Covid 19
Information, alerts and resources for the Care Sector
General Support
Register now for regular testing of care home staff and residents
From 6 July the roll out of weekly testing of staff and testing of residents, every 28 days, in all care homes without a current outbreak.
Care homes will need to re-register on the care home portal to apply for regular testing.
Applications for regular testing are now open for care homes caring for the over-65s and those with dementia.
Advice Line for Registered Managers
Skills for Care have launched an advice line for registered and frontline managers, managing CQC regulated adult social care services through the COVID-19 crisis.
This advice line can help managers access the latest information, resources, funding, online learning and other opportunities provided from Skills for Care. They can also direct managers to the latest guidance and advice produced by other agencies.
This advice line will be open between 9.00 – 17.00 Monday to Friday.
Call: 0113 241 1260
Email: [email protected]
The Department of Health and Social Care have shared the guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): provision of home care. This provides answers to frequently asked questions from registered providers, social care staff, local authorities and commissioners who support and deliver care to people in their own homes, including supported living settings.
The Department of Health and Social Care have shared a framework for how adult social care employers should assess and reduce risk to their workforce during the coronavirus pandemic.
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.
Admission and care of people in care homes – Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Admission and care of people in care home publication
Government guidance on how to protect care home and staff during the coronavirus outbreak.
This guidance is for care homes, local health protection teams, local authorities, clinical commissioning groups(CCG) and registered providers of accommodation for people who need personal or nursing care.
It sets out how to:
- Admits and care for residents safely.
- Protect care home staff
Flu Vaccination for social Care Workers.
Flu immunisation guidance for Social Worker
The Department for Health and Social Care have provided guidance on flu vacinnation for social care workers including the who, why, how to get the flu vaccination.
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.
NHS test and trace: how it works. An overview of the NHS test and trace service, including what happens if you test positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or have had close contact with someone who has tested positive.
Medicines, Pharmacy & Health
Helping prevent facial skin damage beneath personal protective equipment guide from NHS England and NHS improvement.
Opus Pharmacy Services are a Skills for Care endorsed medicines training provider and accredited by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. Currently providing an email medicines errors series, sign up to subscribe to their newsletter.
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.
Wellbeing
Test test test
A Guide to good sleep for clinicians and healthcare professionals. COVID-19 has changed the way we all live and work. For those working in health and social care, especially those on the frontline, this stressful period may present a real challenge to both mental health and to sleep. Sleep is a cornerstone of our health and so protecting it is important.
Samaritans has launched a new confidential support line for NHS and Social Care workers.
‘Our volunteers are here to support you when you’ve had a tough day, are feeling worried or overwhelmed, or just have a lot on your mind and need to talk it through’.
Call FREE – 0300 131 7000 –
7am to 11pm, 7 days a week.
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.
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.
Download the app now
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.