PEN weekly newsletter 13 October

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Provider Engagement Network and NHS logo Header

  Supporting health and social care providers in Devon

Welcome to this week's newsletter, published for adult social care providers.

Over the last 18 months we have all pulled together like never before to ensure that people and families across Devon get the vital care and support they need. It continues to be a testing time as we are all under increasing and severe pressure trying to cope with unprecedented requests for care. The requests could be people wanting to get back to their homes, or to know they will get the care or the respite they desperately need.

As social care providers you have been at the centre of the on-going response working side by side with each other and making a difference to so many through your innovation, problem solving and sheer determination. It’s this and our collaborative desire to support those in our communities that will see us all through these challenging times.

In the immediate and short term in order to weather the current challenge and level of escalation, we ask that we are able to think about doing the following things:

  • pick up packages of care for people who are awaiting discharge from hospital  
  • free up backfill of Social Care Reablement / RIC provision so that they can focus on admission avoidance and effective discharge  
  • provide additional admission resource in to residential and nursing homes 
  • work with Care Managers to reassess provision to release capacity. Please notify us urgently of anyone who you think may no longer need so much care. 

Further to this if there is anything else that you are doing that can help the current situation that others could benefit from, or any further innovations or ideas please to get in touch with your local Arranging Support Team: 

  • The West and South Teams can be reached on 01392 381211
  • The North Team can be reached on 01392 381208
  • The East Team can be reached on 01392 381206. 

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. 


Additional funding to help adult social care this winter

Government has announced an extension of the Infection Control and Testing Fund.  An additional £388M will prevent infections and provide for testing and vaccinations in social care settings. This includes £25M for care workers to access COVID-19 and flu vaccines over the winter months. That grant conditions will be published in due course.


Hospital Discharge funding allocations

NHS England and NHS Improvement have confirmed the integrated care system funding allocations for the national hospital discharge fund for Q3 and Q4 of 2021/22 (1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022). The conditions of the fund remain the same as for Q2, that the fund is to help cover the cost of up to four weeks’ post-discharge recovery and support services for new or extended packages of care delivered on or before 31 March 2022. The money also supports designated care settings for those discharged from acute care who are COVID-19 positive and cannot return directly to their own care home until they have undergone 14 days of isolation.  


Vaccination guidance updates

COVID-19 vaccination guidance for women of childbearing age, currently pregnant or breastfeeding has been updated with: a guide on pregnancy and breastfeeding, links to translated versions in various languages, British Sign Language, braille, large print versions, and social media cards.


New regulations on care home double vaccination entry requirements

New government regulations come into force on Thursday 11 November 2021 requiring care home staff to refuse entry to anyone who cannot provide evidence that they have had two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine or that are medically exempt. The regulation applies to all CQC regulated care homes in England. Ambulance clinicians and first responders are however exempt from these requirements.

Answers to FAQs issued by the Department of Health and Social Care regarding exemptions have been updated.


COVID Pass medical exemptions: proving you are unable to get vaccinated or tested

The government has published guidance on how people can apply for official proof that, for medical reasons, they are unable to be vaccinated and / or tested for COVID-19. The possible reasons for exemptions are limited and include:

  • people receiving end of life care where vaccination is not in the person’s best interests
  • people with learning disabilities or autistic individuals or people with a combination of impairments where vaccination cannot be provided through reasonable adjustments
  • a person with severe allergies to all currently available vaccines
  • those who have had an adverse reaction to the first dose (for example - myocarditis).

Short-term exemptions will also be available for those with short-term medical conditions.

All exemptions will be confirmed by a doctor, specialist clinician or midwife and, if approved, your NHS COVID Pass can then be used wherever you need to prove your COVID-19 status within England.

The domestic NHS COVID Pass will look and work the same for people with medical exemptions as it will for people who are fully vaccinated. The pass will not show that you have a medical exemption.

To apply for a COVID Pass medical exemption, you need to phone 119 and ask for an application form. If you’re eligible to apply, you’ll get an application form by post. Find out more about COVID Pass medical exemptions on the government's website.

