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At present we have high case rates for both COVID-19 but also for flu and norovirus too, so the general easing of guidance restrictions must be accompanied by ongoing infection control vigilance.
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 Government Guidance updates
summary of IPC and testing changes
This summary of national guidance contains a useful table showing the latest guidance changes alongside the previous versions.
The above summary includes:
- Testing for ASC staff
- PPE in care settings
- Isolation for ASC staff
- Testing for people receiving care
- Isolation for people receiving care
- Waste management
- Hospital discharge
- Visiting arrangements for care homes (including professionals and essential care givers)
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for anyone working in adult social care who is not part of regular testing at work - How anyone working in adult social care in England who is not part of a regular testing regime at work can access daily COVID-19 testing
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult day care centre workers and service users – guidance on regular asymptomatic rapid lateral flow testing for staff and service users in eligible adult day care centres.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for homecare workers – guidance on regular asymptomatic rapid lateral flow testing for staff in registered homecare agencies.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing in extra care and supported living settings – guidance on asymptomatic regular testing for eligible extra care and supported living (ECSL) services.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): testing in adult care homes – guidance on regular asymptomatic testing for staff, residents and visiting professionals in adult care homes.
Main adult social care guidance page still not updated
Please note that the main page linking to ASC guidance has NOT YET been updated: Coronavirus (COVID-19): adult social care guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
 Cases of flu, norovirus and COVID-19 on the increase in Devon
Health officials are warning that cases of COVID-19 and other diseases that normally circulate in winter – are rising.
Increased social contact is thought to be one of the factors behind an increase in illnesses, which include flu and norovirus, sometimes known as the “winter vomiting bug”.
Although most of England’s Covid-19 restrictions have ended, the health and care system in Devon remains busy, with continued high numbers of people in hospital with COVID-19 and staff absent due to the virus.
Cases of flu, norovirus and COVID-19 on the increase in Devon
Capacity Tracker update
Capacity Tracker (CT) data collection will continue into 2023. Following review with provider groups, CQC and local authorities, many infection control fund and flu vaccination questions are to be removed. The frequency of workforce and COVID-19 vaccination questions will also be reduced to weekly and a field for second boosters added where relevant.
Further phases of the review will focus on improving questions on workforce, visiting and maximising the value of CT to providers. CT users should have received more detail already. If not, please email: necsu.capacitytracker@nhs.net
Reminder!
Devon Care Home Collaborative Guidance Q&A on Friday
On Friday 8 April at 2.00pm-3.30pm DCHC are chairing a meeting with a number of acute trusts, local authority and ICS/CCG representatives from Devon, Plymouth and Torbay to ask/answer questions and discuss ideas for how providers can put guidance into practice around these issues feel more secure and confident about making decisions.
Claiming tax relief for for mileage payments
Staff can claim tax relief for the difference between the mileage rate they are paid and the HMRC rate if they receive less than that rate. Claim tax relief for your job expenses: Vehicles you use for work - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk),
Out of Sight report shows poor progress for people with Autism, Learning Disability and Mental Health
The Care Quality Commission ‘Out of Sight’ report in October 2020 looked at the use of restraint, seclusion and segregation in care services for people with a learning disability, autistic people, and people with mental ill health.
Out of the 17 recommendations made in 2020, just 4 have been partially met. None of the recommendations have been fully met. Use these links to find out more:
Devon Wellbeing Hub celebrates it's first birthday
The Devon Wellbeing Hub was launched to support healthcare, social care and police staff impacted by COVID-19 and today they celebrate their first birthday.
The Hub is one of 40 NHS mental health and wellbeing hubs that was set up across the country. It is designed to be a place where someone concerned about their wellbeing can come and be supported to get to the right services quickly.
The service is free, confidential and can help with a range of issues, whether they’re related to the pandemic or not.
Chancellor’s Spring Statement health and care priority
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak confirmed in his Spring Statement that the NHS and social care are “the country’s top priority” and the levy on National Insurance will be implemented as planned.
Sunak announced the threshold for National Insurance contributions will increase by £3,000 to match the threshold for income tax (from July). The Statement also included a reduction in fuel duty, VAT cuts on household energy saving measures, and the doubling of the Household Support Fund (which local authorities will receive from April to distribute locally).
Commentators including the Institute for Fiscal Studies have expressed concern the new measures will not mitigate the impact of the cost of living crisis on people on the lowest incomes.
Carers' experiences of health and social care
This month our Because we all care campaign focuses on carers and we want to hear carers' unique point of view, therefore we've partnered with Carers UK to make sure we hear from as many carers as possible.
PAs working together as a group
Devon PAs are making a valuable contribution to their communities in providing personalised care to local people. We are aware that some PAs organise themselves to work together in groups.
We would advise those working in this way to ensure that they are not working beyond the exemptions that exist for PA’s in relation to CQC registration.
The guidance about ‘ongoing direction and control’ can be found on the CQC website . We would advise any PA’s that are working together to review this guidance as they may inadvertently find themselves in scope and required to register.
Further useful information on this issue can also be found on the Skills for Care website: Home - Skills for Care
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