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Yesterday the Government announced the imminent end of almost all pandemic restrictions for the general public, but this week also saw lots of national COVID-19 guidance updates for health and social care settings so please make sure you refresh your browser when looking at all guidance to ensure you are always reading the very latest version.
Vaccination remains a key weapon against COVID-19 and the date by which staff must have and their first jab in order to be fully jabbed ready for mandatory vaccination on 1 April is Thursday 3 February – only two weeks away.
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.
Mandatory staff vaccination: only two weeks to go!
New regulations require frontline health and social care staff and volunteers, carrying out face to face CQC regulated activity, to be fully vaccinated by Friday 1 April 2022, unless medically exempt.
A 12 week grace period began on Thursday 6 January this year, with regulations fully in force from 1 April 2022. Staff must be fully vaccinated or have secured a medical exemption by this date.
This means that staff must have had their first dose by Thursday 3 February in order to have had their second dose by 1 April. Guidance covering all details of the regulations will be published soon but in the interim we would recommend that you ensure all staff are aware of the requirement and collect evidence of their compliance.
If you have staff who remain hesitant please do contact our vaccine hesitancy nurses who can support both you and your staff directly.
Vaccinations can be booked through the National Booking Service, or by ringing 119, or by attending one of the many walk-ins available across the county or as advertised on social media.
We are writing directly to regulated providers with further information so please look out for an email from Devon County Council.
National guidance collection updated
On Monday 17 January, the following COVID-19 guidance documents were updated to reflect the change in isolation period in hospitals from 14 to 10 days for cases and contacts of cases of COVID-19.
COVID-19: management of staff and exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings. Update includes new changes to self-isolation periods for staff in health and care settings.
COVID-19: stepdown of infection control precautions and discharging patients to home settings. Update includes clarification of isolation period for severely immunocompromised patients.
COVID-19: infection prevention and control (IPC). Update includes changed wording around respiratory protective equipment to clarify.
COVID-19: guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection. Updated to reflect changes to the self-isolation advice for people who have received a positive COVID-19 test result.
NHS Test and Trace: what to do if you are contacted. Updated to reflect changes to the self-isolation advice for people who have received a positive COVID-19 test result and information for contacts who are not required to self-isolate.
Coronavirus: how to stay safe and help prevent the spread. Updated to explain that from Monday 17 January, people with COVID-19 in England can end their self-isolation after five full days, as long as they test negative on day five and day six.
Reminder
Vaccination for people with no NHS number
Every adult is entitled to their first, second (third if they are immunosuppressed) and booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccination.
This includes people who aren’t registered with a GP or are without leave to remain in the UK. A new social media graphic is available in a range of languages to help reassure people about their right to COVID-19 vaccinations.
This is in addition to this letter for the public (translated here). Please access these on the COVID-19 vaccine equalities connect and exchange hub on FutureNHS or email them.
Please also advise people that they won’t be charged if they or their children register with a GP and/or access testing and treatment for COVID-19.
Boosters continue to provide high levels of protection against severe disease from Omicron in older adults
Latest data from the UK Health Security Agency shows booster doses are continuing to provide high levels of protection against severe disease from the Omicron variant among older adults.
Figures show that around three months after they received the third jab, protection against hospitalisation among those aged 65 and over remains at about 90%.
Devon's COVID-19 cases stabilising, but still very high
The increase in COVID-19 cases in Devon has slowed and stabilised in recent days, but numbers still remain very high.
Over 9,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Devon in the latest available week, with the weekly rate here (1,132 per 100,000) remaining below the national average (1,695 per 100,000).
Case rates across the county are highest in those aged 20 to 39 years old (2,071 per 100,000).
“We are monitoring the data extremely closely,” said Steve Brown, Devon’s Director of Public Health. “Our COVID-19 case numbers are still very high, and with young people now returned to schools and colleges again, and more socialisation among those age groups, we expect case levels to change again.
