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This weeks issue contains important changes to COVID- 19 guidance for Care Homes, so please read it carefully.
in the meantime we would like to take the opportunity to wish you all a very happy Easter and we hope you enjoy the spring break if you have one.
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.
Pressure on Health and Social Care System, please notify any spare capacity
Many of you may have seen or even experienced our health system is extremely busy this week, as we approach the Easter period demand is expected to remain high. All of our teams are working hard to support people who are being discharged from hospital.
Each of you are key to health and care delivery in Devon and during this difficult period, so please carry on accepting new packages of care or care home placements, and supporting your clients to return home. We know many of you will already being doing this but given the extreme pressure the local system any increased capacity or focussed effort to bring people home would support vulnerable people in our communities and enable people to access emergency care over the festive period.
If we can help to support your service to continue to accept hospital discharges then please let us know by contacting your Arranging Support Teams or Hospital discharge teams directly to advise them of any spare capacity, and alert them to any support you need to achieve this.
East Arranging Support Team mailbox - adultsc.arrangingsupportadvisorseast-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
North Arranging Support Team mailbox - adultsc.arrangingsupportadvisorsnorth-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
South Arranging Support Team mailbox - adultsc.arrangingsupportadvisorssouth-mailbox@devon.gov.uk
We thank you and your staff for your continued support, resilience and working in partnership with our local health and social care teams.
COVID-19 testing update: move towards testing for COVID-19 treatments, changes in admissions testing, and outbreak testing for care homes
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The Government announced testing and infection, prevention and control (IPC) measures in 2023/24 for COVID-19 across adult social care settings in England. Full details can be found within the updated COVID-19 supplement to the infection prevention and control resource for adult social care.
This announcement outlines a move towards a model of more targeted testing as the risk of harm from COVID-19 across adult social care has now been significantly reduced. This is because of high vaccination coverage amongst those receiving care, prior immunity, and access to COVID-19 treatments to enable these to be targeted at those at the highest-risk where appropriate.
From 3 April 2023, the following changes will therefore be made to the testing regime within Care Homes:
- COVID-19 testing will be focused on those who are eligible for COVID-19 treatments and therefore at the highest risk from COVID-19. This means staff and service users in care homes who are not eligible for COVID-19 treatments should no longer test.
- In a suspected or confirmed outbreak, there is no longer a need to test the whole home to identify COVID-19 cases. Instead, only the first 5 linked symptomatic residents should take a lateral flow test to assess if there is an outbreak if 2 or more residents display respiratory symptoms within 14 days. Rapid response testing in the event of a single positive case is no longer advised.
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PCR tests are no longer advised, and care homes will not be able to order PCR tests from today. PCR tests will not be processed by labs from 1 April 2023, and care homes should use LFDs instead.
- Hospital admissions to care homes should test with a lateral flow test within 48 hours before hospital discharge. PCR tests should no longer be taken. Positive individuals can continue to be able to be admitted, provided they can be isolated and cared for safely. If residents being admitted present with respiratory symptoms that have onset since their discharge test, the provider can conduct a further lateral flow test at their discretion.
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Community admissions do not need to test as there is a lower risk of exposure compared to a hospital setting. This is in line with no testing requirements for existing residents following visits out.
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Outbreaks
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Outbreak measures should now focus on protecting those who are at the highest-risk from COVID-19. Outbreak restrictions can be lifted 5 days after the last positive or suspected case of COVID-19. Recovery testing with PCR tests is no longer required. There are no differences in guidance between small and larger care homes. All care homes can continue to make use of flexibility to initiate their own risk assessments if they feel able to do so, with local health protection team (HPT) support available if required.
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Ordering LFD tests and removal of PCR tests
In residential services, where many people eligible for treatments could be living in the same place, The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have kept open the dedicated ordering routes. This means in care homes you should continue ordering LFD tests using your UON.
PCR tests should therefore no longer be undertaken unless advised and supplied by the NHS for an individual eligible for COVID-19 treatments who has tested positive, or if advised by an HPT during a care home outbreak. These organisations will provide further details on this where required, as well as advising where the PCR should be sent to. Please note that from April 1, any PCR tests returned via existing routes will not be processed and the results of tests will not be communicated.
In line with this, if a care home is currently in outbreak, PCR recovery testing should not be undertaken as measures can now be lifted 5 days after the last confirmed or suspected case. However, care homes may be asked to undertake multi-pathogen swabs by an HPT if there are specific concerns. Existing in-date PCR test kits may be reserved for this use in care homes.
Otherwise, any excess or expired PCR test kits should be disposed of in a normal household waste bin, or by informing a local waste management company if there are multiple boxes.
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Testing of individuals eligible for COVID-19 treatments
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As testing will be focused on symptomatic individuals who are eligible for COVID-19 treatments, Care Homes should support residents to order and administer tests where appropriate. Full information on COVID-19 treatments can be found here. All staff should no longer test regularly test, unless they are eligible for COVID-19 treatments.
Where people have symptoms of a respiratory infection but are not eligible for treatments and therefore do not need to test, they should be asked to stay away from others until they feel well again and do not have a temperature. This includes symptomatic staff, who are asked to stay away from work during this time, in line with guidance for other respiratory illnesses.
 NEW! Optimal Handed Care - Moving and Handling Course
The Health and Social Care Skills Accelerator Programme (HSSAP), part funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) is pleased to be offering FREE Optimal Handed Care Moving and Handling courses to Domiciliary Care Providers to support you and your organisation with single handed care approaches. These 3-hour sessions will increase your confidence and enhance your practical skills in safe moving and handling practice.
Courses will run weekly and be available through Petroc College and South Devon College from March to July 2023.
Spaces are limited so book early to avoid disappointment! To find out more or to book a place, please contact hssap@petroc.ac.uk or louisenorthcott@southdevon.ac.uk.
*Eligibility criteria applies.
** Places are only open to care staff that already have the mandatory Moving and Handling Training qualification.
 South West Hydration Pilot Project
Are you a man, aged 70 years old or older and live in your own home within the South West? Or do you support men aged 70 years old or older?
If so NHS England South West would love you to consider coming along to our event to share your thoughts on how to improve your hydration. The information you provide will help us understand your hydration needs which will support the development of ideas to increase men over 70s daily fluid intake.
The sessions will be held at
Leonardo Hotel, Exeter, EX1 2DB on the 20 April 2023 drop in between 09.30 to 11.30
Cedars Inn, Barnstaple, EX31 2HE, on the 20 April 2023 drop in between 2.30 to 4.30
These are informal sessions to hear from you. Refreshments and tasty treats will be provided.
For further details please contact the South West Infection Prevention Control Team on ipc.nhse-sw@nhs.net
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has developed a new strategy to serve the needs of it’s members who work in the independent health and social care sector. Sarah has recently been appointed to inform, influence and lead the development of excellence in health and social care within the RCN. Sarah covers the South West region. If you work for the independent health and social care sector in the South West and want to know more about what the RCN can offer, how the RCN can support you, or to give your views on the RCN offer to members in the independent health and social care sector, please contact Sarah at sarah.winfield-davies@rcn.org.uk
RCN members who are working in the independent health & social care sector can join the South-West Facebook network (as below)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/rcnswhscnetwork
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)
Webinars, online training and forums in one place
Make sure you have the opportunity to participate in local and national webinars, online forums and training by visiting our website.
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.
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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