content online.

Guidance updates

Admissions in care homes

We’ve updated our admissions guidance, in line with the care home support package. Proprietors, managers, social workers, family members and relevant health professionals should check this guidance regularly, to make sure they are reading the latest version.

Read the admissions guidance

Death in service

New guidance has been published which sets out the steps you may need to take following a coronavirus related death of an employee or volunteer working in adult social care.

Actions may include, making a report to the Health and Safety Executive, informing the Department of Health and Social Care, and supporting the family’s application to the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme.

Read the death in service guidance

Bereavement Resources

A new set of bereavement resources has been published, which social care workers can use to access support, following the loss of someone close to them.

Access the bereavement resources

Hospice UK

Hospice UK has a confidential adult social care bereavement and trauma support line.

It’s free to call: 0300 303 4434 (8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday)

Samaritans

Samaritans has a free confidential support line.

Call: 0300 131 7000 (7am to 11pm Monday to Sunday)

PPE guidance for care homes and homecare

PHE updated the resources on how to work safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amends include additions to the Q&A. These will continue to be reviewed and updated regularly.

Access the homecare safety guidance

Access the care home safety guidance

Reducing risk in the adult social care workforce

This guidance provides a framework for how you should assess and support members of your workforce, who may be at an increased risk from coronavirus.

It covers: the risk assessment process, having conversations with workers who are identified as being at increased risk, measures you could put in place, and useful guidance and resources.

Read the reducing risk guidance

In the news

Thousands to be offered repeat testing in care homes as part of new surveillance study

Approximately 10,000 people in care homes will be given repeat testing as part of a new government study into coronavirus, to understand more about its spread in these settings.

Find out more about the new surveillance study

Short survey will support better connected social care and health services

The Professional Record Standards Body would like you to take part in a survey about the information that should be shared between health and social care, to support the development of more integrated services. Connected services increase efficiency, reduce re-admissions to hospital and improve access to personalised care and wellbeing support.

Take part in the survey and access an easy read version.

Blogs

In tough times, we need visions of hope

The Social Care Institute for Excellence’s Chief Operating Officer, Ewan King, reveals how 24 organisations, including local authorities, care providers and locally engaged citizens with lived experience, have been developing innovative new models of care.

Read the blog here

This communication has been sent by the Care Quality Commission on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.