“We know that the Omicron variant is highly infectious, and we are now seeing an increase in hospitalisations in Devon. Thankfully, it’s not leading, to the same extent, to deaths or stays in Intensive Care Units.”
Advice for pregnant employees
Advice for pregnant employees on risk assessments in the workplace and occupational health during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has been updated to provide additional guidance to pregnant employees and employers of women who are 26 weeks pregnant and beyond, and details on JCVI advice that pregnant women are more at risk of severe COVID-19 disease.
Ventilation advice
Good ventilation is vital to keep colleagues and those they care for safe as coronavirus and other infectious illnesses spread more easily in unventilated areas.
Open windows in bedrooms and air them when not in use. Leave rooms to ventilate with external doors and windows open between uses wherever possible, minimise occupancy of spaces and keep windows in communal areas open if you can.
Record level of flu jab uptake in those aged 65 and over
More people aged 65 and over have received their flu vaccine this year than ever before according to the UK Health Security Agency, however uptake in pregnant women, those with underlying health conditions, and preschoolers remains behind uptake in older adults.
Tips to stay on top of COVID-19 worries
Everyone has been affected differently by COVID-19 and you might be feeling worried or uncertain. But there are ways you can manage uncertainty to help reduce stress and cope better.
Visit the Every Mind Matters COVID-19 hub for 10 things you can do to help deal with change and look after your mental wellbeing, as well as places you can go to get further free advice and support.
Letter and poster on isolation in care
A letter has been sent on behalf of a coalition of organisations to local authorities and UKHSA Health Protection teams, highlighting the impact of isolation in care settings and the steps that can be taken to mitigate the risks that arise from visiting restrictions. The letter provides a reminder of current government guidance that every resident should be supported to nominate an ‘Essential Care Giver’ (ECG), be able to visit under all circumstances, including during periods of self-isolation and outbreak.
The letter is accompanied by a poster that can be sent to providers to display in their premises and/or sent out to families, to promote the ECG role, as well as a fact sheet that can be issues to care providers in an outbreak situation.
COVID-19: new treatment for non-hospitalised patients (easy read information)
New easy read leaflets have been published about COVID-19 antibody and antiviral treatments for people with coronavirus who are at highest risk of becoming seriously ill.
This includes people with downs syndrome. Please see the easy read leaflets below. Further background information can be found in the attached handout and Power Point.
Free training for individual employers of personal assistants
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.
If you are a personal assistant employed by a persons receiving Direct Payments please draw their attention to this valuable free training which covers:
- Direct Payments employment
- Employers’ legal obligations
- Employment status
- Statutory employment rights
- What to do when things go wrong
- Disciplinaries and redundancy.
Available dates:
- Thursday 10 February from 10.00am to 12noon
- Tuesday 1 March from 10.00am to 12noon
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Wednesday 16 March from 10.00am to 12noon. The final training session might be a mix of on and offline, with up to 10 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.
Research into the impact of COVID-19 on care homes staff - ten minute survey
The University of Warwick and University College London want to understand the perspectives of people working on the frontline during the pandemic. This is a valuable chance to contribute to the findings and inform the recommendations resulting from this important study, which will be shared with those who take decisions about the future of care home services.
All staff at care homes are invited to complete a 10-minute survey to share their experiences of working in the pandemic, with 10 x £50 shopping vouchers to be won.
 Celebrating success
Made-Well is registering to be the Assessment and Quality Alliance (AQA) Centre giving the people they support the opportunity to gain training in a range of areas.
They will be using the Unit Award Scheme (UAS). Learners will receive a certificate for each unit they successfully complete, which lists the outcomes and experiences covered in the unit.
UAS has been offered by AQA as a recording of achievement scheme for over 30 years. It is a tried and tested means by which learners, no matter what their age or ability, can have their achievement formally recognised.
The AQA Unit Award Scheme is invaluable as it is an important pathway for people to receive accreditation for their achievements.
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