Friday 23 July 2021
Public: coronavirus (COVID-19) advice for Devon on our website
Please pass this onto district, borough, parish and town councillors as appropriate. The bulletin can be shared as a link by clicking the 'View it as a Web page' link at the top. Find previous bulletins on our web page.
Do it for Devon
Stick with us and keep following the guidance to keep everyone safe and well.
We need the support of local residents and visitors to keep Devon safe. While cases are high and rising, everybody needs to continue to act carefully and remain cautious. This is why the government is keeping key protections in place
#RespectProtectEnjoy #DoItForDevon
This week England reached the fourth step of the government’s roadmap out of lockdown, with the majority of COVID-19 restrictions ending and replaced with guidance emphasising personal judgement and responsibility.
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. He said:
"I want us to continue to be careful because positive cases in Devon are still rising. In fact at the moment we’ve got the highest rate of COVID-19 we’ve seen during the whole pandemic.
"I strongly feel that it is up to all of us to carry on doing everything we can to continue keeping each other safe.
“Many people, particularly if they are Clinically Extremely Vulnerable, have dreaded the day legal restrictions lift for fear of catching coronavirus. I understand that you’re in a difficult position, and you may be feeling worried about the current situation.
“Although the legal restrictions have lifted, our responsibility to members of our family, friends and society has not changed.
"I urge everyone in Devon to choose to do the right thing and keep doing your bit to reduce the spread of coronavirus by respecting the personal space of those around you, wearing a face covering in crowded areas, getting tested regularly, having both doses of the vaccine and washing your hands properly.
“We have been good at looking out for each other and helping those in need, so we need to respect those of us who will still be feeling anxious and behave in ways that protect them and ourselves from the risk of coronavirus.”
You can read Steve Brown's message in full on our News Centre.
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The Equality Act 2010 – a reminder of your responsibilities as decision makers
The Equality Act applies to the provision of services and public functions, premises, work, education and associations. It makes direct and indirect discrimination, victimisation and harassment unlawful, and requires organisations to anticipate and make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. In addition, the Act places a Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) on local authorities.
The general PSED states: a public authority must, in the exercise of its functions, give due regard to the need to:
- Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other prohibited conduct.
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Advance equality of opportunity:
- remove or minimise disadvantage
- meet people’s needs
- take account of disabilities
- encourage participation in public life
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Foster good relations between people:
- tackle prejudice and promote understanding
The duty applies to the following nine protected characteristics:
- age
- disability
- gender reassignment
- marriage and Civil Partnership (in relation to employment only)
- pregnancy and maternity
- race
- religion and belief
- sex
- sexual orientation
What does ‘due regard’ mean?
'Due regard' means proper attention should be given by Members and officers to how things affect people in relation to all the protected characteristics listed above, and whether the general duty is being met as best it can be. The duty must be exercised in substance, with rigour and an open mind. In practice this can include, for example:
- reviewing the Impact Assessment provided by officers before a decision is made
- asking for clarity, data and information about how a decision might affect particular groups or if people are over- or under- represented in an activity
- checking that nothing will result in unlawful discrimination and asking what could be done to advance equality (reduce inequalities) further
The PSED must be fulfilled in all we do, all of the time - although the relevance of equality will differ depending upon the service and therefore our approach should also be reasonable and proportionate.
In addition to the general duty, there are specific duties around the publishing of information and objectives.
Devon County Council's equality objectives are published on our equality webpages, where you can find more information about our approach to equality, diversity and inclusion, including guidance and best practice.
CCG Members' briefing - coronavirus vaccination in Devon
Please see below for the latest coronavirus vaccination briefing for Members from NHS Devon, Devon’s Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG):
You can view current and previous copies on the Provider Engagement Network (PEN) website.
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.
Leader of Devon County Council, John Hart, re-elected as voice for South West
Leader of Devon County Council, Councillor John Hart, has been re-elected as the voice of the South West. He was voted in unopposed as the chairman of South West Councils for a fifth two-year term.
