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Welcome to this week's newsletter, published for adult social care providers.
This issue features a link to the latest Proud to Care recruitment campaign news release and video along with our usual Proud to Care links. It also features a link to a range of Proud to Care social media assets and the more often they get shared the more effective the campaign will be.
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.
Getting booster jabs for health and social care staff
If you work in health and social care and had your second COVID-19 vaccination at least six months ago, remember that you can go to the Greendale vaccination site in Exeter without an appointment to get your booster jab. It's open from 8.30am until 7.00pm, seven days a week. You will need to take your work identity badge and proof of employment such as a current payslip or letter from your employer.
If you would prefer an appointment, you can complete a form for the Newton Abbot Racecourse and the vaccination site will send you a text message with a booking link allowing you to choose a date and time to attend or you can book online via the National Booking Service (NBS), or by calling 119.
The English Riviera Centre in Torquay will be taking bookings via the NBS soon.
Confused about booster jabs and flu vaccines?
Here’s what you need to know on this helpful NHS Devon website.
 Booster and flu blog
Sofija Igonkina, from the Evergreen care home in Hastings, gives an emotive account of how personal experience and the suffering of residents and colleagues around her, convinced her to take the COVID-19 vaccine and booster jab.
Winter vaccination campaign: double your peace of mind
Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care says in her latest blog:
"As people working in or with the care sector, we all want the best for residents, colleagues and the communities around us. Let’s give them even greater peace of mind by getting vaccinated for flu and COVID-19 and make this the safest, healthiest winter we can."
You can also spread the message with a wealth of resources designed to inform, reassure and encourage your colleagues to book free vaccinations and maximise the prospect of a safe and healthy winter.
Updated care home vaccination FAQs from Care Providers Alliance
The Care Providers Alliance have updated its FAQs on vaccination as a condition of deployment to care homes.
The 12-week grace period runs from 1 October to 24 December 2021, during which staff can self-certify that they are exempt from having the COVID-19 vaccine. Care homes can accept self-certifications as evidence of exemption up to 24 December. Self-certifications run out on 24 December and can no longer be accepted as evidence of exemption from that date.
Thursday 11 November does, however, remain as the date the regulations go into force and if someone does not have a temporary or permanent exemption after that date, they will not be able to work in the care home. This means that some care home staff will no longer be able to enter the care home from 24/25 December 2021.
The Care Provider Alliance are requesting a review of these arrangements and an extension of the self-certification period for care home staff but their FAQs cover the current situation so please read them carefully.
 Proud to Care campaign for sharing on social media
The Proud to Care media campaign to help adult social care workforce recruitment is being accompanied by messages on social media platforms and the more widely they are shared the more effective the campaign will be. Please see the news release, watch this video and share our posts supporting the campaign on social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.
Skills for Care focus on retaining staff
Throughout October and November, Skills for Care is putting the spotlight on retaining staff. Over the next two months we’ll be sharing information and ideas through blogs, articles, and social media posts to help you #RetainToGain.
Expanding vaccination requirements beyond care homes consultation closes soon
Please remember that the government's open consultation, seeking views on whether or not to extend vaccination as a condition of deployment (VCoD) in care homes to other health and care settings for COVID-19 and flu runs until 11.45pm, Friday 22 October.
Department of Health newsletter introduces Office for Health Improvement
In their latest newsletter Department of Health and Social Care highlights the launch of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), provides a winter vaccines update and promotes World Mental Health day.
PPE provision - consultation ends on Sunday 31 October
The Department of Health and Social Care is still 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.
Remember to order LFDs regularly
Please remember that the best way to ensure that you always have the Lateral Flow Devices (LDFs) you need for workforce testing is to place your order for the test kits on a regular basis.
 Cybersecurity awareness month
October is cyber security awareness month and the Better Security, Better Care team at Digital Social Care would like to help you keep data secure. Having good cyber security arrangements in place will keep your health and care records safe as well as protect against losing critical data.
You can access free support on the Digital Social Care website, as well as read their guidance and toolkit to check your data and cyber security arrangements. To report cyber attacks contact Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
 NHS encourages pregnant women to get COVID-19 vaccine
New data shows that nearly 20 per cent of the most critically ill coronavirus patients are pregnant women who have not been vaccinated.
Thirty-three year old mum-to-be, Claire, who spent nearly a month in an NHS hospital’s critical care unit after catching coronavirus during her pregnancy has joined the NHS in urging pregnant women to get the life-saving COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible. She said:
"I completely understand the hesitation not to get vaccinated when you are growing a child inside you, and after experiencing two miscarriages before the pandemic, the fear of being pregnant again with the worry of COVID-19 was sending my anxiety through the roof. But after what happened, I can honestly say that the risk of not having the COVID-19 vaccine far outweighs any doubts about having it."
Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, Chief Midwifery Officer for England, said:
"You can receive vaccination at any time in pregnancy, but the risks that unvaccinated pregnant women face of becoming severely unwell if they catch COVID-19 show exactly why we advise you to do so as soon as possible."
Visit the government's website to find out more about having the COVID-19 vaccine while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Face coverings and COVID-19: statement from an expert panel
An expert panel statement, informed by evidence and expertise, has been produced on the role of face coverings in mitigating COVID-19 transmission.
Multidisciplinary teams’ role in enhancing the health of care home residents: animation and information
A new animation from NHS England shows how care home staff, health and social care professionals are working collaboratively to improve the health of their residents and to plan proactive and personalised care.
 Use NHS care options to choose the right care
Help the NHS in Devon by choosing the right care, when you need it. If you aren't sure what to do, take a look at the NHS care options.
Don't forget to redeem your holiday vouchers for half term
If your child currently receives free school meals, Devon County Council is sending supermarket vouchers worth £15 per child per week of the October half term to help you buy food during the holiday.
The letter or email containing information about how to access the vouchers will be sent to the main contact details we have on record, which is usually the parent that made the original application for free school meals.
You should receive it by Friday 22 October, so please get in touch with our free school meals team after then if you were expecting to receive one but didn’t. You can email them or call our education helpline on 0345 155 1019.
Many families in Devon have seen their financial circumstances change due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. If you didn’t previously qualify for free school meals but your income has reduced or stopped, the quickest and easiest way for your eligibility to be assessed is through our website and you will get an instant decision. Alternatively, contact our education helpline on 0345 155 1019.
More detailed information about the free school meals holiday voucher scheme is available on our website.
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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