Care Matters Weekly: Friday 27 August 2021

Please share this information with your staff. Updated guidance Covid-19 Guidance collated in one place Visits out of Care Homes Supported living services Emergency Guidance re DoLS & MCA now […]

Published on 27/08/2021 in News

Please share this information with your staff.


Updated Guidance

Covid-19 Guidance collated in one place

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Emergency Guidance re DoLS & MCA now withdrawn

With effect from 10 August 2021, the DHSC’s emergency guidance on the MCA and DOLS has been withdrawn.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This publication was withdrawn on 10 August 2021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

Training for Domestic staff survey

LB of Sutton is planning to commission a training programme for Domestic Staff in Care Homes, Supported Living and Housing with Care. The training will support ‘Cleaning the NHS Way’ to ensure Providers have robust and up to day practices to support your Infection Prevention Control arrangements. We want to know who you want to attend, when you want the sessions and how you’d like to book the sessions. Please take less than 5 minutes to complete this 4 questions survey.

August Bank Holiday pharmacy opening times

August Bank Holiday Pharmacy opening times

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 surveyDeadline: 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

Dear Colleagues

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.  

Covid-19 Vaccination

The change in regulation in the Health Act to make vaccination a condition of deployment from 11th November 2021, means that the focus is on those staff who are not vaccinated,  who have until the 12th September to have their first dose vaccination, so that they meet the requirements of the condition of deployment regulations by the 11th November.   Thank you to those homes who have already achieved this target and we will continue to work alongside homes which have not.   Vaccine information is included in the pack. 

On Tuesday we received a presentation from Dr Youssof Oskrochi, Public Health Specialist from London Borough of Sutton Public Health, titled ‘Vaccinations in Adult Social Care:  Benefits, Risks and Myths’.  The presentation is attached to this FAQ and can be shared with your teams.

What’s New

To support access to vaccines, free taxis are 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.  

Coming up

Our webinar on 31st August will include presentations on the paper-based version of the eRedBag pathway and use of the 111*6 out of hours contact number, available to Care Homes.

Webinars and training

Free Values-Based Recruitment workshops

Skills for Care has developed a suite of online workshops to help you implement and embed a values-based approach to recruitment and retention. The workshops follow a five-stage model and will provide valuable knowledge and practical tips to address values at each step of your recruitment and retention activity.


They’re designed to be attended sequentially as each session will build upon the learning from the previous stage. Each workshop takes place via Zoom and is 90 minutes long.


The series is aimed at managers, human resources professionals, and individual employers in adult social care. You can find out more and book here

Registered Manager Network meeting with update from CQC

The next meeting of the Croydon, Wandsworth, Richmond & Merton Registered Manager Network is being held on the 8th September (10am – 11.30am via Zoom). Emma McFarlane, an inspection manager with the CQC, will be attending to give an update on upcoming changes to inspection and how these may affect your organisation.

Managers from Kingston and Sutton are also welcome to attend.

More information – including the joining link – is in the attached invite.

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

Learn More | Meeting options

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. 

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

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 launches a children’s social care section

The Sutton Care Hub has launched a section for children’s providers earlier this month. The extension covers info on COVID-19 guidance, childrens safeguarding, training, staff wellbeing, recruitment and will be the central point of call for childrens providers. 

This side of the site will continually be updated to provide the latest information and guidance for children’s service providers and signpost to other key websites. 

Please visit the Sutton Care Hub – Children’s section

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.

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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