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ASC Provider Briefing - 09 December 2022
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Dear Care Provider Colleagues,
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Welcome to this week's briefing.
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We hope you are staying warm in the cold weather.
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This week in the briefing: information about the Cold Weather Alert, Strep A / Scarlet Fever, and Acute Respiratory Infections / Influenza / Norovirus, an opportunity for mental health providers to expand their provision, a recap of this week's Learning and Engagement Meeting, a consultation about the SEND strategy, some training resources, information about Capacity Tracker Enforcement, and a charity single release featuring Glastonbury Care Home.
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Please find the latest news and updates from Adult Social Care below:
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Cold Weather Alert
The current forecast is: There is a 99% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions between 0900 on Friday 09 Dec and 0900 on Friday 16 Dec in parts of England.
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Strep A / Scarlet Fever
You may well be aware of a recent national increase in notifications of scarlet fever to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), above seasonal expected levels.
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We would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the signs, symptoms and the actions to be taken if you think that you or your child might have scarlet fever.
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Signs and symptoms of scarlet fever
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Scarlet fever is a common infection caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, or group A Streptococcus (GAS) that largely affects children under 10 years. We would not expect this to cause a significant issue for social care staff or those they provide care for; beyond the potential for children of staff picking up the infection in schools. Contacts of scarlet fever cases do not need to isolate from work
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Scarlet fever is not usually serious, but by treating with antibiotics this limits the spread to others. The early symptoms of scarlet fever include sore throat, headache, fever, nausea and vomiting. After 12 to 48 hours, the characteristic red, pinhead rash develops, typically first appearing on the chest and stomach, then rapidly spreading to other parts of the body, and giving the skin a sandpaper-like texture. The scarlet rash may be harder to spot on darker skin, although the 'sandpaper' feel should be present. Patients
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typically have flushed cheeks and be pale around the mouth. This may be accompanied by a bright red ‘strawberry’ tongue.
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If you think you, or a member of your staff, might have scarlet fever, they should:
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- contact their GP or NHS 111 as soon as possible
- make sure that they take the full course of any antibiotics prescribed. Although they may well feel better soon after starting the course of antibiotics, they must complete the course to ensure that they do not carry the bacteria in their throat after they have recovered
- stay at home, away from work for at least 24 hours after starting the antibiotic treatment, to avoid spreading the infection
You can help stop the spread of infection through frequent hand washing and by not sharing eating utensils, clothes, bedding and towels. All contaminated tissues should be disposed of immediately. Wiping down hard surfaces can also clear the bacteria from these surfaces
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Staff who are not symptomatic but are contacts of positive children etc, should continue to work, but implement good infection prevention control measures.
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Invasive Group A Strep (iGAS)
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The same bacteria which cause scarlet fever can also cause a range of other types of infection such as skin infections (impetigo) and sore throat. In very rare cases, the bacteria can get into the bloodstream and cause an illness called invasive group A strep (iGAS). Whilst still very uncommon, there has been an increase in iGAS cases this year, particularly in children under 10 years old. It is very rare for children with scarlet fever to develop iGAS infection. We do see rare cases of Invasive Group A Streptococcus (IGAS) among older people, but this is often related to a break in skin integrity.
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During periods of high incidence of scarlet fever, there may also be an increase in outbreaks in schools, nurseries and other childcare settings. Children and adults with suspected scarlet fever should stay off nursery / school / work until 24 hours after the start of appropriate antibiotic treatment. Good hygiene practice such as hand washing remains the most important step in preventing and controlling spread of infection.
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Acute Respiratory Infections / Influenza / Norovirus
Please find attached three posters that you might wish to display to your staff
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Please also note that flu (influenza) has begun to circulate across the UK. COVID-19 swabs do not detect flu.
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- The symptoms of flu and covid-19 (and for several other respiratory viruses) are very similar.
- For symptomatic residents/clients or staff, please always test using COVID-19 LFD. If negative, then consider other viruses. The HPT can assist with testing for other viruses, including Flu
- It is also possible that a person may be infected with both COVID-19 and Flu at the same time. Be suspicious if your residents are particularly poorly and/or the infection appears to be spreading very rapidly.
If you have an outbreak of diarrhoea and vomiting, always call the HPT if:
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- You suspect a food source as a cause – an indication of this might be that cases all arise within a very short time period
- Cases have blood in their stools
- Cases are severely affected and require hospital care
Rigorous Infection Prevention and Control measures are crucial to preventing transmission of all sorts of infections.
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Winter Pressure Mental Health Care Pods
Due to the release of winter pressure monies, we are looking for an existing complex care CQC registered provider to deliver a block hours arrangement.
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This is for individuals with a primary need of Mental Health and living in South Somerset and in the Mendip areas. This is most likely to be in the individual’s home but could require support to be delivered in other environments e.g. Homeless hostels, YMCA.
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The team primary focus will be to facilitate discharges from psychiatric wards and prevent admission to hospital by providing timely support following intervention/assessment from the health colleagues. The elected provider will be expected to work in partnership with all involved and link individuals to other community based services to maximise positive outcomes.
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This is a finite pot of money available now until the end of March. There is some flexibility around additional payment for travel as we recognise that the challenges recruitment and retention bring in these areas.
