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Although the flurry of guidance updates has slowed down, changes are still being made to reflect the shift to living with COVID-19 alongside other viruses.
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.
Testing guidance reminder
Please remember that if staff have one or more of the new longer list of Covid-19 symptoms posted in our last issue AND feel too unwell to work or have a high temp then they should isolate for 48 hours and test.
The guidance also specifically states that “Staff with respiratory symptoms who feel well enough to work and do not have a temperature, do not need to take a symptomatic test and can continue working. “
The guidance clarifies ordering tests and returning tests. Please remember that there are now no longer any weekend or bank holiday collections for priority post box returns, meaning any outbreak testing will need to be done on normal working weekdays only.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult social care services
 Reminder: Advice on spotting Covid-19 test scams
The UK Health Security Agency has issued the following advice to the public to help people spot Covid-19 test scams
- Contact tracing ended from 24 February 2022 and the Government is no longer issuing SMS or emails to close contacts.
- You will never receive a text from NHS Test and Trace or another government department advising you that you need to pay for a test. All groups that are eligible for testing will be provided with free tests.
- Anyone who is contacted should immediately report it. If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk. Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726, which is free of charge.
- If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk Action Fraud is the reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Reports of fraud and any other financial crime in Scotland should be reported to Police Scotland via 101.
Moderna and Pfizer vaccination side effects
Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccinations have similar side effects and both have an excellent safety profile. The most common side effects for both vaccines are discomfort at the vaccination site, headache, fatigue and muscle aches all of which are usually short lived and self-limiting. The JCVI has published information suggesting that effects such as these will occur in more than 50% of individuals vaccinated with either Moderna or Pfizer. The risk of any serious side effects is extremely low for both vaccines.
Spring booster jabs for care homes
Spring Boosters (a second Booster) vaccinations are currently being rolled out to residents of Care homes for Older People in line with JCVI guidance to maintain high levels of protection for the most vulnerable.
If you have not yet heard from the NHS please do contact the vaccination support team to ensure you have a vaccination visit arranged as soon as possible by emailing them.
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
- make sure best interest and capacity have been concluded ahead of your vaccination visit
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.
A guide to the spring booster for 75 years and older.
How coronavirus is looking, in numbers
The Office for National Statistics updated its data this week to show how people's habits are changing.
Retail and recreation locations have seen visits increase by eight per cent in the week to 15 April, which is now 91 per cent of pre-coronavirus levels.
Parks and public spaces have seen a 30 per cent rise in visits from the previous week.
Seated dining was up 138 per cent of the equivalent week in 2019, the highest level since September 2021.
But approximately one in every 12 residents in Devon currently has coronavirus, and the number of deaths of people with the virus is increasing.
Steve Brown, our Director of Public Health Devon, said:
"It's a stark reminder that coronavirus is still with us. While living with covid presents opportunities to return to a normality, it's important that we remain cautious doing so."
He’s listed five simple things that we can, and should be doing to protect ourselves, friends and families, including staying at home if possible and avoiding seeing others if you have symptoms of coronavirus or any infectious illness.
Read Steve’s guidance on protecting ourselves and others from illness, on our web page.
Do you need more registered nurses in your Care Home? Could a Return to Practice student be the answer?
The Return to Practice course run at the University of Plymouth enables previously registered nurses to come back into the workforce in as little as 16 weeks. We are looking for Care Homes with nursing who would be interested in providing a placement for Return to Practice students who are required by the NMC to undertake 450 hours of supervised and assessed clinical practice. This can be part time or full time and the student could be in a paid HCA role with protected learning or supernumerary. The potential benefit for your service is a registered nurse familiar with your care home, ready to join your team and there is funding of up to £1,500 to support this placement. You would be supported throughout by the University and the Clinical Placement Expansion team.
If you would like to learn more please contact either Adele Kane, Return to Practice Programme Lead adele.kane@plymouth.ac.uk or Jo Sutton, Clinical Placement Expansion Project Worker jsutton4@nhs.net
Capacity Tracker: Provider Training Sessions – April/May 22
Capacity Tracker training session dates.
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21 April 11.00am-11.30am (Care Home)
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24 May 1.00pm-1.30pm (Care Home)
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19 April 1.30pm-2.00pm (Home Care)
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19 May 1.30pm-2.00pm (Home Care)
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28 April 11.00pm-11.30pm (Hospice)
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25 May 9.30am-10.00am (Hospice)
Employee Assistance Programme
The Confidential Care CiC is now offering Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to all Devon’s adult social care providers, including personal assistants. It's a free and confidential support and counselling service available 24/7 throughout the year.
More information about the programme are available online to share and promote.
Whether you’re after practical advice or emotional support with work or personal issues, CiC can offer expert guidance.
You can access the EAP by calling them on 0800 085 1376 or via email.
Integrated Care System for Devon (ICSD)
ICSD is a partnership of health and social care organisations working together with local communities across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay to improve people’s health, wellbeing and care. Their website contains general information on vaccination including FAQs.
Remember to share your good news stories in this newsletter
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Revisit previous good news stories
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