Policy Updates 11th April 2022

 

The following policy updates have been curated from the week commencing 11th April 2022.

Trade Papers

Home care firm develops new app to streamline record keeping and support essential training
Norfolk-based home care company Extra Hands has developed a new app to streamline record keeping, support staff training and reduce waste.
Home Care Insight

House of Lords rejects Health and Care Bill amendment
The House of Lords has for the second time rejected an amendment to the Health and Care Bill. The amendment, which was put forward by the government in November, proposes excluding the financial help people get towards their care for the £86,000 cap, which critics say means the poorest will have to use more of their assets than those who are better off.
Care Home Professional

Care bodies call on government to reinstate Infection Control Fund
The Care Worker’s Charity (CWC), The Care Provider’s Alliance (CPA) and The Relatives & Residents’ Association have written to Sajid Javid asking for the government to reinstate the Infection Control and Testing Fund and support care workers still facing crisis situations due to COVID-19.
Care Home Professional

Government & Stakeholder Updates

PPE portal: how to order COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE)
Eligible health and social care providers can order PPE through the portal to meet the increased need that has arisen as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
GOV.UK

Skills for Care’s latest monthly data shows vacancy rates continue to rise in social care
Skills for Care has released its latest monthly data for the social care workforce. The figures show that vacancy rates are continuing to rise, while the number of filled posts is falling. Vacancy rates have increased from a low of 5.9% in March 2021 to 10% in March 2022. During the pandemic vacancy rates decreased with fewer jobs being available in other sectors and some care workers reporting they felt a loyalty to help the sector through the challenges of the COVID-19 outbreak. Following the peak of the pandemic and as the wider economy opened back up, vacancy rates have since been rising and are now higher than they were before COVID-19.
Found at: Skills for Care

Bereavement resources for the social care workforce
Losing someone close to you, whether it’s a family member, friend or colleague, can be devastating. This loss may be especially difficult during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic because you may not have been able to spend time with your loved one due to infection risks or may have been unable to say goodbye in the way you would have wanted. DHSC has gathered resources that may help during this difficult time.
Found at: GOV.UK

Living with COVID-19 in Adult Social Care, Changes to COVID-19 measures in care homes – webinar recording
In this webinar, hosted by Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social, she and other colleagues from the Department of Health and Social Care discuss changes to testing, infection prevention and control (IPC) and answer care colleagues' questions and concerns.
Found at: DHSC

Thousands more patients to access second ground-breaking antiviral
Thousands more vulnerable people are eligible to receive the UK’s second antiviral Paxlovid, which has been added to the PANORAMIC national study
GOV.UK

Personal protective equipment (PPE): local contacts for accessing free PPE
A list of contacts that providers and care recipients can approach to access free PPE, including the PPE Portal, local authorities and local resilience forums.
GOV.UK

Guidance summary for living with respiratory infections including Covid-19

Please see the guidance summary for living with respiratory infections including COVID-19following the Government updates on 1 April.

This is relevant for care and nursing homes, supported living and extra care settings, domiciliary care providers and some day care services.

This summary has been produced from the following guidance: 

DHSC Adult Social Care Webinar linked to the new Covid-19 and Infection Prevention Guidance

The DHSC is hosting the following seminar for care home, non-care home, and all setting service managers chaired by the Chief Nurse of Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy.

The purpose of the seminar is to support the sector to implement the new Covid-19 and Infection Prevention guidance and to address questions and concerns about the policy changes.

If you are interested to attend, DHSC encourage you to register ahead of any event you plan to attend.
 
29 April, DHSC webinar on supporting implementation of the Infection Prevention and Control: Resource for Adult Social Care guidance 10.15am to 11.15am:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/dhsc-webinar-on-the-infection-prevention-and-control-resource-for-asc-tickets-309927249747​
  


South Gloucestershire care home drop-in sessions

South Gloucestershire Council are offering weekly drop-in meetings for all adult care home managers, particularly those who may be experiencing an outbreak in their setting, on Thursdays from 2pm to 3pm.

Sessions focus on responding to manager’s questions and supporting with acute issues that managers would like addressed. Visiting, testing, IPC/PPE, vaccination and guidance updates are also discussed. It is hoped that these sessions can provide valuable shared learning experiences between homes.

The meetings will take place via Microsoft Teams using this link.

#CelebratingSocialCare
#CelebratingSocialCare will launch on Monday 4 April and run until the end of April.
Throughout April we’re #CelebratingSocialCare and recognising the importance of social care and the dedicated and skilled work of everyone in the sector.
It’s been two years since COVID-19 first spread in the UK and the country went into lockdown. Throughout these two years our social care sector has faced challenges never seen before, and the people working in social care have continued to adapt and show up to keep our communities safe and supported.
Skills for Care

 
Remote Digital