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We hope you are having a good summer and manage to enjoy the forthcoming Bank Holiday
As the pandemic recedes into the past, we are revising the Provider Engagement Network website to restore our emphasis on sector-specific support instead COVID-19 information.
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.
Autumn Booster Care Home Vaccinations – remember to start the Consent process
The NHS has begun to contact care homes to arrange autumn booster vaccinations which will begin from 5 September and be rolled out over the coming weeks. if you have not yet heard please wait to be contacted.
Vaccination visits may include both residents and staff. However, where staff are not vaccinated or are not available on the day they will be able to book via the National booking service from 5 September, with appointments being made available from the 12 September.
Given the short timescales, we are asking all care homes to start the consent process as soon as possible. Please note that:
- Consent needs to be obtained before starting any medical treatment, test or physical investigation/examination or before providing personal care for a patient. This is standard NHS practice and a legal requirement.
- The Green Book Chapter 2 provides guidance on the consent process for vaccinations and guidance is also set out in the Roving and Mobile SOP (Section 5.1) and within the national protocol framework.
- Where it has been established that the person lacks capacity to consent, a best interests decision should be taken in line with the checklist in section 4 of the Mental Capacity Act. The decision-maker should make a record of their best interests decision. If a capacity assessment is done and the decision is that the individual did have capacity to consent, this should also be documented.
- Consent remains valid unless the individual who gave it withdraws it. If there is new information between the time consent was given and when the immunisation is offered, it may be necessary to inform the patient and for them to re-confirm their consent.
Relevant consent forms and supporting information can be found on the GOV.UK website. These forms should be adapted locally to apply to the specific dose being administered: first, second, third, primary dose or any subsequent booster doses..
The Capacity Tracker will be updated from 31 August to allow homes to record autumn vaccinations for both residents and staff and we ask that you do this at least weekly to help us support the rollout to homes as quickly as possible.
Important Changes to Asymptomatic Testing in Care Homes from 31 August
On Wednesday 24 August, the Government announced that routine asymptomatic testing in Adult Social Care will be paused from Wednesday 31 August due to falling COVID-19 prevalence nationally.
Full details about the changes across the sector and the public health rationale can be found in the press notice at Regular asymptomatic testing paused in additional settings - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), and the letter from the Director of Adult Social Care Delivery in the Department of Health and Social Care.
The COVID-19 testing in Adult Social Care guidance and the COVID-19 supplement to the infection prevention and control resource for adult social care have been updated to reflect these changes.
Capacity Tracker Training for Care Homes and Home Care
Devon County Council is hosting support sessions to help providers complete their Capacity Tracker (CT) returns. The standard agenda for this training covers:
- How to create a CT Account (optional)
- How to do a Bulk Upload (optional)
- How to approve an Account – for other users within location
- End User Interface/Data Input – including provider details, automated reminder emails
- DHSC Data Mandation and FAQs (incorporated during the session)
Care Home Sessions
Friday 5 August, 2..15pm-3pm Click here to join the meeting
Monday 8 August, 11.15am-12noon Click here to join the meeting
Tuesday 9 August, 2.15pm-3pm Click here to join the meeting
Wednesday 10 August, 10.30am-11.15am Click here to join the meeting
Thursday 11 August, 2.15pm-3pm Click here to join the meeting
Friday 12 August, 11.15am-12noon Click here to join the meeting
Monday 15 August 2,.15pm-3pm Click here to join the meeting
Home Care Sessions
Friday 5 August, 11.30am-12noon Click here to join the meeting
Monday 8 August, 3pm-3.30pm Click here to join the meeting
Tuesday 9 August, 11.30am-12noon Click here to join the meeting
Wednesday 10 August, 3pm-3.30pm Click here to join the meeting
Thursday 11 August, 11.30am-12.00pm Click here to join the meeting
Friday 12 August, 2.pm-2.30pm Click here to join the meeting
Monday 15 August, 12.15-1pm Click here to join the meeting
National Infection Prevention and Control Manual for all staff
Wherever you work, whether you are a permanent, temporary or locum member of staff this initiative applies to you. The National Infection Prevention and Control Manual for England is an evidence-based manual for all those involved in care provision to help ensure a consistent UK-wide approach to infection prevention and control.
The manual outlines 10 standard precautions to be used by all staff, in all care settings, at all times and for all patients.
FFP3 Qualitative Fit Tester Training Offer for Providers
To help with your winter preparedness plans, Devon County Council have limited free FFP3 Qualitative Fit Tester training sessions on offer.
Each session has 8 places – apply early to avoid disappointment. The training dates are:
Training dates:
- Thursday, 22 September, Tavistock, 9am – 3.30pm
- Wednesday, 28 September, Exeter, 9am – 3.30pm
- Tuesday, 4 October, Barnstaple, 9am – 3.30pm
This offer is open to hospices, care homes, care agencies, personal health budget patients’ personal assistants (P/A’s), unpaid carers and schools. And anyone who has previously done this training but would like a refresher.
This is the link to book onto one of the courses.
Falls Prevention resources
The National Falls Prevention Co-ordination Group (NFPCG) Deconditioning task and finish sub-group have developed a suite of five resources intended to support individuals, health and care professionals and commissioners to take action to help older adults become more active and recondition following activity restrictions in the COVID-19 pandemic.
There is a great selection of useful booklets, leaflets and posters, including links to research and other resources.
Deconditioning information for providers of services for older people and the public | British Geriatrics Society (bgs.org.uk)
Care home owner runs, walks and crawls for charity
On 24 August Penny Baxter from Nos Nom care home, right on the Devon and Cornwall border, completed a run, walk, and crawl of 55 miles from Bude to Exeter's Research, Innovation, Learning, and Development (RILD) building on Barrack Road.
The total raised so far is £2665 which goes to Animal Free Research UK at RILD Exeter.
Animal Free Research UK supporter is set to trek from Bude to Exeter to raise funds for charity - Devon Live
Bude to Exeter - A Run, Walk, Crawl | Facebook
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