 As this issue comes out on the day before Good Friday, we are taking this opportunity to wish you all a Happy Easter and once again than you for the vital work you carry on all year round. If you are managing to take a break then we hope you have good one!
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.
DCC community newsletter sets out how to live safely with COVID-19
Although specific guidance has been published for care settings, for the public a new phase of living with COVID-19 started in April, where the virus will be managed like other respiratory illnesses.
Devon County Council has summarised the latest guidance in a special edition of the ‘Connectme’ community newsletter, you can catch up online. –make the Connectme word the link.
Care Homes Placement Risk Assessment Checklist
Changes have been made to the Standard Operating Procedure for supporting Care homes through Outbreaks of Covid 19. A key change has been in relation to the process through which homes can consider taking new admissions while outbreak control measures are still in place.
Previously, the Community Services Manager (CSM) would complete a risk assessment and make a decision for each prospective resident while the home remained subject to outbreak restrictions.
From this point forward, the CSM will be involved in the decision-making only if an Outbreak Control Team meeting is in place (and this would usually be where there is an exceptionally serious or escalating outbreak). In all other situations the Care Home Manager will be responsible for making the decisions as to whether they can safely meet the needs of a prospective resident while the home is in outbreak.
A checklist has been adapted to support Care Home Managers with understanding the factors they should consider. You may wish to download and use the form from the PEN website. Please retain a copy of the risk assessment you undertake
Infection Control, Testing and Vaccination Fund: October 2021 - March 2022: Third and Final Reporting Point
Thank you to those who have already submitted their final monitoring form for the ICG.
The deadline for reporting is this Friday 15 April 2022 at midday.
Here are our Monitoring links as usual:
The link to the form required for Community Care services ONLY is HERE.
The link to the form required for Care Home services ONLY is found HERE.
- Complete one form for each registered provider (not location)
- If you are a provider of both regulated care home provision and regulated community care provision, and have received and returned two grant agreements, then you must complete two monitoring forms. One for your care home provision and one for your community provision.
Please note that a successful submission is required from you to ensure you are compliant with the terms and conditions you have agreed to in accepting these funds.
For any queries and to return the monitoring form, please contact: adultsc.covid19adultsocialcaregrants-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
UKHSA Living with Covid Care Provider Q & A slides
Presentation slides from the online Q & A session for adult social care providers on ‘Living with Covid guidance from 4 April 2022’ hosted by the UK Health Security Agency’s South West Health Protection Team on Friday 8 April are now available on the Testing part of the PEN website.
Bereavement resources for the social care workforce
The Department of Health and Social Care has collated in collection of resources which may help social care staff cope with bereavement, which can be especially difficult for staff who have long and meaningful relationships with the people they support.
Designated Settings Indemnity Support ends
In line with the discontinuation of designated settings nationally, the Designated Settings Indemnity Support (DSIS) will come to an ended on 31 March 2022
More information about the changes in discharging arrangements for COVID-positive individuals, as well as other key changes to COVID-19 policy in adult social care, is set out in the attached letter on the updated infection prevention and control guidance for the sector.
Here is a document produced jointly by ABI (the Association of British Insurers), BIBA (the British Insurance Brokers Association), LGA, ADASS and wider sector colleagues, which provides guidance on accessing public liability and employer’s liability insurance.
Free wellbeing support to help with Devon's COVID-19 recovery
Businesses and employees in Devon are now able to access free wellbeing support through a new initiative we've launched as part of our £6 million COVID-19 recovery programme.
Wellbeing Works, which is being delivered by the charity Devon Communities Together, is offering free one-to-one wellbeing checks and wellbeing workshops to people over 18 years old who are currently in employment, seeking employment, or are entering the jobs market.
Prevalence of COVID-19 remains at high levels
The latest data from Imperial College's React study, suggests approximately one in 16 people were infected with COVID-19 last month. And of the top 10 areas with the highest prevalence of cases, seven were in the South West, including Plymouth, Cornwall, South Hams, Torridge, Torbay, West Devon and Exeter.
The figures show that the pandemic is not over, and how COVID-19 will develop over time remains uncertain, so we all still have a part to play in helping keep ourselves and each other safe and protected. Remember these five simple actions we can all take to help reduce the risk of catching the virus and passing it on to others:
💉 Get vaccinated
💨 Let fresh air in if meeting others indoors
Remember the basics of good hygiene
😷 Wear a face covering
Avoid contact with other people when you're unwell
Spring boosters, remember who’s eligible!
