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Care Matters: Friday 20 January 2023
Free PPE scheme, DHSC Update, Discharge Support, Healthy eating and weight management training and more. Please share.
Free PPE scheme, DHSC Update, Discharge Support, Healthy eating and weight management training, and more. Please share.
- Free personal protective equipment (PPE) scheme
- DHSC (Capacity Tracker) update: Enforcement of information requirements under section 277A of the Health and Social Care Act 2012
- Discharge Support
- Healthy Eating and Weight Management virtual training – LD & MH care homes
- Trainee Nursing Associates (TNAs)
- Innovation Support Programme
- Updated guidance regarding COVID-19 testing for adult social care services
- Updated guidance has been published related to COVID-19 PPE
- Advice for Care Homes in Sutton on London Ambulance strike day
- Voluntary Sector Funding
- Digitising Social Care event for London care providers
- Cold Weather Plan
- Winter Pressures & Out of hours and Weekend Admissions Survey
- Covid-19
- A Carers Guide to Home Fire Safety
- Latest Guidance
- Training and Development
- Training and development: Free training for care staff – Autism awareness / Women’s wellbeing and the menopause
- Guidance changes – Help from London Borough of Sutton Public Health team
- Webinars and Training
- Sutton Care Hub Job Portal
Free personal protective equipment (PPE) scheme
Free PPE to social care sector extended by up to one year or until stock runs out.
Page summary: The provision of free PPE for all health, social care and public sector workers for coronavirus (COVID-19) infection control, between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2024.
Change made: Updated to reflect the extension of the free PPE scheme to the end of March 2024 or until DHSC’s stocks are depleted (whichever is sooner).
DHSC (Capacity Tracker) update: Enforcement of information requirements under section 277A of the Health and Social Care Act 2012
This is an update from DHSC on the enforcement of the Adult Social Care Provider Information Provisions.
The Adult Social Care Information (Enforcement) Regulations 2022 were commenced on 1 December 2022.
DHSC has published enforcement guidance setting out what will happen if a provider does not update their data monthly via Capacity Tracker, as outlined in the guidance on data collection. New guidance has also been added to the page detailing the non-mandated data items collected for operational support.
The Formal Notice of a mandate has also been updated to reflect the current list of mandated data items.
The enforcement process will focus on supporting providers to comply with the information requirements, with financial penalties normally a last resort.
Please also see the link below.
Discharge Support
When someone is waiting to leave hospital and it has been agreed to discharge to a Care Home, either for a long-term placement or for ‘step down’ support, the Capacity Tracker can assist discharge teams by reducing the number of speculative calls checking the status of vacancies which add burden to Care Homes. Ensuring the data in CT is as up to date as possible is the best way to avoid additional calls. Calls made are then able to be more focused on discussing the care needs of specific individuals.
What is needed by Care Homes?
- Update your vacancies whenever the status of your vacancies change or, at least every 48 hours
- Ensure that your list of available Services is reviewed – particularly, it is essential that if your location is able to provide short stay/step down services then this is made clear on the Capacity Tracker
- Advise discharge teams making speculative calls that your vacancy information is up to date so they gain confidence and reduce speculative calls – direct them to your CT data
What is needed by Discharge Teams?
- Before making speculative calls use the Capacity Tracker to check on vacancy status
- Advise Care Homes that you will be using the Capacity Tracker to identify vacancies that can take admissions
This will ensure confidence for all Care Homes and Discharge Teams that the information in Capacity Tracker is contemporary.
Links to the attached support packs can be found below:
Health & Social Care Discharge Support Pack
Care Home Discharge Support Pack
Healthy Eating and Weight Management virtual training – LD & MH care homes
Alex Larkin, Specialist Dietitian for Adults with a Learning Disability, is delivering training to care home staff.
The training is 2 hours long, including a short break and time for questions and will be delivered virtually on Microsoft Teams. Please take a look at the pdf flyer attached for more information.
Sign up to a session here: https://forms.office.com/r/aPM5GypW3c
Covid-19 and Flu Vaccinations
It’s never too late to get vaccinated for COVID-19 and flu
Book appointments via the National Booking Service and visit the NHS website to find your nearest pharmacy offering free flu jabs.
Trainee Nursing Associates (TNAs)
In order to help address the many workforce challenges facing health and social care across SWL we are keen to support Nursing Homes in exploring the possibility of recruiting Trainee Nursing Associates via the apprenticeship route.
