Friday 1 October 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, everybody needs to continue to act carefully and remain cautious. This is why the government is keeping key protections in place.
#RespectProtectEnjoy #DoItForDevon
Like elsewhere in the country, Devon is seeing a rise in coronavirus cases among the school-age population, and it's likely that this will continue.
We know that parents are concerned about the rising cases of coronavirus among children.
Steve Brown, our Director of Public Health, offers some reassurance. He said:
"We all know how much learning has been disrupted these last 18 months.
"What's important now, while we are all living with coronavirus, is that we try to keep case rates as low as possible, to enable as many children as possible to stay in school.
"Where we see large outbreaks in schools, we and those schools work closely together to agree any additional control measures to put in place to help control the spread of the virus.
"However, with the national change in guidance around close contacts and self-isolation, schools will only ask classes or year groups to stay at home, to be taught remotely, as a very last resort.
"There is also a lot of seasonal illness among young people at the moment. If your child has symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea and/or vomiting– even if they test negative with a PCR test for coronavirus - please keep your child off school or nursery to avoid spreading other infections."
Read more on the news section of our Devon County Council website.
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.
Current fuel situation in Devon
As you’ll be aware, we have numerous frontline services that rely on transportation and therefore fuel. All of them are important, but most critical are those that support the vulnerable and that help keep Devon moving.
All of our services are monitoring their situations closely.
In Adult Social Care, we are in daily contact with care providers, and although they report some impact, it is being managed well by their teams. Likewise in Children Services, the situation for frontline delivery of social work and related activity is currently being managed well. Similarly, our highway maintenance providers, Milestone, are also reporting to us no significant impact at this time.
As you’d expect, we have seen some challenges within our transportation services, with some pockets of difficulty mainly effecting North Devon. However, teams are working through those issues to find solutions and we have managed to secure fuel supply in North Devon via one of our partners.
It is important to note that we have been directed by the government not to ask garages to limit fuel supplies to selected occupational groups, and we have observed this to date.
Separate from the fuel issue, another challenge that we’re seeing nationally is impacting on us here in Devon. Driver shortages are a challenge, affecting one of our coach routes to Ivybridge Community College in particular. We’re working with local different operators in the area to make alternative arrangements. Similarly, driver issues continue to be a challenge for public transport provider, Stagecoach.
Regionally, we are in daily contact with our Devon, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Local Resilience Forum (LRF) partners regarding fuel, and continue to monitor the situation very carefully. The consensus from our LRF partners at the moment is that we are not seeing the same level of challenges here in Devon as we have seen reported in other parts of the country.
For your information, our media statement in response to enquiries yesterday, read:
“We’re not experiencing the same significant challenges that other parts of the country are seeing, but the multi-agency partners of the Local Resilience Forum are watching the situation carefully and would encourage the public to continue to fuel their cars and vehicles as normal."
COVID-19 vaccination National Booking Service opens for 16 and 17 year olds
Young people aged 16 and 17 years old are now able to book their COVID-19 jabs through the National Booking Service.
Thousands of text messages from 'NHSvaccine' have been sent to teenagers in Devon that include a web link to the NHS website to make a booking.
Almost three quarters of a million young people in England – around 60% – have already received their vaccine thanks to the NHS ‘Grab a Jab’ campaign, where the NHS online site finder helps people find their nearest walk-in vaccine clinic.
The online booking service now offers an additional way for people aged 16 and 17 years old to get a single shot of Pfizer in line with Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advice.
Healthy Activity & Food (HAF) Programme
The Healthy Activity & Food (HAF) Programme which ran over the summer holiday period was a great success. We worked with 70 activity providers to offer in excess of 40,000 places for children and young people who have free school meals and those identified by their school or other professional as vulnerable. The activities ran over the summer holidays and they were able to attend the activities every week for four days, ensuring that those attending had a hot nutritious meal at least once a day.
Click to watch the video from Exeter Community Trust to see what it meant to the children and young people who attended.
In this video, one of our HAF providers, Exeter Community Trust, gives you a flavour of what some of our most disadvantaged children experienced. If you watch the video below you will be able to see what it meant to the children and young people who attended.
Activities included daily trips to woods/forest, local parks, river walks and the beach. Beach and river schools incorporated Canadian canoeing, bush-tucker tasting, foraging and cooking schools. Climbing, dance, ballet, inflatable obstacles courses and bouncy castles were offered as well as tree climbing, yoga, art, pottery, making clothes, knitting, crocheting, drama, swimming, roller blading, trampolining, crab fishing, shelter, den building, singing, paper making, drumming, animation and audio vox pop – the list is endless. Most providers also provided an end of holiday 'festival celebration' for everyone.
Our Early Years co-ordinator was asked to deliver a presentation to the Department for Education on our summer programme, which was a great accolade to the team, as only two local authorities were asked to present. We were asked to share, as a large rural county, how we had managed to deliver such a diverse and successful programme to so many children and young people.
They were very surprised that we had been able to deliver such a successful programme with the staffing we have allocated to the programme from the Devon Children and Families Partnership and Early Years, this has obviously ensured that 99% of the funding has gone on delivery rather than administration/management costs. On the back of the presentation we have now been asked to provide peer support to other local authorities.
A full evaluation will be available shortly but these are a few quotes from parents and children:
“I can’t thank you enough for all you have done by accepting us as a family into your summer holiday scheme. Both my children have really developed in confidence and gained friendships within your group – they have struggled with this over the past few years.”
“Please can you pass on our thanks from us and from Louis to the team. Louis has had a fabulous time at your sessions. He has loved meeting new friends, cooking, trying different food and especially the outings and new experiences. He is now open to eating more vegetables at home and trying different things.”
