|
|
|
|
ASC Provider Briefing - 15 September 2023
|
|
|
Dear Care Provider Colleagues,
|
Welcome to this week's briefing.
|
In this week's briefing: an update from UKHSA about the new Covid-19 variant, information about RAAC for Care Providers, a recap of the recent Learning and Engagement Meeting and Resources, information about World Patient Safety Day, an update from Aging Well about new classes, an invitation to Develop Dementia Care in Care Homes, as well as the usual event reminders.
|
|
Please find the latest news and updates from Adult Social Care below:
|
|
|
|
New Covid-19 variant and best practices for Autumn / Winter
On Friday 8 September the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) issued its latest update on the Covid-19 BA.2.86 variant. We understand that the news of the new variant is concerning, so we wanted to give you and update and remind you of the existing government guidance on Covid-19.
|
As of the 4 September 2023 the UKHSA has confirmed that 34 cases of BA.2.86 have been identified in England. Of these, five were hospitalised and no deaths due to Covid-19 have been reported amongst these cases.
|
We ask that you continue to promote the measures outlined below:
|
Encourage staff and residents to take up the latest Covid-19 and flu vaccinations when these are offered.
|
- Vaccination teams are now contacting providers and people who are homebound to arrange visits. They have been asked to ensure all eligible care home residents are vaccinated by 22 October.
- Staff working in residential care settings should have by now commenced the consenting process with residents to ensure maximum take up when vaccination teams visit.
- Staff are encouraged to book their vaccinations as early as possible via the Local Booking Services from 11 September, and the National Booking Service (NBS) from 18 September. Appointments can also be booked via the NHS App, or through 119.
Support people eligible for Covid-19 treatments
|
- Providers should closely monitor individuals who are eligible for Covid-19 treatments to ensure they can be supported to test as soon as possible for Covid-19, and access appropriate treatment if they test positive.
- Providers should check ‘eligibility criteria’ for Covid-19 treatments (or with a health professional such as a GP) when a resident is newly diagnosed with an ongoing condition which may make them eligible.
Ensure tests are available to be used in line with guidance.
|
- We encourage providers to ensure they have enough tests to test anyone eligible for Covid-19 treatments if they develop respiratory symptoms, and also to test up to the first 5 linked symptomatic residents in a care home if multiple residents develop symptoms.
- Residential care services can continue to order LFD tests from the national ordering portal.
Ensure PPE is available to be used in line with risk assessments
|
- Use PPE where appropriate and ensure this is available for staff and visitors.
- Care workers and visitors do not routinely need to wear a face mask in care settings or when providing care in people’s home. However, they should be worn if:
- A person being cared for is suspected or known to have COVID-19
- In the event of a care home outbreak.
- If a care recipient would prefer staff or visitors to where a mask while providing care
Contact your local health protection team or other local partner if there are concerns.
|
- In the event of multiple cases in residential settings, guidance sets out the steps that can be taken under normal circumstances.
- Support remains available from local health protection teams (HPT) or other relevant local partners to provide advice on measures if there are issues of concern, as set out in guidance.
- For outbreaks of infectious diseases in all settings, please report directly to UKHSA: by emailing swhpt@UKHSA.gov.uk OR telephoning 0300 303 8162. This phone number is monitored out of hours and at weekends for urgent queries.
|
|
|
|
RAAC – Care Providers
You will have all seen the national news about concerns relating to Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC), primarily impacting on schools and the NHS estate primarily at this time.
|
Ensuring the safety of residents and staff is of the highest priority. It is important that those responsible for the management, maintenance or alteration of buildings know whether their buildings contain RAAC and, where they do, they act appropriately to ensure that such buildings are deemed safe.
|
|
As a precautionary measure, and to support local risk management, we would ask that any of our commissioned care providers in Somerset who have identified RAAC concerns please advise us (asccontractsandqualitymonitoring@somerset.gov.uk) alongside any proportionate mitigation and remediation/contingency plans you are putting in place.
|
|
|
|
Care Provider Learning and Engagement Meeting
Thank you for attending the 5th September Learning and Engagement Meeting. It was lovely to see so many faces and have really good interactive discussions. Please do get in touch if you would like to suggest a topic. guest speaker or if you would like to share a good news story or challenges that you have overcome. There is so much great work going on, would be fantastic to hear it and share it!
|
|
LEM meeting external link:
|
|
CQC (presentation) new ways of working:
|
Please contact Jo Hawkins - joanne.hawkins2@nhs.net direct if you would like to be involved with hospital discharge discussions.
|
|
|
|
|
World Patient Safety Day
Ensuring the voice of the patient is heard
|
In June this year, we joined up with Healthwatch Somerset to support the way patients are involved to help keep others safe, by appointing two Patient Safety Partners (PSPs).
