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England returns to Plan A today and the national announcement has been accompanied by local caution which emphasises the need to remain vigilant. Nowhere is this more important than in the social care sector and last week a number of changes to government guidance took place so make sure you always check the latest documents.
We keep the content and structure of our PEN website up-to-date in these fast-changing times and your suggestions on how to improve the website are always welcome.
Care home visiting announcement made this morning
Today, Thursday 27 January, the Government issued this press release announcing that from Monday 31 January, there will be no limit on the number of visitors allowed into care homes and self-isolation periods will be cut and now care homes only have to follow outbreak management rules for 14 rather than 28 days.
By Wednesday 16 February, care workers will be asked to use LFD tests before their shifts replacing the current system which included the use of weekly asymptomatic PCR tests.
86.5 per cent of all care home residents have now had their booster jab, which provides maximum protection against Omicron, with the latest data from the UK Health Security Agency showing it is 92% effective in preventing hospitalisation two weeks after it is administered.
The safety of care home residents will continue to be the priority. The new measures will ensure there are still robust protections in place to protect them while case rates in the community remain high.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said: “I know how vital companionship is to those living in care homes and the positive difference visits make, which is why we continued to allow three named visitors and an essential care giver under Plan B measures.
Thanks to the progress we have made, I am delighted that care home restrictions can now be eased further allowing residents to see more of their loved ones.”
Updated guidance will be published in due course with further details on changes to visiting, isolation and testing.
Latest national guidance updates
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult day care centre workers and service users. Updates include:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes
This comprehensive update includes sections on:
- admission and isolation of residents
- testing
- vaccination
- general clinical support
- caring for residents with COVID-19 and outbreak management
- care for people at the end of life and after death
- advice on keeping staff safe
- advice for care home managers
- national support available to implement this guidance. Updated: 20 January 2022.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult social care settings. Guidance on how to access and use test kits. Updated: 20 January 2022.
Supported living services during coronavirus (COVID-19) Isolation guidance for supported living workers. Those who have tested positive for COVID-19 to end self-isolation after six days, following two negative lateral flow tests taken 24 hours apart. Updated: 21 January 2022.
PPE portal: how to order COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) Updated to say that it is a legal requirement for employers to supply FFP3 masks which must be fit tested on all health and care staff who may be required to wear one. Updated the order limits for GPs to include FFP3 masks. Updated: 21 January 2022.
COVID-19 vaccination of people working or deployed in care homes: operational guidance. Anyone working or volunteering in a care home needs to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus (COVID-19), unless they are exempt. Updated: 20 January 2022.
Vaccination of workers in social care settings other than care homes: operational guidance. From Friday 1 April 2022, people carrying out face-to-face, CQC-regulated social care activities will need to be fully vaccinated. Updated: 20 January 2022.
COVID-19 vaccination: booster dose resources. Links to translated versions of the COVID-19 vaccination were added: a guide to booster vaccination for individuals aged 18 years and over and those aged 16 years and over who are at risk. Updated: 19 January 2022.
Last minute reminder: National webinar on vaccination as a condition of deployment in wider social care settings: key information and dates for implementation
Date and time: Thursday 27 January from 2.30pm to 3.30pm
As communicated in our recent PEN Newsflash, you can join the Department of Health and Social Care webinar today to hear about the key dates of implementation, who the regulations apply to and the vaccination requirements. Time will be available for Q&As. For more information about the regulations, please see the operational guidance and Q&A document in the VCOD online toolkit.
Please sign up using this link.
 Mandatory staff vaccination: only one week to go
Staff must have had their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination by Thursday 3 February in order to have had their second dose by the Friday 1 April deadline.
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.
England returns to Plan A
The government has announced that England's COVID-19 measures will revert from Plan B to Plan A on Thursday 27 January.
Director of Public Health Devon advises caution in response to PM’s statement
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has outlined his intention for the country to return to ‘Plan A’.