DHSC guidance on the exemption from COVID-19 vaccination details the process and the clinical criteria.

Frontline health and social care workers can also book a booster appointment via the National Booking Service or by contacting 119, provided that six months (182 days) have passed since the date of their second vaccination.


Collect code for rapid lateral flow test poster

New collect code needed for rapid lateral flow device COVID-19 tests from pharmacies

The way you collect your free box of lateral flow tests from your pharmacy has changed. Now you need a 'collect code', to give to the pharmacist in exchange for the tests. The collect codes are simple and instant to get, either online or by calling 119. Take that code with you and you can collect a box of tests like normal. They'll just ask you for your code. Don't forget to record your test result once you've done it. A reminder about how to do that will be sent to you with the collect code.


Capacity Tracker - reporting PPE supplies correctly

Some care providers are reporting PPE supplies as ‘red’ on the Tracker, but are not actually short of stock. Please update the tracker  if you are no longer experiencing PPE shortages.

It is also vitally important that care managers update all vaccination information daily, including flu and booster jabs for their staff.

Please contact the Capacity Tracker team for help if you have problems updating.


PPE provision to health and social care - consultation

The Department of Health and Social Care is consulting on whether to extend the provision of free PPE to the health and care sector beyond 31 March 2022.

NHS and social care colleagues can provide feedback online until Sunday 31 October.


Response to the government's social care plan

The LGA’s new briefing sets out their response to different parts of the government's plan for health and social care. It is recognised councils will have their own concerns and questions following the publication of the Plan. If there are points you wish to raise then please email the LGA.


Living good lives webinar series

The series aims to support health and social care professionals to enable adults with learning disabilities and / or autistic adults to live good lives along the 'homes not hospitals' pathway. 


Mindfulness courses

Free mindfulness courses are now available to help improve health and wellbeing and reduce stress. You’ll learn ways to bring mindfulness and awareness into your daily life, both within work and at home, through regular meditation and gentle movement.

The sessions are run as weekly or monthly courses by the Devon Wellbeing Hub and the University of Exeter.

Weekly course starts on Wednesday 20 October, 5.00pm - 7.00pm and runs until 8 December.

Monthly skills class starts on Tuesday 19 October, 6.00pm - 8.00pm and runs until 24 March 2022.

For further information and to register please email the organiser.

For some quick tips on getting started with mindfulness, visit the Mindful website.


Every Mind Matters campaign to improve people's mental health

A new campaign has been launched to help people with their mental wellbeing.

Mental health: a decade of change in just 2 years

Sajid Javid, the Health and Social Care Secretary, spoke at the Global Mental Health Summit 2021 about mental health.


Research

Personalisation in Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities

This report from Think Local Act Personal aims to find good examples of personalised care and community-based support for people from ethnically diverse communities.

Coronavirus and People with Learning Disabilities Study Wave 3 Results

The Warwick University's report describes the main results of the third Wave of the Coronavirus and People with Learning Disabilities Study.


Devon Infection Prevention Week poster

Devon Infection Prevention Festival

Join us in celebrating the importance of infection prevention as part of International Infection Prevention Week from Monday 18 to Friday 22 October.

Devon County Council will be running a number of events and activities throughout the week that are FREE to join, suitable for all settings e.g.


IMPACT co-production database

IMProving Adult Care Together (IMPACT) is a new UK centre for implementing evidence in adult social care. IMPACT is committed to co-production and want to engage with the experts: user and carer-led groups and community groups working with seldom heard people. To do this, they are getting together a database of organisations and groups. You can register to be on this database, enabling you to be involved with shaping and understanding their work as it develops.


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


Issue 49,  13 October 2021


Are your colleagues missing out? Ask them to sign-up to this PEN newsletter here!


New era of public health to tackle inequalities and level up the nation

Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, issued a letter on the launch of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), that will work to improve the nation’s health and address the disparities in health across the country.


