Welcome to this week's newsletter, published for adult social care providers.
We once again thank all providers for their ongoing hard work in challenging times.
You may have noticed that this is our 52nd issue. We've been publishing the newsletter for a year now and what a year it's been. We hope that the newsletter has given you some useful information and sources of support in these challenging times.
COVID-19 national Winter Plan updated with comprehensive provider guidance links
The government has now updated its national COVID-19 Winter Plan for adult social care into a document which brings together information and guidance on all relevant topics including Infection Prevention and Control, PPE, COVID-19 and flu vaccination, hospital discharge and more, with discrete sections on action for providers.
Pleaser read The adult social care: COVID-19 winter plan 2021 to 2022.
Care homes: additional funding support for commissioned beds
As a follow up to the email sent to you on 10 August 2021 titled “Care Homes: additional funding support – commissioned beds”, DCC has written to care homes to confirm DCC will be making a second and final payment on Friday 5 November.
Please remember, this grant is based on your commissioned long stay placement numbers at June 2021 and has been calculated on a ‘per commissioned bed’ basis for DCC and NHS CCG placements only. The grant covers a period of six months from August 2021 to January 2022.
This grant should not to be confused with the recently announced Round 5 Infection Control Grant, Rapid Test Fund or Vaccination Fund all of which will be covered by future notifications.
Please contact us if you have any queries.
Vaccination guidance: flexibility for most vulnerable
This clinical guidance has been updated to allow flexibility in booster programme for most vulnerable people.
COVID-19 boosters will be given earlier to those at highest risk where this makes operational sense.
It will for example allow care home residents who may have received their second doses at different times to be vaccinated in the same session, as long as it’s been five months since their second dose.
It may also help with other vulnerable groups, such as housebound patients, so that they can have their flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time.
Prevention is multi-layered and we need all its layers to be effective
We've drawn inspiration from Swiss cheese this week, and shared an analogy used by the BBC to describe the importance of all prevention measures, in the fight against coronavirus.
Case rates are rising. The vaccination programme is going well, with booster jabs among our older and eligible population, and vaccinations now available for 12 to 15 year olds.
But as effective as the vaccine is, it can't be used in isolation as a measure to combat coronavirus.
The Swiss Cheese analogy describes prevention as a range of different Swiss cheese slices. On their own, they're less effective, but combined, they offer much more protection against viruses.
It argues that alongside the vaccine, we need face coverings, regular hand washing, testing, socialising outdoors, distancing – all of these measures add up to a more effective level of protection and prevention than just one on its own.
We like the analogy and thought it was worth sharing.
All you need to know about flu
We published a special vaccine-themed Connect Me update with all you need to know about flu.
It’s especially important that eligible children aged two or three years old (on 31 August) are offered the flu vaccine this year.
All pregnant women are also eligible for the free flu vaccine. There’s evidence that pregnant women have a higher chance of complications if they get flu, particularly in later stages of pregnancy.
Find out more about the flu jab in pregnancy.
COVID-19: vaccine information for people without an NHS number is available in range of languages
An NHS letter is available in over 20 languages to explain to people without an NHS Number how to get the COVID-19 vaccine. It reassures people in this situation that they do not need to have a GP or an NHS number and that COVID-19 vaccines are available to every adult living in the UK, free of charge without any immigration checks.
Enjoy the season's festivities safely
With Friday 5 November upon us, many people may be out this weekend to celebrate the occasion.
We want everyone to enjoy themselves but as coronavirus is an airborne virus, any gathering of people, especially indoors, increases the risk of transmission. So enjoy the weekend, but wrap up warm and celebrate outside. If meeting indoors with people you don't live with, make sure it's well ventilated – leave the window or door open to let fresh air in.
We've published a few tips to help celebrate the season safely.
COVID-19 vaccination of people working / deployed in care homes: the role of the Care Quality Commission
With this regulation coming into effect on Thursday 11 November 2021, CQC would like to remind providers of their role in carrying out duties in line with Health and Social Care Act.
Below is the statement issued by CQC:
"We're aware of concerns regarding the vaccination as a condition of deployment duty, introduced as part of changes to the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 (‘the Act’). Some of these concerns have been raised around the role of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in monitoring compliance with this requirement.
We understand that COVID-19 pandemic has, and continues to be, an extremely difficult time for care providers, staff members, people using services and their representatives. We recognise the lengths that many staff members and volunteers within services have gone to, to keep people safe during this challenging period.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have amended the Act. From 11 November 2021, all care home workers and other visiting professionals will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless they have an exemption or there is an emergency. More information about the exemptions and what is an emergency is detailed in their operational guidance.
Our role is to regulate against the regulations as they are set by government. As such, we encourage providers to read the operational guidance issued by DHSC on 4 August 2021 and to take the necessary actions to be prepared for this duty to come into place.
We consider that vaccination is an important measure in protecting people who live in care homes and from the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have encouraged providers to encourage and facilitate vaccinations of their staff who are eligible to have a vaccination.
The requirement forms part of the fundamental standards and will be monitored and enforced in appropriate cases by us. We will not begin monitoring this until it becomes a duty on 11 November 2021. We will continue to use our existing assessment and enforcement policies and take a proportionate approach, to ensure the welfare and safety of people who use services. We will always treat each matter individually and consider the individual circumstances when undertaking an assessment and deciding on any possible next steps."
COVID-19 test scam alert!
A scam text message has been doing the rounds this week, saying:
"NHS: You have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19. You must self-isolate for 7 days and order a PCR Testing Kit."
It then directs you to a link designed to look genuine at first glance, but take a closer look and you'll see that it doesn't link to the real NHS website. And if you click on the link, it could then ask you to pay for a testing kit.
This is a scam. If you receive a text like this, please delete it. Do not click on the link or respond to the message.
Find out how you would genuinely be contacted by NHS Test and Trace online.
Black History Month - social care blogs
With Black History Month behind us, here are two blogs reflecting on the Workplace Race Equality Standards (WRES) for social care:
Registered Managers Network meeting
The next meeting is on Wednesday 17 November from 2.00pm to 3:30pm. The meeting is also open to deputies, senior managers and directors in Devon, Torbay and Plymouth.
The next agenda includes updates on Workforce Development Fund, how to respond to a COVID-19 outbreak and 'food for fingers' project. This is also an opportunity for providers to ask questions, share experiences and raise concerns.
To register please follow this link. If you have any questions please contact Ann Woolway.
Mental Health Provider Training
The Devon Partnership NHS Trust and Devon County Council are organising a supervision course, which will take place on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 November. It's a two full day course and to gain the certificate you will need to fully participate in both days.
The course is aimed at staff working within the helping professions of mental health and learning disability. It will provide the opportunity to develop individual style of practising as a supervisor.
The course will cover: what is supervision, roles and responsibilities of supervision, models of supervision, tasks of supervision, barriers to supervision, benefits of good supervision listening skills, transference and countertransference, ego states, challenging conversations, issues for discussion, supervision skills practice and setting up peer groups.
To book a place please contact the organiser.
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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