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Heat wave warning issued for parts of the UK
A heatwave warning has been issued for parts of the UK as temperatures are set to soar.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warn that temperatures will stay high until Friday 15 July.
They've issued guidance, and ask us all to prepare for the warm weather:
- shade or cover windows exposed to direct sunlight – external shutters or shades are very effective, internal blinds or curtains are less effective but cheaper and easier to install
- check that windows or vents can be opened
- if applicable, check mechanical ventilations systems are switched on and operating in summer mode
- check that fridges, freezers and fans are working properly
- check medicines can be stored according to the instructions on the packaging
They also ask people to check in on their vulnerable family, friends and neighbours to make sure they are prepared for the warm weather ahead.
Here is the special edition of this newsletter about how to beat the heat, including top tips for keeping cool this summer.
Heat-Health Alert Service
The Heatwave Plan for England is supported by the Heat-Health Alert service run by UKHSA in collaboration with the Met Office. The Heatwave and Summer preparedness programme (Level 1) runs from 1 June until 15 September. Heat-Health Alerts are cascaded to a wide range of health and social care organisations, as well as UKHSA Regions.
Subscribe to the Heat-Health Alerting Service, operated by the Met Office to receive alerts.
Here’s the alert.
Cost of Care Upcoming Events
Local session delivered by Care England.
Domiciliary Care live session: Friday, 15 July 1-2pm; please use this link to join ARCC Live Event
Two further drop-in sessions have been set up by the CPA and IESE for care providers next week. These are dedicated demos and FAQ sessions regarding the care home tool, aimed at supporting providers in completing the tool. These sessions are available to all care home providers, regardless of whether or not they are CPA members.
Care homes: 14 July 2022 12pm to 1pm Click here to join the meeting
Care homes: 19 July 2022 12pm to 1pm Click here to join the meeting
Care homes: 21 July 2022 1pm to 2pm Click here to join the meeting
Devon County Council domiciliary care drop in sessions:19 July 11-12pm, 26 July 11-12pm
Devon County Council care homes care drop in sessions:13 July 11-12pm, 20 July 11-12pm, 27 July 11-12pm
If you have not received an invitation to any of these events please email:
socialcarebusinessrelations-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
Closing date for all tools is the 31 July 2022
PA and Micro-Providers meetings, Tuesday 19 July
Devon County Councils Market Management Team are hosting monthly locality based meetings through Zoom. These sessions will be an opportunity for providers to ask questions, meet the team, and share information. Each month will be centred around a theme that emerged from provider feedback. This month we will be talking about Direct Payments, holidays/sickness, and contract templates. If you have any further suggestions for discussion please contact us before Monday 18 July.
Zoom session details
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North – Tuesday 19 July 2- 2.40pm joining link Passcode NorthPA
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East – Tuesday 19 July 3-3.40pm joining link Passcode EastPA
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South & West – Tuesday 19 July 4-4.40pm joining link Passcode SWPA
If you have any queries regarding these meetings please email:
socialcarebusinessrelations-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
Discharge from hospital to a care home guidance confirmation
Over the last few weeks, there has been some confusion regarding the isolation of residents following a discharge from a hospital into a care home.
DHSC guidance states that If a resident tests positive in hospital before an admission to the care home or has been in a hospital ward where an outbreak is underway , they should isolate, undertake an LFT test on days 5 and 6 (24 hours apart) and if both are negative can end their isolation early.
If one of the tests is positive on days 5 or 6, the resident can end isolation after receiving 2 consecutive negative tests 24 hours apart, or after 10 days’ isolation.
Any individual who is unable to test should be isolated for the full 10 days following a positive test. Isolation should only be stopped when there is an absence of fever (less than 37.8°C) for 48 hours without the use of medication.
The individual should isolate for up to 10 days from the date of admission into the care home. Isolation time should not span from the hospital to the care home.
Stark warning on spending from Devon finance chief
Our Director of Finance has warned that we're facing an unprecedented black hole in our finances caused by the cost of living crisis and spiralling demand for help for vulnerable children and adults.
Angie Sinclair predicts that we could overspend by more than £40 million in the current financial year.
And she says urgent action must be taken by every council department to rein in spending.
A panel of senior officers is already looking at options for councillors to consider including spending cuts, remodelling services to save money and cancelling or delaying building projects.
Unlike central government, local councils are required by law to balance their books every year.
You can read the full story on the news page of our website.
An update from the Liberty Protection Safeguards Project Group
The Government have recently been consulting on the new draft Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Code of Practice which includes the new Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) which are due to replace the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
As an organisation, Devon County Council have responded to the consultation; there were some areas that we felt remained unclear, and we were keen to highlight these in our consultation response.
When the final MCA Code of Practice is agreed and published it will replace and amalgamate the existing MCA Code of Practice and the DoLS Code of practice into one document which will be essential reading for everyone working in Social Care.
When someone lacks Mental Capcity to make decisions about their care and support arrangements and those arrangements amount to a deprivation of the persons liberty then this will need to be authorised under the Liberty Protection Safeguards. A deprivation of liberty doesn’t always look the same but it could include supervising a person and knowing where they are at all times or controlling elements of their lives like how they spend their time, how their care or medication is provided or preventing them from going out alone.
When it comes to making any decision about depriving a person of their liberty it must always consider and give weight to the persons wishes and views as well as involving family and carers. Whilst the aim should be to ensure a person’s wellbeing and safety, consideration must be given to enabling a person to lead a fulfilling life that is not full of unnecessary restrictions.
We are now awaiting the government’s response to the consultation. Until then we continue to work towards the implementation of the Liberty Protection Safeguards in Devon.
We will keep you all updated.
Leaders in Care Awards
Nominations for the Leaders in Care Awards 2022, sponsored by Radar Healthcare, are now open. Celebrating the achievements of care providers in the UK and the suppliers that serve them, we’re calling on you to highlight your leaders.
Companies are invited to nominate themselves by filling in an official nomination form, or they are free to nominate any other businesses they feel deserve recognition.
There are two nomination forms – one for the home care provider categories and one for the supplier categories. Both are incredibly simple to fill in and can be downloaded via the link.
Home Care provider categories:
- Business Initiative of the Year
- Frontline Carer of the Year
- Care Provider of the Year
- Registered Manager of the Year
- Executive of the year
- Deadline for entry is Friday 19 August 2022
Nominations open for 2022 Leaders in Care Awards (homecareinsight.co.uk)
New campaign supports care sector to cut energy bills
As the cost-of-living crisis hits Britain, a unique campaign has launched to support people who access and deliver social care to cut their energy bills.
With disabled people frequently paying more than double the energy bills of the wider public, and many social care workers struggling with escalating prices, the Taking Charge campaign offers vital free support at this most difficult of times.
Created by the large British charity, Community Integrated Care, Taking Charge is designed to support the social care sector to minimise the impact of the growing energy crisis.
Offering free live webinars, engaging videos, and a suite of accessible education resources, Taking Charge gives people essential advice to save hundreds of pounds on their bills this year.
Throughout July, Community Integrated Care is hosting a number of fun and engaging free webinars on www.TakingChargeEnergy.co.uk for anyone who accesses or provides social care, and is inviting care services to download their free accessible and easy read toolkits.
New campaign supports care sector to cut energy bills (homecareinsight.co.uk)
Remember to share your good news stories in this newsletter
Has your support helped transform 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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