What's New Bulletin 80 - 10 February 2022
This is the eightieth weekly provider bulletin, containing information on guidance, procedures and new initiatives. Very urgent or high priority communications may still be issued on an ad hoc basis, but we will try to keep these to a minimum.
COVID RELATED INFORMATION
- GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION Revoking vaccination as a condition of deployment across all health and social care DEADLINE 16 February 2022 11:45pm (information for all providers)
- UPDATED GUIDANCE Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes (information for all care homes)
- UPDATED GUIDANCE Testing in adult social care (information for all providers)
- Infection Control and Testing Fund round 3 – 2nd allocation payments - Care homes and CQC registered community care providers (information for all Birmingham providers)
IN OTHER NEWS
- Supported Living review pilot scheme – Spring / Summer 2022 (information for all Birmingham supported living providers)
- Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group (BSOL CCG) End of Life Education Course 16 February 2022 (information for Birmingham and Solihull providers)
- West Midlands Care Association (WMCA) Overseas Recruitment & Health and Care Visas support Webinar 8 March 2022 (information for all West Midland providers)
- Skills for Care upcoming events and new resources (information for all providers)
COVID RELATED INFORMATION
1. GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION Revoking vaccination as a condition of deployment across all health and social care DEADLINE 16 February 2022 11:45pm (information for all providers)
The government is seeking your views on revoking provisions that require COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of deployment in health and social care settings. Please note the deadline for responding to the consultation is 16 February 2022 11:45pm.
Full details of the consultation can be found below:
Revoking vaccination as a condition of deployment across all health and social care
The following guidance has been updated to include a call-out box has been added to reflect that the government has announced its intention to revoke the regulations making vaccines a condition of deployment for health and social care staff, subject to parliamentary process and the announcement that the government has published a consultation seeking views on revoking regulations making vaccines a condition of deployment for health and social care staff;
COVID-19 vaccination of people working or deployed in care homes: operational guidance
Vaccination of workers in social care settings other than care homes: operational guidance
2. UPDATED GUIDANCE Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes (information for all care homes)
This guidance covers how to protect care home residents and staff during the coronavirus outbreak. A note has been added that this guidance will be updated and users are directed to the press release ‘Government eases social care restrictions after booster success’.
The full guidance can be found below:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes
3. UPDATED GUIDANCE Testing in adult social care (information for all providers)
The following guidance has been updated;
Updated COVID-19 testing available for adult social care in England: a summary:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing for adult social care settings
Updated care homes guidance for staff and visiting professionals on use of LFTs and removal of PCR testing:
Coronavirus (COVID-19): testing in adult care homes
The information has been updated about how to get a test kit and get help with doing the test:
Throat and nose test (Innova 25) for care home staff: COVID-19 rapid test kit instructions
Updated to reflect changes in asymptomatic regular testing guidance for homecare workers:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing guidance for homecare workers
Updated to reflect changes in asymptomatic regular testing guidance for extra care and supported living staff:
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing guidance for extra care and supported living settings
4. Infection Control and Testing Fund round 3 – 2nd allocation payments - Care homes and CQC registered community care providers (information for all Birmingham providers)
The Council has now processed 2nd allocation payments for the above grant to eligible Birmingham located care homes and CQC registered community care providers. Grant conditions documents and allocation lists have been circulated to providers. These provide details of the different elements of the grant payments. If you don't have copies, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
IN OTHER NEWS…………..
5. Supported Living review pilot scheme – Spring / Summer 2022 (information for all Birmingham supported living providers)
Birmingham City Council is looking to carry out a supported living review pilot project during Spring and Summer 2022 with a small number of supported living schemes. We are therefore seeking expressions of interest from supported living scheme providers in the city who wish to take part.
The pilot will undertake social work reviews of individuals and whole scheme service delivery. We intend to work with schemes to improve people’s independence by promoting the use of technology, employment opportunities, test new ways of service delivery and to introduce innovation or by testing new ideas. The pilot will also explore how we can work together to explore different methods of incentivising enablement. Full aims, objectives, and benefits of the project are set out on the attached document.
If you are interested in working with us and taking part please email us no later than 25 February 2022 at marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk providing the following information:
- CQC Location ID number and Location name:
- Name of lead contact:
- Contact email address:
- Contact phone number:
- Names and addresses of the supported living schemes:
Once expressions of interest have been received, we will contact you to request further information and to determine suitability to take part in the pilot.
6. Birmingham and Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group (BSOL CCG) End of Life Education Course 16 February 2022 (information for Birmingham and Solihull providers)
BSOL CCG have commissioned an End of Life Education Course on Identifying and Managing a Dying Patient ran by Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice on the 16 February 2022. For further information about the event and how to book a place, please see below:
Bespoke Training - Birmingham St Mary's Hospice (birminghamhospice.org.uk)
7. West Midlands Care Association (WMCA) Overseas Recruitment & Health and Care Visas support Webinar 8 March 2022 (information for all West Midland providers)
The WMCA is hosting a webinar on Overseas Recruitment & Health and Care Visas support with Dr Solo Nagra (former chairman of WMCA) on the 8 March 2022, 11am to 12 noon
You can find out more about the event and how to book below:
WMCA webinars Workforce Visas and Recruitment in Social Care with Dr Solo Nagra
8. Skills for Care upcoming events and new resources (information for all providers)
Please find attached a list of upcoming events. For further details about the events and information on new resources, please see the attached Skills for Care update.
Midlands Disclosure & Barring Service workshops:
Workshop 1 – Disclosure 16 February 2pm to 3:30pm book here
Workshop 2- Barring 23 February 11am to 12:30pm book here
Midlands Nominated Individuals Network Tuesday 28 February 2pm to 3:30pm book here
The National Care Forum (NCF) conference supported by Skills for Care Monday 14 and Tuesday 15 March 2022, details below:
www.nationalcareforum.org.uk/events/ncf-managers-conference
Midlands Deputy Managers Network Wednesday 23 February 2022 2pm to 4pm Book here