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Welcome to this week's newsletter, published for adult social care providers.
Although case rates are falling in the community, we know cases remain high in care homes. Please continue to use the COVID-19 mailbox to get in touch about any COVID-19 related activity, including the reporting of positive cases. In addition to the Monday to Friday arrangements, this mailbox is monitored between 9.00am and 5.00pm at the weekend. If you need any support outside of these hours at the weekend, please direct your email following the instructions in the out of office reply that you will receive.
Remember that we do our best to keep the content and structure of our PEN website up-to-date and your suggestions on how to improve the website are always welcome.
Local guidance - exemption from isolation: risk assessment form and guidance
Local guidance on the Risk Assessment Framework for exemption from contact isolation for fully vaccinated social care staff in exceptional circumstances has been updated.
This includes a risk assessment form and instructions for its completion by the managers of impacted staff and can be used with immediate effect. We also added Frequently Asked Questions.
This guidance is to support Personal Assistance as well.
Guidance updates
Management of staff and exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings
The guidance on the management of staff, patients and residents who have been exposed to COVID-19 has been updated with information for fully vaccinated staff who have been identified as contacts attending work in exceptional circumstances.
How to work safely in care homes
Guidance for those working in care homes providing information on how to work safely during this period of sustained transmission of COVID-19 has been updated to reflect changes to guidance in Step 4 of the roadmap. Due to the nature of the settings and vulnerability of the population, PPE and other infection prevention and control measures should continue to be practised in care homes.
How to work safely in domiciliary care in England
A resource for those working in domiciliary care providing information on the use of PPE has been updated to reflect changes to guidance in Step 4 of the roadmap (section on types of masks that can be used for domestic duties when two metres or more from the client).
Supporting adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults Guidance for care staff who are supporting adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults was updated in line with the lifting of most legal restrictions to control COVID-19.
Providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults
Guidance for people who are providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults was updated in line with the lifting of most legal restrictions to control COVID-19.
Providing unpaid care
Information for people who are caring, unpaid, for friends or family was updated to reflect the lifting of restrictions as part of step 4 of the roadmap; the easy-read and translated versions have been removed temporarily.
Guidance for people receiving direct payments
Advice for people who buy care and support through a direct payment, as well as local authorities, clinical commissioning groups and those who provide care and support was updated to reflect the lifting of restrictions as part of step 4 of the roadmap.
Enabling safe and effective volunteering during COVID-19
This guidance aims to help organisations and groups understand how to safely and effectively involve volunteers during the pandemic was updated to reflect roadmap step 4 of the roadmap.
Advice for immunosuppressed patients
Government guidance for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable, particularly immunosuppressed patients, has been updated to support clinicians in their ongoing dialogue with patients.
New landmark strategy to improve the lives of autistic people
The government has published the national autism strategy to support autistic people to live as independently as possible and to access the support they need. Across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay, we will be refreshing our autism strategy to take account of what people in Devon tell us matters to them and it will draw on the national strategic vision and intentions.
Short-term block volume personal care contracts: Bidder Briefing Event
Devon County Council is interested in procuring a number of small short term block contract arrangements for personal care in particular locations within Devon.
It is anticipated that this opportunity to tender will be published by Monday 2 August 2021 via the Supplying the Southwest tendering portal.
Further information can be found on the GOV.UK website.
 Please remain alert. We need to see how the data continues to look over coming weeks and months
COVID-19 levels nationally have fallen sharply over the last week, and case rates in Devon are showing signs of levelling off.
But while the national data looks reassuring, it would be unwise to let that reassurance lead to less cautious behaviour, experts warn. We must all continue to do our bit:
- Limiting our social contacts is the best way to stop the virus spreading
- Meeting others outside is safer than meeting inside
- Consider continuing to wear face coverings when indoors in public places
- Keep on washing your hands properly and regularly
- Adults who haven’t yet had their jabs, please have both doses as soon as you can
- If you’re told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace, please do so
- If you show any symptoms of having the virus – the high temperature, new and continuous cough, or change of your usual sense of taste or smell – please self-isolate and arrange a PCR test.
Please read the full press release.
Steve Brown, Director of Public Health Devon, is urging residents to keep doing their bit to reduce the spread of coronavirus and to continue looking out for each other, particularly the most vulnerable, as we have done throughout the pandemic.
 Ambulance service experiences busiest week in its history
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is urging people to use its service sensibly after experiencing its busiest week on record for the second time so far this month, responding to the equivalent of one incident every 26 seconds!
Ahead of what is expected to be a very busy school summer holiday period in the South West, SWASFT says it must continue to prioritise speaking to and treating the most seriously injured and unwell patients.
To allow it to prioritise patients effectively, the Trust is asking everyone who uses its service to do so sensibly. People should only call 999 in a genuine, life-threatening emergency.
People with non-life threatening but urgent medical problems should call 111 or visit the NHS 111 website.
Planned operations may need to be postponed as COVID-19 cases rise
Due to the current pressures that the health system is facing, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is having to postpone some planned operations.
The trust teams are doing everything they can to keep as many planned operations going as they safely can and retain as much capacity as possible.
This can be really frustrating for patients who are currently awaiting an operation. Anyone who is affected will be given as much notice of any postponement as possible. People should assume that their planned operation is going ahead unless they are contacted and told otherwise.
Details of vaccinations in Barnstaple, Ilfracombe and Exeter
Demonstrate your COVID-19 vaccination status with the free NHS app
More than 10 million people are now using the free NHS app. It's not the same as the NHS Test and Trace app as you can view and share your COVID Pass via the app to show your proof of vaccination, which will help you to travel abroad and start returning to workplaces.
Please visit the NHS website to find out more about the app and download it.
Homecare workforce – serious shortage of care workers
The UK Homecare Association (UKHCA) has written a letter to the Minister for Care, raising the concerns of their members regarding the severe difficulties they are currently experiencing with staffing their services to meet rising demand. The letter discusses factors affecting workforce capacity in homecare, suggest a range of potential short- and long-term policy changes that could help to relieve workforce pressures, and call on the government to listen and take action.
A summary of the UKHCA survey and discussion of the issues are available on their website.
COVID-19 research
Risks of COVID-19 hospital admission and death for people with learning disability
People with learning disability have markedly increased risks of hospital admission and death from COVID-19, over and above the risks observed for non-COVID causes of death. Prompt access to COVID-19 testing and healthcare is warranted for this vulnerable group, and prioritisation for COVID-19 vaccination and other targeted preventive measures should be considered.
 Almost 100% of people have antibodies after second vaccine
Recent data from Imperial College London highlights the importance of getting both doses of a COVID-19 vaccine for the best possible protection against infection as restrictions are eased.
Over 207,000 people took part in their study for COVID-19 antibodies between 12 and 25 May 2021, and almost 100 per cent of them tested positive for antibodies 14 or more days after their second dose of the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine.
Following one dose of either vaccine, the proportion of people testing positive for antibodies peaked at four to five weeks after first dose and then started to decline before rising substantially in those who had a second dose.
Visit the NHS website to get your COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.
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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