The organisation represents 33 county, unitary and district councils stretching from Cornwall to Gloucestershire and Wiltshire as well as police, fire and rescue services, national parks and town and parish councils.
Councillor John Hart said:
“We need to present a united front to the government to ensure we do not remain the poor relation when it comes to funding and that we get a fair share of cash for levelling-up.
“We have worked hard to support the region and been particularly active in lobbying to improve the resilience of our road and rail network.
“We need to improve the supply of affordable housing for our young families who are often priced out of buying a home where they grew up. And we have to move swiftly to ensure that the professionals we are seeking to attract here like nurses, teachers and social workers can find suitable accommodation.
"The South West has long been the poor relation when it comes to funding.
“I will continue to work with councils of all political colours across the region to be a voice for the South West in Westminster and Whitehall and to campaign for a fair deal for local people."
Read the article and quote in full on our News Centre.
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COVID-19 testing is more important than ever
With rates of COVID-19 at the highest they've ever been in Devon, we're reminding residents of the importance of regular testing to help keep everyone safe.
Testing, tracing close contacts and self-isolating is vital to managing the spread of coronavirus and reducing the risk of potentially dangerous variants spreading.
Some people might find it frustrating, or think it is pointless, but if you're identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19 you're at least five times more likely to be infected than others. And even if you have been vaccinated you can still pass the virus on.
As more of us are out and about enjoying the freedom we've missed, we're encouraging everyone in Devon to make regular symptom-free COVID-19 testing part of their everyday lives to help find cases that would otherwise go undetected and break the chains of transmission. Rapid lateral flow device (LFD) tests are readily available to do at home or at one of our many walk-in sites, and you'll get your result within 30 minutes.
If you develop COVID-19 symptoms, you must stay at home and self-isolate, along with anyone you live with, and take a free PCR test to confirm whether or not you have the virus. If you test positive, you will still need to self-isolate regardless of your age or vaccination status.
To find out more about how to access COVID-19 testing in Devon, whether you have symptoms or not, please visit our website.
Confused about the types of COVID-19 tests available?
If you do have symptoms you should book a PCR test at an NHS site. If you don't have symptoms, take twice-weekly rapid lateral flow tests to pick up asymptomatic cases.
Find out more.
Grab a jab and help protect the things we love
All adults are being urged to get their first and second doses of a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible to protect themselves and the people around them.
Vaccinated people are far less likely to get COVID-19 with symptoms and even more unlikely to get serious cases of COVID-19, be admitted to hospital, or to die from it. There is also growing evidence that they are less likely to pass the virus on to others.
People who have been vaccinated with both doses do not have to quarantine on their return to England from an amber list country (except France), providing they received their second jab at least 14 days prior. And from Monday 16 August, double-vaccinated people will also no longer be legally required to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case.
Every adult in the UK has been offered a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and are able to get their second doses after eight weeks, which means every adult has the chance to have both doses by mid-September.
Vaccines are available free of charge from thousands of vaccine centres, GP practices and pharmacies. Visit the NHS website to book your COVID-19 vaccination as soon as possible.
Or if you don't want to book, you can pop along to any of the participating walk-in clinics for your first and second dose with no appointment needed. You can search clinics dates and times in the South West on the NHS website.
Please continue to wear face coverings on public transport and in enclosed spaces
Although it is no longer a legal requirement for people to wear face coverings after Monday 19 July, the advice for everyone is to continue to wear them especially when indoors with people who you don't normally meet and in crowded spaces.
We are encouraging the public to continue wearing face coverings on public transport after Monday 19 July.
We’ve written to local public transport and patient transport operators, asking them to support this.
And students on council-operated school transport routes will also be advised to continue to wear face coverings (unless exempt), and to remain seated in their year groups, or in accordance with a seating plan if in place, until the end of the summer term. Enhanced cleaning on those vehicles will also remain in place for this period. It will be reviewed over the summer and we expect to issue updated guidance ahead of September.
