Policy Updates 1st September 2021
The following policy updates have been curated from the week commencing 1st September 2021.
NEW POLICY
The national influenza immunisation programme 2021 to 2022
As a result of non-pharmaceutical interventions in place for COVID-19 (such as maskwearing, physical and social distancing, and restricted international travel) influenza activity levels were extremely low globally in 2020 to 2021. As a result, a lower level of population immunity against influenza is expected in 2021 to 2022. In the situation where social mixing and social contact return towards pre-pandemic norms, it is expected that winter 2021 to 2022 will be the first winter in the UK when seasonal influenza virus (and other respiratory viruses) will co-circulate alongside COVID-19. Seasonal influenza and COVID-19 viruses have the potential to add substantially to the winter pressures usually faced by the NHS, particularly if infection waves from both viruses coincide. The timing and magnitude of potential influenza and COVID-19 infection waves for winter 2021 to 2022 are currently unknown, but mathematical modelling indicates the 2021 to 2022 influenza season in the UK could be up to 50% larger than typically seen1 and it is also possible that the 2021 to 2022 influenza season will begin earlier than usual. Influenza vaccination is therefore an important priority this coming autumn to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with influenza, and to reduce hospitalisations during a time when the NHS and social care may also be managing winter outbreaks of COVID-19
All frontline health and social care workers are expected to have influenza vaccination to protect those they care for.
Found at: GOV.UK
The flu vaccination: who should have it and why
This guide explains how you can help protect yourself and your children against flu this coming winter, and why it’s very important that people who are at increased risk from flu have their free vaccination every year.
Found at: GOV.UK
UPDATED POLICY
Further update to Covid and Flu Vaccination Information captured within Capacity Tracker
DHSC would like to provide you with a further update on the forthcoming changes to the COVID and Flu Vaccination information within Capacity Tracker. These changes are scheduled for the evening of 31st August 2022
Care Home and Hospice providers, will no longer be required to split out workforce vaccination levels by job role type (nurses, care-giving staff, non-care giving staff)..Instead,, only the total number of residents/patients, directly employed staff and agency/bank staff vaccinated will need to be recorded against each of the following vaccination questions::
Number known to have had the first dose of the Covid vaccination
Number known to have had the second dose of the Covid vaccination
Number known to have had the Covid vaccination booster*
Number known to have had this season's flu vaccination
Home Care providers will be required to record information on the COVID-19 Update relating to the total numbers of staff who have face-to-face contact with people your Organisation supports. against each of the following vaccination questions:
Number known to have had the first dose of the Covid vaccination
Number known to have had the second dose of the Covid vaccination
Number known to have had the Covid vaccination booster*
Number known to have had this season's flu vaccination
Local Authorities will be required to update the LA COVID Weekly Submission with information recorded against each of the following vaccination questions:
Number known to have had the first dose of the Covid vaccination
Number known to have had the second dose of the Covid vaccination
Number known to have had the Covid vaccination booster*
Number known to have had this season's flu vaccination
* We are introducing this question so that we are prepared to capture the relevant data in the event that a COVID-19 Booster programme begins in September. DHSC will issue further communications on this when they are in a position to confirm details.
Covid Vaccinations Report
From 31st August, the Covid Vaccinations Report will no longer be available to view or access from within Capacity Tracker. This will be replaced with a new Flu/COVID Vaccinations Report that will capture all vaccination data input into Capacity Tracker.
Existing vaccination data currently aligned to job roles i.e., nurses, care-giving staff, non-care giving staff etc. will automatically be combined under the heading of Directly Employed staff.
Adult social care in England, monthly statistics: August 2021
Experimental statistics on a range of topics including infection control measures, coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccinations and testing for COVID-19 in adult social care settings.
27 August 2021 - Replaced 'Infection control, PPE and staffing level statistics, August 2021: data tables' with new version, to add additional suppression for regional data.
Found at: GOV.UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for people receiving direct payments
Advice for people who buy care and support through a direct payment, as well as local authorities, clinical commissioning groups and those who provide care and support.
24 August 2021 - Updated to include guidance on self-isolation that came into effect on 16 August.
Found at: GOV.UK
COVID-19: providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults
Guidance for people who are providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
24 August 2021 - Updated to include guidance on self-isolation that came into effect on 16 August.
Found at: GOV.UK
Changes to self-isolation rules
From Monday 16 August, rules around self-isolating changed. Children under 18 years old and individuals who have had two doses of the vaccine no longer need to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. You are still advised to take a PCR test though. Adults who are not fully vaccinated will be required to self-isolate for 10 days. The NHS COVID-19 app will be updated in line with the new guidance. Businesses must not require a self-isolating worker to come to work and should make sure that workers and customers who feel unwell do not attend the setting.
