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Welcome to this week's newsletter, published for adult social care providers.
We had a flurry of national announcements last week but only some actual guidance was updated, and any changes have been captured in this week’s issue.
We once again thank you for your hard work under pressure in this challenging period and we will continue to help you keep abreast of developments.
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 national guidance updates
Guidance for people receiving direct payments or with personal health budgets
A number of guidance documents have been published and updated to complement existing ones and statutory duties. Please note that any inconsistency between this guidance and the legislation is to be interpreted in favour of the legislation.
The guidance sets out key expectations of local authorities and Clinical Commissioning Groups in their delivery of direct payments and personal health budgets to support people’s continuing care and support needs, and to manage and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19.
Along with the guidance, the Department of Health and Social Care, in partnership with a range of stakeholders, has published specific advice for people receiving direct payment and personal health budgets and their families.
Using direct payments during the coronavirus outbreak: full guidance for people receiving direct payments and personal assistants
The above advice takes account of the latest advice issued by government, and also the ethical framework for adult social care. This framework provides support to councils' ongoing response planning and decision-making during the pandemic to ensure that consideration is given to a set of ethical values and principles when organising and delivering social care for adults.
These documents should be read alongside the direct payment guidance for commissioners.
Advice for people who buy care and support through a direct payment
Guidance for local authorities and clinical commissioning groups in the delivery of direct payments and personal health budgets
From Thursday 11 November 2021, all staff entering a care home need to be vaccinated, unless exempt
Following the publication of operational guidance, the Department of Health and Social Care has written to the NHS and published FAQs on how this new regulation will be delivered operationally. All relevant providers of NHS funded services will need to:
- actively support staff to have their first COVID-19 vaccine by Thursday 16 September 2021 (as eight weeks is required between the two doses)
- carry out proactive workforce planning to ensure:
- only staff who are vaccinated, or exempt, are deployed to a care home from Thursday 11 November
- service provision is not disrupted once this regulation comes into force
- ensure that relevant staff can demonstrate to care home staff, via the NHS COVID Pass service, that they have either had two doses or are exempt.
The FAQs will be updated on a regular basis, to support systems and providers to implement this new regulation.
 Remember! Getting your COVID-19 vaccine helps protect yourself and those around you.
Staff and volunteers working in care homes need to be fully vaccinated by the time new regulations come into place on Thursday 11 November.
Thursday 16 September is the last date to get your first dose so don’t delay, book today.
PPE guidance for care unchanged
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 a general nature and is intended to be compatible with legislation. If this guidance differs from any requirement covered by legislation, then 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.
Advice for people who buy care and support through a direct payment.
Guidance for local authorities and clinical commissioning groups in the delivery of direct payments and personal health budgets.
Important changes to personal care commissioning
From Monday 30 August 2021 we are moving to a new model of commissioning care at home. To help alleviate pressure on the market, personal care service packages will be commissioned by DCC by requesting offers from the market from within a block of time, thus giving providers more flexibility when responding to referrals and making care offers. There will still be some specific time slot requests when necessary, for example to meet a transport collection time to enable a person to attend day care.
For more information regarding this change and to access the time slot details and guidance, please refer to the ‘Guidance for regulated care providers who provide care and support to people in their own homes’ document on the Provider Engagement Network. Refer to section 2.3 DCC commissioned packages of care – Blocks of time commissioning, on page 10.
NHS Devon social care provider vaccination webinar
NHS Devon Clinical Commissioning Group has arranged webinar for the adult social care market (particularly care homes) on Thursday 26 August from 1:00pm to 2:00pm covering the topics of mandatory vaccination and phase 3 boosters.
Devon Learning Disability Care Home event
Calling all Devon Learning Disability Care Home providers!
You are invited to attend a virtual provider engagement event on Wednesday 22 September from 1:00pm to 2:00pm to meet with commissioners and the Market Management Team to find out more about the new regional LD Framework and ask any questions. We would also like to use this event to explore with you opportunities to strengthen our engagement with our LD care homes and welcome your involvement with this discussion. If you have not received the calendar invite please email us.
Free Connect 5 Training
Public Health Devon is now offering Connect 5 training online. Connect 5 is a workforce training programme, created to upskill non-mental health staff to better understand and successfully address mental health issues. It takes a preventative approach to poor mental wellbeing.
The training is in three sessions, each lasting three hours. The course is interactive with opportunities to practise your new skills. Completing all three sessions is recommended. Each session covers a different topic.
The next training sessions are from 1:30pm to 4:30pm on:
- Wednesday 1 September - Brief Advice
- Wednesday 8 September - Brief Wellbeing Intervention
- Wednesday 15 September - Integrated Wellbeing Intervention.
The link to register.
Care homes free webinar: Using your iPad or iPhone in social care
Digital Social Care has partnered with Apple Healthcare to bring you free webinars on how to get the most out of your iPhone or iPad.
The webinars are on:
• Thursday 9 September from 2:00pm to 3:00pm
• Tuesday 14 September from 2:00pm to 3:00pm
These webinars will include:
• top tips for using your Apple device at work, including the basics of getting started with your device
• accessibility features for care staff
• accessibility features for people who use care and support services
• live Q&A.
Self-Isolation support letter and Q&A
To support change in the staff isolation guidance, a letter to the sector from Claire Armstrong, Director of Adult Social Care at the Department of Health and Social Care, and an accompanying Q&A have been issued. These are available on Skills For Care’s site here.
Research on the adverse effects of social isolation and loneliness in care homes during COVID-19
The adverse effects of social isolation and loneliness on psychological and physical health outcomes in care home residents during COVID-19.
Vaccination promotional material
Information for eligible adults on COVID-19 vaccination has been updated with new promotional material.
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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