Welcome!
Welcome to this week's newsletter, published for adult social care providers, issued on behalf of Devon County Council's Director of Adult Social Care Services and Director of Public Health and NHS Devon’s Chief Nursing Officer.
It’s no surprise that vaccination continues to be at the top of our agenda as we work our way through the priority groups. Whilst vaccination is rightly heralded as the light at the end of the tunnel we must, however, keep our guard up when it comes to use of PPE and all other infection control measures, so please keep reinforcing those messages as well as promoting the jabs.
Remember that our Provider Engagement Network website contains links to lots of national and local information which we try and keep as current as possible to help support hard-pressed providers and we always welcome feedback to help improve it.
Consultation on care homes fee rates uplift 2021-22
Devon County Council has written to all care homes consulting them on the proposed annual fee uplift for 2021-2022, asking for feedback by Tuesday 23 February.
The uplift takes account of inflation and increases to the National Living Wage and will be applied from 5 April 2021.
The calculations underpinning this year’s fee increase and a draft impact assessment have been sent to care homes, but this year’s proposed uplift can be summarised as follows:
- The residential accommodation fee element is increased by 1.19% from £325 to £329 and the nursing accommodation element by 1.13% from £344 to £347 per week.
- The proposed increase for the care hour inflation element is 2.35%, increasing the hourly rate from £11.92 to £12.20.
- This proposal relates to social care only. Once the Department of Health announces the Funded Nursing Care fee level for 2021/22, this will be reflected in nursing banded rates.
- Non-banded fees are, by definition, negotiated individually to reflect the specific needs of each placement and the Council intends to apply inflation of 1.48% to non-banded fees.
- The proposed increases do not apply to any individually negotiated Market Premiums or Third Party ‘top up’ payments.
To request detailed information on this year’s care homes fees uplift please email the Business Relations Team mailbox.
Care home staff can test at home
The Department of Health and Social Care gave approval for care home staff to take and register their twice weekly Lateral Flow Device (LFD) tests at home, before they arrive at the care home to start work. This only applies to care homes, not to other settings. If a care home has enough LFD tests to provide a staff member with a box of 25, please feel free to start this process. If not, then use the online replenishment portal to be launched in the week of 1 February. Please do not ring 119.
Look out for Mutual Aid 'Pop-ups'
Please look out for 'Pop-ups' Mutual Aid Locality Forums facilitated by Devon County Council and the NHS to help providers work together in local networks to support local services and the wider system during these challenging times. These forums were discussed at the recent market events with the Assistant Directors for your area on the anticipated impact of COVID-19 as we prepare for the widely anticipated surge in the coming weeks.
The 'Pop-ups' are the next step in delivering a collective response to supporting each other in the face of this demand and will be convened at short notice and may be sector-based or involve different types of providers. Invitations will be sent using the most effective local communications methods, such as WhatsApp Groups and the pop-ups may be take the form of an ad hoc series of events or be one-off emergency meetings, as required at the time. The aim of these ‘pop-ups’ events is to ensure we are doing all we can to realise benefits of working effectively with you as valued system partners to minimise the impact of COVID-19 on social care services, including your own, should you find yourself in a situation where your ability to continue to deliver a safe service is compromised.
We hope you will find time to prioritise your attendance at a meeting of this nature should you be asked to attend. It is vital we have your support to achieve maximum resilience during these challenging times, to ensure each part of the system is supporting to deliver care for the residents of Devon.
Please look out for “Pop-Up Mutual Aid’ notifications and to find out more about 'Pop-ups’ and ensure you get notified please contact us.
COVID-19 vaccinations and community-based social care workers
The community-based social care staff vaccination programme is outlined in a letter from the Minister for Social Care.
COVID-19 vaccination guidance updates
National guidance on vaccinations continues to be updated at a fast pace. Here are some updates:
COVID-19 vaccination: guide for older adults
More translations and alternative formats.
COVID-19 vaccination: why you are being asked to wait
Updated content, revised leaflet and further translations.
COVID-19 vaccination: what to expect after vaccination
Further translations and alternative formats.
COVID-19 vaccination: consent form and letter for adults
Updated consent form.
