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As covered in our PEN Newsflash last week, today is the national Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection, so please join us in displaying the Devon primrose if you haven’t already done so.
We do our best to 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.
 Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection
The COVID-19 pandemic has been difficult for everyone, and particularly those working to protect Devon’s most vulnerable residents. As the second anniversary of the first lockdown approaches, today has been designated as the Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection. This gives us the opportunity to honour the vital work the social care sector has done to keep people safe and well and to remember the people working in social care who we have sadly lost during pandemic.
In Devon, we are taking part by displaying the county’s flower, the primrose, as either a tribute to a lost loved one or a thank you to a care worker who has provided vital support to people during the pandemic.
Last Friday's PEN Newslfash contained the special ‘Devon primrose’ Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection graphic and profile picture available to download.
The Social Care Day of Remembrance falls withing the Social Work Week and Tuesday 15 March was World Social Work Day.
Spring booster jabs for care homes
The NHS will begin to roll-out spring booster vaccinations for residents of older people's care homes from Monday 21 March. If you haven’t already then please do start the consenting process for care home residents to avoid any delays to the vaccination of these vulnerable individuals. Please note that the NHS will contact you to arrange your visit.
A guide to the spring booster for 75 years and older.
Care homes are encouraged to:
- engage staff and residents early
- ensure the visiting team are aware of any COVID-19 cases ahead of any visit
- create adequate space to enable the vaccination to take place: an area of diluting and mixing, a room for vaccinating and an area for observation may be needed
- prepare a log of those who require vaccination.
Residents can be vaccinated at 182 days (and not before 91 days) since their last dose of vaccine.
Visiting teams will also be offer first, second and first booster vaccinations to residents and staff. Please make your vaccination team aware of likely numbers.
Make sure best interest and capacity have been concluded ahead of your vaccination visit.
If you have any residents or staff who are struggling with vaccine confidence please contact vaccine hesitancy nurses.
Where it is not possible to vaccinate a resident during the visit please contact the vaccination support team to arrange vaccination.
We expect the Capacity Tracker to allow you to record second boosters for residents in the near future. Please do update the system so we can understand progress and gaps.
On 7 September 2021, the Prime Minister announced that, from October 2023, the government will introduce a new £86,000 cap on the amount anyone in England will need to spend on their personal care over their lifetime.
The main purpose of this consultation is to seek views on the statutory guidance which sets out how a cap on care costs would operate in practice, as well as to inform how government can support local authorities in their preparations for its implementation.
 Support for people affected by the Ukraine conflict
A range of support is available to those who have been affected by the Ukraine conflict, including:
- The Devon Wellbeing Hub provides free, confidential support for individuals and teams
- Military veterans can access Devon’s Veterans Service on 01392 207799 or by email
- Alternatively, the national service Op COURAGE, can provide help and support
- NHS England has many wellbeing resources, including confidential support for mental health and wellbeing.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, has recently issued a letter to Ukrainian health and care staff regarding the extension of visas.
Care home locality support forums – revised dates
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 all of the previous meeting minutes in the online library.
The next care home locality forums:
- East - Tuesday 22 March, 10.00am - 11.00am
- North - Thursday 24 March, 3.00pm - 4.00pm
- South and West - Wednesday 6 April, 12.00pm - 1.00pm
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).
Living with COVID-19 - Visiting healthcare inpatient settings
NHS England has updated guidance on visiting for inpatients.
The guidance acknowledges that patients can be more vulnerable to COVID-19, but that visits contribute to their wellbeing. Visiting policies need to reflect that we are living with COVID-19 in general circulation and should be accomodated for at least one hour per day and ideally for longer.
Wellbeing resources reminder
We know that a number of factors can influence our physical and psychological wellbeing, and we have many options available to keep healthy and happy. Here is a handy guide of where to find support.
Don't forget that we have lots of initiatives in place to help keep you healthy and happy:
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Able Futures – access work mental health support to help you enjoy more good days
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Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – getting in touch can help free up your time to focus on other things, reducing stress and anxiety
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Intercom Trust – a counselling service and helpline for lesbian, gay, bi or trans+ people
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Listening Ear – offload to someone outside of your family, friends and colleagues. Please send an email to the leadership learning-mailbox.
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Our frontline – a national resource partnership to support those under most pressure, support also specifically for those working in social care.
Social care reform: care colleague views and new charging reform resources
In December 2021, the Department of Health and Social Care, announced plans to develop and support the social care workforce over the next three years, as part of the long-term vision for reform.
To find out what difference these reforms will make to care workers across the sector, we spoke to Gez, from Wentworth Court Nursing home in Cheltenham.
Download our free information and resources about how we are transforming social care and what the changes will mean for individuals and their families.
Last chance for fully funded Care Friends licences
Finding the right quality of care staff is a major challenge. Employee referral programmes are the proven best source.
Care Friends is an app developed by Neil Eastwood, author of Saving Social Care, and launched in partnership with Skills for Care that changes all that.
Devon County Council has 12 month funded licences still available within this offer. The deadline for applying for it is Friday 1 April.
Please find out more on how this can support recruitment within your organisation and details of how you can contact Care Friends.
Exciting opportunity to participate in a community project led by Digital Health Devon
Digital Health Devon are offering care homes in Torbay and South Devon FREE smart technology (Amazon Alexa, Facebook Portal and Smart phones accompanied by a free sim card loaded with 20gb data, unlimited texts and minutes for six months) and have created a YouTube for this project. They are also offering free access to the ‘How to’ guides and training courses.
If you are interested in participating in this fantastic opportunity please complete the short survey. Digital Health Devon will then arrange an introductory chat to understand which technology you would benefit from.
To find out more please contact: Max Burrell (07512042934) or Sarah Kell (07563102986).
NHSmail webinar for social care providers
NHS Digital is holding an NHSmail webinar on Wednesday 23 March from 11.00am to 12noon. Joining instructions.
The following items will be covered:
- key issues with NHSmail use and how to tackle them
- useful tips
- standard processes
- a walk-through of the social care registration portal
- support routes and guidance
- Q&A session.
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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