Responding to the statement, Steve Brown, Devon’s Director of Public Health, said:
“Case rates are still high and it is important that people understand that this announcement is not one of ‘freedom day’, but a reverting back to plan A.
“Omicron is by no means a mild virus, and the symptoms to those who are unvaccinated or who have underlying health concerns can be extremely serious if not life threatening.
“Please be cautious, let’s use our common sense, and continue to follow good basic public health advice.”
Fresh appeal to the ‘not yet boosted’
Overall take-up of COVID-19 booster vaccinations in Devon so far is good, but we can do better.
Experts say the booster jab makes a big difference to our immune system. It's not a 'nice to have' after the first and second doses. It’s as important, if not more so for the additional protection it gives us against getting seriously ill. So please come forward, if you're eligible for the booster and haven't yet had it.
There are plenty of opportunities to get it now, with or without an appointment, at walk-in sites and vaccination centres across Devon.
And for those young enough or old enough to remember the classic arcade games first time round, here's a little video to make you smile, and encourage you to get your booster as soon as possible.
Next 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. You can view previous meeting minutes in the online library.
The next Care Home Locality Forums:
- East – Tuesday 15 February 10.00am to 11.00am
- South and West – Monday 21 March 11.00am to 12.30pm
- North – Thursday 24 March 3.00pm to 4.30pm.
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 and West).
Livewell recruitment pilot progress
A new collaboration on workforce between the NHS and the provider market is now ready for implementation, with nine providers coming forward to be part of the this test of change.
Livewell is entering into discussions with local Job Centres and will publish an opportunity through social media to attract people who are currently not working in the adult social care sector, including those who have significant barriers to entering the workplace. They are aiming is to recruit 100 care workers to give a scale big enough to evaluate the impact.
The focus is on adding to the workforce, so a key aspect of the pilot is that it avoids so far as is possible, drawing on existing staff from the adult social care sector. We do not, therefore, anticipate that there should be any adverse impact on the workforce of current providers.
We will keep you closely advised of the impact of the pilot and, if it is successful, will explore with you the potential to widen the offer across the market.
If you would like more detail or can contact Livewell at andrea.mahn@nhs.net or Ria McCoy on 07561713089
'Every Mind Matters' - If you are concerned about change and feeling uncertain
The NHS 'Every Mind Matters' pages help describe ways to manage uncertainty and help us reduce stress and cope better.
Because We All Care campaign
CQC have launched a new phase of the Because We All Care campaign in partnership with Healthwatch England and supported by the Patients Association.
The campaign encourages people to give feedback on their experiences of health and social care. We recently conducted research showing the impact of lockdown on mental health and dignity.
CQC found that "Over half (55%) of those who have provided positive feedback felt better as a result, and eight in ten staff value feedback from people and their carers."
CQC would like you to support the campaign, and have a stakeholder toolkit which includes an animation, social media graphics and suggested posts.
 Local charity receives Queen’s Award for their support during lockdown
The charity, Westbank, who we work with to deliver a number of community services, has been presented with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services.
The Queen's representative in Devon, the Lord-Lieutenant for Devon, David Fursdon, presented it to them recently.
It's for the amazing work Westbank's Neighbourhood Friends did during the coronavirus lockdown period.
The Neighbourhood Friends help vulnerable or frail adults, from Exeter, East and Mid Devon, to stay out of hospital or to have shorter hospital stays. They match volunteers up with people who need help, for example, moving furniture so that there's room for hospital beds or other equipment in their home; installing key safes so that care workers can gain access; and providing company and a warm drink to people following a stay in hospital.Over the lockdown period, they helped around 2,030 people.
Jenny Luscombe, the charity’s longest serving volunteer said:
“It was such a pleasure to meet the Lord Lieutenant of Devon and an honour to have received The Queen’s Award, which is the equivalent of receiving an MBE for people like myself who give their time to volunteer.”
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