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Care Matters Weekly: Friday 20 August 2021
Please share this information with your staff. Updated guidance Visits out of Care Homes Supported living services Emergency Guidance re DoLS & MCA now withdrawn Visiting arrangements in Care Homes […]
Published on 20/08/2021 in News
Please share this information with your staff.
- Updated guidance
- COVID-19 Vaccine
- Information sharing
- Webinars and Training
- Sutton Care Hub
Updated Guidance
Visits out of care homes
Under the latest update to visiting out guidance, care home residents will no longer be asked to self-isolate, following a transfer from another care facility, or following a planned overnight stay in hospital, subject to risk assessments. Residents admitted to care homes, following emergency overnight admissions to hospital, must still self-isolate for 14 days.
Residents are also advised against travel to amber list countries, but if they do, they are advised to self-isolate for 14 days on their return. Care providers should continue to conduct individual risk assessments for visits outside care homes. Find out more.
Supported living services
Updated guidance has been published for supported living providers. This will also impact our Housing with Care services. Find out more.
Emergency Guidance re DoLS & MCA now withdrawn
With effect from 10 August 2021, the DHSC’s emergency guidance on the MCA and DOLS has been withdrawn. Whilst it still appears on the website, the message on the page now reads:
This publication was withdrawn on 10 August 2021
This emergency guidance will no longer be updated.
The care and treatment of people who may lack the relevant mental capacity must always be guided by important principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and may in some cases include the safeguards provided by the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This was and is the case, before, during and after the pandemic.Some emergency coronavirus public health powers, including the Coronavirus Act 2020 and the Health Protection Regulations 2020 covering restrictions and self-isolation, are still in force and in certain circumstances these may be relevant to decision making in respect of those lacking the relevant capacity. Where decisions may need to be made in relation to COVID-19 care or treatment, for someone who may lack the relevant mental capacity, practitioners should follow their usual processes, including the best interest decision making process.
Vaccination as condition of deployment: operational guidance
From 11 November 2021, anyone working or volunteering in older people’s care homes must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless exempt.
These regulations require registered persons (service providers) at all Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered care homes to make sure anyone who works or volunteers on the premises demonstrates they have been vaccinated or have an exemption. Read full guidance.
COVID-19 testing service guidance for extra care and supported living settings has been revised. The guidance is primarily for managers to set out testing policy to staff and is part of a suite of measures to prevent outbreaks and save lives.
Visiting arrangements in Care Homes
Updated guidance for visiting in care homes has been published and is available here.
COVID-19 vaccine
New guidance for care workers and people they care for in supported living settings
This update clarifies circumstances where self-isolation will be required following discharge from hospital.
Fully vaccinated recipients of care identified as close contacts will not be required to self-isolate subject to satisfying the latest criteria. Meanwhile, fully vaccinated workers will not be required to isolate and can return to work, provided they fulfil current testing requirements.
The update includes revised guidance on infection prevention and control, visits in and out of supported living settings (self-isolation criteria) as well as what to do in the event of COVID-19 outbreaks. Read more here.
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.
Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, explains why vaccination of care staff provides protection for us all
For many of you, particularly those of you working in care home settings, this final easing of restrictions has brought mixed emotions, I’m sure.
Many of you, your colleagues and residents will have already been vaccinated with one, hopefully two doses, of an approved COVID-19 vaccine. Thank you for being part of our collective efforts to unlock the country – it is hugely appreciated.
While nationally, the majority of care home staff have been vaccinated, according to the latest published data, only 65% of older care homes in England are currently meeting this minimum level. While we want to see all care homes pass the SAGE thresholds, the over-riding imperative is to maximise and maintain protection across the board.
The new regulations come into force on 11 November this year (see the next story for a useful timeline). Care providers and their staff need time to prepare, which is why a 16-week grace period has begun, allowing colleagues who haven’t been vaccinated to arrange to have both doses. You can book and manage your vaccinations on the NHSE website.
Information sharing
Provider Support Survey
We, at London Borough of Sutton, are planning our support for the next year, and want to ask you what areas you require support and what you think your biggest challenges will be. Please take 5 minutes to fill out this 4 question survey. Deadline: 3rd September.
Organisational Carers Permits
Organisations delivering Care to Sutton residents can apply for Organisational Carers permits.See link below to apply for the permit.
- To clarify, permits are valid in all Controlled Parking Zones and Permit Parking Areas across the Borough.
- The permit lasts a year and there is no limit on how many times it is used during that period.
- In exceptional circumstances we can arrange for up to three vehicle registrations to appear on a permit (so organisations can share it amongst staff) however the standard is one vehicle registration per permit.
- A clock is provided which allows up to three hours parking (clock is set to time of arrival).
Read more here.
Vaccinations for unpaid carers
Hundreds of thousands of unpaid carers have now received their COVID-19 vaccine – an important step in protecting themselves and the people they care for from coronavirus.
Unpaid carers who haven’t received their vaccine yet can book an appointment or visit their nearest walk in centre. Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carer’s UK, explains why it’s so important to get vaccinated and how unpaid carers can get a jab. Learn more.
Weekly Information Sharing FAQs
Thank you for joining the Webinar for Care Homes this week; we hope that these continue to support you during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is important to remain diligent in following guidance, using PPE and supporting staff and residents to be vaccinated.
We continue to focus on maintaining the SAGE safety thresholds of 90% vaccination rates among residents and 80% vaccination rates among all staff directly employed, bank and agency. Thank you to those homes who have achieved this target and we will continue to work alongside homes which have not. Vaccine information is included in the pack.
Please note that the general enquiries number communicated in previous FAQs is now not available. If you do have any queries, please feel free to contact: [email protected] if we can’t answer your question immediately, we probably know someone who can. It is also worth noting that there is now 3 weeks until 16th September deadline for staff working in care homes to have their first dose of Covid vaccine (please see the response to question 26).
What’s new
To support access to vaccines, free taxis are now available for Care Home staff to attend a vaccination centre. Please see the “What’s New” section for more information and let your staff know of this offer. Please also see details of a ‘Mindfulness for Life’ training programme, available to Care Homes in SWL.
Webinars and training
Bed Based care Q&A session
This week we had our Bed Based Q&A session. Please see below this week’s Q&A log.
The next session is 15 September. The session will give you an opportunity to ask questions and discuss situations arising due to COVID-19. The session is optional, and you can drop in and out of the session as you are available.
IPC – 5th Champion meeting
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer or mobile app
Click here to join the meeting
Or call in (audio only)
+44 20 3880 0300,,469453404# United Kingdom, London
0800 026 6146,,469453404# United Kingdom (Toll-free)
Phone Conference ID: 469 453 404#
Find a local number | Reset PIN
Weekly Information Sharing FAQs webinar
The COVID-19 pandemic remains an extremely challenging situation globally and we recognise that this is the case for staff working in Care Homes of all types. We are continuing the weekly Infection Prevention and Control and Information Sharing webinar Tuesday mornings at 11:00am. If you have questions in advance or any topics that you would like covered, please email your local CCG Care Home Lead.
+44 20 3880 0300 United Kingdom, London (Toll)
Conference ID: 855 305 74#
Local numbers | Reset PIN | Learn more about Teams | Meeting options
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
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.
Take one minute to provide feedback on how you would like to receive candidate applications from the hub.
We have developed posters to advertise the hub, please see below.
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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.
Keep up to date
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