Please take a look at the short PowerPoint presentation below that offers more detail regarding TNAs
It is encouraged that Nursing Home employers should consider recruiting Trainee Nursing Associates either from existing staff or advertising specifically for new staff who wish to train as a Registered Nursing Associate.
Innovation Support Programme
There is a new funded support programme that is open to organisations in Sutton with between 5 and 250 employees, to support their staff to innovate to solve challenges such as maintaining/improving the service quality.
A fully funded programme of support to help South London based business grow and develop.
The programme runs from March – June 2023 and people are being recruited for it now.
- 4 or 5 people from each organisation to attend so they can work in teams
- In-person, immersive workshops in each sprint
- Online deep-dive sessions
- A suite of tools, techniques, materials, and spaces for innovation activity
- Guided learning, through an online hub of videos, content, and case studies
- Access to ongoing coaching from innovation experts, mentors & HEI resources
- Access to a community of businesses, academia, and council members
Updated guidance has been published regarding COVID-19 testing for adult social care services.
Page summary: Outlines the COVID-19 testing available for staff, residents and visitors for all adult social care services.
Change made: Updated ‘COVID-19 testing in adult social care’ to streamline outbreak testing in small care homes in line with the latest evidence and to advise when rapid response testing is relevant for small care homes.
Updated guidance has been published related to COVID-19 PPE
Page summary: This resource outlines personal protective equipment (PPE) advice for health and social care workers working in the community.
Change made: Removed illustrative PDF version and added a note explaining that some parts of this guidance are out of date and in the process of being updated.
Advice for Care Homes in Sutton on London Ambulance strike days
London Ambulance Service (LAS) will be providing cover on a voluntary basis during the strike period to respond to Category 1 calls where there is an immediate threat to ‘life or limb’. Other lower to mid-range categories are likely to be dealt with differently depending on severity.
- The 24 hour Urgent Community Response Service (UCR) will be working as usual. Please access this service during this period notably the day of Industrial Action.
- The Care Home Support Team will be working as usual and will proactively liaise with the Care Homes and prioritise urgent over routine needs where capacity allows.
- The Sutton Hospital@ Home/Virtual Ward service will in-reach some clinical resource into St Helier’s Hospital to facilitate optimal identification of suitable patients (either post discharge or admission prevention).
Sutton Health and Care Single Point Access (SPOR) tel: 020 8296 4111/[email protected]
All care homes are advised to be vigilant and ensure they monitor residents closely for any signs of deterioration and act promptly by calling UCR sooner rather than later. This will hopefully prevent further deterioration and the need to call LAS.
GP advice and 111*6 will be available.
If you believe the situation is life threatening or you are in doubt you should call 999.
Voluntary Sector Funding
Are you running an event or activity supporting people to stay healthy this winter? Funding is available to support you
The NHS are offering funding to local organisations and groups to run an activity or event, which supports their community to stay healthy and well. Read more here: https://www.southwestlondon.icb.nhs.uk/news/apply-for-winter-engagement-funding/
‘Digitising Social Care’ event for London care providers
Date: 15th February 2023 (10am – 5pm)
Venue: Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre (the closest station is Waterloo)
This free event aims to bring together care organisations and suppliers of Digital Social Care Records (DSCRs), so managers can find out more about DSCRs and speak to different suppliers about the solutions that would work best for their service.
You can find out more and book a place(s) HERE
Cold Weather Plan
Please click here for the Cold weather plan for England guidance. This plan helps to prevent the major avoidable effects of cold weather on health.
In the below link, you will find action cards summarising advice on how different organisations need to respond to cold weather alert levels 0 through 4.
Winter Pressures & Out of hours and Weekend Admissions Survey
This short survey will help South West London ICB understand how we can best support Care Homes over the winter period and beyond.
Please click here
Covid-19
Symptoms of COVID-19, flu and common respiratory infections include:
- continuous cough
- high temperature, fever or chills
- loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell
- shortness of breath
- unexplained tiredness, lack of energy
- muscle aches or pains that are not due to exercise
- not wanting to eat or not feeling hungry
- headache that is unusual or longer lasting than usual
- sore throat, stuffy or runny nose
- diarrhoea, feeling sick or being sick
Staff members with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19
Anyone who has symptoms of a respiratory infection and has a high temperature or does not feel well enough to go to work, is advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people.
They should follow the guidance for people with symptoms of a respiratory infection including COVID-19.
Patient-facing healthcare staff who have symptoms of a respiratory infection, and who have a high temperature or do not feel well enough to attend work, should take an LFD test as soon as they feel unwell.
