DHSC coronavirus social care update 18th September

A message from Helen Whately, Minister for Care, Department of Health & Social Care I am writing to you at a critical phase in our efforts to track, contain and control the spread of Covid-19 in our communities. The last seven months have been the most pressured, stressful and unrelenting that any of us, working in the health and care system can remember. I am hugely grateful to local authority staff, the social care workforce and our NHS colleagues, who have continued to do such an incredible job looking after those in their care. This year, we have all shared or recognised the pain of losing family members, friends and colleagues to coronavirus and its complications. I am determined to do all that I can to protect everyone receiving and providing care this winter. Nationally, locally and at the front line, we must intensify our efforts to support, protect and equip everyone in the system. With the prevalence of coronavirus rising in the population and in social care, now is the time to act. Many of you will have seen our Director of Social Care Delivery Stuart Miller’s recent letter to the care sector, drawing attention, at the first opportunity, to the signs of rising infection rates in care settings, emphasising the need to maintain vigorous infection control and to make sure that everyone is doing the right things to reduce the risk of transmission. Today, I am launching the Adult Social Care Winter Plan, which builds upon the excellent work of David Pearson’s Adult Social Care Covid-19 Taskforce which convened this summer. It sets out the actions we are taking at a national level to support those who provide and receive care. It also outlines the actions every local area (local authorities and NHS partners) and every care provider must be taking right now, if we are to maintain our collective efforts to keep the virus at bay.

Read Minster for Care, Helen Whately's letter in full on GOV.UK

PHE launch free flu jab campaign for health and care staff

The vaccine has been made easier to access for all frontline care workers, including personal assistants, who can now have the jab for free from pharmacies or their GP.

To run your own local campaign download a toolkit here. You can also access free posters and social media assets to help encourage uptake and show your support.

Read more about free vaccinations here

More than £500 million for social care to reduce coronavirus transmission over winter

Care providers in England will benefit from over half a billion pounds extra funding to reduce COVID-19 transmission and help protect residents and staff throughout winter.

The Infection Control Fund, set up in May, has now been extended until March 2021, with an extra £546 million to help the care sector restrict the movement of staff between care homes to stop the spread of the virus.

The fund can be used to pay staff wages for those self-isolating and hire more staff to restrict movement between homes.

Find out more about what the funding can provide

Guidance round up: Covid-19 updates on clear face masks, Care Act easements and direct payments

250,000 clear face masks are to be delivered to frontline NHS and social care workers to support better care for people who use lip-reading and facial expressions to communicate.

Guidance on new Care Act easements, created under the Coronavirus Act 2020, has been recently issued to ensure the best possible care for people during this exceptional time.

Recently updated advice for people who buy care and support through a direct payment, as well as local authorities, clinical commissioning groups and those who provide care and support.

For more Coronavirus guidance visit GOV.UK

Blogs

Chief Social Workers for Adults, Children and Families unite with message of hope, support and solidarity for the social work profession.

This year marked 50 years since the creation of local authority social services, a milestone they had hoped to celebrate in person with all social workers and those in training on World Social Work Day. Chief Social Workers Fran Leddra, Mark Harvey and Isabelle Trowler have written to the profession in these uncertain times to reaffirm their continuing support, guidance and inspiration, during this pandemic and way beyond.

Visit the Social Work With Adults blog

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