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Welcome to this week's newsletter, published for adult social care providers.
Please make sure you check the latest national guidance for your type of care provision, because it is rapidly changing. We know how hard you are working to sustain carer and keep up with national and local developments and are doing our best to give you the information you need.
Remember that we keep the content and structure of our PEN website up-to-date and your suggestions on how to improve the website are always welcome.
Latest care home and supported living visiting guidance
This guidance was updated on 16 August 2021 with immediate effect and replaces previous guidance on care home visiting. This guidance applies to residential care homes and care home residents of all ages. There is separate guidance for supported living settings.
This guidance sets out:
- an overview of the visiting practices supported by this guidance
- advice for providers when establishing their visiting policy
- advice for providers when taking visiting decisions for particular residents or groups of residents
- advice on delivering safe visiting, with and without testing
- information on visiting in exceptional circumstances such as end of life
....and updated guidance on visits out of care homes
This guidance sets out how care homes can support residents on visits outside of the care home. This guidance applies to residential care settings for older people and adults of working age. It sets out:
- how visits out of a care home can take place
- steps to reduce risk around a visit out
- the role of the provider in supporting outward visiting
- the need for individual risk assessments
This guidance should be read alongside visiting arrangements in care homes.
....and guidance for testing in care homes
Guidance on how to access test kits and step-by-step guides on how to use PCR and rapid lateral flow test kits for regular and outbreak testing of residents, staff and visiting professionals
....and guidance remains unchanged on use of PPE equipment in care homes
Due to vulnerabilities of care home residents there is no change to PPE use in care homes.
This guidance is intended for all care workers working in care homes in England. It can also be applied to visitors or essential care-givers within the care home setting.
This guidance is of general nature and is intended to be compatible with legislation. In the case that information in this guidance differs from a requirement in legislation, the legislation should be followed. The guidance remains under review and may be updated in line with the changing situation as required.
Employers and managers must provide workers with safe conditions of work, complying with all applicable legislation, including the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Health and Social Care Act 2008: code of practice on the prevention and control of infections.
Additional guidance: Admission and care of people in care homes
Additional guidance has also been published for care homes, local health protection teams, local authorities, clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and registered providers of accommodation for people who need personal or nursing care.
How to protect care home residents and staff during the coronavirus outbreak
Please read this guidance with:
Guidance and spreadsheet to record the details of people you've tested for coronavirus on that day.
Updated guidance and a spreadsheet for the multiple upload of PCR and LFD tests undertaken by adult social care settings was issued on 18 August 2021.
All adult social care settings should now be using the spreadsheet titled ‘Record-keeping multiple registration spreadsheet (to be used by all adult social care settings)’.
This allows settings to register both PCR and rapid lateral flow tests.
You can register up to 100 tests on the spreadsheet. You’ll need to complete separate spreadsheets for staff and non-staff.
Multiple registration upload guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
This is a step-by-step guide on how to register multiple coronavirus (COVID-19) test kits at once.
Organisations can upload their testing data using either the one-by-one route or by using the spreadsheet on the organisation registration portal.
Staff and visitors can still use the self-reporting services when self-testing at home.
NHS Devon social care provider vaccination webinar
NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group has arranged webinar for the Care Homes from 1-2pm on Thursday 26 August covering the topics of mandatory vaccination and phase 3 boosters.
Summary page for all adult social care guidance
This guidance, and the adult social care guidance collection page, will be updated in accordance with the risk posed by COVID-19 changes. Please use the summary page to find the latest information on additional support and guidance available for adult social care providers.
National hospital discharge infection control guidance update
This guidance for stepdown of infection control precautions and discharging patients was updated on 16 August with the addition of a link to stay at home guidance in section covering patients who are discharged home.
Coronavirus message from Devon County Council Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards service
The Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed that:
“Following the lifting of restrictions on 19 July 2021, the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and deprivation of liberty safeguards (DoLS) during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic guidance has now been withdrawn. In spite of this, the care and treatment of people who may lack the relevant mental capacity remains of great importance and must always be guided by important principles of the MCA, which may in some cases include the utilisation of the safeguards provided by the DoLS. This was and is the case, before, during and after the pandemic.“
Please visit the Department of Health and Social Care website for more information on the MCA and DOLS.
The Devon DoLS Service will continue to support care homes, hospitals, individuals and their families, recognising the current coronavirus pandemic presents considerable challenges. We would wish to offer support and guidance, including the ongoing provision of our duty service, which can be accessed via phone 01392 381676 and email. We request that all applications and correspondence are sent to the service electronically at this time.
 Self-isolation rules changed on Monday
The self-isolation rules changed on Monday 16 August, for people who have received both their vaccinations against coronavirus, and people aged under 18.
They will no longer need to self-isolate if they've been identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19.
They will however still be advised to take a PCR test, and if that's positive, they'll be legally required to self-isolate, irrespective of their vaccination status.
Double vaccinations to be required before entering care homes from 11 November
Remember that new government regulations will come into force on Thursday 11 November 2021, requiring anyone who works or volunteers in a care home to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus, unless exempt.
Vaccinations can be booked online through the national booking service or by ringing 119.
It's also possible to visit a walk-in centre without the need to book in advance. Find your nearest centre.
 Success story: up, up and away - virtually!
A private care provider, "Ask A Sister" in Teignbridge wrote in to share how they saw an opportunity to counter the negative effects of repeated lock downs and restricted visits from friends/family and closures of social groups by treating their clients to virtual travel experiences using a reality headset, Oculus Quest, enabled them to take clients on balloon rides in the Swiss Alps, stroll along the Nile or go on safari in Kenya to name a few.
Clients were quite speechless initially, then became animated and had lots to talk about and eight months later they are still finding lots to see and do!
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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