Covid 19
Information, alerts and resources for the Care Sector
Help to Care App
Do you provide care for somebody living in Kent and Medway?
Help to Care is a free mobile app designed to help you to spot the signs of a problem and find the right information and advice if you’re worried about someone’s health and wellbeing.
Download today on your app store to access:
- Over 40 advice and guidance articles
- Links to services to support you and the people you care for
- Training videos on different conditions.
Medicines & Pharmacy
Pressures on the community pharmacy system might mean that Multi Compartment Aids (MCAs) not being provided and original packs of medicines being used.
The Government have released Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for the reuse of medicines in a care home or hospice during COVID-19 click the link to access all the information and supporting documents.
Please see the Kent and Medway Medicines Optimisation Team Prescribing and Medicines Management – COVID-19 Newsletter which contains information about End of Life Medicines and pharmacy delivery services.
Ensuring good foot care during Covid19 using the basic foot care and nail cutting advise.
Dementia
Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Services are providing many of their support and activity groups online and all you will need is a smartphone/laptop/computer/tablet, an internet connection and an email address.
Coronavirus: How you can support people with dementia in your community. Five top tips for individuals volunteering their time in the coronavirus response by Dementia Friendly Communities and Alzheimer’s Society.
Free Dementia Awareness Information Virtual Session via Zoom from Alzheimer’s and Dementia Support Service. Thursday 21st May 2020, 3pm – 4:30pm
ESTHER
Join our ESTHER Webinar on:
What matters to ESTHER during this time?
Thursday 28th May 2020, 1.00 pm to 1.45 pm
COVID-19 has interrupted our usual contact with ESTHER Ambassadors, Improvement Coaches and others in our ESTHER network. You are invited to join speakers from across Health and Social Care to discuss this and:
¨ What matters to ESTHER during this time?
¨ How the ESTHER Care Philosophy supports Universal Personalised Care
¨ What matters to you as a member of the workforce supporting ESTHER?
Wellbeing
Confidential emotional support is available, free of charge, to frontline staff from qualified and trainee psychotherapists and psychotherapeutic counsellors.
Health & Wellbeing Guide from the NHS & National Government Association. This pack aims to provide some advice, tips and tools on how to manage stress and wellbeing.
Pilgrims Hospice booklet on Bereavement Support. The booklet can help to recognise how grief might be affecting you and to understand that although it can seem overwhelming at times, it is perfectly normal to feel this way when you are facing loss.
6 Easy Exercises which are recommended by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy to help you stay active, lift your spirits and reduce stress. Some of the exercises (heel raises & toe raises) can also be undertaken whilst seated on a chair. Try them at least twice a week and if you can, build up to doing them daily.
Guidance for Managers and Leaders -The psychological wellbeing of staff during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Guidance for Staff -The psychological wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic.
General Support
The Department of Health and Social Care has put together a Covid19 Care Home Support Package which provides a wealth of support material specifically for the Care Home Sector.
Skills for Care COVID-19 webinars are a series of webinars on a range of topics to support managers and their service during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current webinars available:
- Essential training
- Human Resources (HR)
- Attracting workers
- Using technology to support your staff and each other
- Keeping your team motivated
- Using technology to support the people you care for
- An introduction to DBS checks
- Distance recruitment
Care homes can now order swab kits for residents. However, for symptomatic residents they need to speak to PHE as before.
One Stop Shop – If you feel that you are being overloaded with information it is worth keeping the Skills for Care ‘one stop shop’ page on your favourites. This page has all the key guidance from the government and other agencies in the fight against COVID-19.
Heart of Kent Hospice are providing free 1hr Zoom training of an evening from 06 May – 10 June on a variety of topics to support you during Covid 19.
Useful Kent & Medway wide resources for care homes including End of Life care are available on the Ashford CCG referral support tool, open access for everyone – no password required.
Health Education England (HEE) – Learning Programme has created an e-learning programme in response to COVID-19 that is free to access for the entire UK health and care workforce. Relevant content in the Coronavirus program currently includes:
- Essential Guidance from the NHS Government and WHO
- Infection Prevention and Control
- Personal Protection Equipment
- Statutory and Mandatory Training.
The Care Workers’ Charity Covid-19 Grant Fund aims to provide emergency funding for currently employed care workers who must take time off work due to Covid-19 for either illness or self-isolation or for funeral costs.
The Duke of Cambridge held calls with care workers in England and Northern Ireland, to thank them for their tireless efforts to continue to look after the most vulnerable in our society. Across the calls, they discussed the unique challenges of providing care throughout the pandemic, including the impact of the last few months on the mental health and wellbeing of both those receiving care and the caregivers themselves.
Putting on and removing PPE in health and social care settings
Putting on and removing PPE in care homes
Podiatry nail trimming
World Health Organisation (WHO): How to handwash? With soap and water.
