Care Matters Weekly: Friday 4 June 2021

Please share this information with your staff. COVID-19 Vaccine National booking service re-opens & vaccine resource update Open Consultation – Making vaccinations a condition of deployment for care staff Walk […]

Published on 4/06/2021 in News

Please share this information with your staff.


COVID-19 vaccine

National booking service re-opens & vaccine resource update

All eligible frontline care workers who have not already had their COVID-19 vaccine can book vaccinations online through the national booking service, or by contacting their GP.

When booking, appointments will be offered for vaccines recommended for you, based on your age, any underlying health conditions, or if you are pregnant.

Some care workers may still have questions about getting vaccinated. Join an interactive webinar with Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Dr Nikita Kanani, Director of Primary Care at NHS England, 11am on Friday 21 May.

Our communications toolkit has also been updated with new resources highlighting the latest Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) guidance on the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine for people under 40

Open Consultation – Making vaccinations a condition of deployment for all care staff

Have you shared your views on ‘making vaccinations a condition of deployment for all care staff.

Visit Open consultation – Making vaccination a condition of deployment in older adult care homes to contribute. 

Walk in Vaccine centre (Health & Social Care Staff ONLY) – St Nicholas Shopping Centre

The coronavirus vaccine is safe and effective and remains our best protection against Covid-19 and the surest route to a return to normal life. Across Sutton, we have now delivered over 100,000 vaccinations.

If you are a front-line health or care worker you are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination, but haven’t got around to booking your appointment, come along to the St Nicholas Shopping Centre, you do not need an appointment.

Please bring proof of employment like your work ID badge and a letter from your employer to confirm your eligibility as a front-line health or care worker. Front-line health and social care staff can use the National Booking System to book a specific appointment at a wide range of vaccine centres aswell. You can do this by visiting this webpage or by calling 119.  The full list of South West London vaccination centres is available here.

St Nicholas Shopping Centre, SM1 1AY is open 8am – 6:30pm.

The site can be accessed at two main doors at either end of the centre with both entrances being suitable for wheelchairs. It can also be reached from the St Nicholas car park which has a walkway across the main road with direct access to the first floor of the centre. Lifts are also available. 


Updated Guidance

Updated Guidance – Homecare

The latest Homecare guidance was updated on the 17th May. Please read more at Coronavirus (COVID-19): provision of home care

Updated Guidance – Care Homes

Updated How to protect care home residents and staff during the coronavirus outbreak Guidance

Change made:
Updated to reflect the change in procedure of reporting COVID-19 cases and outbreak management in care homes.Please see Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes

Updated PPE Guidance – 

COVID-19: how to work safely in care homes:

  • Fluid resistant surgical masks must be removed after providing direct personal care for a resident who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days or who has respiratory symptoms. A new Type IIR surgical mask must be applied before providing care for the next resident or carrying out another duty.
  • When providing direct personal care for residents who have tested negative for COVID-19 or who do not have respiratory symptoms (and assuming your mask is not damp, soiled or worn for more than 4 hours) you can continue to wear it for the next resident contact. However, you will need a clean change of apron and gloves for any care or task where PPE is required.
  • Eye protection is needed when providing care to:
    • a resident who has had a positive COVID-19 test within 14 days 
    • a resident who is isolating as they may have been a contact of someone with COVID-19 
    • a resident who has respiratory symptoms (for example coughing, sneezing) 
    • Or when you have assessed that there is a risk of splashing of body fluids or contamination to the eyes. 

For more information please see: Personal protective equipment (PPE): resource for care workers working in care homes during sustained COVID-19 transmission in England 

Updated testing guidance (recording) – 

  • Updated guidance published 26/05 – Guidance and spreadsheet to record the details of people you’ve tested for coronavirus on that day.
  • For care homes, there’s a new version of the record-keeping multiple registration spreadsheet to use from 19 May 2021. The updated spreadsheet will let you register both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test kits and rapid lateral flow tests at the same time.

For more information please see: Guidance: Organisation testing registration: record of users


Information sharing

Urgent GP support for care homes from NHS111

The NHS 111 Starline service will provide you with fast access to a clinical team who can give you the advice and medical input you need to care for your resident instead of having to call 999 and transfer your resident to hospital. 

This service has been relaunched to ensure that you are receiving an enhanced level of support as care providers. 

It is not intended to replace your support locally but when you cannot speak to your GP or Community Support team NHS 111 can help. 

There is a national COVID-19 111 service but in London, care home staff concerned about a resident who may have COVID-19 symptoms are being asked to call NHS 111 Star*6 for faster access to urgent advice from a senior clinician if they cannot get through to the resident’s own GP.

Before calling, record observations where possible: Date of first symptoms, blood pressure, pulse respiratory rate and temperature (refer to thermometer instructions). If there is a care plan for your resident, for example a CMC or DNAR plan, please have access to it

For more information please see: 111 information pack

Supporting culturally appropriate care

It’s always been vital that people giving care are sensitive to people’s cultural identity or heritage.

The pandemic has made this even more important because it has been difficult for families and communities to come together.

Cultural identity or heritage can cover a range of things. For example, it might be based on ethnicity, nationality or religion. Or it might be to do with the person’s sexuality or gender identity. Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have a particular culture. So do Deaf people who use British Sign Language.

