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ASC Provider briefing - 08 April 2022
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Dear Care Provider Colleagues,
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Welcome to this week's briefing.
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As ever, we are grateful for all of the work you do. This week's briefing includes the some guidance on testing, a reminder about IPC, Testing, and Vaccination Grants, information about advanced care planning, free e-learning about managing medications, and more.
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Please find the latest news and updates from Adult Social Care below:
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Latest Covid-19 Outbreak update
(Friday 08 April 2022)
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We have seen a further reduction in our 7 day rate per 100k this week, today being reported at 753.1 (for the period 29th March to 4th April). whilst we have seen a decrease in case numbers, there is clearly a reduction in testing and this is feeding into the latest figures. We continue to see very high numbers of covid across the care sector and this continues to create a number of challenges.
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Whilst we have seen a decrease in case numbers, there is clearly a reduction in testing and this is feeding into the latest figures. We continue to see very high numbers of Covid across the care sector and this continues to create a number of challenges.
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Testing Guidance
We have received a number of inquiries about the new testing guidance. Please see below for details:
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- The latest testing guidance document replaces individual testing guidance (supported living, home care, day care etc)
- This doc will be kept under review as prevalence changes
- Includes eligibility for free testing
- Symptomatic testing for staff and residents - LFD immediately and another LFD 48 hours after first test
- Symptomatic staff should stay at home and can come into work if both LFD'sare negative and medically fit
- Symptomatic residents should be isolated immediately - LFD immediately and another LFD 48 hours after first test
- Asymptomatic staff testing - 2 LFD tests per week before work 3-4 days apart
- Rapid response testing - if staff or resident tests positive - all staff daily LFDs (days they are working) for 5 days
Suspected or likely outbreaks
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- Suspected outbreak (2 or more linked positive Covid-19 results in same setting with 14 days period) - contact HPT
- After Risk Assessment, HPT might advise whole home outbreak testing
- Whole Home Outbreak testing - staff and residents LFD and PCR on day 1 and days 4-7
- After first week of outbreak testing - staff resume twice weekly LFD
- Outbreak recovery testing - 10 days after no new cases or newly symptomatic individuals
- If cluster is suspected, outbreak measures can be stood down after 2 rounds of whole home testing and regular staff testing reveal no positive results (around day 7).
- If positive results from outbreak recovery testing, HPT may advise outbreak restrictions should continue until no further positives are found
Ordering test kits, other respiratory infections
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- New guidance includes ordering test kits
- Symptomatic individuals who test negative for Covid may have another infectious illness like flu
- Symptomatic individuals should keep away from others until 48 hours after symptoms have resolved.
IPC, Testing and Vaccination Grants
Please could we remind providers of the need to complete the final return for the IPC, Testing and Vaccination grants which will cover the whole period from October 2021 – March 2022.
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All providers who have received grant monies will need to respond by no later than 18th April 2022 to enable the Council to compile the statutory return together by the deadline set by the Department of Health and Social Care, and will have received a link to the return for care homes or the return for community care providers (or both where both types of service are provided) on Monday. The return is very similar to those completed previously, but with the inclusion of February and March.
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If you have any queries please email Stephen Miles who can assist as we prepare for deadlines (smiles2@somerset.gov.uk).
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Somerset Advance Care Planning
SomersetFT and Marie Curie have collaborated to offer a volunteer-led Advance Care Planning service in the community, called TALK ABOUT.
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The project's aim is to create personal advance care plans through Marie Curie volunteers that can bring the person and what is important to them directly into the SIDeR record so it is available where needed to influence the best possible care for people.
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This is a really exciting and innovative piece of work and Somerset have this exclusive opportunity – therefore we need champions in each setting to be aware of this, encourage and promote people to start the conversation and really make Somerset health and social care a personalised integrated care system.
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Advance care planning is about identifying who and what is important to them, communicating their priorities to ensure their choices are recognised and preventing confusion in times of crisis or distress.