Head of Children’s Social Care and Head of Children’s Health and Wellbeing recruited
We are delighted to announce that Dr. Lisa Bursill has been appointed to the role of Devon County Council’s Deputy Chief Officer for Children’s Services (Head of Children’s Social Care), and Janet Fraser has been appointed to the role of Devon County Council’s Deputy Chief Officer for Children’s Services (Head of Children’s Health and Wellbeing).
Read more from Melissa Caslake, Chief Officer for Children's Services on Inside Devon.
Children’s Services Ofsted report published
The Ofsted report summarising the findings of the recent two-day virtual focused visit has been published on Ofsted’s website (on Thursday 15 July).
In the report, it is recognised that Devon’s vital children’s services and schools have provided a well-coordinated and effective response to the challenges of COVID-19. It acknowledges that we, and our partners, have risen to the enormous challenges throughout successive lockdowns by maintaining our services to children and families, ensuring greater school attendance than nationally – especially for vulnerable children, maintaining regular contact with children who are the subject of child in need or child protection plans, and enabling schools, partners and communities to come together to deliver timely and collaborative support for children and young people.
However, they say improvements are still needed in the quality of assessments, management oversight and scrutiny.
The report concludes:
“The challenges associated with successive national lockdowns have been enormous.
“With 371 schools spread across a vast geographical area, it has not been easy to keep children, particularly the most vulnerable, in sight and safe.
“The complexity and volume of referrals that the local authority is receiving have increased significantly.
“The local authority and its partners have risen to the challenge, delivering a well-coordinated and effective response.
“During the pandemic, social workers have continued to maintain regular contact with children who are the subject of child in need or child protection plans. Most social workers have felt well supported (by Devon County Council).
“Statutory partners are enthusiastic about the potential for Devon’s safeguarding children partnership arrangements to make a real difference.
“Focusing on those issues that have mattered most during the pandemic has given them an opportunity to work together at speed.”
The inspectors concluded:
“There is no reason to doubt Devon County Council’s support for children’s social care services.
“But the quality and effectiveness of scrutiny and critical challenge provided by elected members and the corporate centre are not yet fully developed.”
We've won the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Apprenticeships Champion Award
Congratulations to our Apprenticeships team who have won the SEND Apprenticeship Champion Award at the Annual Apprenticeship Awards Conference (AAC) 2021.
We are thrilled to win the award and this news really demonstrates how our teams have been committed to the young people on this scheme and supporting successful outcomes in their working life. Those teams involved have not only been a strong support for the apprentices but have also contributed to sharing this practice and been strong advocates for the scheme across the council.
This is such a good way of us encouraging young people to reach their potential and support them to have successful outcomes and thank you letters have been sent to teams and apprentices involved.
Read what the team have to say about their big win at the AAC awards.
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Views sought on new proposals for next year’s school exams
The Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual are asking students, parents and teachers what they think about new proposals for changes to assessments of GCSEs, AS and A levels which will be taken in summer 2022.
The consultation proposes a range of measures to help mitigate the impact of disruption to students' education.
Ofqual and the DfE are also running a consultation on arrangements for vocational, technical and other general qualifications.
Funding available to help Devon’s communities reconnect, rebuild and recover
Community-led facilities and activities, like many things, were quickly suspended during the onset of the national coronavirus lockdown.
As the country begins to return to some degree of normality, Devon County Council is keen to help local communities get back to doing the things they love safely and confidently, so they’ve created a special fund to support them.
COVID-19 Pass app - have you downloaded it yet?
Demonstrate your COVID-19 vaccination status with the free NHS app. More than 10 million people are now using it already. Have you downloaded it yet?
It's not the same as the NHS Test and Trace app. This one was launched before the pandemic in 2019 to give people a simple and secure way to access a range of NHS services on their smartphone or tablet - for example booking and managing appointments at their GP surgery, ordering repeat prescriptions and searching trusted information on hundreds of conditions and treatments.
