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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.
As we continue on the path to recovery from the pandemic we want to maintain the dialogue established with providers over the last year. To that end we are holding a series of Locality Support Meetings for Care Homes and along with the Forums for Day Services and Housing with Support. Look out for your invitation to the relevant event. They are all listed on the Get Involved part of our Provider Engagement Network site.
Local survey on lessons learned in the pandemic
As we move into the recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, Devon County Council and NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group want to make sure we learn as much as we can from your experiences as providers, to help us improve the support we can give you. Please take a few minutes to complete this online survey which asks for your views on winter pressures and your thoughts on business continuity as well as the COVID-19 challenges.
We know that you have been asked to complete plenty of surveys throughout the past year, but this is a chance to influence local planning which will directly affect you. Most of the questions are all open-ended so you can say as much or as little as you wish.
We really value your views.
The deadline for responses is Monday 31 May.
Eye protection guidance advice
Like all national COVID-19 guidance, the detailed information it contains is subject to constant review and we have been advised that there will be revisions to the guidance on use of eye protection.
In lieu of the publication of updated guidance, please note the following locally developed advice:
- If a resident has symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19 it is recommended that eye protection (visor or goggles) is worn (along with a Type IIR mask, which is already required) when giving personal care or when within two metres.
- The eye protection and facemask should be removed and disposed of after completing personal care for those with symptoms of or confirmed as having COVID-19. If the eye protection is not labelled as single-use only, it needs to be decontaminated before reuse.
- Sessional use of masks and eye protection can occur if the carer is not caring for those with symptoms of or confirmed as having COVID-19.
Please refer to the current national guidance.
Please note the guidance is due to be updated with clearer wording, but the essential point is that after direct personal care for those with COVID-19 symptoms or laboratory confirmed infection, PPE must be changed.
Transparent masks: new guidance expected soon
We are expecting updated national guidance on transparent masks to be published soon and a national procurement project is currently underway to source transparent face masks. No suitable product has yet been identified which meet the required regulatory standards. Providers sourcing and deploying such products should be aware that they will be operating outside of current national infection prevention and personal protective equipment guidance.
FFP3 Mask and fit testing extended to March 2022
Fit testing for FFP3 masks has been extended until 30 June 2021 and the free PPE scheme has been extended until 31 March 2022.
Any service still using Cardinals and 3M FFP3 masks should continue to have staff re-tested to others brands available via Clipper and the PPE stores, which include: Handanhy 9330, Handanhy 9632, GVS F31000.
We are also running free fit testing training sessions until 30 June 2021 to enable your service to be independent to carry out your own fit testing.
For further information please contact the Fit Testing team.
How to Work Safely in care homes guidance webinar
A Public Health England webinar on implementing the ‘How to Work Safely in care homes in England’ guidance will be chaired by Department of Health and Social Care, Social Care Chief Nurse - Deborah Sturdy.
Tuesday 18 May from 10.30am to 12.00 noon.
The webinar is for care home managers and those applying the guidance to support them in implementing the revised guidance and clarify queries, e.g. when to change the facemask following direct or personal care and the difference between wearing a face mask for source control (i.e. protecting others from you) and for PPE (i.e. protecting yourself as well as others).
The webinar will also include a presentation on how to apply the guidance to different scenarios and a Q&A session with the panel.
Please follow this link to pre-register for an invitation to the webinar.
Mapping the way towards recovery and increased resilience (webinar)
Monday 24 May from 2.00pm to 3.30pm.
This webinar will be an opportunity to share and gather feedback on research to identify areas in which international evidence can inform policy and practice in England. This is part of the Social Care COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience, research project.
Please register for the webinar.
Adult Social Care Infection Control and Testing Fund (April–June 2021) reporting deadline Tuesday 18 May
Please note that the deadline for the first reporting point is Tuesday 18 May. Please submit by the deadline to allow DCC to report to Government. Please note that completion of the monitoring forms is a requirement of the grant agreement. Failure to comply will impact on your eligibility for any further funding through this grant.
For any queries and to return the monitoring form, please email us.
Local provider forums reminder
Care Home Locality Support meetings
North: Tuesdays: 8 June, 13 July, 3.00pm - 4.00pm
East: Thursdays: 10 June, 15 July, 11.30am - 12.30noon
South: Fridays: 14 May, 11 June, 16 July, 2.00pm - 3.00pm
West: Wednesdays: 9 June, 14 July, 2.00pm - 3.00pm
Day Services provider forums
Meetings take place every other Friday, 11.00am - 12.00noon. Future meetings are on: 12 May, 28 May, 25 June.
Housing with Support forums
Meetings are from 10.00am to 11.00am on every other Wednesday. Future dates: 19 May, 9 June, 23 June, 7 July, 21 July, 4 August, 18 August, 1 September, 15 September, 29 September, 13 October, 27 October, 10 November, 24 November, 8 December.
To join any of the forums or to find out more please email us.
 Care homes residents allowed more out-of-home visits
All care home residents can participate in more out-of-home visits without having to isolate on their return.
Since Tuesday 4 May, residents have been able to leave their care homes to visit a friend or family member’s garden or go on walks in places such as parks, public gardens and beaches without needing to self-isolate when they return.
Residents must be accompanied by either a care worker or nominated visitor and follow the government guidelines of washing hands regularly, keeping social distance and remaining outside in line with step two of the government's roadmap.
The changes come as the data shows COVID-19 cases nationally continuing to fall, meaning it is now much safer for care home residents, who are among the most vulnerable to severe illness from coronavirus, to leave their homes. Keeping visits outdoors will ensure any risk is minimised as much as possible.