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The project is countywide, supported by volunteers who facilitate and help to compile advance care plans based on a personalised ‘what is important to you?’ approach. Anyone can refer in (including self-referrals) on 0800 3047412 or lat.mccompanionsservice@nhs.net
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This digital document sits in SIDeR and once completed by Marie Curie, will be sent automatically to the person’s GP practice with an automated SNOMED code. The person also receives a hard copy – as many as wanted – to keep in their home, and share with those who are important to them.
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Reminder: Nominate Someone Amazing! BBC Radio Make A Difference Awards
This year BBC Radio Somerset wants to celebrate and say thank you to people living in our villages, towns and cities who make where we live a better place.
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Every day we hear stories of people doing incredible things for each other and their communities. Now it’s time to recognise them for all their hard work.
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This is a chance to highlight someone who has really made a difference working or volunteering in the social care sector.
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Whether it’s caring for someone in need, being a brilliant neighbour, or inspiring children in the classroom, if you know someone who is really making a difference to our lives then you can nominate them for an Award.
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- Volunteer
- Community Group
- Fundraiser
- Carer
- Great Neighbour
- Key Worker
- Environment
- Together award
You can nominate someone you know at bbc.co.uk/makeadifference, where you can also see full Terms and our Privacy Notice. Nominations are now open and will close on the 29th of April 2022 at 11:00pm.
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The winners will be announced at our Make a Difference awards ceremony in September at the home of Somerset Cricket at the County Ground on the evening of Friday 16th September.
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And follow #BBCMakeADifference on Twitter and Facebook for more details.
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#CelebratingSocialCare
Throughout April Skills for Care are celebrating social care and recognising the importance of social care and the dedicated and skilled work of everyone in the sector
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They want as many people as possible to get involved in #CelebratingSocialCare this April. Join by sharing your experiences, successes, and well done messages on social media using #CelebratingSocialCare.
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Managing Medicines for Adults Receiving Social Care in the Community -
e-learning courses
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For other information about training, please see the in development Training Guidance page on the Provider Engagement Network.
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New and Upcoming Events
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Save the Date: Provider Webinar and Q&A with Mel Lock
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Tuesday 26th April, 9am-10am
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We hope you will be able to join us at our upcoming webinar. The session will be led by Somerset's Director of Adult Social Care, Mel Lock, and supported by other senior members of the Adult Social Care service. It will be an opportunity to discuss the latest developments and concerns, as well as a chance for you to ask any questions you may have for us.
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The Teams meeting link will be shared closer to the time, and will also be shared on the Webinars page on our website.
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DHSC Webinar on Infection Prevention and Control: Resource for Adult Social Care
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Friday 29th April, 10:15am to 11:15am.
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Chaired by DHSC Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy OBE
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For all those responsible for setting and maintaining standards of IPC within adult social care in England, care home managers in England and homecare organisation managers in England
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Somerset End of Life Care Conference
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Two day conference: 19th-20th May - attend one or both days
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The Somerset End of Life Care Conference will bring together health, social and spiritual care professionals from across the county to share best practice and new ideas for palliative and end of life care.
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PPE 'Out and About' Event
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A series of events across England for front-line health and care staff to share their views and experience to inform the development of the next generation of PPE.
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This is an opportunity to bring together health and social care front line staff, PPE manufacturers and suppliers, as well as technical decontamination and cleaning experts in a forum for dialogue, learning and innovation to capture the interactive outputs and feedback to support the development of the next generation of PPE and cleaning/decontamination products.
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The South West event takes place at Bristol Marriot City Centre, BS1 3AD on the 27th May.
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For more details, please download the flyer.
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Upcoming Event Reminders
- Weekly meeting: Every Friday at 3pm the Health Protection Team host a meeting to answer any questions care providers have about updated Covid guidance. Teams meeting link.
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Updated Guidance
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Please continue to share or promote these briefings and our webpage to others in your organisations.
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Our incident room mailbox and contact details (see below) remains operational during core working hours so please get in touch if you have any urgent concerns or queries we can look to assist you with.
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Somerset’s Provider Engagement Team
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Adult Social Care (ASC) COVID19 Response Team
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