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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.
Please ensure you book your booster vaccination as soon as possible if you have not done so already. There is mounting evidence to show the effectiveness of boosters in protecting care staff, the people we serve and the public as a whole.
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.
Care staff prioritisation at vaccination centres
Please note that if frontline health and care workers politely make themselves known to the volunteers and marshals at the mass vaccination centres, they will endeavour to move you through any vaccination queues as quickly as possible.
Supported living guidance updated
The national COVID-19 guidance for providers of supported living services was updated on Monday 22 November to take into account all the relevant changes made to other pandemic guidance and clinical advice from the UK Health Security Agency.
Adult social care charging reform: further details
This document sets out further detail on the workings of the new charging reform framework and confirms key outstanding policy details, including the standard level at which ‘daily living costs’ will initially be set.
COVID-19 vaccination: what to do if you are medically exempt - updated guidance
Although vaccination as a condition of deployment in care homes is now fully in force, and will be extended to other health and care settings from April 2022, not everyone can be vaccinated against COVID-19 for health reasons.
If you work or volunteer in care homes you must apply for official proof that, for medical reasons, you're unable to be vaccinated.
Please read the updated guidance explaining the process you'll need to follow.
 COVID-19: Booster vaccine gives “significant increased protection” in over 50s
Booster thank you from NHS Devon’s Chief Nurse
NHS Devon’s Chief Nurse, Darryn Allcorn has thanked everyone who has booked or had their booster.
“You are helping to protect yourselves and your loved ones and to reduce pressure on our busy NHS services this winter,” he said.
The Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation has previously advised booster vaccinations for all adults aged 50 years and over and those in a COVID-19 at-risk group. The offer has now been extended to include those aged 40 to 49 years.
The advice comes as the UK Health Security Agency publishes the first data on booster vaccine effectiveness in the UK. The analysis shows that people who take up the offer of a booster vaccine increase their protection against symptomatic COVID-19 infection to over 90%. Protection against more severe disease is expected to be even higher.
People can book their COVID-19 booster appointment five months (152 days) after their second dose, meaning they could receive their top up vaccine on the day they become eligible at six months (182 days).
Booster vaccines can still only be given after a six-month interval (at least six months after your second vaccine dose), but allowing appointments to be booked at five months means people can get their jabs booked in ahead.
Those who are eligible can book their COVID-19 booster appointment by visiting the National Booking System website or calling 119 and find a walk-in site online.
Third primary doses process explained
The third primary dose is for patients who were severely immunosuppressed when they received their first or second dose and consequently will not have reached the same levels of immunity as others will after two primary doses. This is separate to booster doses.
Eligible patients can be identified by either their GP or their hospital consultant and issued a letter demonstrating their eligibility so they can attend a walk-in session at a vaccine centre, GP led site, pop up clinic or community pharmacy. Further guidance is available here.
Chief Medical Officer comments on COVID-19 hospital admissions and pregnancy
England's Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Chris Whitty, has urged all women who are pregnant or hoping to become pregnant, to get a coronavirus vaccine.
Find out more about booking your vaccination on the NHS website.
Winter vaccinations: peace of mind for everyone
As frontline care workers, you already know COVID-19 vaccinations have been a literal lifeline for you, your colleagues, family and friends. Critically, winter flu now has the potential to disrupt care provision again. Book your flu jabs now and encourage your colleagues to do the same.
As with the coronavirus vaccination programme, information and reassurance will be vital to this campaign’s success. There are a wealth of free winter vaccination resources available for download. A winter vaccines communications toolkit is also available, featuring case studies, expert blogs and a range of materials to promote flu and COVID-19 boosters among care sector colleagues.
Winter vaccinations: peace of mind for everyone blog.
Money available to help support people during self-isolation
With the high rate of positive coronavirus cases across Devon right now, there are growing numbers of people required to self-isolate.
For many, with minor symptoms and people to help them, ten days self-isolating is OK. It’s workable. But for others, self-isolating can be very difficult, especially if they live alone, they’re unwell or have other responsibilities outside the house.
We've made small to medium-size grants available to local voluntary and community groups.
It's to help people with the practical, social or emotional support they need so that they can self-isolate properly and they don’t potentially pass the virus onto others.
Grants typically can be up to £5,000 for small projects and up to £20,000 for larger projects. Applications for larger projects will be considered.