CQCs new web resource for adult social care providers explains why culturally appropriate care is important and highlights example of good practice. It aims to help providers to think about different ways culture can affect care.

 Weekly Information Sharing FAQs, update from the CCG

The format of the FAQs has been changed to enable an easier read, please share the FAQs weekly with your staff in the care home.

A procurement for an ‘Urgent Care Planning’ tool will commence shortly in SWL and your participation is this process will be highly appreciated.  Currently, Coordinate My Care (CMC) is being used, however, the contract for CMC is coming to an end and the procurement process is to ensure that the most appropriate tool will be identified for all service users, including care home residents.

It will be appreciated if you are able join the procurement process and work with other people on the panel in choosing the most suitable care plan tool that suits the needs of all service users. Your commitment for this exercise will be 4 – 5 days over a period of a month and evaluation of written submissions over a week – 10 day period, 2 half days of moderation and half a day of demonstrations.

If you are interested, or you require further information, please do get in touch with Lucy Colleer [email protected]

Any questions around COVID-19 Vaccines please do not hesitate to contact: Care [email protected]

Please click link below to access the next Information Sharing Webinar for Care Homes on Tuesday 8th June 2021 at 11am until 12 noon.

Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

+44 20 3880 0300   United Kingdom, London (Toll)

Conference ID: 855 305 74#

Local numbers | Reset PIN | Learn more about Teams | Meeting options

Update from London ADASS

Re-launching the Reward Scheme Drop-In sessions on Mon. / Wed. / Fri. from 12:00 – 12:30

We are re-launching the Reward Scheme Drop-In sessions to enable all individuals to get access to our great rewards like up to 6% off shops like Morrison’s, Sainsburys, Tesco and many more! Come join us and learn how to support your staff to sign on successfully. Sessions is at 12-12:30 every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Sessions can be attended by Field Care Supervisors / Team Leaders so they can support colleagues to register successfully and start reaping the benefits of this wonderful scheme. Click here to join the meeting

The Proud to Care Reward program

The Proud to Care Reward program is continuing to gather speed in terms of content and engagement.  In addition to the fantastic discounts on supermarkets, insurance and utilities now is the time to really start maximising savings as the retail, hospitality and leisure markets start to open up post lockdown restrictions.

In your downtime, on your way to work or on the weekend make sure you maximise savings in local and national chains, family favourites and if there is nothing taking your interest, don’t forget that you can actually nominate your own local discounts and family favourites via the portal.

Log in today and start making your money go further https://www.proudtocarerewards.co.uk/

Lanyards – Proud to Care will be delivered this week

Lanyards will be delivered to local areas this week. Please ensure that your local Proud to Care lead has added their information so that we can deliver the lanyards to you locally. Any queries, please email [email protected]

A year of 24/7 support for key workers

A year ago, leading mental health charities joined forces to launch Our Frontline, providing round-the-clock support for key workers. As life begins to return to normal for many, care workers are still carrying the pressure of what they have experienced.

So, when your mask comes off, take a deep breath and talk with someone that gets it. Click to read more about: Our Frontline offers 24/7 emotional support

Chief Nurse Adult Social Care Awards

The below message is from Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care.

I am delighted to announce the first ever Chief Nurse Adult Social Care Awards, rewarding the outstanding contribution made by care workers and nurses in England. These awards, designated Gold and Silver, to be selected by a board which I will lead, celebrate the excellent care, leadership and inspiration shown to colleagues, patients and residents throughout the country. Use these Gold and Silver forms to submit your nominees. I’m confident the only problem you’ll have is trying to shortlist the many fantastic colleagues you have around you!

Read more at Deborah Sturdy’s award blog.

Reminder: EU Settlement Scheme deadline fast approaching (less than 1 month left)

If you are an EU citizen, you need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme if you want to continue to live, work and study in the UK after 30 June 2021.

The EU Settlement Scheme allows you to continue to live, work and study here in the UK. It means you will continue to be eligible for:

  • public services, such as healthcare and schools
  • public funds and pensions
  • British citizenship, if you want to apply and meet the requirements

Webinars and training

Sutton Health and Care Training 2021

This series of training sessions has been designed to support professionals providing care for local residents in the London Borough of Sutton. To register on the online booking system, use this link Sutton Partnership – Learning Management System. All sessions are classroom based and the details about the venue are on the booking system.

Weekly Capacity Tracker webinar

Capacity Tracker Webinars for Care Homes are taking place at 2:00pm every Friday.

Click here to join the meeting on your computer or mobile app Or call in (audio only) on +44 20 3794 0272 Phone Conference ID: 311 948 485#


Sutton Care Hub

Using the Sutton Care Hub Job Portal

To support Sutton’s care providers to recruit the best staff for all positions from management, to clinical staff, carers and administrative support, we have created the Sutton Care Hub Job Portal. This new section of the website will allow providers to list available jobs in one central location, which potential employees can then publicly access allowing them to submit their applications, streamlining the recruitment processes across the care sector in Sutton. More information about the new section, including login details, has been emailed to providers. 

Subscribe to the Sutton Care Bulletin! 

The Sutton Care Bulletin features a round up of good news stories and successes from across Sutton’s care sector, as well as useful information, guidance and resources. Please make sure you have subscribed to receive future editions.

An archive of previous editions can be found on the Sutton Care Hub.

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