COVID-19 vaccination: guide for healthcare workers
Updated guidance for pregnant women or women who may be pregnant, and scheduling for second dose. Further translations added.
COVID-19 vaccination: a guide for social care staff
New consent form, letter template and translations added.
COVID-19 vaccination: consent form and letter for healthcare workers
Updated consent form.
COVID-19 vaccination: consent form and letter for social care staff
Updated consent form.
COVID-19 vaccination: women of childbearing age, currently pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding
It has not yet been assessed in pregnancy, until more information is available, that pregnant women should not have this vaccine. Added information about vaccination during pregnancy and breastfeeding, more translations and alternative formats.
Vaccination in pregnancy
Updated Vaccination in pregnancy notification form.
COVID-19: the green book, chapter 14a
Additional information on MHRA approval of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine and updated advice on pregnancy and allergies for the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, the updated statement on scheduling and changes to timing of vaccine in those being given immunosuppressive treatments.
Supported living services during coronavirus (COVID-19)
Guidance for providers of supported living settings. Added a new document: 'Working with people in supported living this winter'.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for care homes
Sets out the support package to keep care homes safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Added a new document: 'Your care home during winter'.
Other national guidance updates
COVID-19: infection prevention and control (IPC)
Addition of mental health appendix and title change for IPC guidance to 'Guidance for maintaining services within health and care settings.'
Overview of adult social care guidance on coronavirus (COVID-19)
Under 'What care homes and other social care settings must do during an outbreak' and 'Repeat testing'. The length of time that staff or residents, who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, should not be included in testing is now 90 days after either their initial onset of symptoms or their positive test result (if asymptomatic when tested).
Coronavirus (COVID-19): providing home care
New document: 'Working with people in their own homes this winter'.
Supported living services during coronavirus (COVID-19)
New document: 'Working with people in supported living this winter'.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for care homes
New document: 'Your care home during winter'.
UK Infection Prevention and Control Guidance
The UK Infection Prevention and Control guidance
Updated to reflect the most up-to-date scientific understanding of how to prevent and control COVID-19 infection. Organisations who adopt practices that differ from those recommended in the national guidance are responsible for ensuring safe systems of work, including the completion of a risk assessments approved through local governance procedures.
National webinar: Learning from local recruitment initiatives during the COVID-19 pandemic
Councils and partner organisations have been creative in taking new approaches to attract people to consider social care as a long-term career opportunity. Skills for Care, the Care Provider Alliance, ADASS and the LGA will be sharing good practice in three webinars from 2.00pm to 3.00pm on Tuesday 2, Thursday 4 and Friday 5 February. Please email the organiser to register.
Skills for Care resources for Registered Managers
As part of their workforce wellbeing offer, Skills for Care has published information and resources for registered managers to support their own wellbeing and that of their staff. They offer a dedicated webpage for registered managers, support over 150 registered manager peer networks across England (including via WhatsApp and a national Facebook group), and run a COVID-19 Advice Line to help registered managers to navigate the latest COVID-19 guidance.
Introducing a new podcast series for managers in social care hosted by Skills for Care
Invited guests join Skills for Care colleagues to celebrate the role of managers in social care. Download the 'Care Exchange' app to never miss an episode
Our Frontline: support for social care workers
Our Frontline is a source of support for social care workers who may find it hard to prioritise their own mental health when caring for others in such a difficult situation. Visit the Mental Health at Work toolkit for help and support.
Every Mind Matters: Make inside feel better
It is always important to look after your mental health and wellbeing but with current lockdown restrictions meaning we are spending more time at home and away from friends and family, it's now more important than ever. The NHS Every Mind Matters website provides expert advice, practical tips and information about how to look after your mental health and wellbeing and 'make inside feel better'.
Introducing the new national Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care
Deborah Sturdy sets out her aims for the care sector in this vital new role, focusing on COVID-19 vaccinations, infection prevention and maintaining good mental health in the workforce. Read her very first DHSC Social Care blog
Celebrating success
The man who can turn his hand to anything
Ken Martin is a resident at Heanton Nursing Home near Barnstaple. His passion for woodworking has never stopped. He was a Jack of all trades. His colourful life full of creative, and hard work, was captured in the below set of pictures. And his story is told on this page.
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