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With COVID-19 infection rates remaining high throughout the county the pressure is being felt across the health and care system as we await more government announcements on implementation of the Living with COVID plan.
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.
Latest vaccination guidance updates
COVID-19 vaccination: British Sign Language resources. British Sign Language videos on COVID-19 vaccination. Updated: 24 March 2022
COVID-19 vaccination: for people with a weakened immune system. Information on the third and booster doses for people with a weakened immune system. Updated: 24 March 2022
COVID-19 vaccination: spring booster resources. Information on the spring booster dose for eligible individuals. Updated: 24 March 2022
 Spring booster for older adult care home residents
Please see a letter from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Director, Claire Armstrong, detailing the roll-out of spring boosters for residents of care homes for older adults. This follows the advice of the Joint Commissioning Vaccination and Immunisation, 21 February 2022. DHSC has also produced the attached communications toolkit for the spring booster, which includes a script, FAQs and some links to existing resources. The toolkit will be updated regularly at Communication Resources and on CommsLink.
Spring boosters in Devon
NHS Devon has now published information on the Guide to spring boosters in Devon.
Spring booster jabs being offered to people at greatest risk of COVID-19 infection from Monday 21 March in the latest phase of the vaccine programme.
The best time to have the spring booster is around six months after the previous booster, although the minimum interval is three months.
Devon COVID-19 inpatient numbers highest yet
The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 in Devon has risen to over 400; higher than at any other point in the pandemic. High COVID-19 numbers are having a very significant impact across Devon’s health and care system.
The last time COVID-19 numbers were this high was in January 2021, before most people had the benefit of COVID-19 vaccines.
PPE portal: how to order COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE)
Eligible health and social care providers can order PPE through the portal to meet the increased need that has arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Updates include: removal of references to order limits as these are now available to see on the portal, addition of information on new sectors that can sign up and how they can contact their local authority or local resilience forum.
Updated: 24 March 2022
 Free lateral flow test announcement
On 29 March the government issued this statement outlining how free COVID-19 tests will continue to be available to help protect specific groups once free testing for the general public ends on Friday 1 April.
Free symptomatic testing will be provided for:
- Patients in hospital, where a PCR test is required for their care and to provide access to treatments and to support ongoing clinical surveillance for new variants.
- People who are eligible for community COVID-19 treatments because they are at higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19. People in this group will be contacted directly and sent lateral flow tests to keep at home for use if they have symptoms as well as being told how to reorder tests.
- People living or working in some high-risk settings. For example, staff in adult social care services such as homecare organisations and care homes, and residents in care homes and extra care and supported living services. People will also be tested before being discharged from hospital into care homes, hospices.
We will share the guidance as usual when it's published.
“My risk of being admitted into hospital was extremely high” - Tina's local vaccination video
Devon mum-to-be, Tina Whitehouse, has opened up about her experience of having the COVID-19 jab and catching the virus in a short film.
Transform your organisation with an apprenticeship
Apprenticeships are key to boosting skills and talent in adult social care and form a large part of government plans to create fairer opportunities and level up skills across England.
They are also a great way to transform your organisation because they provide opportunities to train and upskill new and existing employees in a way that is responsive to the needs and wants of your organisation. Find out more.
Have Your Say on NICE Air Quality Standard
NICE is inviting responses to its consultation on a quality standard for indoor air quality in all residential buildings including care homes. The consultation runs until Monday 11 April and is based on NICE’s guideline on indoor air quality at home.
COVID-19 Inquiry - Terms of Reference
The government has published draft terms of reference for the forthcoming public inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic. The draft terms set out the aims of the public inquiry, which will play a key role in taking stock of the lessons learned from the pandemic and informing the government’s preparations for the future. A public consultation has been announced, led by Baroness Hallet, to inform further changes to the terms of reference before they are formalised.
Clinical Placement Expansion Programme (CPEP) looking for Approved Placement Providers
The Clinical Placement Expansion Programme (CPEP), within Devon Training Hub, is looking for nursing homes and residential homes that are interested in becoming Approved Placement Providers (APP’s) for Higher Education Institutions (HEI) for student placements, including student nurses, occupational therapists, physio therapists, dietetics, social workers, paramedics.
This is an amazing opportunity to showcase social care and the wonderful work they do and potentially encourage more nurses and professionals into social care once qualified.
Project workers at CPEP are here to help you get ready, and support you throughout the process. You get paid to have a student or students and it gives you a big chunk to write about on your CQC Provider Information Return.
If you want to be part of this project please email Cathy Rant, a CPEP Project Worker, or call her on 07407654180.
Care charging reform: take the Capacity Tracker survey
Last year, the Government announced care charging reforms for care home and home care provider markets. A survey has been launched to help improve our understanding of local provider markets and those currently receiving care .
Care Home Capacity Tracker changes
Care homes have been contacted with the latest changes to Capacity Tracker reporting requirements…
- 2nd Booster being added on 4 April (to be updated daily)
- Only vacancies and 2nd booster will be updated daily.
- Other (currently) daily Covid figures will be updated weekly from 4th April. See attached example for all current daily data collected on Capacity Tracker.
- Weekly data for IPC, staff/visitor testing, training and prevention measures being removed.
Sad passing of Richard Buswell
We have been notified of the passing of Richard Buswell from Asher Care who passed away on 25 March. Richard had a strong sense of humanity and a passion for social care and will be much missed. We have been asked to pass on the following message from Richard’s wife and family.
“It is with great sadness that I share the news that my dear husband Richard passed away last week, Friday 25th March. He was surrounded by his family and his passing was peaceful. His health had taken a sudden decline very recently, but we are so thankful that we had 10 months to share following his cancer diagnosis last May.”
His funeral will take place on Wednesday 13 April at 2pm. This will be held at Riverside Church, 13-14 Okehampton Street, Exeter, EX4 1DU.
There will be a book of condolences and his family would love you to share any memories or photos that you may have. Please do not send flowers and please wear bright colours. Donations are welcome to Riverside’s Ukraine appeal. A pay & display car park is available behind the Royal Oak pub, 2 min walk away (£2 for 3 hours). Please take a Covid test to help protect the vulnerable guests attending
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