Coronavirus assurance scheme extended to September 2023 |
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The NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme provides financial support for the families of eligible social care and health staff who died performing frontline work during the peak of the pandemic. The scheme closed to new claims on 31 March 2022.
Through the scheme, a lump sum payment of £60,000 is made to the colleague's estate, regardless of their salary. The scheme is non-contributory, meaning there is no cost or liability to staff or employers.
An additional period, for claims in respect of deaths which occurred on or before 31 March 2022, has been extended to 30 September 2023. Employers have an active role in submitting claims and are urged to do so for the benefit of families, partners and dependants and as a way to honour their colleagues' memories. |
Reminder: Emergency alert mobile phone test Sunday 23 April |
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A new emergency alert system has launched, allowing the Government and emergency services to send alerts directly to mobile phones, when there is risk to life. Alerts include details of areas impacted and instructions on how to respond. A UK-wide test takes place this Sunday 23 April.
Some groups, including care home providers and residents may choose to opt out to minimise distress. Likewise, if you know someone affected by domestic abuse who has a mobile phone hidden, they may not wish the sound of the alert to draw attention. This can be avoided by going to the phone’s settings, looking for ’emergency alerts’ and turning off ‘severe alerts’ and ‘extreme alerts’. Refuge has issued a video showing how this is done.
Care providers can use this toolkit to share further details of the Emergency Alerts campaign. |
May elections and photo ID: still time to help those you support to vote
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Many care home residents, and those you provide home care to, vote by post or proxy. However, if you support anyone to vote at polling stations, please make sure they bring photo ID for the local elections 4 May. The deadline to register to vote has now passed, but anyone without accepted photo ID can still apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. They must do this by 5pm Tuesday 25 April.
For more information, click the link below to download and print a guide for staff and volunteers working with older people. |
Blogwatch: Future-proofing social care with digital technology |
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Three years ago, at the start of the pandemic, an ambitious project began to send thousands of iPads out to care homes, to make sure staff and residents could stay in contact with health professionals, friends and family.
Fast forward to now, and a major programme is underway, with a commitment from the Government to invest at least £150 million in the digital transformation of the adult social care sector in England.
Alice Ainsworth, Deputy Director for Social Care Technology Policy in the Department of Health and Social Care, looks ahead with optimism in her latest blog. |
Free COVID-19 DBS checks likely to end 11 May |
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Free COVID-19 Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks are likely to end 11 May.
The check was introduced as an emergency measure to support employers recruiting health and social care staff into COVID-19 roles. The need for these roles has significantly reduced. Therefore, applications made on or after 11 May will be processed in the normal way and fees will apply.
The DBS provides two additional services - DBS Update Service and Adult First Service. These can be used to tackle ongoing COVID-19 related or other emergencies, where there may be significant risk to service provision should recruitment be delayed.
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