Winter vaccinations campaign resources

You can download all care staff winter vaccine materials, including posters, leaflets, social media graphics and stickers to promote flu and COVID-19 boosters.


New film launched urging public to get flu and COVID-19 vaccines

New campaign encourages those eligible to get free flu vaccine and COVID-19 booster vaccine ahead of winter.


Duncan’s advice for fellow carers

Duncan is a carer for his wife and daughter and he's been double vaccinated against coronavirus. He's a superb care ambassador for Devon Carers.  He's produced a  video to encourage other carers to get the COVID-19 vaccine


Case rates in Devon

Following the decline in case rates some weeks ago, we are now seeing a continued, slow and steady increase across the county. Most notably, cases are highest in the school-age and the 40-59 year old population. Rates for Devon overall continue to remain below the national average.


Brexit Logo

Brexit

Information on the EU Settlement Scheme is available on GOV.UK as well as on the PEN website.


contact details logo

Are your contact details up-to-date?

We encourage providers to update their contact details (especially email addresses) with the Procurement team. We use these details to communicate with providers and it’s very important that we reach the correct person in your organisation, to receive appropriate referrals and timely updates from DCC, and don’t miss out on any opportunities.

Please ensure we have your most recent email address.


Proud to Care Logo

Proud to Care Support

Proud to Care can support with your recruitment and retention needs. Sign up on our FREE jobs board to post your vacancies.
We offer our candidate matching service, ambassadors scheme, social media boosting and lots more.

We have our updates page with news on current opportunities, resources and initiatives. Take a look to see what you could access. To find out more how we can support you, please email Proud to Care.

Access Workforce Development Fund and Apprenticeship Levy

The Workforce Development Fund (WDF) allows you to claim back money towards the costs of your team completing a range of qualifications, programmes and digital learning modules.

Devon County Council can transfer apprenticeship levy funds to other employers in Devon. You can use this fund for apprenticeships for your staff to help develop your workforce new or existing. Our new Frequently Asked Questions is now updated on our training and education funding page to make it easier to check eligibility and to apply.

Free Leadership Development and Team Leader Education Workshops

The team leader and leadership programmes have been reviewed and co-designed with adult social care providers. These workshops are available to all types of adult social care provider in Devon.


National COVID-19 guidance updates

The GOV.UK website

The NHS.UK website


DCC COVID-19 updates

Coronavirus advice to the public

Weekly stakeholder briefing

Coronavirus local dashboard and data (report on confirmed cases and deaths at a district level).


Intergrated Care System for Devon (ICSD)

Integrated Care System for Devon (ICSD)

ICSD is a partnership of health and social care organisations working together with local communities across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay to improve people’s health, wellbeing and care. Their website contains general information on vaccination including FAQs.


National vaccination publication collection

The national government page contains vaccination guidance, training resources, consent forms, letters, leaflets, posters and more.


NHS Devon vaccination stakeholder briefings

Read the latest weekly briefing and view previous ones.


Save the date logo

Webinars, online training and forums in one place

Make sure you have the opportunity to participate in local and national webinars, online forums and training by visiting our website.

Technology for our Ageing Population: panel for innovation - webinar on Tuesday 26 October

The virtual launch will look at developing a benchmark for what ‘good’ looks like in technology for housing and care. Join the session which will run on Tuesday 26 October from 4.00pm until 5.30pm.


The Oliver McGowan mandatory training in learning disability and autism

The training will be held on Wednesday 1 December 2021 from 10.00am to 12.00noon. The purpose of this event is to update anyone working to support people with learning disabilities and autistic people about the progress to date on the work currently taking place with partners to design, trial and develop the training.


Short NHS training courses for care home and domiciliary care providers

With input from local providers, Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust developed free Pop-up training courses which are delivered by nurses and nurse specialists to support the daily care for your clients e.g. pressure ulcers prevention, oral care. To book a place on any of the courses please email Training South Devon.


PEN events calendar

Check the calendar for future events.


PEN newsletter archive

View previous issues