Policy Updates 7th February 2022
The following policy updates have been curated from the week commencing 7th February 2022.
Message from Public Health and Safeguarding
Concerns have been raised about infection control in care homes, specifically relating to IC and staff sitting and eating with residents. Prior to Covid 19, Dementia Care Matters would be actively encouraging this activity to take place as it supports those residents that require encouragement with meals. However, is now appears that this activity goes against Covid regulations and homes are being picked up on it.
Public Health colleagues are also advising against restarting shared mealtimes between staff and residents at this time, whilst the OMICRON variant continues to fall.
Updated Policy
Designated settings for people discharged to a care home
Guidance on the designated settings scheme for people discharged from hospital to a care home with a positive coronavirus test.
7 February 2022: The ‘designated settings' guidance has been updated throughout in line with the latest clinical advice from UKHSA. This update reflects the change in isolation period in care settings from 14 to 10 days for cases of COVID-19. It also provides information on how individuals can end their isolation before day 10.
Found at: GOV.UK
COVID-19 medical exemptions: proving you are unable to get vaccinated
How to apply for official proof that, for medical reasons, you’re unable to be vaccinated or unable to be vaccinated and tested for coronavirus (COVID-19).
7 February 2022: Updated information on where you can use your proof medical exemption and how this applies in health and social care settings. Applications will also be dealt with within 10 days.
Found at: GOV.UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult social care settings
Outlines the COVID-19 testing available for testing staff, residents and visitors for all adult social care settings.
4 February 2022: Updated COVID-19 testing available for adult social care in England: a summary.
Found at: GOV.UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19): testing in adult care homes
Guidance on regular asymptomatic testing for staff, residents and visiting professionals in adult care homes.
4 February 2022: Updated care homes guidance for staff and visiting professionals on use of LFTs and removal of PCR testing.
Found at: GOV.UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for homecare workers
Guidance on regular asymptomatic rapid lateral flow testing for staff in registered homecare agencies.
4 February 2022: Updated to reflect changes in asymptomatic regular testing guidance for homecare workers.
Found at: GOV.UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing in extra care and supported living settings
Guidance on asymptomatic regular testing for eligible extra care and supported living (ECSL) services.
4 February 2022: Updated to reflect changes in asymptomatic regular testing guidance for extra care and supported living staff.
Found at: GOV.UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult day care centre workers and service users
Guidance on regular asymptomatic rapid lateral flow testing for staff and service uses in eligible adult day care centres.
4 February 2022: Updated to reflect changes in asymptomatic regular testing guidance for staff.
Found at: GOV.UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for anyone working in adult social care who is not part of regular testing at work
How anyone working in adult social care in England who is not part of a regular testing regime at work can access daily COVID-19 testing.
4 February 2022: Updated to reflect changes in asymptomatic regular testing guidance for adult social care workers who are not part of a regular testing regime.
Found at: GOV.UK
Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes
How to protect care home residents and staff during the coronavirus outbreak.
4 February 2022: Added note that this guidance will be updated and directed users to press release 'Government eases social care restrictions after booster success'.
Found at: GOV.UK
Vaccination of workers in social care settings other than care homes: operational guidance
From 1 April 2022, people carrying out face-to-face, CQC-regulated social care activities will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless exempt.
3 February 2022: Added call-out box to reflect that the government has announced its intention to revoke the regulations making vaccines a condition of deployment for health and social care staff, subject to parliamentary process.
Found at: GOV.UK
Visiting arrangements in care homes
Sets out how care homes can support families and visitors to visit residents.
February 2022: Updated to provide clarification on essential care giver visits during an outbreak.
Found at: GOV.UK
Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS) Consultation final outcome published
The UK Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS) is one of the ways through which a patient with a life threatening or seriously debilitating condition can gain access to a medicine before it has gained approval from a medicines regulatory authority. The final consultation document has now been published.
Found at: GOV.UK
Wider Stakeholder News
Good and Outstanding care (GO)
We’ve developed a range of practical guidance to help you meet or exceed CQC expectations and achieve a Good or Outstanding rating. Good and Outstanding care includes free online guides, checklists, action plans, and learning modules to take you through every step of the journey: starting a new service, preparing for inspection, improving your rating and achieving Outstanding. Our inspection toolkit will also help ensure you are fully prepared for your CQC inspection.
Found at: Skills for Care
We Are Social Care Nurses: new bulletin launches
Skills for Care is delighted to publish the first edition of ‘We Are Social Care Nurses’, a new regular bulletin sharing blogs, interviews and news from people working in social care nursing and other experts in the field.
The bulletin will feature regular messages from Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, sharing her thoughts on the issues that matter most to social care nurses. This newsletter is all about sharing and celebrating the exceptional work they do and helping their voices to be heard.
Found at: Skills for Care
Social Care: Recruiting an Overseas Care Worker
A webinar is being held on Friday 4 February from 10am – 12pm, and again on Wednesday 9th February from 2pm – 4pm, by officials from the Home Office's Engagement and Policy teams, the Department of Health and Social Care and representatives from Skills for Care and the social care sector. It will provide an overview of the points-based immigration system for the Social Care sector and what the recent announcement means for international recruitment, how to ensure ethical international recruitment and examples of best practice from the social care sector.
Found at: Skills for Care
Skills for Care launches new accessible content to support the Care Certificate
Skills for Care has translated an overview of the Care Certificate into British Sign Language (BSL), in videos now available on the Skills for Care website.
The Care Certificate was developed jointly by Skills for Care, Health Education England and Skills for Health and is an agreed set of 15 standards that define the knowledge, skills, and behaviours expected of specific job roles in social care. It’s standard practice for new workers in social care to complete the Care Certificate as part of their induction.
Found at: Skills for Care
Home Office issues details of continuing support for EU Settlement Scheme applicants
The document is highlighting the assistance which remains available for individuals who need to make a late application.
Found at: Care England