Happy New Year!
Welcome to the first Provider Engagement Network (PEN) newsletter of 2022.
We hope you had as good a festive break as possible and that you saw the two PEN Newsflashes we issued during that period: one on care home visiting and one on staff vaccinations.
We wish you every success for the new year and thank you in advance for all the work you will undertake over the next twelve months, which we hope will be less challenging than last year.
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.
Confirmatory PCR tests to be temporarily suspended for positive lateral flow test results
From Tuesday 11 January in England, people who receive positive lateral flow device test results for COVID-19 will be required to self-isolate immediately.
This is a temporary measure while coronavirus rates remain high across the UK. Please read the press release for more information.
Updated guidance on testing day care centre workers and service users
The guidance was updated on 24 December 2021 to reflect changes to 'Testing within 90 days of a positive result' section.
Updated guidance on care home visiting
The guidance was updated on 30 December 2021 to reflect how resident LFD testing, following visits out of the care home, are required every second day for 10 days, and to add that nominated visitors should remain the same wherever possible.
Our first vaccination reminder of 2022
Latest local walk-in vaccination centres
We put together details of walk-in vaccination centres available across Devon (including Plymouth) over the next week to help staff get their booster vaccinations.
You can also use the NHS website to find a walk-in vaccination site.
Adult Social Care Infection Control, Testing and Vaccination Fund: October 2021 – March 2022. Reporting Point 1
Thank you to everyone who has already completed and returned the first monitoring form for the latest round of government funding for infection control.
The deadline for returning the monitoring form is Friday 7 January 2022.
Here are links to the monitoring forms:
Please note that completion of the monitoring forms is a requirement of the grant agreement. Failure to comply will impact on your eligibility for any further funding through this grant.
For any queries and to return the monitoring form, please contact us.
Latest national funding announcement
On 29 December, the Government issued a press release announcing an additional £60 million to local authorities to support the adult social care response to the pandemic.
Care Homes Workforce and Retention Fund Round 2 deadline
Devon County Council and NHS partners agreed to invest our local allocation from the Round Two of the Workforce Recruitment and Retention Fund in measures to support the recruitment and retention of staff within the CQC Regulated Care Home Market within the Devon administrative area. This is because of the pressures facing this market and its crucial role in preventing avoidable admissions to hospital. Relevant providers are being emailed directly and the deadline to apply for this funding is 22 January 2022.
Health and Care Visa scheme expanded
On 24 December the government announced the expansion of the Shortage Occupation List to include social care staff. The press release states that:
- Social care workers, care assistants and home care workers will be eligible for a 12-month period from early 2022.
- Care providers who do not already hold a sponsor licence in the Skilled Worker route can prepare to take advantage of the offer by registering for a sponsorship licence ahead of implementation.
- Providers who are new to visa sponsorship will be supported through the process through a series of engagement activities in January and February, to introduce them to the system and find out how to act as a visa sponsor.
- Care workers and carers recruited to the UK will be able to bring their dependents, including partner and children, with the Health and Care visa offering a pathway to settlement should they remain employed and wish to remain in the UK.
Access to NHSmail reminder
NHS Devon CCG are working in collaboration with Devon County Council to roll out the use of NHSMail with all health and social care providers. This service is the national secure collaboration platform for health and social care and is the most secure way that information can be transferred between departments, such as GP’s, Care Homes, Domiciliary Care Providers, Acute Services, Community Hospitals, Pharmacists etc. The capabilities that the service provides will transform the way you collaborate within and outside of your organisation. The service is based on Microsoft Exchange 2013 and provides users with a 4GB mailbox as standard. Users can access the service via desktop mail applications, Outlook Web App (OWA) and mobile devices.
There are 3 steps to obtaining a NHSMail address (accessed via a shared mailbox for up to 10 users from your organisation) :-
NHS Devon can offer a dedicated resource to support providers to achieve the requirements and gain access to NHSMail.
Please contact:
Devon CCG Community Services Commissioning
Local outbreaks during the festive break
The number of confirmed and suspected COVID-19 outbreaks in care settings in Devon has increased significantly over the Christmas period from below 40 to over 100; more than at any point during the pandemic if all suspected outbreaks are confirmed.
Over the last week, we have also experienced outbreaks involving a greater number of staff and residents indicating greater transmissibility likely due to the Omicron variant.
Devon County Council is currently seeking clarity from the UK Health Security Agency on the default duration of outbreaks following the last positive test being 28 days where Omicron is confirmed, given the assumption the significant majority of cases are now Omicron.
We will update you as usual if guidance is updated regionally and nationally.
Two day supervision course for social care providers (mental health and learning disability)
The course will provide the opportunity for individuals to develop their own individual style of practicing as a supervisor. It is aimed at staff working within the helping professions of mental health and learning disability.
Please read further details.
Are you a new team leader or looking to develop your leadership skills?
Book on our FREE team leader and leadership development workshops for all adult social care providers. All sessions are delivered virtually and you have the option to pick and mix which sessions to attend; from building a resilient team to digital business and new technologies. The workshops run from January to March.
Please follow this link to book your place.
If you have any questions please contact us.
Funded eLearning for staff and self-employed personal assistants
This eLearning is available for all social care providers and personal assistants. You can access over 100 social care eLearning courses. Please join us for an hour demo session on Tuesday 11 January at 10.00am or Wednesday 19 January at 2.00pm.
To find out more and to book your place please contact Grey Matter Learning.
If you are a personal assistant and would also like to take advantage of this great offer, please contact Ruth Haynes.
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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