And now you can also 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.
The government will also work with organisations that operate large, crowded settings including nightclubs, to use the NHS COVID Pass as a condition of entry.
Please visit the NHS website to find out more about the app and download it.
Digital COVID-19 passport scam
Please beware of the latest coronavirus scam, which asks people for payment in exchange for a 'coronavirus digital passport'.
The email claims to come from the NHS and says it will "allow you to travel safely and freely around the world without having to self-isolate" if you've had a COVID-19 vaccine or have recently recovered from the virus. It asks people to click a button to access their "digital passport" which then takes you to a fake NHS website asking for personal information and payment details.
If you receive this email please forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk
If you have disclosed bank account details you should contact your bank immediately and notify Action Fraud.
We are encouraging residents to #BackTheFuture with £40k for climate related projects
As part of the #BackTheFuture initiative, we’ve teamed up with Crowdfunder to support projects that are helping to tackle the climate emergency in Devon head-on and inspiring others to do the same.
We recently held the successful ‘#BackTheFuture Live: Devon Climate Challenge event, where three incredible climate-related projects, Sustainable Tiverton, The Earth Repair Shop and the Greenway Project, competed for a share of £10,000.
You can read more about the event and the #BackTheFuture initiative on our News Centre.
Got an idea to help tackle the climate emergency in Devon?
We’re now encouraging individuals, community groups and organisations to tell us their planet-positive ideas and be in with a chance of getting a share of a further £30,000 match funding for their project.
The deadline to submit an idea is less than a week away, on Thursday 29 July.
Please encourage your town and parish councils and voluntary sector groups who have ideas or projects to help Devon become carbon neutral to apply.
Ten successful projects will then be chosen to receive expert help to crowdfund their idea and get a share of the match funding available.
Find out more on the Crowdfunder website.
Made in Devon website launched
The Made in Devon scheme, and its new website, has been unveiled to the public. The Made in Devon team responded to countless enquiries and received positive feedback from visiting members of the public and businesses from a special stand at the recent county show.
The scheme is supported by a new website www.madeindevon.org.uk which enables businesses to join up – membership is currently free for the first year.
We've won the Employer Supported Policing (ESP) Award at the Devon and Cornwall Police Citizens in Policing Awards 2021!
We won this fantastic award thanks to our brilliant support for employees who serve as Special Constables.
Read the full news story about our ESP Award win here.
Local primary school pays tribute to NHS with a song
Year Four children at Hazeldown Primary School in Teignmouth have written and performed a beautifully uplifting song to thank the NHS for everything they've done during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kit Hardee, Assistant Headteacher at Hazeldown Primary School, worked on the song with the children. He said:
"At Hazeldown we pride ourselves on giving our pupils a real purpose for their learning. As part of their music topic in Year Four, the children had to cover the curriculum objectives of writing and performing music.
"We asked them to think about what was important to them and what impact they wanted their song to have. They all agreed that they wanted to thank NHS staff for what they've done during the pandemic.
"The children worked in groups to gather ideas for the lyrics and I worked alongside them to help the song take shape. It was then recorded and produced by local music producer, Dan Sheldon.
"The children have been incredibly inspired by the process and are so proud that their song is being enjoyed and celebrated by so many NHS workers!"
Well done to everyone involved, we think it's brilliant - have a watch on the school's YouTube channel.
Members' Area
Don't forget your new Members' Area - SharePoint site is your one-stop-shop to access resources to aid you in your role as a Devon County Councillor. Key documents from the Council's various service areas, including induction resources, are posted in the Document library, and the Who's who? highlights the best person for you to contact for an efficient resolution.
By pulling together across the Council, with our partners and our communities, we are doing everything we can to help us all through this incredibly difficult time. Thank you to you and your community and stay safe and well.
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