Policy Updates 15th August 2022
The following policy updates have been curated from the week commencing 15th August 2022.
New Policy
Vaccination strategy for ongoing polio incident: JCVI statement
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) met to discuss the ongoing polio incident and to advise on a vaccination strategy. The JCVI agreed that the most immediate priority is to ensure all eligible individuals are up to date with their polio (IPV) vaccinations. Due to the nature of this public health emergency the JCVI agreed that an urgent supplemental vaccination strategy is required to prevent cases of paralysis due to poliovirus and interrupt transmission of VDPV2 in the community.
Found at: GOV.UK
Social care staff to benefit from improved career options and training
Hundreds of thousands of training opportunities will be available for social care staff to develop their careers over the next three years as part of the government’s £500million support package. This comes as the Workforce Development Fund is confirmed for an additional year (2022/23) offering stability ahead of new and improved training opportunities. In 2020/21 the Workforce Development Fund, financed by the Department of Health and Social Care and disseminated by Skills for Care, helped more than 14,000 care workers from more than 2,300 establishments to progress their careers despite the pressures of the pandemic.
Found at: GOV.UK
Updated Policy
COVID-19 vaccination programme - Care homes: consenting (Autumn 2022)
Given the timescales to commence a booster vaccination programme for care home residents, care home staff should start the consenting process of residents and care home staff by mid-August in advance of the Autumn booster vaccination.
Consent needs to be obtained before starting any medical treatment, test or physical investigation/examination or before providing personal care for a patient; this is standard NHS practice and is a legal requirement.
The Green Book Chapter 2 provides guidance on the consent process for vaccinations and in this regard delivery of COVID-19.
Guidance is also set out in the Roving and Mobile SOP (Section 5.1) and within the national protocol framework.
Where it has been established that the person lacks the capacity to consent, a best interests decision should be taken in line with the checklist in section 4 of the Mental Capacity Act. The decision maker should make a record of their best interests decision. If a capacity assessment is done and the decision is that the individual did have the capacity to consent, this should also be documented.
Relevant consent forms (see for care home residents and for social care staff), other supporting forms and associated information (including easy-read versions) can be found on the GOV.UK website.
These forms should be adapted locally to apply to the specific dose being administered (first, second, third, primary dose or any subsequent booster doses) being given. The current forms will not be amended.
Consent remains valid unless the individual who gave it withdraws it. If there is new information between the time consent was given and when the immunisation is offered, it may be necessary to inform the patient and for them to re-confirm their consent.
Capacity Tracker: Coming Next Week
Improvements currently being made to Capacity Tracker are detailed below.
New Report | Reasons a Bed is Unavailable
Changes were recently made to enable care homes to share information about their vacant beds and why these might not be available to take new admissions. A new report will show a breakdown of the different reasons for being unable to take new admissions.
Report Changes | Covid-19, Status Summary (Map and Table)
As part of the on-going review of the care home and home care collections we have reviewed the Covid-19 and Status Summary reports. The Status Summary Report (and Map) has been updated to provide a more appropriate snapshot of key information collected, including information previously held in the Covid-19 report. The Covid-19 specific report will therefore be decommissioned as a standalone report.
New DSPT webinar series for 2022-23
Care providers are invited to attend new webinars on using the Data Security and Protection Toolkit. The Data Security and Protection Toolkit is an online self-assessment tool that allows health and social care organisations to provide assurance that they are undertaking good data security and that personal information is handled correctly. The sessions will also cover changes to the DSPT for 2022-23. The Better Security, Better Care programme provides free, expert advice and support to enable care providers to check and improve their data and cyber security by using the Data Security and Protection Toolkitevery year. As part of the programme, we are running a series of free webinars starting in August through to March 2023.
Found at: Digital Social Care
Wider Stakeholder News
New RCN ballot results give clearest sign yet of strike action by nursing staff across the UK
The results of our recent ballot of members working for the NHS in Scotland provide the clearest sign yet that industrial action could take place across the UK later this year. The ballot of nursing staff on Agenda for Change contracts in Scotland saw more than double the number of members turnout to vote than a similar ballot last year. More than 90% rejected the Scottish government’s pay offer, with the majority voting in favour of taking strike action.
Found at: Royal College of Nursing
Social care workers must develop their skills, says chief executive of NHS Employers
Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, explained that whilst investment in the social care workforce is welcome, it is critical that those working in social care have opportunities to develop and expand their skills. However, Danny added that this alone still isn’t enough to tackle the challenges facing the social care sector.
Found at: Home Care Insight
HDRC Members’ Newsletter, Aug 2022
Post Graduate Certificate in Dementia Studies, Association for Dementia Studies (ADS), University of Worcester
In September we hope to welcome many new students to the Post Graduate Certificate in Dementia Studies, or one of the Modules associated with the course.
You can help by contacting colleagues who may have an interest and encourage them to watch this short film https://youtu.be/ofYrLaW0xN4
The attached publicity leaflet and webpages for the course provide more information. The course website is also where you apply for the course: https://www.worcester.ac.uk/courses/person-centred-dementia-studies-pg-cert
The course leader, Dr Chris Russell c.russell@worc.ac.uk is also happy to be contacted if you have any questions.
The summer flies by, now is the time for those interested to apply.
New fully online course from the ADS: Championing physical activity for people affected by dementia
This online course will develop your knowledge and confidence in facilitating physical activity for people affected by dementia. You will have the opportunity to learn from experts in the dementia and physical activity fields, as well as hear directly from the those with lived experience of dementia. See flyer for more information: https://www.worcester.ac.uk/documents/CPA-flyer-v1.pdf
Who is it for?
Anyone working with people living with dementia or family carers. You might work in sport, leisure, housing, health, care, or community-based services.
Programme:
The course will run across 8 weeks starting in Autumn 2022. There will be live and interactive sessions with the course tutor(s), as well as a multitude of resources to support learning and practice.
Contact:
Please contact Dr Chris Russell for full details of the session dates and how to register (01905 542635 or c.russell@worc.ac.uk)