Adult Social Care Update
New Minister for Care and Mental Health announced Gillian Keegan is the new Minister of State for Care and Mental Health at the Department of Health and Social Care.
She arrived alongside three other new ministers: Maggie Throup (Vaccines and Public Health), Maria Caulfield (Patient Safety and Primary Care) and Lord Kamall (Technology, Innovation and Life Sciences). Edward Argar continues in his role as Minister of State for Health.
Tweeting about her appointment, the Chichester MP said: "I am honoured to have been asked by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to join the Department of Health and Social Care. There are significant challenges ahead and I am looking forward to working closely with Sajid Javid and the team."
Book your COVID-19 booster jab and get behind our winter vaccination campaign Millions of eligible people, including frontline care staff, are now being offered a COVID-19 booster vaccine following advice from the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
The National Booking Service is now open for frontline care colleagues to book their COVID-19 booster vaccines, providing it has been six months since they received their second dose. They can book their booster appointment through the National Booking Service online, by ringing 119, or by visiting their nearest walk-in centre.
Natasha Edwards, Registered Manager at Evergreen Care Home, explains why she and her colleagues are fully behind the booster and winter flu jab. Download promotional materials from Public Health England and read her blog by clicking the link below.
New sector engagement programme on social care reform Image created by freepik.com The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic have made the task of reforming social care more important than ever. Over the last year, the Government’s vision for reform has been shaped by the insights of sector leaders, care providers, people with lived experience and others.
Following the recent publication of Build Back Better: Our Plan for Health and Social Care, the Government will work with individuals and organisations from across the care sector to co-produce a White Paper on reform to be published later this year.
This will set out further detail on the commitments made in that document, including support for the adult social care workforce and unpaid carers. The ASC Update will be providing regular updates, blogs and news to keep you and your care colleagues fully informed.
Celebrating Homecare Day Celebrating Homecare Day took place for the very first time this week. This important initiative, developed by the Homecare Association in conjunction with the Care Workers' Charity, is dedicated to highlighting the amazing difference homecare services make in people’s lives every day.
Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, joined many other organisations and individuals, flying the flag for homecare colleagues, by recording a special video message, celebrating their incredible contribution to the health and happiness of friends, families and loved ones during these difficult times.
She also took the opportunity to encourage colleagues to nominate their fellow care workers for the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care Awards. Find out more in her blog, which launched the awards earlier this year, including links to the nomination forms.
Important information about PCR test kit expiry dates [Image created by freepik.com] NHSE lab teams have identified a significant number of PCR tests being returned for analysis beyond their expiry dates. Whilst this does not pose any risk to individuals tested, care colleagues must make sure all tests returned to labs are in date. Any expired tests will be classed as void.
To make sure you are using valid tests and minimise the chance of further void results, it is important to always note the expiry date and use tests in the order they were received. Dispose of any expired tests and those within one week of expiry.
Insurance advice for care providers [Image created by freepik.com] COVID-19 has posed unprecedented challenges for the adult social care sector. Making sure the right insurance is in place for care providers has been one of them.
With this in mind, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and the British Insurers Brokers’ Association (BIBA) have jointly published guidance setting out practical steps providers can take to access the appropriate insurance cover. If your insurance is due for renewal in the next few months, do take a look.
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