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.
From today, the National Booking System should be able to take advance bookings for COVID-19 booster vaccinations for frontline health and social care staff, regardless of age, so book yours!
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.
Front line health and social care staff - book your booster appointment!
From Friday 19 November all frontline health and social care staff should be able to use the National Booking System to book a COVID-19 vaccination booster appointment if it’s been 152 days (about five months) since their second dose.
Appointments will be offered 182 days (about six months) from your second dose and we encourage all staff to take up the offer and book their booster appointment as soon as possible to protect themselves and the people they support.
Please book your booster using the National Booking System or by ringing 119 or visiting you local vaccination centre.
Booster bookings via walk-in centres
As well as using the National Booking System, people can also book by calling 119 or get vaccinated at hundreds of walk-in sites across the country six months after their second dose without an appointment. Those eligible can use the NHS online walk-in finder to locate the most convenient site.
Guidance update round-up: home care, staff movement and other updates
Provision of home care guidance has been updated in line with the latest clinical advice from the UK Health Security Agency. This update brings together guidance for social care staff, registered providers, local authorities and commissioners who support and deliver care to people in their own homes in England.
Meanwhile, recent updates have been made to protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 and restricting workforce movement between care homes and other care settings. Please see also revisions to the code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel.
Get your free flu vaccine and COVID-19 boosters
Don't forget: frontline adult social care workers are still eligible for a free flu and COVID-19 booster vaccine to help boost their immunity this winter.
Communications toolkits and marketing materials, including Q&A leaflets, posters, social media graphics and email signatures, remain available for care providers to encourage colleagues to take up both vaccines. Printed materials are available to pre-order, alongside digital assets.
New campaign to 'Stop COVID-19 hanging around'
A new campaign has been launched to demonstrate the importance of simple ventilation techniques to reduce the risks of catching COVID-19 this winter.
An explainer film, which is being used on NHS and government digital channels, has been released by scientists demonstrating the positive impact of reducing COVID-19 levels indoors by opening a window for just ten minutes every hour when socialising with others.
You can download resources on COVID-19 health behaviours.
Test and Trace still plays an essential part in reducing COVID-19 transmission and outbreaks
The NHS Test and Trace programme is continuing to identify people who are known to have been in close proximity to anyone who has tested positive for coronavirus via a PCR test.
In Devon, our team is helping to trace those close contacts and advise them on further steps to reduce risk to themselves and others.
Known contacts of people who test positive for COVID-19 no longer have to self-isolate if they’re fully vaccinated or aged under 18 years and six months. But people can still catch coronavirus even if they are fully vaccinated and spread it to others even before they show any symptoms.
Devon’s Director of Public Health, Steve Brown, said:
“Contact tracing continues to be an essential part of reducing coronavirus transmission and containing outbreaks.
“If you are contacted by the tracing team or you receive a message from the Test and Trace app to tell you that you’ve been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please be extra cautious.
“If you are fully vaccinated or under 18 years and six months, take a PCR test to see if you have also caught the virus and self-isolate if you test positive. If the PCR test result is negative please look out for symptoms, continue to test regularly with lateral flow device tests and follow the public health guidance around wearing face coverings, fresh air and good hand hygiene.
“If you’re traced as a contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and you’re not fully vaccinated, you are required to self-isolate because you are at greater risk of catching and passing on the virus.”
You can find out more about NHS Test and Trace on the NHS website.
World Antibiotic Awareness Week
World Antibiotic Awareness Week runs from Thursday 18 to Wednesday 24 November. The campaign aims to increase awareness of global antibiotic resistance and to encourage best practices among the general public, health workers and policy makers to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.
Find out more about the Antibiotic Guardian campaign.
Watch this video about Devon resident and scholar Vanessa Carter and her struggles with facial prosthetic surgery and the challenges with antibiotics used in it.
Self-Care Week reminds us to practise self-care for life
Self-Care Week (from Monday 15 to Sunday 21 November) is the annual national event that raises awareness of what we can all do to improve our physical health and mental wellbeing.
The NHS website has a great deal of information on steps you can take to look after yourself.
Infection Prevention and Control Champions Network launched
A new network of adult social care infection prevention and control champions has been launched to help maintain and continuously improve standards across the care sector.
Run by the Queen’s Nursing Institute, the scheme is supported by Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care Deborah Sturdy OBE and backed by a £35,000 grant from the Department of Health and Social Care.
The network will be made up of frontline social care staff from settings around England responsible for lPC in their specific areas or homes
Read Deborah Sturdy's blog introducing the network.
CQC are currently looking at improving the ways providers register with them and send them notifications
The CQC would like your help as someone working for a health or social care provider. This might be a quick conversation or a more in depth interview about you and your work in relation to CQC.
Anyone can sign up (CQC run research with different providers all the time). They would like to speak to you whether you are new or experienced in your role.
Please sign up if you are willing for CQC to contact you. Research sessions are never more than an hour online or over the phone.
Care home locality support 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:
- East - Tuesday 7 December 10.30am to 11.30am
- South & West - Tuesday 18 January 2.00pm to 3.30pm
- North - Thursday 20 January 1.00pm to 2.30pm
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).
EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) - latest updates and final ADASS webinars
The Home Office has announced continuation of funding until the end of March 2022 for many Grant Funded Organisations who are able to provide direct guidance to vulnerable adults who have yet to apply and to those who require support in submitting appeals.
Much needed clarification around the financial impact on Continuing Health Care and Funded Nursing Care has been obtained from the Department of Health and Social Care. It has been confirmed that both services will remain non-chargeable to EU/EEA nationals. The overseas visitor charging guidance has been recently updated.
ADASS are hosting what will be the last EUSS webinars taking place on Wednesday 24 November from 12.30pm to 1.30pm and Wednesday 8 December from 12.30pm to 1.30pm. This will be the last opportunity to hear the latest guidance from the No Recourse to Public Funds network. To book a place please visit ADASS website.
Updated guidance to signpost individuals to the scheme.
Study shows vaccine immunity is stronger than natural immunity
The ZOE COVID Study found that vaccines offer greater protection against COVID-19 than natural antibodies.
Their conclusion is that while being infected with coronavirus can provide some level of antibody protection, it's not guaranteed for everyone and that the level of protection it gives is lower than the protection that the vaccines provide.
Measuring Self-funding in Care Homes – feedback needed
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is seeking feedback to support the development of statistics measuring the number of people in care homes who are ‘self-funders’.
ONS has recently published an experimental or ‘beta’ version of how we might be able to measure the number of self-funders in England and would be grateful for your feedback to help address this key evidence gap, by completing this short survey. The survey is live until 15 November.
If you have any questions, or need more information, please contact ONS.
Care Workers’ Charity – financial and wellbeing support
- COVID-19 Emergency fund. Emergency funding for care workers who have suffered a drop in income due to COVID-19 or who need financial support because of a COVID-related circumstance.
- Crisis grant. If you’ve experienced a change in circumstance in the last year that has left you in financial need, please apply for their Crisis Grant.
- Mental wellbeing and health support. Providing FREE mental health and wellbeing sessions with a qualified therapist.
If you want to have a chance of winning up to £250 and some stationary goodies from Staedtler then enter the Care Workers' Charity Writing Competition. This year’s theme is 'Community'. Entries are open to anyone who works in the UK social care sector. Submit your entry by Tuesday 30 November.
Remember to share your good news stories in this newsletter
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Revisit previous good news stories
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