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Welcome to this week's newsletter, published for adult social care providers.
This week we offer you an even bigger thank you than usual for all your continued hard work to support people with social care needs in Devon in extremely testing times.
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.
Fuel shortage
We know there have been issues with accessing fuel and that media reports have led on this all week. We also know that many of you report that your staff are having to drive round to find fuel at the end of their shifts. Devon County Council is part of the Local Resilience Forum for Devon & Cornwall which liaises with the government for emergency planning, and at present there are no plans to implement emergency procedures.
We understand the issue is easing as the week progresses, but if you are experiencing ongoing issues please do let us know.
The UK Home Care Association has issued advice to its members to encourage:
- route planning and potential for sharing cars
- trying to make arrangements for a preferential supply from local petrol stations (would be easier if there was recognised “key worker” status locally or centrally)
- in the last resort, reducing or consolidating calls and arranging cover with families, other providers or the local authority.
Remember the six month gap between second and booster jabs
The national booking system will not accept booster bookings until six months have passed since your second vaccination.
To avoid disappointment, please check your second vaccination date before trying to book your booster.
Book your COVID-19 booster jab and get behind our winter vaccination campaign
Millions of eligible people, including frontline care staff, are now being offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine following advice from the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
The National Booking Service is now open for frontline care colleagues to book their COVID-19 booster vaccines, providing it has been six months since they received their second dose.
They can book their booster appointment through the National Booking Service online, by ringing 119, or by visiting their nearest walk-in centre.
Frontline health and social care worker booster vaccinations FAQ
We have done our best to address issues raised by providers when preparing for booster doses of COVID-19 vaccinations for frontline health and social care workers in our updated FAQs.
Updated COVID-19 vaccination consent forms and covering letters
The following forms and letters have been updated and are now available on the PEN website.
Infection Prevention Control and testing funds (ICF) Round 4 (July - September 2021) - final monitoring report
A big thank you to everyone that has been able to proactively participate in the Round 4 of the recent ICF grants. We hope that you found these funds helpful during this time.
Please note that the final reporting deadline for this return is Friday 15 October.
The links to the monitoring forms are provided below (these have also been emailed to you separately):
If you have any queries about completing the forms then please email us.
Please continue to check the Provider Engagement Network (PEN) for updates regarding the ICF and other COVID-19 news.
Please check PCR test kit expiry dates
NHS England laboratory teams have identified a significant number of PCR tests being returned for analysis beyond their expiry dates. Whilst this does not pose any risk to individuals tested, care colleagues must make sure all tests returned to labs are in date. Any expired tests will be classed as void.
To make sure you are using valid tests and minimise the chance of further void results, it is important to always note the expiry date and use tests in the order they were received. Dispose of any expired tests and those within one week of expiry.
Please remember to check the dates on test kits even if they have only just been delivered.
PPE portal: how to order COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE)
Eligible health and social care providers can order PPE through the portal to meet the increased need that has arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The document was updated with: order limits for GPs, domiciliary care providers, residential care homes and removal of 'nitrile' from gloves for all providers.
Care Home Locality Forums
These forums are engagement opportunities for care home providers and their registered managers, DCC Market Management Team and the locality Assistant Director/Social Care Operational team.
The next Care Home Locality Forums are:
- North – Wednesday 10 November from 12.30pm to 2.00pm
- South & West – Thursday 11 November from 12.30pm to 2.00pm
- East – Thursday 14 October from 3.00pm to 4.00pm and Thursday 11 November from 10.30am to 11.30am.
If you have not received the calendar invite please email us stating which locality meeting you would like to receive invites for (North, East or South & West).
Winter flu jab promotional materials and blog
Natasha Edwards, Registered Manager at Evergreen Care Home, explains why she and her colleagues are fully behind the booster and winter flu jab. Download promotional materials from Public Health England and read her blog by clicking the link below.
Testing for adult social care settings guidance update
The guidance on testing in adult social care settings has been updated to reflect changes to: the policy when there is one case of COVID-19 in a care home, changes to rapid lateral flow testing frequency, changes to policy when there are two or more cases of COVID-19 in a care home and changes to ending outbreak restrictions in terms of when they can be lifted and ongoing testing after this period.
Valuing diversity and challenging racism
As with health and social care nationally, the diversity of Devon County Council’s workforce is increasing and we value the experiences and skills that ethnically diverse staff bring to the sector. We are aware that our Black, Asian and other ethnically diverse staff occasionally experience harassment and race bias in the course of their work from families they provide care for but also from providers. One example is where a member of staff has been asked for proof that they are a social worker because they are not White British and have an accent that isn’t British. All DCC and NHS staff use ID badges and making just our Black, Asian and other ethnically diverse staff prove their status in this way is not acceptable.
Further information about DCC’s policy on valuing diversity challenging racism is available and Wayne Reid from the British Association of Social Workers gives valuable insight.
An introduction to the Care Act 2014 video
View SCIE’s short, animated introduction to the Care Act video giving an overview of the key aspects of the Act, including personalisation, strengths-based approaches, advocacy, safeguarding, eligibility and more.
Quick guide: Good practice in safeguarding training
This SCIE quick guide is aimed at registered managers of care homes and explains what to cover in training and how to deliver it, including how to evaluate training in your care home.
Developing the capacity and capability of the personal assistant workforce and influencing change
The Skills for Care London, South East and South West teams are running an online event on Wednesday 10 November for individual employers and the organisations that support them.
The event, which is being structured around the four pillars of Skills for Care’s new three-year strategy, will provide attendees with the opportunity to keep up-to-date with latest good practice, network with others, hear about sources of support and guidance and have their say in conversations about sector development and reform.
For further information and to book a place please visit their website.
Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) workshops
The DSPT is a free online self-assessment toolkit that helps evidence that your organisation manages personal data, both digitally and in paper form, in a safe and secure way. It helps demonstrate compliance with data protection legislation, answers two of the CQC Key Lines of Enquiry and provides reassurance to residents, clients, families and professionals that you manage data appropriately. Importantly, it provides opportunities: ongoing use of NHSmail and potential sharing of care records.
Workshops are now available in October 2021.
Dementia awareness e-learning course
Marking World Alzheimer's Month, SCIE are re-promoting their free e-learning course on dementia awareness.
This course seeks to improve the wellbeing and experience of people with dementia and of the care staff working with them. It should improve your confidence in managing situations you find challenging.
Social Care Online
Social Care Online is the UK's largest online database of information on all aspects of social work and social care. It includes legislation, government documents, practice and guidance, systematic reviews, research briefings, UK grey (informally-published) literature, reports, and journal articles.
The database is updated daily and contains over 160,000 records from the 1980s onwards. Access it today for free!
Introducing the Homecare Association – a new name and brand identity for UKHCA
United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) has renewed their name and brand identity as the Homecare Association. A new Homecare Association website has been launched, which has been designed to make the practical tools, support, evidence and insight they provide for their members, and everyone with an interest in homecare, as accessible 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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