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This is the hundredth issue of this newsletter which we started during the pandemic as a way of ensuring all providers get key messages and information in one place every week. Thank you to everyone who’s sent in items for circulation, in particular those providers who’ve sent us Good News stories to help celebrate the value of adult social care.
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.
What PPE to wear and when - illustrative guide update
This resource outlines COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) advice for people who work in adult social care services and settings.
COVID-19 PPE guide for adult social care services and settings (for print) (publishing.service.gov.uk)
The above guidance should be used in conjunction with:
National Energy Bills Relief Scheme survey
As part of the review of the national Energy Bills Relief Scheme the government the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy is asking business to complete this questionnaire link to better understand their energy needs. business questionnaire closes on Monday 24 October, for further information please use this email.
Preventing Infection Workbook: Guidance for Care Homes- resource available for free
The Devon system has funded the purchase of infection control training workbooks for all care home staff in Devon.
These workbooks are nationally recognised, being developed by an infection control team in Harrogate and recognised in NICE guidance and provide a foundational level of infection control knowledge to enhance your existing training and help with CQC requirements.
Each workbook also contains the contact details for the Devon community infection management service, who offer local infection control support for care homes.
Here is a link to a sample.
These workbooks provide:
- Latest national guidance
- Evidence-based information
- 18 topics including the 10 Standard infection control precautions, Aseptic technique, Specimen collection, Preventing a UTI, Urinary catheter care, Viral gastroenteritis/Norovirus, Clostridioides difficile, MRSA and MRGNB
- Each topic includes a ‘test your knowledge’ section
- When 100% competency has been achieved, managers sign the ‘Certificate of completion’ at the end of the Workbook, providing evidence for CQC compliance
- The Workbook is kept by the member of staff as part of their portfolio of evidence of learning and can be used as a reference guide for day-to-day working
If you would like to order these for your care home, please contact aharlow1@nhs.net including:
- the number of staff in your home and
- the address of the home (including named contact).
We will then post you the workbooks free of charge- one workbook per patient-facing staff member.
Power resilience and adult social care providers
Power outages can have a major impact on care providers ability to operate effectively. We are working closely with the Care Provider Alliance and the DHSC risk and contingency team to update advice and guidance on power outages this winter. The following historic advice for the Care Provider Alliance may prove helpful: on power disruption, fuel supplies and transport, and energy costs.
Medicine Management
Article by Care knowledge looks at issues around medicines control, particularly in care home settings, and includes a practical discussion around errors, reporting, safeguarding and transition.
Managing medicines safely is one of the most challenging aspects of social care provision. There is just so much that can go wrong. Care staff take on a big responsibility when they support people to take their medicines and they need a high level of support themselves to ensure that they are working as safely as possible and that medicines errors are kept to a minimum.
Medicine Management
NICE guidance to help prevent winter deaths
For a vulnerable person, living in a cold home increases their chance of serious illness or death. They are at higher risk of a heart attack or stroke, breathing problems, flu, depression and falls.
This effect occurs not just in extreme winter weather but also in moderate conditions and particularly when outdoor temperature drops below 6°C. For those with care needs, being housebound increases both the exposure to an underheated home and the cost of heating it.
Helping to prevent winter deaths and illnesses associated with cold homes | Quick guides to social care topics | Social care | NICE Communities | About | NICE
Short Vaccine Survey to all social care providers
Please could you take part in this quick survey to give us feedback around how to improve the low uptake of vaccines.
Vaccination (office.com)
Get involved in Provider Engagement Network activities
There are a variety of ways for you to engage with us. These include regular emails, newsletters, webinars and engagement meetings.
PEN participation - Provider Engagement Network (devon.gov.uk)
Are your contact details up-to-date?
We encourage providers to update their contact details (especially email addresses) with the Procurement team. We use these details to communicate with providers. It is very important that we reach the correct person in your organisation to receive appropriate referrals and timely updates from DCC, and that you do not miss out on any opportunities. Please ensure we have your most recent email address.
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.
Good news story - New project - Mix and Mingle group in Great Torrington
In Great Torrington Town Hall weekly commencing 7 November is a new group called Mix and Mingle.
It's a new club for people with care needs and their carers to spend a morning or afternoon session from 10am to 3pm in the company of others to enjoy crafts, puzzles, games and other stimulating activities Cost is £15 per person per day or £7.50 for a half day.
Our Town Council has given us £600 to pay for materials, games craft equipment for example and our Town and Lands Trustees are helping us towards the running costs of the hall, heating and running costs which will be for 3 months initially to get it up and running so we can continue to look for further funding.
For further information please email or call on 07793241555.
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 will help share good practice.
Revisit previous good news stories
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