Nasal-only rapid tests
New nasal-only lateral flow (rapid) tests, called ACON Flowflex are available in Bristol. These tests are being introduced to make the testing process less unpleasant and more efficient. The tests are available to anyone without COVID-19 symptoms.
Quarantine and testing if you've been in an amber list country
What to do before and after you arrive in England if you’ve been in an amber list country in the 10 days before you arrive.
24 August 2021 - Added further clarifications on the rules for 2 dose vaccines in the 'What counts as fully vaccinated' section.
Found at: GOV.UK
Visiting arrangements in care homes
Sets out how care homes can support families and visitors to visit residents.
23 August 2021 - Removed reference to the guidance on the MCA and the application of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Found at: GOV.UK
Arrangements for visiting out of the care home
Sets out how care homes can support residents on visits outside of the care home.
23 August 2021 - Removed reference to the guidance on the MCA and the application of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Found at: GOV.UK
COVID-19 Vaccinations
45 per cent of adults are not yet fully vaccinated. 326,935 people in Bristol (75 per cent of all eligible Bristol residents aged over 16) have received one or more doses of the vaccine.
The COVID-19 vaccine is now available for everyone aged 16 and 17.
16- and 17-year-olds will either be contacted by their GP to book an appointment or can attend a walk-in clinic. Not all walk-in clinics are open to this age group though so it’s important to check www.grabajab.net first.
Those aged 17¾ are eligible to be vaccinated three months before their eighteenth birthday. They can book on the National Booking System, or by calling 119. You can wait for your GP to contact you or attend any walk-in clinic open to this age group.
A new city centre vaccination walk-in clinic has opened at Cabot Circus. The clinic, which will run every Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 7pm until Saturday 2 October, is located next to Five Guys and Claire’s on the upper ground floor of the shopping centre. The Pfizer vaccine will be available for people who are over the age of 16. First or second doses are available, as long as the first dose was eight weeks ago.
Cabot Circus is one of a number of regular walk-in vaccination clinics across the city. A full list of ways to get vaccinated in Bristol, with all walk-in clinics, including those for 16 and 17-year-olds, can be found on the Healthier Together website.
From Thursday 11 November, anyone entering a care home as part of their professional responsibilities will need to show proof of vaccination or exemption, unless they are under 18. A full list of those people who do and do not need to provide evidence can be found on the government website. More details below.
GOVERNMENT AND STAKEHOLDER UPDATES
Cases in Bristol
Infection rates in the city are still very high. The rate of infection in Bristol is now 392 cases per 100,000 population. This is higher than England’s infection rate which is currently 321 cases per 100,000.
12,983 people have been tested in the past week and the positivity rate remains high at 14.7 percent. This indicates that the virus is still circulating widely in Bristol. There are 81 people in our hospitals unwell with COVID-19.
Although it is not a legal requirement, we recommend wearing a mask, making space, meeting outdoors and ventilating spaces. Vaccination and testing remain high priorities.
Every Monday and Thursday we provide an accurate and detailed snapshot of the city’s cases on the council’s COVID-19 data page.
Five funded initiatives to help you recruit new staff
Recruitment practice and policies are key to finding the best staff for your care organisation.
Recruitment can be a time-consuming process, and there are costs involved, but getting it right means you can get the right people to join your team and ensure you’re providing the best care to the people you support.
To help you implement an effective recruitment strategy there are several funded initiatives available to support with recruitment of staff.
Here we round up five funded schemes to help you with your recruitment.
Found at: Skills for Care
OTHER NEWS
Why apprenticeships can be a positive addition to your recruitment strategy
As part of our #RecruitmentReady spotlight we spoke with one care provider about how they’ve used apprenticeship programmes and the benefits it’s had for their organisation and their recruitment strategy.
Apprenticeships are a great way to recruit new staff, while also providing opportunities for people who are just beginning their journeys in the care sector. Apprenticeships can also be used as a tool to upskill existing staff into new roles to develop and grow your team from the inside rather than recruiting externally.
We spoke to Sunlight Care Group to gain insight into how they’ve embraced apprenticeships, and how it’s worked for them during a pandemic to recruit new staff and upskill their existing staff into new roles.
Found at: Skills for Care
Mandatory vaccination: What the DHSC Guidance DOESN’T tell you
The Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) Guidance on mandatory vaccination provides some useful guidance for providers but leaves a number of key questions unanswered. We consider these below and call on the DHSC to urgently provide further guidance to support providers.
Found at: Royds Withy King