Adult Social Care Update
Care home visiting and COVID-19 testing updates [Image created by freepik.com] Restrictions have been reduced from 28 days to 14 for care home outbreaks of the omicron variant. This minimises the time that visiting is limited to only essential care givers and allows visits to resume inside the care home with family and friends much sooner.
Testing requirements have been changed to reflect the current situation. Since 11 January in England, people who receive positive lateral flow device (LFD) test results for COVID-19 will be required to self-isolate immediately but won’t be required to take a confirmatory PCR test.
COVID-19 boosters: what your colleagues have to say [Image created by freepik.com] Getting your COVID-19 booster vaccination remains the most effective way you can protect yourself and those around you from infection. If you haven't had yours but need further reassurance, listen to these care colleagues share their positive vaccination stories.
Meanwhile, Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care and former ADASS President, Sir David Pearson explain why the whole care sector needs to get behind vaccination to keep those we care for safe. Care providers are also invited to use a toolkit of free resources to encourage their teams to get boosted. Click the link below.
Transforming Social Care: latest news and views Transforming the social care system will take time. Stay up to date with the latest information on what’s changing and hear stories from across the sector on social care reform.
This week, Leon Osbourne, policy officer at Locality, a national membership network supporting local community organisations reflects on the important role of community organisations in reforming care and support.
Free PPE for frontline care staff extended to March 2023 [Image created by freepik.com] The offer of free personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline health and social care staff in England has been extended for another year. The move follows a public consultation, which received over 5,000 responses from across the health and care system.
Supporting frontline workers remains a priority for the government and, following a public consultation, NHS trusts, primary care and adult social care providers will continue to receive COVID-19 PPE free of charge until 31 March 2023 or until the how to work safely and infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance is withdrawn or significantly amended. This is to make sure staff and the people they care for are protected.
Ventilation advice [Image created by freepik.com] Good ventilation is vital to keep colleagues and those they care for safe as coronavirus and other infectious illnesses spread more easily in unventilated areas.
Open windows in bedrooms and air them when not in use. Leave rooms to ventilate with external doors and windows open between uses wherever possible, minimise occupancy of spaces and keep windows in communal areas open if you can.
Social care reform: engagement continues [Image created by freepik.com] As 2022 gets underway, broad engagement on social care reform continues, with the latest series of roundtable discussions with sector partners. This week’s session with care providers, chaired by Minister for Care and Mental Health, Gillian Keegan, focused on workforce support.
There was discussion around maintaining a focus on recruiting and retaining staff as part of the reform agenda. Attendees also expressed the need to re-emphasise sector funding and the support available to care providers, particularly as the omicron variant continues to pose a risk in care settings.
COVID-19 supported living guidance updated [Image created by freepik.com] COVID-19 supported living guidance has been updated with information to support local plans and preparations to manage risk, and support people throughout the response to the pandemic. It includes guidance on safe systems of working, including limiting close contact, respiratory and hand hygiene, enhanced cleaning and how infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, personal protective equipment (PPE) and the use of testing apply in supported living settings.
Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care Awards: who will you nominate? [Image created by freepik.com] The Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care Awards acknowledge and reward the outstanding contribution made by social care workers and nurses in England. They celebrate care colleagues who go above and beyond their everyday roles to provide excellent care, leadership and inspiration to their colleagues and those they care for.
Each award recipient is encouraged to become a social care ambassador and take every opportunity to raise the profile of the care profession in the public arena and the workplace. So? Do you know someone who deserves of a Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care Award?
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