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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.
This week saw the resumption of limited care home visiting, as long as the latest guidance is strictly followed, with resulting joy in those homes who have been able to take this significant step out of lockdown.
While that is an overwhelmingly positive development, we must all remain ever-vigilant in terms of infection prevention and control, both within care homes themselves and throughout the wider health and social care sector.
Remember to make use of the guidance and other advice we do our best to keep up to date on our Provider Engagement website.
Guidance on care home visiting
The updated national guidance on care home visiting now includes a useful one page overview: Visiting care homes during COVID-19.
The main guidance page Visiting arrangements in care homes has also been updated and includes both details of measures care home must have in place under Guidance on care home visiting and measures which care home visitors must abide by under Summary of guidance for visitors.
This replaces previous guidance on care home visiting and it applies to care homes for working age and for older adults.
Arrangements for visiting out of the care home
Visits out of care homes should only be considered for care home residents of working age for the duration of the current restrictions. i.e. until at least Monday 21 June. Outward visits should happen in agreement with the home and subject to individual and whole-home risk assessments. While on the visit out of the home, residents must also follow all national restrictions that apply at the time. This includes those relating to leaving your home and those relating to gathering and household mixing.
It is advised to keep the number of people the resident has contact with to a minimum (and in any event to those who have taken a lateral flow device (LFD) test immediately before the visit, be symptom free, and having completed any required isolation or quarantine period).
The resident should be tested immediately before their visit out of the care home with LFD and if the result is positive, the visit should not go ahead (and the resident should isolate, take a confirmatory PCR test etc).
Ahead of each person’s visit providers should develop a plan with the arrangements and risk mitigation agreed with the resident (or a best interests decision if the person lacks capacity). This should be linked with the care plan.
In the event of an outbreak in a care home, the home should immediately stop outward visiting.
Preparing for second dose vaccinations in care homes
Webinar recording
A webinar was held last week to share learning from GPs and care homes on the roll-out of the first doses of vaccines in care homes.
Adverse reaction guidance
NHS Devon and Devon County Council have also published the Care Home Adverse Reaction Advice.
As the vaccinations given have been newly developed, it is important the authorities record any significant adverse reactions. This information sheet provides advice regarding the reporting process. Immediate serious reactions are very uncommon.
Updated FAQs
Updated FAQ (March 2021) on second vaccination are available to download.
Use of PPE by vaccinations teams in care home
As immunisation teams start re-visiting care homes for second doses, a reminder of the PPE that is recommended for delivery of COVID-19 vaccine in all care home settings:
- Sessional fluid resistant surgical masks
- Apron changed after delivery of each vial or more frequently if required
- Gloves changed following every vaccination administered
- Strict hand hygiene
- Visor can be used, based on risk assessment e.g. if risk of patient spitting/coughing
- Full change of PPE and hand hygiene between each vial.
NHS Devon has reminded the vaccination teams about the PPE requirements when going into care homes for second vaccinations. If a home remains concerned, please discuss with the vaccination team in advance of the visit or, indeed, with the lead clinician at the start of the visit on the day.
Guidance reminders
Restricting workforce movement between care homes and other care settings
Guidance for care home providers on limiting staff movement between settings in all but exceptional circumstances to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 infection.
COVID-19 testing for home care workers
Sets out how home care agencies in England can order regular tests for their home care (domiciliary care) staff. Updated to include testing of/by personal assistants.
COVID-19: ventilation of indoor spaces to stop the spread of coronavirus
Guidance on the ventilation of indoor spaces to stop the spread of COVID-19.
 Listening Ear - wellbeing support for Devon businesses
Listening Ear is a new service from Devon Communities Together that launched in January 2021, in partnership with Devon County Council.
It gives business owners anywhere in Devon the opportunity to talk informally to an experienced volunteer about the pressures of trying to keep a business afloat during the pandemic. It doesn't offer business advice (but can signpost you to agencies that do), instead Listening Ear provides an experienced, impartial person to talk to, so people can take time to focus on themselves and their mental wellbeing.
Book your Listening Ear appointment or if you would like to learn more about the service, please contact Devon Communities or call 01392 248919.
Could you be a COVID-19 vaccination ambassador?
The NHS in Devon is looking for people from the health and social care sector to volunteer as COVID-19 vaccination ambassadors as part of our work to address inequalities amongst our under-served communities.
We want to develop a network of ambassadors across Devon, who represent the communities where there is lower uptake of the COVID-19 vaccination. Trusted ambassadors will work with local groups to provide information and reassurance. Specifically, we are looking for ambassadors from the below communities:
- Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME)
- Gypsy, Roma, Traveller
- People with Learning Disabilities
- Neurodiversity / mental illness
- Women of childbearing age.
Training and support would be provided and all activities would be subject to your agreement. If you are interested in becoming a COVID-19 vaccination ambassador or are interested in supporting this work, please contact Nellie Guttman.
More information about the vaccine ambassadors
Quick flu and COVID-19 vaccination survey
NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) wants to understand people's reasons for getting vaccinated against flu, COVID-19 or both. This short five minute survey is for anyone to complete and give feedback. It will help them understand what motivates people to have the vaccines, what concerns people have and it will directly inform their vaccination planning. Please complete the survey by Friday 26 March.
Visit the CCG website to find out more how they use their data.
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Devon's Clinical Placement Expansion Programme
If you believe there is value for clinical learners being immersed in social care services, this will be of interest to you!
Devon’s Clinical Placement Expansion Programme (CPEP) aims to provide nursing and Allied Health Profession learners with an opportunity to experience social care services as part of Devon’s Integrated Care System. Placements will facilitate learners to gain a broader perspective of a person’s journey, social context and holistic needs. The CPEP team will work in partnership with services to become Approved Placement Providers. Learners at various stages of their training will benefit greatly by being immersed into practice, enabling them develop their skills and knowledge. There is significant value for your service too! Your staff team’s own professional development and reflection on practice will be enhanced through inter-professional learning.
For further information, please access CPEP's Aim and Objectives and CPEP FAQs. If you would like to discuss how your service could become an Approved Placement Provider please contact: Terrie Chaplin Mobile: 07494 873454.
Celebrating success
It gives us a great pleasure to share these lovely photos from Summercourt and Seaton care homes now that visiting is once more permitted.
 
Remember to share your good news stories in this newsletter
Revisit previous good news stories
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