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October 2022 edition
Welcome to the October edition of the Provider Forum information bulletin.
Alongside the Provider Forum, we will send out these bulletins regularly summarising updates from Gloucestershire County Council (GCC), Intergrated Care Board (ICB), as well as local and national initiatives.
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Remember, the bulletin is interactive, so make sure you click the links to get the most out of it.
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Have you got something to share?
We would love to hear your feedback or contributions, so if you have anything which you want to share, or have a question to ask us, email us here.
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Information and Resources |
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Admissions from the community:
- The current government guidance states that care homes should ensure that anyone admitted to the home from the community has a COVID-19 PCR test within the 72 hours before they are admitted (unless there is evidence of recent infection, then they should take a lateral flow test).
- It is the responsibility of the care home to arrange this test.
- If an individual tests positive and continues to be admitted to the care home, they should be isolated on arrival and follow the guidance on care home residents who are symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19
Urgent admissions from the community:
- For urgent admissions to a care home from the community, the care home should find out if the individual has been tested for COVID-19
- If a test has not been taken or was taken more than 72 hours before admission, the individual should be tested again with a lateral flow test by the care home
- If the test result is positive, the individual should isolate in the care home and follow the guidance on care home residents who are symptomatic or test positive for COVID-19
Discharge from hospital into a care home:
- The hospital will arrange a lateral flow test within 48 hours prior to discharge into a care home
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If testing positive for COVID-19 prior to discharge, the individual can still be admitted to the care home, if the home is satisfied that they can be cared for safely
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If testing positive for COVID-19, the individual should be isolated for a total period of 10 days from the day symptoms started or the day of the positive test if asymptomatic. This isolation period should include days in the hospital, so when entering a care home, they only need to isolate for the remainder of the 10 days since symptoms or positive test
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If testing negative for COVID-19 and the individual has no symptoms of COVID-19 and is being discharged to a care home from a location in the hospital where there was an active outbreak, they should be isolated for 10 days from the date of admission to the care home. Individuals who are isolating for this reason may take a lateral flow test on day 5 and end isolation if testing negative
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‘Previous COVID positives’ discharged from hospital will have had COVID-19 within the last 90 days. Although these patients will test positive with a PCR, they are not likely to have COVID or be infectious or a risk to other residents.
During an outbreak in the care home:
- In the event of an outbreak in the care home, outbreak restrictions will be put in place. An outbreak is defined as 2 or more confirmed cases of COVID-19 among people in the same setting, with the onset of symptoms within 14 days
- Government guidance states that care homes may be able to accept admissions during an outbreak where this can be done safely.
- The care home should refer to the latest information on infection, prevention and control for guidance on best practice, as set out in the following supplement:
- The care home should carry out a risk assessment of both the individual and the care home setting, providing assurance that it is safe to proceed with the admission for all concerned
RISK ASSESSMENT
A risk assessment should consider the following:
- What is the vaccination status of the individual, the care home staff and residents?
- How likely it is that the individual will be able to safely self-isolate, if required, on admission to the home? (consider individual risk factors such as wandering or confusion, and risk factors in the home such as ventilation and room layout)
- Could a delay in admission result in increased harm to the individual?
- Are you confident in the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by staff and adherence to infection, prevention and control (IPC) measures within the home?
- Is the outbreak being successfully contained?
- Is the home able to safely staff and support any new admissions?
Decision on admissions
- The final decision on any admission rests with the care home manager
The Care Home IPC team is available to support homes with undertaking the risk assessment and can be contacted for advice on: ghn-tr.ipc.nurses@nhs.net
How to access a COVID booster or flu vaccine this autumn/winter
The NHS in Gloucestershire is reassuring everyone who is eligible for a COVID booster or flu vaccination this winter that they will receive an invitation from local NHS services to book a slot soon. Please DO NOT contact GP surgeries at this time.
GPs and community NHS teams across the county are offering the COVID and flu vaccines to people who are most at risk of getting very ill this winter.
Set to start during the week of 5 September, NHS staff will begin vaccinating care home residents and people who are housebound, with invitations being sent to those who are eligible on a phased basis in the coming weeks.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation have confirmed that adults can have their COVID booster and flu vaccination at the same time, so some people may be offered both at the same appointment, subject to supplies.
The following groups are eligible for one or both vaccines:
- residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults (COVID booster and flu jab)
- frontline health and social care workers (COVID booster and flu jab)
- all adults aged 50 years and over (COVID booster and flu jab)
- people aged 5 to 49 years with certain health conditions (COVID booster and flu jab)
- persons aged 5 to 49 years who are household contacts of people with a severely weakened immune system (COVID booster and flu jab)
- people who receive a carer’s allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick (COVID booster and flu jab)
- pregnant women (COVID booster and flu jab)
- two- and three-year old's (flu nasal spray)
- primary school and secondary school pupils up to year 9 (flu nasal spray, delivered via the school vaccination programme).
