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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.
Although the pace at which new national COVID-19 guidance is being issued has slowed down, existing guidance is still being updated in the light of research into the pandemic and to keep pace with the Roadmap to recovery.
Make sure you keep up to date with the latest need-to-know information by visiting our Provider Engagement Network website.
How to work safely in care homes: PPE use update
The guidance on how to work safely in care homes has been updated and the changes made on the 10 April have been revised back to the 6 April position.
The updated guidance recommends that PPE is changed after each episode of personal care and new recommendations have been added around use of eye protection when delivering personal care within two metres.
This means that this guidance is consistent across care homes and domiciliary care settings.
Care homes staff vaccination consultation
Please read the full announcement that Staff in care homes with older adult residents in England may be required to have a COVID-19 vaccine to protect residents from the virus and let the Government know what you think by participating in the national survey: Making vaccination a condition of deployment in older adult care homes.
Please note that the consultation closes on Friday 21 May.
 COVID-19 testing for staff prior to care home visits
National guidance for care homes states that they should ensure that all staff, including those from GP practices, have been tested for COVID-19 before visiting care homes.
The national guidance for NHS professionals visiting care homes says “given the risks, the default position is that a visiting professional should not be allowed entry to a care home without proof of a negative test within the last 72 hours, demonstrating they are following the testing regime for NHS staff.”
Staff have therefore been advised not be offended if they are asked if they have had a recent test and are asked for proof, and that the care home may need to test staff that have not had a negative test in the last 72 hours.
What to do if a PCR COVID-19 test result could not be read or is a void test result (inconclusive)
If you had a PCR test (a test that was sent to a lab) and your sample could not be read, you will need to get another test as soon as possible. If the staff member does not have symptoms, and is not a contact, then they can continue working pending the result of the second PCR test.
Staff should self-isolate until they get the result of the second test if:
DHSC are changing the number of rapid lateral flow tests sent per box
From Thursday 22nd April, NHS Test & Trace will move to sending rapid lateral flow test kits in boxes of seven. These will replace the boxes of 25. You will still receive enough rapid LFDs to cover the testing requirements for your organisation.
Please continue to use your current rapid LFDs (the boxes of 25) in your testing regime until you have used them all.
Guidance will be updated accordingly and further communication will be sent out to direct you to the relevant guidance.
Vaccinations - national booking system open again for staff
We are pleased to inform you that the national booking system for COVID-19 vaccinations is now once again taking bookings from health and social care frontline staff. We encourage any frontline health and social care staff yet have their vaccination, to do so as soon as possible via the NHS website.
Please remember that staff will need to self-declare that they are a frontline health and social care worker when booking. They will be asked for identification and written authorisation when they attend the appointment. Appropriate forms of identification include:
- a work photo ID card (where work photo ID is not available, alternative photographic identification is required to support verification)
- authorisation letter from the local authority
- a signed letter of authorisation from their employer or wage slip that is dated within the last three months.
Local routes remain open for those unable to find an available slot and for those staff under thirty who will only be able to book via the national booking service if the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine is available.
To book using the local system, please email NHS Devon or call 01752 398836.
Cases fall but vigilance still required
Positive coronavirus case rates in Devon have continued to fall across the county and in all age groups. Levels now are similar to those seen last September, but still higher than they were during the summer. However, we are seeing some outbreaks across Devon in work settings, caused in many cases by car sharing.
 Car sharing linked to increase in workplace COVID-19 outbreaks in Devon
While the number of positive cases of coronavirus in Devon remain relatively low, and well below the national average, we are still seeing a number of outbreaks in work places.
Cases are spreading between colleagues, and it's often not because of the work place practices themselves, it’s more a consequence of social interaction between colleagues who are car sharing.
Car sharing is not permitted with someone from outside your household or your support bubble unless your journey is undertaken for an exempt reason, for example, if car sharing is reasonably necessary as part of your work.
The best option is not to car-share because it is difficult to socially distance, but if you have an exempt reason to car-share, please do everything you can to minimise the risk of catching and spreading the virus between passengers. You can reduce the risk of transmission by:
- sharing the transport with the same people each time
- minimising the group size at any one time
- opening windows for ventilation
- travelling side by side or behind other people, rather than facing them, where seating arrangements allow
- facing away from each other
- considering seating arrangements to maximise distance between people in the vehicle
- cleaning your car between journeys using standard cleaning products – make sure you clean door handles and other areas that people may touch
- asking the driver and passengers to wear a face covering.
COVID-19 vaccination videos to support people with mental illness
A series of short videos on COVID-19 vaccination to support and encourage people with severe mental illness (SMI) to get their COVID-19 vaccines have been developed by Public Health England, Equally Well UK and NHS England:
These videos provide useful information for people with SMI to know what to expect from the vaccination process and how to prepare before their appointments. They also provide information for primary care professionals to better support people with SMI in their areas.
COVID-19 public restrictions - what can I do now?
This week we've been able to do a little bit more as COVID-19 restrictions continue to ease in line with the government's roadmap.
Residents across Devon have been visiting local high streets, getting back to the gym, enjoying beer gardens and sorting out lockdown locks with long awaited haircuts.
However, many restrictions remain in place, and are underpinned by law, so don't get carried away just yet.
You must not socialise indoors with anyone you do not live with, unless you have formed a support bubble with them, or another exemption applies. Stick to meeting outdoors for now, in groups of up to six people or two households of any size.
Tina Henry, Deputy Director of Public Health Devon, said:
"Devon is still in a good place, with one of the very lowest rates of coronavirus in England. But we must stay alert as the virus is still circulating in our communities.
"Please do not be tempted to move too fast. We are not yet in normal times, and we must not allow ourselves to behave as if we are. To keep case rates down in Devon, we must all continue to follow the rules, and support each other to stay safe and well. And that way, help us to recover quicker."
Find out more about what you can and cannot do at the moment on the government website.
Celebrating success: Phillis Kirton - A Master of Floral Design
Hatherleigh Nursing home resident - Phillis has mastered the art of floral design winning a highly prestigious silver medal at the world-renown Chelsea Flower Show in 1997. You can read her story on our website.
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