If the result of this LFD test is positive, staff should follow the advice in the section for staff members who receive a positive LFD test result for COVID-19.
If the LFD test result is negative, they can attend work if they are clinically well enough to do so and they do not have a high temperature.
If the staff member works with patients whose immune system means that they are at higher risk of serious illness despite vaccination, they should discuss this with their line manager who should undertake a risk assessment.
If they are still displaying respiratory symptoms when they return to work, they should also speak to their line manager who should undertake a risk assessment.
On returning to work, the staff member must continue to comply rigorously with all relevant infection control precautions and personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn properly throughout the day.
Staff members who receive a positive LFD test result for COVID-19
All healthcare staff who have received a positive COVID-19 test result, regardless of whether they have symptoms, are advised not to attend work for 5 days. They should follow guidance for people with a positive COVID-19 test result.
Patient-facing healthcare staff can return to work when they have had 2 consecutive negative LFD test results (taken at least 24 hours apart).
The first LFD test should only be taken 5 days after the day their symptoms started (or the day their first positive test was taken if they did not have symptoms); this is described as day 0.
Reminder
If you have 2 or more residents or staff who have tested positive, please report to the LCRC and capacity tracker. Please refer the contact details at the bottom of this page.
Care homes should also report on the LBS google form.
Outbreak testing has not changed.
Key contact details
- UKHSA LCRC Tel: 0300 303 0450 Email: [email protected]
- LBS Public Health Team: [email protected]
- Care Home Support Team: [email protected]
DHSC Adult Social Care submission
The information below will help care homes and homecare providers by explaining the timeline for the mandatory submission in more detail.
Submission period for mandatory DHSC Adult Social Care data
Care homes and homecare providers will be required to update their data by 11pm on the 14th day of each month – or the next working day when the 14th is on a weekend or public holiday. Data must be no more than a week out of date i.e. it must be correct to no further back than the 8th of each month.
When the 14th is on a weekend or public holiday, the submission period will be determined by the next working day.
A Carers Guide to Home Fire Safety
Learn how to keep people that receive care safe from fire.
A formal video is now available for carers on the LFB website. Those who wish to view this video will have to input some basic information in order to gain access to it.
What you will learn:
- How to recognise people who are at risk of having a fire
- Identify key high risk factors
- Show what actions can reduce these risks
- Describe what to do in the event of a fire
Please assist and share this link with your teams to complete.
Please click here
COVID-19
Please see the new changes at the top of this page.
Please take a look at the new updates that have been made to the following on the GOV.UK website
Information and advice for health and care professionals:
PPE use for aerosol generating procedures:
Latest Guidance
The latest guidance has been published about COVID-19 testing for ASC services. Please click the link below to go to the GOV.UK webpage.
For all the latest guidance on the Carehub regarding COVID-19, please click here to view the updated pages regarding;
- Visiting
- Testing
- Outbreak Management
- Admissions
- Infection Prevention and Control
Training and Development
Free training for care staff – Autism awareness / Women’s wellbeing and the menopause
Successful Mums Career Academy has won funding to offer free training to care staff:
- The funding will pay for 7 hours of accredited training (2 half-day workshops) in Autism awareness OR Women’s wellbeing and the menopause
- The training can be delivered either face-to-face or online
- There will be an option to complete a full qualification at a later date (for those that would benefit from more detailed learning)
- The funding will also pay for employees’ time to attend the workshops
- Workshops will start in August / September
To be eligible, employees must be a parent and have a child aged under 12. They must also be earning less than £11.05 per hour and live in Croydon, Sutton, Merton, Richmond or Kingston. However, if there’s a member of your staff who’s interested but doesn’t fit the criteria please still get in touch with Successful Mums as they may still be able to attend.
For further information and/or to express an interest please contact Jane Knight – [email protected]
Guidance changes? Help from London Borough of Sutton Public Health team
There have been a number of changes in guidance over the recent weeks. If you need any help or advice on the changes please contact the London Borough of Sutton Public health team. Drop them an email [email protected]
Webinars and training
Join senior IPC nurses to learn more about general infection prevention and control training including: MRSA, Tuberculosis, diarrhoea, rashes, wound care, specimen taking, head lice, scabies, respiratory infections, including COVID-19, staff health and more.
Sessions run online every Thursday between 2pm to 4.30pm. Register at Eventbrite to attend.
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.
+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 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.
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.
Keep up to date
Subscribe to the Sutton Care Bulletin for regular updates on the big news and latest guidance from the Sutton Care Hub.