Policy Updates 27th September 2021
The following policy updates have been curated from the week commencing 27th September 2021.
POLICY UPDATES
Please note that it was a requirement for all care home staff to have received their first vaccination by 16 September 2021. The requirement is also that all care home staff receive their second vaccination by 11 November 2021. Vaccinations can be accessed via www.grabajab.net which has a list of walk in clinics staff can access.
This email is also a reminder that you need to regularly update all areas of the National Capacity Tracker – at a minimum this should be every 48 hours.
Central Government continues to use this data on a daily basis to identify issues or raise concerns with Local Authorities to investigate further. Therefore, it is really important that the system is kept up to date, particularly vaccination uptake for staff, and residents where you are a care home provider.
The tracker is also a Government requirement and its regular use forms the basis for distributing additional funding support to providers, eg Infection Control Fund.
We appreciate that at times the system experiences data errors so if you notice this then please continue to raise your queries directly with the Capacity Tracker Support Team (tel: 0191 691 3729, email: necsu.capacitytracker@nhs.net and insert ‘Capacity Tracker’ into the subject line.
Plenty of appointments available so please do now share the link with any front line health or care workers in your organisation. To be eligible, they must have had their 2nd dose at least 6 months ago, 180 days. The National Booking System (NBS) is also now live with an option to ‘self declare’ as a health/care worker. From 4th October, the Doctor appointment system will no longer work and all appointments (except those at Hospital Hubs) will be booked using the NBS.
The Government have launched a six week public consultation on ‘Making vaccination a condition of deployment in the health and wider social care sector’
The consultation aims to seek views on extending the existing statutory requirement, for those working or volunteering in a care home to be vaccinated against coronavirus (COVID-19) to other health and care settings, including the NHS, GP practices, independent sector providers and also in a person’s home, as a condition of deployment.
In addition, the consultation will consider introducing a statutory requirement to be vaccinated against the flu as a condition of deployment, as a means to protect vulnerable people.
The consultation proposes that, if introduced, requirements would apply to frontline health and care workers – those with face-to face contact with patients and clients though the delivery of services as part of a CQC regulated activity. The consultation is however seeking views on whether there are other professionals or volunteers deployed, but not undertaking direct treatment or personal care, that should also be included in the scope of the proposed policy.
Key points from the Consultation
What roles are in scope for potential mandatory vaccination
How would this requirement be implemented?
Possible exemptions?
What if vaccinations are not accessible?
Is there an alternative approach?
Boosters and mixed doses