 Dear Reader, March has been the month when women's contribution to the health, wealth and prosperity of our world has been emphatically celebrated. International Women's Day, Women's History Month and most recently World Social Work Day (around 85% of UK social workers are women) all bring to mind how women across the globe, in all walks of life, are making a huge and positive difference in the lives of families, communities and our wider societies. We want to tap into this rich resource of skills, empathy and lived experience. Earlier this month, the Department of Health and Social Care launched a call for evidence to inform a new Women's Health Strategy. We need your views, concerns and ideas to help shape this strategy and make it truly fit for purpose. Those women working in or with care services will, I am sure, offer valuable perspectives. This should come as no surprise, of course. Women's involvement in delivering social care is long established. In fact, they currently account for around 82% of our care workforce. There are all sorts of societal reasons for this, enough to fill another blog post, but for now let's focus on women's commitment, dedication and adaptability. These vital qualities are helping make sure people live full and active lives right to the end. Social care in this country would be so much poorer without their involvement. Demonstrating these qualities sometimes comes at a price, however. Male or female, taking care of others at work and home often means forgetting to take care of ourselves. That's why, as we begin to cautiously emerge from COVID-19 restrictions, the call for a new Women's Health Strategy is so well timed. The call for evidence is open until 30 May 2021 - make your voice heard and help us shape the future of women's health. You can read Deborah's full blog here. | £7 billion funding for NHS and social care to support COVID-19 recovery The Government has announced an extra £341 million for adult social care to pay for infection prevention control measures and to support rapid testing to keep staff and residents safe in day and respite care, care homes and other community care settings. Guidance relating to infection prevention control funding will follow shortly. The NHS will receive £6.6 billion of additional funding over the next six months to support the continuation of the NHS response to COVID-19, and the recovery of elective services as hospitalisations continue to fall. You can find more information about funding here. Image created by www.freepik.com How was the flu vaccination campaign for you? Public Health England (PHE) recently ran a campaign to encourage care workers in England to get vaccinated against the flu. They are keen to know how effective the campaign was to help them improve their communications for next year. The closing date has been extended to 5pm 26 March 2021. Clicking the link below takes you to the survey. It only takes 5-10 minutes to complete it and your opinion really will count. Take the PHE flu vaccine campaign survey here. Image created by www.freepik.com Skills for Care launch new wellbeing resources Care colleagues can now easily access wellbeing tools and advice, thanks to a resource finder launched by Skills for Care. The finder helps you access self-help, support for others, or find someone to talk to in confidence, about your mental health or other issues. Try the resource finder here. Image created by www.freepik.com 1 million care colleagues receive first dose If you haven't received your vaccine yet, you can book through the National Booking Service or dial 119. Webinar watch: infection prevention control Registration is open for the latest in a series of infection prevention and control webinars, this time focusing on working with people living with dementia. Hosted by the Department for Health and Social Care and the Better Care Fund team, it is aimed at staff working in care homes and the community, as well as local authority and health colleagues. Participating: Professor Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care and Mark Harvey, Joint Chief Social Worker for Adults, Professor Alistair Burns, NHS England, Tracy Paine, Deputy Chief Executive, Belong Ltd and Dr Sarah Russell, Dementia UK. Book your place on the webinar here. Image created by www.freepik.com Suspected outbreak in care homes and other settings? If you have a suspected or current COVID-19 outbreak among staff, residents or people you care for in other designated care settings, click the link below for essential guidance on what you need to do. Please read guidance on outbreaks here. Image created by freepik.com Your health and wellbeing: new campaign from Our Frontline Our Frontline has launched a new social media campaign to support all care workers. 'Weather the Storm' reminds all of us working in or with the sector, that Our Frontline services continue to be available. Our Frontline provides one-to-one, free and confidential emotional support with trained volunteers, via 24/7 text or online, or 7am - 11pm by phone, seven days a week. Download the 'Weather the Storm' campaign assets here. COVID-19 vaccines and fertility One of the most frequently asked questions from care workers is whether the vaccine affects fertility. There is no evidence of this. The British Fertility Society has produced this resource to provide helpful information to share with your colleagues for their peace of mind. Meanwhile, further reassurance is provided in this joint statement from the Royal Colleges of Midwives, Obstetrics and Gynaecology. See also videos from NHS GP Dr Charles Esene and Public Health England's Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam. Click here to access the COVID-19 Vaccine Programme Communications Toolkit to Support Vaccine Uptake in Adult Social Care. Image created by freepik.com Blog watch: how young adult carers helped shape our COVID-19 guidance Last week marked Young Carers Action Day. Nearly a year ago, when lockdown began, everyone was urged to stay home, schools moved online and many young carers were thrown into their roles full time. A group of young adult carers, including The Children's Society contributors Melissa Moody and Chloe Rollings, were invited to work with the Department of Health and Social Care on guidance for young and other unpaid carers. Melissa reflects on how the pandemic changed the way she provided care and both she and Chloe express satisfaction in being able to make their voices heard in the guidance process. For more content visit the DHSC Social Care blog here. 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This communication has been sent by the Care Quality Commission on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.
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