There are several ways to access winter vaccinations in Gloucestershire:
- Via appointment at a GP-led primary care network vaccination centre – Please note that these appointments are not available on the national booking system (NBS), people will receive an invite directly from local NHS services to book when it’s their turn. Many people will be invited to the same local vaccination centre where they’ve had previous doses of the COVID vaccine, but in some areas of the county people may be able to book an appointment at their GP surgery. People may be offered their COVID booster and flu jab at the same appointment subject to supplies.
- Via the national booking system (COVID booster only) – some people may choose to book an appointment at one of 10 community pharmacies across the county using the NBS telephone number and website (www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination or call 119).
- At a drop-in clinic – Some drop-in clinics may be arranged as the rollout of the vaccination programme advances. Please note, flu vaccines may not be available at all of these clinics, so please check criteria and eligibility before attending.
For more information including locations of drop-in clinics, accessing first and second boosters and any latest news click here.
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Have you heard flu & Covid-19 cases will be high this winter?
Are all your winter preparedness plans in place?
How will you protect your vulnerable residents?
You are not alone! With Covid-19 spreading and flu season fast approaching join us and other homes on the 18th October for our free Winter Preparedness Webinar where we will be discussing all things IPC. We will be hearing from the Health Protection Team, Infection Prevention Team, Disability Quality Assurance Team and Brokerage as well as home managers. Home managers will be sharing what they learnt during the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure that their residents were kept safe. The most important section is hearing the questions from attendees therefore a time has been allocated for a Q&A.
This webinar is open and relevant to all social care services providers. The home managers speaking will be sharing their experience from the disability sector.
Webinar details:
Date - 18th October
Time – 14:00
Duration 30- 45mins with time for questions.
Meeting link – Join on your computer or mobile app: Click here to join the meeting, Meeting ID: 319 965 095 159. Or call in (audio only): +44 20 3321 5208, 541085360#
Please do not hesitate to make contact on healthprotection@gloucestershire.gov.uk should you have any questions or would like further support.
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This week (9th October – 16th October 2021) is Hate Crime Awareness Week and is a national week of action to encourage local authorities, key partners and communities affected by hate crime to work together to tackle local hate crime issues.
Challenge it. Report it. Stop it.
How can I REPORT IT to the police?
- In an emergency - 999; non-emergency – 101
- Report online visit: www.gloucestershire.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/hco/hate-crime/how-to-report-hate-crime/ or click here
- Attend a police station or stop a police officer in the street.
To download awareness raising posters for your staff and teams please click the button below.
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Health and Social Care Frameworks |
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The Gloucestershire Health and Social Care Framework 2020-4 is now open for round 4 and the closing date is 10:00 am on the 31st October 2022.
This framework covers the following Lots:
- Lot 1: Supported Living (Non-Complex)
- Lot 2: Supported Living (Complex)
- Lot 3: Floating Support for Children & Young People
- Lot 4: Forensic Support Services
- Lot 5a: Domiciliary Care, and Lot 5b Domiciliary Care Complex
If you have not already registered with ProContract, please click here to find out how to sign up.
If you have any queries, please contact Christine on christine.slade@gloucestershire.gov.uk
The fourth round of the Community Opportunities Framework is now open for submissions on ProContract and will close at 10:00 am on the 7th of November. This Framework is for the provision of Community Opportunities for adults (including older people) and people with a learning disability, physical disability, autism and/or a mental health condition.
If you would like to apply and you have not signed up to ProContract, please click here to view information on how you can sign up.
For more information, please email Christine on christine.slade@gloucestershire.gov.uk
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We want to know what is important to you right now!
We at Inclusion Gloucestershire want to know what is important or worrying to you now in 2022, so we make sure our work is still helpful and so that other organisations can help people too.
We hope to reach people with lived experience of disability or mental health conditions, family carers, people who work in health and social care and other organisations, as well as our own staff and trustees.
Please click here to visit the website with the latest survey link.
If you would like to talk about this survey or what is important to you, please email charliem@inclusion-glos.org or phone 07842 312469 and we can make a time that works for you.
The survey will close at 5.00pm on Monday 31st October 2022.
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We have opportunities for people to volunteer to help us with this research.
If you would like more information about volunteering with Inclusion Gloucestershire, please contact Amanda Eady: amandae@inclusion-glos.org
Background: Inclusion Gloucestershire asked a lot of people to tell us about their views in 2021.
We used the results to:
- Write 8 reports, including a headline report that showed health was the most important area for people in 2021
- Write a new strategy (a big plan) that is guiding our work at Inclusion Gloucestershire over the next three years
- Meet with commissioners from social care, health and housing to discuss our findings and what actions would be taken as a result
- Let partner organisations know what was important to disabled people so they could help them more effectively
If you would like to see the results from previous surveys, please click here to visit the website.
For further details about research within Inclusion Gloucestershire please contact Charlie Mitchell: email charliem@inclusion-glos.org or phone 07842 312469.