Each care home is unique and will have developed suitable plans and processes to protect residents, visitors and staff, so please speak to them directly to find out more about out-of-home visits for your loved one.
Limit on mourners at funerals to be removed
Families and friends will shortly be able to gather to pay their respects to loved ones in greater numbers.
Under current restrictions funerals can go ahead with up to 30 people attending, but the government has announced that this legal limit on the number of mourners will be removed as part of step three of the roadmap to take place from Monday 17 May at the earliest.
Instead, the number of people who can attend a funeral will be determined by how many people the venue, such as the relevant place of worship or funeral home, can safely accommodate with social distancing. This includes both indoor and outdoor venues. Capacities of venues will vary, but many will allow significantly more than 30 people to attend.
Limits for other life or commemorative events, such as weddings and wakes, are expected to remain at step three as set out in the government's roadmap.
Outstanding second vaccination doses for staff and residents
NHS England are asking care home providers to ensure their second dose information for staff / residents are up-to-date on the Capacity Tracker. These are the figures used by central government for future planning and they are concerned that many care homes are not showing that staff and / or residents have not planned or had a second vaccination.
Please update the Capacity Tracker with second dose information (including if you have or are expecting a visit by the vaccination team).
For further information, please call the Capacity Tracker team on 0191 691 3729 or email the team.
Remember, the Capacity Tracker team are having weekly Q&A sessions with providers to answer your queries. These are every Tuesday, 1.00pm – 2.00pm.
You can find more details on the Capacity Tracker (Help/Resource Centre/Events/Capacity Tracker Weekly Sessions).
Vaccination survey for 18-40 years old
If you are aged between 18– 0 and have not yet had your vaccination, please take just a few minutes to complete this short survey.
Please feel free to share this survey with your family and friends or anyone you think would be interested in supporting this engagement.
More information about the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
If you have any questions about this survey or would like it in other formats or languages, please contact the CCG engagement team.
Updated vaccination in pregnancy leaflet
An updated guide to COVID-19 vaccination for all women of childbearing age, those currently pregnant or breastfeeding is now available.
Read more about pregnancy and the COVID vaccination.
COVID-19 long-term health effects
Public Health England has updated information and guidance on persistent health problems reported following acute COVID-19.
Updated JCVI guidance for people aged under 40
The vaccine programme is constantly evolving and changing as we learn more about the vaccines themselves. The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations advised of a preference for adults aged 30 to 39 without underlying health conditions to receive an alternative to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, where available, and only if this does not cause substantial delays in being vaccinated.
Read the report.
Vaccine ‘Hope’ video and other resources ready
There are now new assets available for our 'Hands. Face. Space. Fresh Air', 'Community Testing', 'Variant Surge Testing' and 'Covid-19 Vaccine' campaigns including a really moving 60second PR video.
Take up the vaccine to help protect others
A study by Public Health England has found that people who have been vaccinated and who go on to catch the virus, infect fewer people than those who have not had the vaccine.
It supports the principle that COVID-19 vaccines weaken the virus's transmission and therefore by getting vaccinated, you are helping to protect those around you too.
Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon, said:
“We are learning more and more about the vaccines and their impact, not just on protecting the individuals who have had their jab, but also on the transmission of the virus.
“I know that younger people may think that they’re less likely to be seriously ill if they catch coronavirus because of their age and general good health, compared say to older and more vulnerable people. And that may be true.
"But don’t let that persuade you not to have the vaccine. You might still catch coronavirus and studies are now suggesting that those who have been vaccinated are less likely to transmit the virus to other people.
"Please take up the vaccine when it’s offered to you, if not just to protect you but to also help protect others.”
Everyone aged 40 years old and over (or will turn 40 before 1 July 2021) is now being invited to book a life-saving COVID-19 jab.
You can book your vaccination at the click of a button through the national booking service or by calling 119 if you can't get online.
Research
Vivaldi 2: coronavirus reinfections in care homes study report
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This study provides a summary of reinfection following a sample study of residents and staff in care homes.
- The analysis of 100 care homes suggests that amongst participants who had evidence of previous infection, the risk of subsequent reinfection was 61% lower for staff and 85% lower for residents (95% CI) when compared with individuals who had not been previously infected.
- This data suggests that natural immunity to COVID-19 substantially reduces the risk of reinfection for approximately 10 months following primary infection. The risk of reinfection in care home staff and residents was less than 1% per month for individuals who had been previously infected.
COVID-19 outbreaks during or shortly after vaccination of care home residents
This summary covers three studies of care homes that experienced outbreaks following Pfizer/BioNTech vaccination. It demonstrates the vulnerability of care home populations in the period until vaccines develop their full protective effect and make the case for prioritising the completion of both doses.
Key findings:
 Exeter COSY routes features on Songs of Praise ahead of Dementia Action Week
The Exeter Dementia Action Alliance (EDAA) launched last year The Cosy project - a mapped 26.2-mile marathon distance route around Exeter, comprising eight shorter circular routes of between four and seven miles.
All these routes have their own character, points of interest, history and are part of the unfolding and growing picture of the city. Each route has a dementia accessible suggestion, which may be a short stroll, picnic stop or viewpoint.
The EDDA shares the routes just in time for Dementia Action week on Monday 17 May.
Take a look at Exeter COSY routes video story.
Read more information and full route details.
Remember to share your good news stories in this newsletter
Has your support helped transformed someone’s life? Have you got innovative practice to share? Send us your celebratory photos and words and we’ll help share good practice.
Revisit previous good news stories
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