DHSC coronavirus social care update - 1 February

Sent by CQC on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care

The independent regulator of health and social care in England A message from Helen Whately, Minister for Care,  Department of Health and Social Care Dear Reader, This week marked a truly devastating moment in the pandemic with the news that 100,000 lives have now been lost to this cruel virus. So many friends, family and colleagues have been taken from us – something people working in social care know all too painfully. There will be a time to remember and reflect, and we are already learning lessons. The most important thing we can do now is work together with even greater resolve to overcome this devastating disease. With the approval of three COVID-19 vaccines, and our UK wide vaccination programme progressing at pace, we can see a clear path out of the pandemic. We are continuing to focus our efforts on offering the vaccines to people who need protection the most – including all frontline health and social care workers – which we are on track to complete by 15 February 2021. We know immunisation of a large population will take time to have a positive effect. In the meantime, we must contain and control the pandemic in the here and now. For one thing, the virus is changing, mutating – something we were told could very well happen, as is already the case with seasonal flu and a range of other infectious diseases. For those of you working in care homes and other care settings, the new and highly infectious variant has made keeping those you care for safe from COVID-19 even harder and put greater pressure on staffing as more colleagues test positive and have to self-isolate. In the face of these challenges we want to make absolutely sure there are enough staff to look after those who need care. That's why we've recently announced a £120 million Workforce Capacity Fund for Adult Social Care. This funding will help local authorities in England supplement adult social care staffing to meet the challenges we know you're facing right now. I know adult social care providers are working to maintain the highest standards of safety for staff and those they care for, which is why we are supporting local authorities to act now to help those providers experiencing the most acute staff shortages. This includes helping them maximise the capacity of experienced and skilled staff and to bring in additional resource where needed. Allied to this, I know you will all continue to focus on infection prevention control (IPC), correct PPE use and the ordering of fresh stocks via the portal. Even as many care home residents are vaccinated, it's vital to maintain the highest possible standards. I am also grateful to you for the huge amount of testing you are doing, both the regular PCR testing – which is essential to continue - and the additional LFD testing in care homes. Care homes have told me this is picking up staff who are positive before they start work, helping to stop the virus at the front door. But I do recognise the extra burden of all this testing, not only the experience itself but also all the administration. That's why we recently announced a £149 million fund to help with the cost of testing. And as additional support, testing at home guidance for care colleagues has also been issued. I'm constantly speaking to care providers and care workers and I know how hard it is at the moment. Everyone is feeling it, after months of being at the frontline. We have to get through this together. If you're struggling, please don't keep it to yourself and do look after your own health and wellbeing. There is support available when you need it, including through the CARE app. My colleagues and I will continue to do everything we can to support you through these difficult times. Read the testing at home guidance for care colleagues   Download the CARE Workforce app for the latest information, support and discount offers Download on Google Play Download on the App Store COVID-19 variants: guidance remains fit for purpose   Infection control remains crucial through winter, even when all staff and residents are vaccinated. A comprehensive review of evidence has been undertaken by the UK Infection Prevention Control Cell in light of the new variants and, in line with NHS advice to staff, there has been no change to guidance on the use of infection prevention control measures. This means it remains essential existing 'How to Work Safely' guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE) and procedures are followed to minimise the risk of transmission. New and emerging evidence is continually monitored and reviewed by Government, in conjunction with our world-leading scientists. Read the 'How to work safely' guidance   Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care pays virtual visit to Brent   Deborah Sturdy, the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, is wasting no time engaging with the care sector, even if this can't be in person right now. None the less, Deborah thoroughly enjoyed her recent virtual visit with the adult social care team at Brent Council. They discussed the challenges faced during the pandemic and Brent's impressive joint system of working. It was also the shared view that care sector colleagues should rightly feel confidence in themselves and truly own their achievements, helping to attract new staff and improve staff retention.  Follow Deborah Sturdy on Twitter   Vaccination for the nation   Three effective COVID-19 vaccines are now approved for use in the UK with others hopefully to follow. With their approval, and the rapid expansion of vaccination sites across the country, the national NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Programme is progressing at pace to reach the most vulnerable in our communities. Stuart Miller, our Director of Adult Social Care Delivery, uses his latest blog to urge care colleagues and their employers to actively engage with the programme and make sure they access their vaccinations.  Read Stuart's blog in full   Adult social care recruitment drive to launch next phase   The next phase of the 'Care for others. Make a difference' adult social care recruitment campaign will launch in early February 2021. An update on this will be shared soon, so make sure you're signed up to the campaign newsletter for the latest news! Follow the 'Work in social care' Facebook page Preparing for your COVID-19 vaccination: new workplace posters for providers and staff   Two new workplace posters are now available to download for care providers and their staff. Both posters provide useful reminders about eligibility, how to support colleagues in booking vaccination slots and making sure care services are maintained while staff are off site to attend their appointments. Click here to download the posters Vaccination fact cards answer your burning questions   It's completely understandable to have questions and concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines now available. These fact cards have been created to address many of the issues uppermost in care colleagues' minds. They include reassuring messages about fertility, allergies, the safety and speed of the national vaccination programme and, of course, the imperative to continue infection control measures, even after vaccination. Download the fact cards Skills for Care host staff recruitment webinars   Recruiting new workers can be challenging at any time, but during the COVID-19 pandemic this challenge has become even harder. To help care providers of all shapes and sizes, Skills for Care are hosting a series of webinars from Tuesday 2 February 2021 for providers and local authorities to highlight and discuss managing staffing pressures.  Click here for more details and to register Blog watch: Overcoming vaccine hesitancy in our diverse communities   Clenton Farquharson's family have had many heated debates about the new COVID-19 vaccines and whether or not to take them. Clenton believes this is a common worry among Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, fueled by misinformation and a shortfall in efforts to assuage concerns about safety. He writes for the DHSC Social Care blog to counter these issues, encourage honest conversations and presents a short video demonstrating how getting a COVID-19 vaccination is really no big deal at all. Read Clenton's blog and be sure to click on his video Forward this newsletter to a colleague or friend This communication has been sent by the Care Quality Commission on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

We are England's independent health and adult social care regulator.   Join our digital participation platform for providers and professionals to get involved in CQC's work - help inform policies, take part in discussions and test new products.   Problems viewing this email? Click here to view online. Find out more about our work Contact us Unsubscribe

 

This email was sent to ooseims.archieves@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Care Quality Commission · 151 Buckingham Palace Road · London · SW1W 9SZ