The Joint Committee of Vaccinations and Immunisations (JCVI) has advised that people who are higher risk of severe illness, resulting from coronavirus, should be offered a spring booster. They include:
- those aged 75 years old and over
- residents in older adult care homes
- anyone aged 12 years old and over who has a severely weakened immune system
We've heard that some people have been turning up for their spring COVID-19 booster jab only to hear that they're not eligible at this time. The confusion seemed to be around the definition of 'immunosuppressed'.
We don't want anyone wasting a journey, so here's the explanation.
People with severely weakened immune systems include those with underlying health conditions, such as chronic leukaemia or lymphoma, and those who have had immunosuppressive treatment following an organ transplant, or have had radiotherapy or chemotherapy. They are at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and their immunity is likely to wane before the autumn.
If you are in these groups and have not yet had your spring booster, you can book an appointment via the National Booking Service or by calling 119, or by attending a walk-in vaccination centre.
People are advised to wait six months since their previous dose to get maximum protection from a spring booster; or (if under 16 years old) to wait 12 weeks since testing positive or symptoms developing of COVID-19; or (for over 16 year olds) to wait 28 days since testing positive or developing symptoms of COVID-19.
£500 million to develop the adult social care workforce
Adult social care colleagues in England will benefit from at least £500 million from the Health and Social Care Levy to improve recruitment, retention, progression, and staff wellbeing.
In total the levy will generate a record £36 billion over the next 3 years, which will be invested in the health and social care system to make sure it has the long-term resource it needs.
Half a billion of the £5.4 billion dedicated to adult social care from the levy, which came into force on 6 April, forms a package of support for the care workforce as part of the reform white paper, People at the Heart of Care.
Transforming Social Care: all your questions answered in one place
A reminder to visit Transforming Social Care, the one stop shop for anyone keen to learn more about the future of social care in England.
The Government has a long-term vision putting people and families at the heart of services. It is a vision promoting independence and community living, as well as providing more support for the adult social care workforce.
Visit our site to learn more about what’s changing and how the reforms will benefit you.
CQC regulatory model webinar recording
The Care Quality Commission webinar on their new regulatory model is now on Youtube, Watch part one here, and then part two which includes the Q&A session.
New item DHSC newsletter
DHSC have shared their latest newsletter for social care colleagues, read and sign-up for the newsletter.
UK Covid-19 Inquiry - Social Care
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry is running an online public consultation on its draft Terms of Reference, which will close on 7 April. The Terms of Reference, published on its website, set out what the Inquiry will examine. Anyone can take part in the online consultation.
A draft of the ADASS submission can be found here.
Torbay and South Devon Speech and Language Therapy Team Care Home Protocol
The Torbay and South Devon Speech & Language Therapy team (SLT Team) have a new protocol for Care Homes to use to help them to identify and manage residents with swallowing problems (Dysphagia).
What is in the Protocol?
The Protocol contains lots of useful information about swallowing problems and how to recognise and manage them. It also contains a ‘Managing Dysphagia Checklist’ that we would like Care Homes to use with residents that they are concerned about prior to referring to the SLT Team. The checklist will help you to:
- Identify what your concerns are
- Document the difficulties
- Identify any steps that can be taken to help the difficulties
- Know when to refer to the SLT Team
- Know how to refer to the SLT Team
Will my referral be accepted if I haven’t completed the checklist?
Over time we hope that all our referrals from Care Homes will have had a ‘Managing Dysphagia Checklist’ completed however while we are rolling out the protocol we understand that this is a new way of working and there are bound to be questions and issues! Once you have received your protocol document please have a look through it and if you want to discuss your resident, the protocol, recommendations or what to do next we will be happy to talk you through the process. Please email us on sdhct.sltreferrals@nhs.net
What happens next?
Please start to use the protocol but if you have any queries or need any support to use it please contact us on sdhct.sltreferrals@nhs.net
Devon Libraries now have Wordless books
This is the link to the Wordless books now available at Devon libraries. To borrow them you will need to register with the library as a citizen of Devon and take them out as part of your library book number. The person you are working with may have a library card in which case they can take them out or a family member. There are some further down the list that may be useful including Falling in Love, Hug Me Touch Me, Going to the Dentist and one about Sport and Exercise.
Only the first 11 titles in the list are Books Beyond Words and for most the catalogue doesn't show a cover image.
Jabs for 5 to 11 year olds
Parents and carers of 5 to 11 years olds are now able to book a COVID vaccine, as the biggest and most successful vaccination programme in NHS history expands again.
Five million 5 to 11 year olds to get COVID vaccine as NHS bookings open
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