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There will be an expectation that this contract is in place before Christmas so if you have capacity and would like some guaranteed revenue for the last quarter of the year please express your interest to Amy Alexander and Celine Antier via MHSCCCommissioning@somerset.gov.uk
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Winter Pressure Supported Living provision - Mendip
For those Mental Health Providers looking to expand their supported living provision, we are looking for expressions of interest to set up a provision in the Mendips locality for Males who experience mental health issues who may also have comorbid substance misuse. The age profile for this service will be 18-40.
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The provision will aim to support in the first instance the discharge of individuals who are currently on psychiatric wards.
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Winter monies of a maximum of £50k are available to either support existing providers to expand their provision to meet this need or for new providers to get a new provision off the ground.
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This £50k would not be recurring and expressions of interest should demonstrate how this money will be used to get the provision going.
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There will be expectations that this service is ready to receive individuals by the end of January at the latest.
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Somerset Care Provider Learning and Engagement Meeting
6th December 2022, that’s a wrap on the learning and engagement meetings for 2022. I look forward to welcoming you back 3rd January 2023.
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Thank you to the Guest speakers. It really is great to have you attend and share your expertise and knowledge.;
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- Jude Glide, Clinical Skills Team
- Lauren Dyer, SASP
- Nicky Cooper, Optimal Handling
- Julian Bellew, Somerset Independent Supported Living Centre,
- Sharing of good practice from The LARCH Team and Molly from Arthurs Court,
- Amy Hardwick, The Orange Button Scheme
- Melanie Stovold, UCR and falls
Thank you to all that joined the meeting, Care Providers, health and social care colleagues. I look forward to seeing you all at the next LEM.
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1.Kirsty Withers Dementia Matron
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- Delirium presentation, Q&A
- MCA/BI Somerset Competency framework, Q&A
4. Emma Savage, Deputy Director of Quality and Improvement, Integrated Care Board presenting:
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- Patient Safety Incident Response Framework
LEM topics and transference of care discussion topics:
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Please do get in touch if you would like to see certain speakers, have particular health and social care colleagues in attendance, provide topics for discussion or offer to be a guest speaker sharing a good news story. It is so important to share the positive experiences. The LEM is the Care Providers of Somerset Resource so please get in touch: ASCContractsandQualityMonitoring@somerset.gov.uk
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Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. I look forward to seeing you in 2023.
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Rachel Caunce, Care Provider Support Officer
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SEND strategy consultation
We are currently consulting on Somerset’s new SEND Strategy that will define the priorities and approach to improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND over the next three years.
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The consultation runs until 23 December. We want to have as many people’s views from across the system to inform the development of the strategy.
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Training
Social Care Training
Here is the referral form for accessing the Social Care Clinical Skills Training. You can refer directly to Jude, particularly in support of discharge or social care staffing teams’ resilience to support and prevent a potential step up. Judith.Glide@somersetft.nhs.uk
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Dysphagia
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If you are not yet registered for eLearning for health or do not hold an Athens account, NHS.net, .gov or other accepted email account please register via the following link.
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- Put in your email address
- Selected none of the above apply to me. In the about you section.
- Then press continue (the following content is freely available)
- Fill out your details
- In the job tittle type “other” and add your organisations name. The system will send you a confirmation of registration email.
- Once registered they give you a temp password and ask you to change it.
Once changed you can log on
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Olivia Blunn (Clinical Lead Speech and Language Therapist for Dementia and Care Homes) will be guest speaking at the Learning and Engagement Meeting in February (7th, 2-4pm) on the teams current service offer which includes the competency framework, Dysphagia training, resources, service projects/current focus.
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ASC Provisions Update on Enforcement
To all Care Home and Home Care Adult Social Care Providers,
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This is an update from DHSC on the Adult Social Care Provider Information Provisions that require you to submit data monthly through Capacity Tracker.
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The guidance on the enforcement process will be published in the week commencing 19th December. This guidance will let you know how DHSC will enforce the information provisions – i.e. what will happen if, from December, you do not update your data monthly, via Capacity Tracker, as outlined in the guidance on data collection first published in July.
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As we have outlined in previous communications, financial penalties will normally be a last resort and the majority of the enforcement process will focus on what support we can give to help you meet the requirements of the Information Provisions.
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Glastonbury Care Home release single ‘I See You’ and launch community social fund
We are delighted to share the release of our music single, 'I see you' by Paul Denegri who is a volunteer in Glastonbury care home. Paul has written, produced, performed the song along with residents and staff at GCH.
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The song marks the launch of the 'I See You' community social fund, aiming to raise the money for elderly care home residents who live without any funds to afford basics such as new clothes, toiletries and haircuts etc - often relying on the generosity of the frontline care staff or charitable donations. The ‘I See You’ funding project is set to launch in 2023 with hopes to begin supporting people across the UK.
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The song is now released on all well-known music platforms such as YouTube and Spotify. I would like to invite you to listen, watch, and if you can, donate to their cause. Would you mind also forwarding this to anyone and everyone you know, and encourage further networking of this video to help support such a wonderful cause that will change the lives of so many, maybe even of people you know personally.
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If you would like to find out more about the ‘I See You’ project please visit the following:
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Latest Covid-19 Outbreak update
(Friday 02 December 2022)
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Please continue to take infection, prevention, and control precautions.
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Upcoming Event Reminders
- Care Provider Learning Engagement Meeting, 3rd January, 2-4pm.
- Conference: Making Research Matter in Practice, Wednesday 8th February 2023, in person (Bristol) and virtual. Details on Eventbrite.
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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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