Adult Social Care Update
Vaccination as condition of deployment in care homes: first COVID-19 dose deadline approaching Image supplied by freepik.com The deadline for care home colleagues to receive a first dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine is just around the corner: Thursday 16 September. Vaccination as a condition of deployment (VCOD) comes fully into force in November.
Some care colleagues will be exempt on medical grounds, some will have more personal reasons why accepting vaccination is not so straightforward, and others will need more information and reassurance before committing.
The decision to make full vaccination a condition of working or volunteering in care homes was taken to maximise protection for colleagues, residents and anyone coming to visit.
Click below for more information on VCOD and scroll for resources to help you and your colleagues, not yet vaccinated, to make a well informed decision to take the vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccination: your questions and concerns answered Image supplied by freepik.com The reasons behind vaccine hesitancy can be complex and longstanding, which is why huge effort has been put into providing as much information, reassurance and independent advice as possible.
For example, we’ve myth-busted concerns around the vaccines’ alleged negative effects on pregnancy and fertility and explained why natural immunity on its own is not enough to provide full protection.
We’ve also reached out to ethnic communities with personal testimony from vaccinated care staff and our NHS and care sector colleague have created resources and videos to share information and messages of reassurance as widely as possible.
VCOD has, of course thrown up additional queries, which we have answered in numerous webinars and Q&A resources.
Mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for frontline care and health staff: new consultation launched Image supplied by freepik.com The Government is seeking views on plans for staff in health and care settings in England to be required to have COVID-19 and flu vaccines to protect vulnerable people.
A six-week consultation has launched, looking at whether requirements should apply for health and care workers (not just those working in care homes), those in contact with patients, and people receiving care.
It would mean only those who are fully vaccinated, unless medically exempt, could be deployed to deliver health and care services. The consultation will also seek views on whether flu vaccines should be a requirement for health and care workers.
Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection Image supplied by freepik.com The past year has been a difficult time for the entire adult social care workforce, which is why a Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection has been launched, hosted by The Care Workers' Charity and fully endorsed by our Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy in this heartfelt post for the DHSC Social Care blog. The day, announced during this year's Professional Care Workers' Week, will take place in March 2022.
Meanwhile, care colleagues can make use of a life assurance scheme for frontline NHS and social care staff who contract coronavirus during the course of their work. It is non-contributory and covers staff who provide care for people who have contracted coronavirus or who work in health or social care settings where the virus is present.
Details of how to claim can be found on the NHS Business Services Authority website.
Flu immunisation for social care staff: PHE release new guidance materials Image supplied by freepik.com Flu vaccination for social care staff directly working with people clinically vulnerable to flu is strongly encouraged. Public Health England (PHE) have developed this guidance to support staff to ensure there is high uptake of the flu vaccine this season.
Those eligible for a flu vaccination include all social care workers and social care workers working with children who are clinically vulnerable to flu.
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