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Please remember that you have les than a week left in which to get staff vaccinated as part of the latest COVID-19 booster campaign, so don’t delay if you have yet to take this important preventive measure.
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.
Less than a week, to get your COVID-19 autumn booster vaccination
Social care staff are being strongly urged to have their COVID-19 autumn booster vaccination before the provision stops on 12 February 2023.
If you’re a health or social care worker, or an unpaid carer or personal assistant to a friend or relative, you’re particularly at risk from catching flu and COVID-19 and passing them on to the people you care for.
One Devon Integrated Care Partnership has produced four encouraging films featuring our very own care workers in Devon and clients explaining their decision to have the vaccination.
COVID-19 and flu vaccinations are free on the NHS and you are urged to get them as soon as possible. Nationally the hospitalisation rate for flu/COVID-19 patients has been increasing, with over 5000 people in hospital with flu across the UK in recent weeks. If you missed any previous doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, don’t worry, you can still get them from a vaccination centre near you.
How to book your COVID-19 vaccination
Visit the National Booking Service, call 119 or find a walk-in appointment through the online vaccination walk-in finder.
How to book your flu vaccination
Visit the Flu Booking Service to book an appointment at a community pharmacy. You can also get a flu vaccination through your GP practice.
Ensuring Red Bags are returned to Care Homes
In effort to try and ensure that Red Bags are returned to Care Homes, please remind staff on the ward about the Red Bag when you are taking a handover. It is also worth making sure that only the correct medications are sent with residents into hospital, not all medications.
Medications to send include: Insulin, Prescribed creams (not barrier creams), Eye drops, Inhalers and spacers, Chemotherapy medicines and/or HIV medicines.
Medications not to send include: Tablet and liquid medications (unless Chemotherapy and/or HIV medicines), Controlled drugs, Patches, Injections (except insulin), Supplement or sip feeds. Red Bags are now being managed by the frailty team.
Prevention of Moisture Associated Skin Damage (MASD) Webinar for Care Homes / Care Providers in North Devon
This will be held via Microsoft Teams in collaboration with Medicareplus Limited. Hosted by the Northern Devon Care Homes Team
Wednesday 29 March 2–4pm
Topics include
- The Stratum Corneum and Acid Mantle Moisture Associated Skin Damage (MASD)
- Incontinence Related Skin Damage (IAD)
- Pressure Ulceration V’s Moisture lesions
- M.A.R.T Skin Moisture Alert Reporting Tool
- Treatment protocol – Choosing the correct skin barrier protectant
To attend this session please complete and submit the online booking form.
Following completion of above you will receive a email acknowledgement of your booking. This will reserve your place on this education session.
All training packages delivered by the Northern Devon Care Homes Team are in addition to the routine mandatory training provided by the care home where you are employed
For further information please email.
Falls Prevention and Post-Fall Care Resources
To support care providers with Falls Prevention and Post-Fall care, South Western Ambulance Service (SWASFT) website has a guidance pack for care providers, resources include:
- Preventing falls
- Post-falls assessment
- Post-falls guidance pack for care providers
- General advice for care providers
- Example Ambulance Conveyance Form
- Example Post-Fall Form
Welcome to SWASFT - (swast.nhs.uk)
(SCIE) also provide a Quick guide to falls prevention and management in care homes:
Quick guide: falls prevention and management in care homes - Prevention Library - SCIE
Free Falls Prevention Training Available - For Exeter, East & Mid Devon Care Homes only
Training sessions delivered at care home settings by the Falls Prevention Clinical Practitioner with Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (RDUFT)
This training will include: -
- Identifying the risk(s) of falling
- Actioning the risk factor(s)
- If someone fell, which service is appropriate?
- Safe floor retrieval
- Signposting services and useful resources
To book a training session or find out more please contact Will Lawry - Falls Prevention Clinical Practitioner, RDUFT, will.lawry@nhs.net
Funded wellbeing training in North Devon
Northern Care Homes Team - RESTORE2
What is Restore2?, it’s a tool used by Residential, Nursing Homes and Domiciliary Care Agencies to recognise and escalate deterioration in individuals in their care.
The fully funded training can be provided either face to face or virtually via MS Teams for all Care Services in North Devon. Complete the Pre Training Assessment form, once you have completed this a member of the team will contact you to book a training date.
Higher Development Award - Unlocking potential and being the best you can be!
Fully funded personal development programme, level one pilot providing experienced employees from all Health and Social Care settings with the opportunity to develop core knowledge, skills, behaviours and values required to progress and be the best that you can be.
You will have the opportunity to work alongside others within the sector, enhancing your understanding of how your role links to the multidisciplinary team, and meets the needs of your organisation and the wider sector. You will develop your Maths, English skills and participate in a Workplace Improvement Project. It will be delivered by Exeter, Petroc, South Devon and Plymouth colleges, starting in March/April 2023. Find out more here!
Are you struggling with the cost of living? Reminder!
There's some useful advice on our website for residents and businesses in Devon who are struggling to afford to pay for their energy, water, food or other essential items. It includes information about support for low-income families via the Household Support Fund, such as free school meal holiday vouchers, the holiday activities and food programme and 'Fuel, Food and More' grants.
There's also help for those using pre-payment meters, and who are struggling to meet their energy needs, via Citizens Advice Devon.
The Warm Spaces website has a map of places in the community that are free to go and be comfortable and warm with no judgement. They include places such community centres, churches and libraries.
If you can't afford the food you need, you can contact one of Devon's foodbanks listed on our PinPoint website. There are a number of supermarkets, cafés and restaurants offering free or £1 meals for children during the school holidays.
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.
NICE newsletters and alerts sign up
Keep up to date with the latest news and guidance that may impact on your service and clients via the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)
Sign up to receive NICE newsletters here.
‘Pinpoint’ – the Devon Community Directory
PinPoint is Devon's community directory, used by the public, GP’s, health sector, DCC staff in order to find suitable services and support in their local area. Please can providers ensure you have your company/ service details registered on here and ensure the information is always up to date. It is populated by providers through setting up an account. If you need help or see any errors please email pinpoint@devon.gov.uk
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