The PSPs, who have a wealth of experience, are hosted on our behalf by Healthwatch Somerset and will have oversight of all patient and public feedback gathered by Healthwatch Somerset - they will use this to gain insight and report on issues relating to patient safety.
The PSPs will become active members of our safety and quality committees to ensure the voice of the patient is heard. They will also be involved in patient safety improvement projects within Somerset and we will report on their progress.
To find out more about the role of PSPs, visit: NHS England » Framework for involving patients in patient safety
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aging Well Partners' Bulletin
We are thrilled to be launching several new exercise classes in Somerset. Please see our posters attached.
|
- Tai Chi Qigong is coming to…
West Monkton, Near Taunton: Thursdays at 2:30pm, starting 14.9.23
|
Milborne Port: Mondays at 2pm, starting 2.10.23
|
Queen Camel: Tuesdays at 2pm, starting 3.10.23 (await postcode before I can attach a poster)
|
Staplegrove, Taunton: Tuesdays at 1:30pm, starting 10.10.23
|
- Strong and Steady, our strength and balance class, is coming Stoke Sub Hamdon, near Martock, on Thursday mornings. Find out more about our Falls Prevention classes here.
- And, in time for Yoga Awareness month, we are launching Breathe, Stretch & Balance, a yoga-themed class in High Ham, near Langport . This monthly class features mindful movements for ageing well. The class will be held on the second Friday of every month, 10:30am, which started on 8th September.
There is still space on our Flexercise workshops. These are aimed at people who work with or have an interest in enhancing the lifestyle of the not so young. The workshops are open to carers in the community or from nursing and residential homes, helpers in day care centres and officers, or ‘active’ residents from sheltered homes.
|
The workshop will provide the necessary information that an individual will require to lead an activity session so that they can help older people in the area stay more mobile, improve mental health and enhance their later years.
|
|
The next dates are (all Thursdays, 10am - 2pm):
|
|
12th Oct 23 - Somerton, Edgar Hall
|
|
19th Oct 23 - Bridgwater, Victoria Park Community Centre
|
9th Nov 23 - Wells, Town Hall
|
|
|
|
Events
|
|
|
Development of Dementia Care in Care Homes - Online Event
Dear care provider colleagues,
|
We would like to welcome all care home providers to help design the future of Dementia care within care homes.
|
This is an opportunity to vocalise what you would like to see, what you feel is achievable and what feels out of reach. Looking at items such as:
|
- Development of the vision – what good looks like
- Development of the set of principles of working together
- Deeper analysis of barriers and opportunities
There are two online events available:
|
Wednesday 20th September 2023 at 14:00pm – 15:15pm
|
|
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
|
Meeting ID: 372 380 141 835
Passcode: DXezkh
|
|
Phone Conference ID: 427 633 561#
|
Thursday 28th September 10:00am -11:00am:
|
|
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
|
Meeting ID: 310 476 181 403
Passcode: LXGQz9
|
|
Phone Conference ID: 186 657 444#
|
|
Led by Senior Commissioner Officer Candy Worf (Older Person’s Mental Health) and Senior Commissioning Officer Gemma Beasley (Residential, Dementia Residential and Nursing Care Homes).
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Event and Training Reminders
- Integrated Care System: Workforce 2035 workshops in September and October. Details on website.
- Care Home and Dementia South West, 26th September, 10am to 4pm. South West Event: Care Home Residents with Dementia: How can we do better together? | NHS England Events
- RCPA Online Workshop: Date Security - Roles and Responsibilities, Thursday 28th September, 11am to 12pm via teams. Sign up on Teams.
- Care Provider Learning Engagement Meeting, Tuesday 3rd October, 2pm to 4pm.
- Basic Dysphagia Awareness Training, Various dates. Details on PEN.
- RCPA Annual Conference, Wednesday November 8th, 9.30am to 4.30pm, Taunton Racecourse. Details on website.
- St Margaret's Hospice - Training for Care Professionals. 30th November, details on PEN.
|
|
|
Please continue to share or promote these briefings and our webpage to others in your organisations.
|
Our incident room mailbox and contact details (see below) remain 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.
|
Somerset’s Provider Engagement Team
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
