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The arrival of Spring also means the latest Covid-19 Booster campaign will commence soon. Devon providers have a great track record of co-operation with NHS Vaccination Teams and this issue contains the email address and telephone numbers for those teams in case you have any queries about the Spring campaign.
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.
DCC Transition to New Finance System: Temporary Change in Payment Schedules – Care Homes and Community Based Services
As we transition from our current finance system to a new finance system in April 2025, we will be bringing forward the Care Homes payment by one week for the period (17/03/25– 30/03/25). This adjustment ensures continuity in payments to providers.
Homes will receive payments this week and again next week, deviating from the usual fortnightly schedule. This change is temporary and applies only to the specified period.
A note explaining this adjustment will be included on the CareFirst remittance advice. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this transition.
For community based services which are more variable, we have reviewed recent payment data and will be arranging for a one-off payment in advance by 26/03/2025 to be consistent with previous payment patterns. This adjustment provides continuity for providers that would usually anticipate payment during the period 28th March and 6th April.
If for any reason the advance payment is lower than the invoices received, any balance due will be paid once the system reopens on 7th April.
If for any reason we have overpaid, the credit will be deducted from any future invoices. If you no longer commission with Devon County Council, we will raise a debtor invoice to reclaim the overpayment.
Please ensure you continue to send in invoices as normal, these will be processed and paid once the system reopens on 7th April 2025. Any payment made in advance will be reconciled and offset against invoices received and paid through our usual process within the period.
If you have any queries regarding this please contact socialcarebusinessrelations-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
Uk Food Standards Agency Warning
Investigations into a cluster of cases of Listeria monocytogenes (LM) are underway by UKHSA, the Food Standards Agency and relevant authorities.
Routine sampling of two different mousse flavours, both sampled on two different dates in February 2025 at an NHS hospital in the South West, England, as part of routine surveillance identified LM. Both mousses were the same brand, Cool Delight, supplied by one manufacturer, B. & A. Susca Limited, Pine Street, Off Bennett Street, Hyde,Cheshire, SK14 4TG.
Care homes and other settings who may care for immunocompromised people, are also advised not to serve the affected mousse or any other desserts supplied by B & S Susca.
Further information is available from https://www.food.gov.uk/listeria
The Covid 19 Spring Booster is coming soon!
The 2025 Covid-19 Spring Booster Campaign will be launched on the 1st April 2025
Eligible cohorts include:
- Adults aged 75 years and over (This includes those who will turn 75 years old by 17 June 2025)
- Residents in a care home for older adults (Those who are new residents in an older persons’ care home by 17 June 2025)
- Individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed
Please note that Vaccination Teams will contact care homes in the coming weeks to arrange vaccination visits.
Please direct queries to: d-icb.devonvaccinationsupport@nhs.net
Eastern and Southern Team: 07729 300349
Northern Team: 07385 934988
Western Team: 07729 300350
Join the Task and Finish Group for Care Home Key Performance Indicators
We are pleased to invite you to participate in our Task and Finish Group focused on Care Home Key Performance Indicators.
Your expertise and insights will be crucial in shaping a practical and effective system for monitoring care quality and performance.
About the Task and Finish Group
The purpose of this group is to collaborate on reviewing, testing, and refining Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Quality Indicators (QIs) over the next year.
We want to ensure that the framework supports your work and drives meaningful improvements in the care home sector.
Benefits of Participation
By joining this group, you will have the opportunity to:
- Influence the design and reporting of KPIs and QIs
- Represent the needs of residential and nursing homes, ensuring the framework aligns with real-world challenges
- Gain early access to new tools, dashboards, and support resources
Your participation will involve attending regular virtual meetings starting on 23 April 2025 from 2 to 4.30pm.
How to Join
If you are interested in joining this task and finish group, please email David.Rainbow@devon.gov.uk.
Provider Engagement on the Older Persons’ (65+) Care Homes Fee Model and 2025 Fees Uplift: engagement ends on 23 March, FAQs published
Devon County Council is reminding all providers that engagement on the proposed fee model for Older Persons’ (65+) care home placements and the 2025 fees uplift is closing soon. The engagement period, which began on 10 February 2025, will end on midnight on Sunday 23 March 2025.
We kindly remind you that this is the final opportunity to share your views on the proposed changes. These changes include a new fee model for all new and reviewed placements for clients over 65, as well as the annual uplift for 2025/26. Don’t miss this opportunity to have your say!
Frequently Asked Questions have now been published to support the engagement and they can be read at: Older Person’s (65+) Care Homes Fee Model and 2025 Fees Uplift - Provider Engagement Network
International Recruitment: Undefined Certificate of Sponsorship (UCoS) DASS Process
In recent months Devon County Council along with other local authorities in the South West have been asked to adopt a DASS process which would involve the Local Authority (DCC) confirming that they are in support ‘or not’ of expediting the providers UCoS application to the Home Office for processing. The LA decision would be based on a review of information submitted by the provider.
After full consideration DCC has decided not to partake in the DASS process. This decision does not affect the ability for providers to apply for UCoS and applications can be made via the normal routes UK visa sponsorship for employers: Overview - GOV.UK
Recent changes in the regulation (announced on 12 March 25) to come into force on 9 April 25, specifies that care providers who want to recruit a new worker from overseas will have to first prove that they have attempted to recruit a worker from within England who needs new sponsorship. This ensures that those who came to the UK to pursue a career in adult social care can do so. New rules to prioritise recruiting care workers in England - GOV.UK
Stay up to date about all the information and support on offer through DCC and the Devon Alliance A to Z international recruitment resources - Provider Engagement Network
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