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 well as our continued local thanks for all your hard work, we open this issue with a letter of national appreciation, which is so well deserved.
Remember that we do our best to keep the content and structure of our Provider Engagement Network website up-to-date and your suggestions how to improve the site are always welcome.
A national thank you message
Dear colleagues,
Last spring, we were in the midst of the very worst days of the pandemic. Today, thanks to your unwavering dedication, your willingness to adapt to the highest standards of infection prevention and control, and the success of the biggest mass vaccination programme in our history, we are in a much better place.
Adaptability has been one of your greatest strengths. Throughout the pandemic, you have embraced many changes to daily practice, always keeping in mind the needs of the people you support. Recently and most importantly, you have supported the vaccination roll-out as part of your work to protect those in your care.
All of this against the backdrop of an increased workload: covering shifts for absent colleagues, working while children are off school, and coping with your own grief, anxieties and personal caring responsibilities. We take none of this for granted and remain deeply grateful for your continued commitment.
We’ve seen the challenges you’ve overcome, how you’ve adapted and supported each other as well as those you care for. Now we can be much more optimistic about managing this pandemic, further easing restrictions and eventually restoring our lives to something closely resembling normality.
You have been there when your residents, clients and colleagues needed you most. With free PPE guaranteed until March 2022 and free access to mental health and wellbeing support, specifically for health and care workers, we intend to be there for you too.
We hope you know how much we appreciate your professional and personal efforts.
Thank you,
Helen Whately, Minister for Care Matt Hancock, Secretary of State Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker
Capacity Tracker latest
The South West is part of a pilot to increase the accuracy of the Capacity Trainer because it is becoming central to government decision making. Please ensure you update daily, weekly and monthly figures as promptly as possible. The Capacity Tracker team are now recommending that weekly data is updated every two days if possible.
Care home providers Vaccination figures Those providers that declare zero figures for their second COVID-19 vaccination information across all residents/patients and staff will receive a system generated warning when trying to save this information. Providers will need to confirm that this data is correct by completing a check box that confirms they have not administered any second doses of the COVID-19 vaccination. Providers that are required to update COVID-19 vaccination information within Capacity Tracker are asked to review their first and second dose numbers to ensure it accurately reflects the status of their residents / patients and staff.
IPC weekly visiting question Those providers that select a “No” response to the visiting question: “In the last seven days, have your residents been able to receive visitors?” will be asked to provide further details by selecting one or more responses from the drop down list next to the question: “What are the current challenges / barriers that need to be overcome to fully enable visits?” Home care providers The Capacity Tracker team are concentrating on home care figures and requests that all providers have updated the Tracker in the last 48 hours.
Please note that Flu Immunisations information is now hidden until around September this year. You can find further details in the What’s New section (login required).
If you have any queries about any of the above, please email the Capacity Tracker team or phone them on 0191 691 3729.
Home care daily update poster The Capacity Tracker team are encouraging home care providers to ensure they are updating the Capacity Tracker daily. Please display this poster to encourage your colleagues to update the Tracker daily.
Care Provider Alliance (CPA) Capacity Tracker Q&A
The CPA has created a question and answer document about the Capacity Tracker to answer your questions on the system. If you have queries about the Tracker please contact the CPA and add Capacity Tracker in the subject line of your email.
Visiting out of the care home guidance update
The guidance has been updated to reflect that private cars and taxis are acceptable to use for visits out of the care home.
Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) tool for supported living and extra care housing
CQC have adapted their care home IPC methodology to be used in community settings such as supported living and extra care. This tool has been developed as a way to seek and give assurance that where providers have responsibility for IPC, they are following best practice guidance and working with other relevant agencies to keep people safe.
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) COVID-19 advice for social care
The SCIE continues to offer guidance, advice and resources for the sector:
Devon vaccine milestone met as three quarters of adults have first dose
Three quarters of adults in Devon have now had their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. More than 750,000 first doses had been given up to 23 May and almost half a million second doses. The milestone has been reached less than six months since the first vaccine was administered in Devon on 8 December 2020.
Darryn Allcorn, Chief Nursing Officer for NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group, who leads the vaccination programme, has again praised the staff and volunteers involved. He said: “The success of the vaccine programme has shown us how much we can achieve when we work together".
People who are aged 30 and above on 1 July 2021 are eligible for the vaccine, along with frontline health and care workers and people at higher risk from COVID-19. Appointments can be booked online or by calling 119. Please ensure you have confirmed your booking and cancel it if you are unable to attend.
Devon cases remain low
Positive cases of coronavirus remain stable in Devon, with the latest rate of nine cases per 100,000 being well below the 24 cases per 100,000 seen nationally.
We are experiencing isolated outbreaks in some settings but with little evidence of the virus transmitting widely within those local communities.
Across Devon positive case numbers are low compared to previous months in all age groups, although rates are slightly higher in those aged under 40 years old. Case rates are currently highest in the South Hams area.
Vaccines effective against 'Indian' variant
The Pfizer and AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccines are highly effective against the 'Indian' variant identified after two doses, a Public Health England study has confirmed.
Two jabs of either vaccine give a similar level of protection against symptomatic disease from the 'India' variant (B.1.617.2) as they do for the Kent one (B.1.1.7).
CQC launches new strategy
CQC have launched an ambitious new strategy based on extensive consultation with the public, providers of health and social care services, charities and partner organisations. Find more information in their recent strategy bulletin.
Joint statement on tackling racism within health and social care
The CQC has joined with the NHS Race and Health Observatory, Nursing and Midwifery Council and General Medical Council to issue an open statement calling on healthcare leaders to ensure that health and care staff across the country are protected from racism or any other form of discrimination, as they go about their vital work.
CQC resource to support culturally appropriate care
Holistic, person-centred care has always been important, but during the coronavirus pandemic it has become even more critical that we are all aware of culturally appropriate care. CQC has just published information about culturally appropriate care.
Latest Public Health England (PHE) update
The PHE releases weekly updates on the number of confirmed new cases of variants of concern and variants under investigation identified in the UK.
Remember to share your good news stories in this newsletter
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Revisit previous good news stories
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