NHS Gloucestershire ICB is currently looking into how we can improve our approach with the Care Sector to better support people who have fallen.
We are planning to produce updated training and support resources which will address the concerns that Care Staff and Providers are reporting across the county.
We are keen to gather a broad range of provider views and experiences to ensure we are meeting your needs in the most appropriate way and would really value your feedback as this will help shape the resources that we produce.
Any queries please contact Liz Dolan - Occupational Therapist, Care Sector Support Team liz.dolan@nhs.net
Click here to access the survey
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Inclusion Gloucestershire are recruiting a number of Expert by Experience posts for Community Mental Health Transformation.
As an expert by experience, you will represent your own views and gather and represent those of others with lived experience of mental ill health in the development of support and services in the community. Such support will be delivered in ways that are personalised and holistic and ensure that people with mental ill health get the right support at the right time.
Reports to: Project Coordinator
Hours: This is a zero hours contract although we anticipate approximately 2-4 half days work per month
Contract: Fixed term to 31.3.25
Salary: £10.91 per hour (21269 FTE) - £11.81 per hour (23023 FTE)
This post will involve hybrid working with attendance at our office and venues across the county (initially in the Forest of Dean) and some home working.
Our office is based at 2 St Michaels Court, St Michaels Square, Gloucester, GL1 1JB
We would like our team to have a variety of lived experiences and for this reason we would particularly welcome applications from people who:
- Are aged 65+
- Are of working age (18+)
- Are younger and have experience of moving to adults services(18-25 yrs)
- Have lived experience of complex trauma related needs
- Have lived experience of other complexities (drug and alcohol misuse, homelessness, involvement in criminal justice system)
- Have lived experience of eating disorder
- Have lived experience of serious mental illness such as major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder or other psychotic disorders
- Have lived experience as a family carer of someone with serious mental illness
- Are from a BAME community
For individuals wanting more information or to request a Job Pack, please email ailsal@inclusion-glos.org or phone 01452 234003.
Alternatively, all documents can be downloaded from our website click here to access the website. Please let us know if you need these documents in another format.
Closing date for completed applications: Midnight 25 October 2022
Intended Interview Dates: 1 November (AM) and 2 November (PM) 2022
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The October South West Population and Public Health Academy Webinar which will take place on 25th October from 2 - 3.30pm and will focus on learning disability and autism programme.
Speakers:
• Graham Carr, Head of Programme, Learning Disability and Autism Programme, NHS England South West. Overview of the Learning Disability and Autism Programme in the South West.
• Lianna Davis, Health Equality Lead, NHS England South West
• Cheryl Hampson, Senior Commissioning Manager Integrated Disabilities Commissioning Team, NHS Gloucestershire & Gloucestershire County Council
• Laurie-Ann Cook, Learning Disabilities Annual Health Check Project
What will be covered?
• How Gloucestershire is working holistically as an ICS to improve the access to and quality of Learning Disability Annual Health Checks
• How working collaboratively across the South West is driving improvements in outcomes for people with a learning disability .
• Health outcomes for people with a learning disability
• Diagnostic overshadowing
• Reasonable adjustments
• Available resources for clinicians and carers including RESTORE2 tools and the RCP Acute care toolkit for people with a learning disability
Click here to register
Click on the below button to download the flyer which shows more information on speakers, topics covered and learning outcomes.
If you support anyone affected by self-harm or suicidal thinking, you are welcome to join Gloucestershire Self Harm Helpline's free Professionals webinar. During this one-hour free webinar, we will share information about the Helpline and our approach to supporting people affected by self-harm and suicidal thinking.
Taking place on 2nd November at 11am via Zoom.
Click here for more information.
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This is the fourth online free professional’s webinar to let you know more about our Gloucestershire Support After Suicide Service and how to refer someone and how they can help people.
GSASS hopes you will be able to join them on Thursday 27th October 11am -12pm.
Please note that the webinar will be held via Teams rather than Zoom.
Please email them to book your place on glossupportaftersuicide@rethink.org or click here to visit the website for more information.
Do you ever wish you knew more about how to use Excel or Outlook? Are you interested in how Microsoft Teams can be used to improve collaboration with your staff? Did you know that Microsoft products have a range of accessibility features which can help staff and the people we support?
Specifically designed for people working in social care, these sessions will help you get started or get the most out of your software. We’ve partnered with Microsoft and NHS Transformation Directorate to provide these sessions for free.
Get started with Excel for Social Care Providers
· Tuesday 1 November, 11 - 12:00 – click here to book
Microsoft Accessibility Solutions for Social Care Providers
· Thursday 3 November, 14:00 - 15:00 – click here to book
Microsoft Outlook for Social Care Providers
· Wednesday 19 October, 14:00 - 15:00 – click here to book
Increase Collaboration with Microsoft Teams for Social Care Providers
· Tuesday 20 October, 14:00 - 15:00 – click here to book
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