DHSC coronavirus social care update - 1 March

Dear Reader,

I’m pleased to begin this week’s newsletter with another piece of good news: over 17 million people in the UK have had their first dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine - including 94.5% of eligible residents in care homes for older people in England.

This is an incredible milestone and one we could not have reached without the dedication, coordination and collaboration of our amazing health and social care colleagues.

The majority of social care staff have also been vaccinated, not only those working in care homes but also those who care for people in their own homes. This is so important, as vaccination not only protects you, it’s also likely to help protect those you care for.

However I know some of you have not yet taken up the free vaccine offer. Please can I urge you to do so as soon as possible. Our Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has said it’s vital you arrange your vaccination (or ask your employer to do so for you). The Chief Medical Officer, Deborah Sturdy, has also recently reminded everyone working in health and social care of the professional responsibility to do this.

Please read our recent vaccination special if you haven’t already. It features everything you need to know to check your eligibility and book appointments, including how to access the national booking service. We’re doing all we can to make the process as easy, accessible and efficient as possible.

Reassurance, advice and further information are just a click away, for you and any colleagues who may be feeling anxious or in need of more details to make informed decisions. Another thing you can do is talk to a colleague or someone you care for who has been vaccinated.

Meanwhile, there's more good news for residents, visitors and loved ones. The Government has announced a new single named visitor scheme for care homes to go live 8 March. This forms part of the roadmap to easing lockdown restrictions in England, recently announced by the Prime Minister. Find out more in this dedicated update.

Regardless of the positive developments of recent weeks, this remains a pressured time for the health and care workforce. We are doing everything we can to alleviate your stresses, not least the disruption caused by staff self-isolating or being absent to attend their vaccinations.

With this in mind, the recently announced £120 million Workforce Capacity Fund will help ease pressure in the workplace, support providers to stop staff working in more than one health or care facility (helping to maintain infection prevention controls) and support cover for those absent.

Two recruitment drives are also underway to attract more amazing care colleagues like you into the profession. ‘Call to Care’ invites applicants keen to support the sector during the current extraordinary winter pressures on a short term basis, while the ‘Care for Others. Make a Difference’ campaign is designed to motivate individuals to begin new social care careers.

This feeds into our wider commitment to protect, sustain and strengthen the health and wellbeing of carers across the country. Your managers should be checking in to see how you’re doing, but please don’t wait for them to do so. If you’re struggling, let them know. They will understand and support you, as will we all.

With or without vaccines, I know you already have the skills, compassion and sheer strength of character to get the better of this virus. The most vulnerable in our communities – indeed anyone in your care – is so lucky to have the benefit of your experience. I’m sure they don’t take it for granted and neither do we.

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