Policy Updates 14th February 2022

 

The following policy updates have been curated from the week commencing 14th February 2022.

Updated Policy

Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes
14 February 2022
Updated to reflect the change in the self-isolation period from 14 days to 10 days. Provided further information on ending self-isolation before day 10. See the summary change note in the guidance for a full breakdown of all updates.
Found at: GOV.UK

Technical specifications for personal protective equipment (PPE)
14 February 2022
Updating the technical specification to address the issue of masks potentially touching the nose and mouth.
Found at: GOV.UK

Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for pregnant employees
14 February 2022
An update to reflect that employers must now undertake a workplace risk assessment for their pregnant employees.
Found at: GOV.UK

COVID-19: management of staff and exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings
14 February 2022
Updated information on self-isolation for residents of care homes who are contacts; further information now available in Admission to care homes guidance. Updated information for staff returning from travel abroad.
Found at: GOV.UK

PCR Testing

The guidance on asymptomatic testing for Adult Social Care settings has changed. On 4 February we contacted you, asking you to ensure you have enough rapid lateral flow device test kits to start the new testing regime by 16 February or sooner, if possible.

By 16 February, all staff will be required to take a Lateral Flow Test (LFT) once each day, prior to beginning work. There is no longer a requirement for staff to take an additional weekly PCR test.

Due to the change in staff testing you will no longer be able to order PCR tests on from the ordering portal

There is no change to the return to work criteria for suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases. Staff who have been identified as a contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 are still required to take a PCR test and self-isolate until they receive the result.

Personal protective equipment (PPE): local contacts for providers
11 February 2022
Updated contact details (email address and phone number) for Wiltshire.
Found at: GOV.UK

Guidance

The government guidance was also updated yesterday, we have therefore updated the document sent to you to reflect this which is attached. 

 The summary document attached now includes information on outbreaks, contact tracing, clusters, admission during an outbreak, testing and isolation of staff, resident isolation, visiting during an outbreak, visiting at other times, and visiting by professionals

DOWNLOAD GUIDANCE SUMMARY HERE

Wider News

COVID-19 rapid testing made easier for partially sighted people
New app and video-call support service with specially trained NHS Test and Trace staff will help partially sighted people to take lateral flow tests at home. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has launched a new service making it easier for partially sighted people to use lateral flow tests in their home. The service has been launched following an ongoing partnership between UKHSA and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), the Macular Society, Thomas Pocklington Trust, Visionary and Be My Eyes app, to help make testing more accessible.
Found at: GOV.UK

Extra care contracts in Somerset to be extended until 2024 following coronavirus delays
Social care contracts in Somerset will be extended for a further two years after the coronavirus pandemic left "insufficient time" for fresh procurement. Somerset County Council contracts a number of providers to run 'extra care' services across the county, providing round-the-clock support to hundreds of elderly and vulnerable people.
Somerset Live

Supporting adults with a learning disability to have better lives framework - launch and introductory session
This session and accompanying slides can now be located on the LGA website. LGA also have a small amount of funding to assist councils to self-evaluate against the framework. To find out more about this, or the other support they can offer councils in using this framework, please email chip@local.gov.uk and a member of the team will be in touch.
LGS would really appreciate you spending a couple of minutes to fill in their on-line survey to tell them what you thought of the webinar, and what other topics you might like the LGA to cover in future.
Found at: LGA

Statement on visiting in care homes following a change in guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care
We know that over the course of the pandemic many people who live in care homes will have faced exceptionally difficult circumstances, being unable to be with the people they love, and it has often been hard for loved ones unable to visit or spend important time with them while homes have limited or restricted visitors. The Department of Health and Social Care released new guidance on the 31 January 2022 which lifts visiting restrictions in care homes. Our expectation remains that care homes follow government guidance - which is now to ensure visiting is unrestricted and we will follow up in instances where we are made aware that this may not be happening.
Found at: GOV.UK

 
Remote Digital