"I have rarely left the house with my children over the last year due to COVID-19, and I was worried about how I would be able to give my children a holiday this summer. Whilst we didn't have a holiday, I was able to take my children out for a day to the beach knowing that I could afford to do this because there was enough food to be able make them all a packed lunch which meant my only expense was the bus fare to get there. Thank you, we've felt like we had a holiday and that's down to all your support"
A 12-year-old boy told us that the best bit was being given a delicious hot meal sitting round a table and chatting to his friends:
“I have made lots of friends and I haven’t got many at school so I am so happy.”
One child reported that he really liked coming to the scheme as it was fun and gave him something to do other than sitting in the house playing on his Xbox; whilst another said he liked sitting down with others at lunchtime and eating and talking together as this never happened at home.
We are already planning our Christmas programme and waiting to hear if the Department for Education has identified funding for next year to continue the programme. We can’t wait!
Arrangements for GCSE, AS and A levels in summer 2022
For the past two years, summer exams haven’t been able to take place due to the coronavirus pandemic, and instead students have been awarded grades by their teachers.
Now exam regulator Ofqual has put in place arrangements for GCSE, AS and A levels in summer 2022 to support students and make exams fairer for them because they've had their education disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government has introduced a choice of topics or content in some GCSE exams and exam boards will give advance information about the focus of the content of exams, designed to provide guidance for revision for students ahead of summer exams, and study aids will be allowed in some exams.
You can find out more about Ofqual’s approach to grading exams and assessments in autumn 2021 and summer 2022 on the government website.
 Booster jabs begin for most vulnerable
COVID-19 booster vaccinations have begun in Devon for those who are most vulnerable to coronavirus.
The programme is being rolled out to the same priority groups as previously. This means care home residents, health and social care workers, people aged over 50 years old, those aged 16 to 49 years old with underlying health conditions, adult carers and adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals will be prioritised.
Eligible people will be offered a booster dose at least 26 weeks (six months) after they had their second COVID-19 vaccine dose.
The majority of people who are currently eligible will receive their invite within the next three weeks. Please wait to be contacted via letter, text or email before trying to book and don't contact the NHS until you are invited for your booster.
Once you have received an invitation, you can book using the National Booking Service.
 Funding available for organisations to support self-isolating residents
We've launched a new fund to help community organisations provide practical, social and emotional support to Devon residents self-isolating due to COVID-19.
The grants of up to £5,000 for small projects and £20,000 for larger projects can be used to help those self-isolating with any caring responsibilities; accessing food and other supplies; practical tasks such as dog walking; and mental health and wellbeing support to address things like loneliness and boredom.
Groups can also use the money to improve their community’s awareness and understanding of the government’s self-isolation rules, including when you need to self-isolate, how long for, what it involves and why it is a vitally important part of slowing the spread of COVID-19, as well as what support is available.
For more information about the 'COVID-19 Outbreak Management Grant', including how to apply, please visit our website.
 Free business support for Devon businesses
Research by Devon and Plymouth's Chamber of Commerce suggests that businesses that are members of the Chamber are three times more likely to survive than those that are not.
"We want to help more businesses not just survive but thrive as we emerge from the coronavirus pandemic," said Stuart Elford, Chief Executive of the Devon and Plymouth Chamber, announcing a new drive to support Devon firms.
Last year, more than 100 businesses took up the Chamber's offer of a fully-funded membership. And now the Chamber is inviting thousands more businesses in Devon to do the same.
For the next few months, the Chamber is offering a fully funded three-month introductory scheme, giving businesses the opportunity to be part of the Chamber network, with access to events, support, international trade advice and networking opportunities, at no cost.
"The last 18 months have been incredibly difficult for everyone and we have helped countless businesses survive this challenging period," he said.
"We want to again do something tangible that would help as many businesses as possible succeed as we start to recover and grow again."
Find out more about the free membership period on Devon and Plymouth's Chamber of Commerce website.
Airband progressing with fibre broadband rollout in Devon and Somerset
Broadband provider Airband will be installing fibre broadband in a number of communities in Devon and Somerset in the coming weeks as part of the ongoing Connecting Devon and Somerset broadband rollout.
Over £37,000 raised so far for six planet friendly projects ready to #BackTheFuture in Devon
Six planet-positive projects from across the County are going from strength to strength in their bid to crowdfund their environmental ideas and unlock a share of £30,000 match funding from Devon County Council (up to £5,000 per project).
 Adopt South West is three years old!
Adopt South West represents the adoption services for the four local authorities of Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay, and they became a Regional Adoption Agency (RAA) on 1st October 2018.
Friday 1st October 2021, is Adopt South West’s third birthday! 🎂😉💖
Ali Gwilliam, Operations Manager Recruitment/Assessment and Family Finding at Adopt South West says:
“Thank you to all the parents, families, adopted people and professionals who have worked alongside us, contributed to our development as an agency and provided us with opportunities for learning and improvement.
“We have continued to adapt our working practices through the valuable feedback we have received. Thank you for making this journey so special.”
“We are here for you, please do contact us with your adoption questions or for support or call 0345 155 1076 9.00am to 1.00pm, Monday to Friday or anytime by email adoptsouthwest@devon.gov.uk”
If you are considering adoption and want to find out more, Adopt South West events include a short presentation about the adoption process and different options available to you. You’ll have the opportunity to hear from a local adopter about their experience and to talk to an adoption social worker to find out more about adoption and the application process.
The next available adoption online information event is on Wednesday 10 November – 5.30pm to 7.30pm. Alternative events throughout 2021 are:
- Thursday 25 November – 5.30pm to 7.30pm
- Wednesday 15 December – 5.30pm to 7.30pm
Find out about adoption on the Adopt South West website adoptsouthwest.org.uk
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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