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Dear Care Provider Colleagues,
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Welcome to this week's briefing.
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This week, we announce the launch of Stronger 4 Longer, a campaign to get over 50s moving, Heatwave advice and guidance, the SEntIneL study, and some updates to IPC guidance.
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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 01 July 2022)
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Our 7 day rate per 100k this week has again increased, today being reported at 286.0 (for the period 24th to 30th June).
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Updated guidance:
Infection Prevention and Control
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1. correction to first paragraph, continuous positive airway pressure ventilation (CPAP) removed as an example of an AGP in the community, clarified suctioning and tracheostomy procedures in the first paragraph.
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2. Updated 'IPC considerations for people receiving care' to reflect that people with cognitive conditions such as dementia may present with atypical symptoms.
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3. Updated to clarify that all visitors are encouraged to wear face masks rather than face coverings.
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We appreciate that the continued recommendation particularly for mask wearing continues to create some operational difficulties, however within social care at this time masks should continue to be worn in operational areas.
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For more information, visit:
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Reporting outbreaks
If you've experienced an outbreak of infectious disease in your setting, please report directly to UKHSA
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Email: swhpt@phe.gov.uk
Telephone: 0300 303 8162 (select option 1, then option 1)
Out of hours advice: 0300 303 8162 (option 1)
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The Local Authority will then receive a stakeholder notification from UKHSA.
Also, remember to let the SCC PH Incident Room
kinow the results of Covid recovery testing as soon as possible, to ensure they can monitor outbreaks accurately.
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Stronger 4 Longer launched in Somerset
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Somerset Sports and Activity Partnership (SASP) are pleased to announce that they have launched Stronger 4 Longer, as part of their campaign targeting people aged 50-65 to build muscle strength and balance for future falls prevention. A press release providing further information on the campaign can be accessed here.
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The Stronger 4 Longer website provides facts and information on why strength building is important for 50-65 year olds, outlines each ambassador’s story with a video explaining why keeping strong is important to them, and includes exercise videos and useful links to get started on strength building.
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Heat Health Watch – Level 2
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Severe heat is dangerous to everyone, especially older and disabled people, and those living in care homes. During a heatwave, when temperatures remain abnormally high for longer than a couple of days, it can prove fatal. In one hot 10 days period in south-east England in August 2003, there were nearly 2,000 extra deaths. The biggest increase in risk of death was among those in care homes.
Current Met Office forecasts for the South West can be found here.
The current forecast is that there is a 60% confidence that parts of the South West, especially the east are likely to reach trigger temperatures from Monday 11th July.
Temperatures are likely to stay close to threshold until Wednesday.
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For more information, visit:
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Please note that applications for food and energy top up vouchers may take up to 10 working days to process before a voucher is issued.
The Household Support Fund is designed to provide short-term urgent financial help to Somerset residents who are struggling to afford household essentials such as buying food, paying for energy and water bills and other essential household items such as beds and white goods.
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- Live in the County of Somerset
- Be over the age of 16 and living independently of parents/carers
- Not have sufficient money to pay for essentials
- Provide proof of your identity:
- Document showing your Somerset address and either proof of your benefits or proof of your income (the most recent, last month’s, bank statement)
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For more information, including how to apply, see here: bit.ly/SCCSupport22
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If you don’t have any support and need help to apply please phone Somerset County Council on 0300 123 2224. Somerset County Council will help you find an organisation who will help you make an application.
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We ask that you share this resource widely with your networks.
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Take part in paid research:
SEntIneL:
Sampling the Environment for Infections in Long-term care
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What is the project?
The SEntIneL1 study is investigating whether sampling from indoor surfaces and air can detect viruses and bacteria that cause respiratory illness in care homes. You can read more about the project here.
The project is a collaboration between the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA, formerly PHE), the NHS and the University of Bristol.
The project is seeking participants to take part in the study which will involve at least 3 group work sessions over 6 months.
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Will I be paid?
You will receive the standard rate of £25 per hour of activity for National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) public contributors. For more information, follow this link.
How to get in touch
Please contact the project lead directly if:
• You have any queries
• You need the document in another format, or
• You would like to be involved
email: rk16826@bristol.ac.uk or call 0117 455 3570
For more information, visit:
SEntIneL_PPI_role_v4.pdf (somersetprovidernetwork.org.uk)
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Reminder: Training dates announced for newly integrated Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service
Following a competitive tender process, Medequip have been awarded a five-year contract to provide an Integrated Community Equipment and Wheelchair Service for adults, children, and young people in Somerset. This new service will commence as of the 1st of August 2022, with progress already being made towards having everything in place for harmonious hand over from the current provider. Medequip will be working in partnership with AJM who will manage the Wheelchair and Ceiling Track Services.
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Millbrook will continue to be the equipment provider until 31st of July 2022. Prescribers will be able to order Community Equipment and Wheelchair Services (CEWS) from the new Medequip ordering platform TCES Community from 1st of August 2022.
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In advance of the launch of the service on 1st of August, training sessions on the new provider’s system are being made available. The new ordering system will allow you to use one portal to place orders for both wheelchairs and community equipment. This will make referrals and access to equipment easier and quicker.
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There are 2 types of training -
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- Training for Prescriber ‘Operational Champions’ – Virtual training sessions via Microsoft Teams for Prescribers will take place between 19th – 22nd July and take up to 2 hours to complete. Your line manager will be contacted shortly and asked to put forward a small number of operational champions from your team to take the training.
- Online training – all other users set up on for ordering equipment will be required to take mandatory elearning training when they first log on to the system. This will be made available prior to the 1st of August; Prescribers will be individually notified via email nearer the time.
IMPORTANT: you will not be able to access the new system or prescribe after 31st of July unless you have successfully completed your training.
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You will be supported in the transition to the new ordering platform and there will also be a period of support provided post go-live.
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TCES Community includes an online training platform, which will provide additional training resources and ‘how to’ guides.
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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.
- Application of the Mental Capacity Act for 16 and 17 Year Olds, Tuesday 11th October 2022, 9am to 1.30pm. See the flyer, and book your place here.
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Updated Guidance
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Infection Prevention and Control Update:
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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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