Information and eligibility for the grants is available on our website.
To discuss an application please contact Hannah Reynolds.
Household Support Fund
Households on low-incomes can get help with food and energy costs this winter from the UK Government’s new ‘Household Support Fund’. The government has distributed funding to county councils across England to help those most in need.
Further details are on the DCC website.
Infection prevention and control (IPC): Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care launches new guide
A new IPC Good Practice Guide, written by Professor Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, has been published on Skills for Care. The guide includes good practice examples of IPC for care home staff, domiciliary care workers and infection control teams.
Advice and recommendations are informed by lessons learned from the pandemic and will help keep residents, colleagues and service users safe.
Updated code of practice for international recruitment of health and social care staff
The code of practice promoting the high standards of ethical practice in the international recruitment and employment of health and social care personnel has been updated.
It sets out the UK’s approach to supporting health and social care systems and workforce and is aimed at all health or social care organisations or recruitment agencies undertaking international recruitment.
 Devon Carers campaign
This new campaign is aimed at increasing the number of unpaid carers in Devon that are receiving support from Devon Carers.
The campaign will run from now until the end of March 2022. Each month will focus on a different group and every month there will be new downloadable resources for you to share.
If you would like a hard copy of the campaign booklet then please let us know.
 Knowledgeable trainers are ready to provide you with up to 12 hours of high-quality digital training and advice tailored to your business’s needs. This can include interactive workshops and one-to-ones, covering a wide variety of essential digital topics.
Sign up now to receive your free digital skills training.
Webinar: Health inequalities and the impact of COVID-19 on people with learning disabilities
On Tuesday 30 November from 2.00pm to 3.00pm, the LGA will be hosting a webinar on Health inequalities and the impact of COVID-19 on people with learning disabilities. Funded by government and organised by the LGA, this webinar will discuss COVID-19 risk factors and the evidence to date on inequalities impacting people with a learning disability. It will examine both the impact of COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic restrictions on people with a learning disability as well as what steps councils can and are taking to reduce those inequalities.
 HOPE programme for carers – January 2022
HOPE gives carers (paid and unpaid) an opportunity to take some time out to focus on themselves, their wellbeing and connect with other carers who are facing the same challenges.
Another virtual HOPE programme starts on Wednesday 5 January from 1.30pm to 3.30pm. The course will be delivered over six weeks and each weekly session will be on Wednesday. The course is available for any carer living in Devon.
Follow this link to sign up or contact the HOPE coordinator via email or ring them on 01803 320600.
Free training for individual employers
Living Options offers free online training for individual employers or those who think about employing a personal assistant (PA), to fully grasp their role and responsibilities. The sessions will clarify your legal obligations and your PAs statutory employment rights such as notice, statutory sick pay and maternity rights, what you can do and where you should turn when things go wrong. This training session is delivered by Mark Bates, provider of Employer Liability insurance and experts in the field of employment law.
Available dates:
- Tuesday 30 November 2021 from 10.00am to 12noon
- Wednesday 12 January 2022 from 1.00pm to 3.00pm
- Thursday 10 February from 10.00am to 12noon
- Tuesday 1 March from 10.00am to 12noon
- Wednesday 16 March from 10.00am to 12noon. The final training session might be a mix of on and offline, with up to ten attendees able to take part in the training face to face at our office in Exeter.
Please register your attendance.
If you have any questions please email Living Options or ring them on 01392 459 222.
Second-hand electric profiling beds available
The North Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (Trust) has 20 second hand electric profiling beds available for care homes at a reduced price of £50. The beds are 11-12 years old and the Hillrom Avantaguard 1200 model, minus the mattress. They are sold as working but without any guarantee. The beds have an integral battery which requires charging from a normal 13 amp 3 pin socket. It is recommended to leave the power on when the bed is in use as the beds will work directly from the mains power source. The Trust beds are serviced by Hillrom. Further support would also be available from Hillrom but would be the responsibility of the purchaser.
The beds will be available from a site in Barnstaple. The purchaser will be expected to arrange collection as the Trust does not have any vehicles with capability for bed transport, as the beds do not deconstruct.
For more details please contact Fraser Bishop.
New report and resources on housing with care and support for older people
This new report and resources for commissioners and managers in health and social care includes:
The report and the resources were developed by the Commission on the Role of Housing in the Future of Care and Support and funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust and led by SCIE.
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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