1. Rapid Testing Fund (Information for Care Homes)
2. ACTION NEEDED Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Priority Group 2 - Frontline Social Care Workers (Information for Birmingham homes support, supported living and Extra Care Sheltered Housing providers
3. Birmingham Lateral Flow Testing Spoke - Expression of Interest Prospectus (Information for Birmingham Home Support, Supported Living and Extra Care Sheltered Housing providers)
4. Updated care home visiting position statement 13/01/2021 (Information for Birmingham Care Homes)
5. Key messages for Care Homes to prevent the spread of Covid 19 (Information for Birmingham care homes)
6. Updated guidance on Isolation Periods (Information for all supported living providers)
7. Controlled Drugs Care Home Newsletter ( Information for Care Homes in the Midlands)
8. Infection Control Fund 2 – 2nd allocations to care homes and community care providers (Information for all care providers with CQC locations in Birmingham)
9. Action required - Infection Control Fund round 2 – Monthly spend reporting (Information for Care homes in Birmingham)
10. Action required - Infection Control Fund round 2 – Monthly spend reporting  (Information for CQC Registered Community Care Locations in Birmingham)

1.Rapid Testing Fund (Information for Care Homes)

The government has released details of the £149m Rapid Testing Fund to support the rollout of Lateral Flow Device (LFD) testing. We are working through the process of allocating this grant in line with the conditions issued by the Department of Health and Social Care. We shall issue further communication in due course. In the meantime you can find out more about the fund on the government website:

Adult Social Care Rapid Testing Fund

2.ACTION NEEDED Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Priority Group 2 - Frontline Social Care Workers (Information for Birmingham homes support, supported living and Extra Care Sheltered Housing providers)

Local arrangements have now been put in place in Birmingham to enable frontline social care and health staff to book and receive their vaccinations. Can I please draw your attention to the attached provider letter and other attachments which provide full details of the action you and your staff need to take – please read carefully and ensure you follow the instructions to ensure the smooth operation of the process.

3.Birmingham Lateral Flow Testing Spoke - Expression of Interest Prospectus (Information for Birmingham Home Support, Supported Living and Extra Care Sheltered Housing providers)

There is currently only national provision of Lateral Flow Tests for the care home market. Staff working for home support, supported living or extra care sheltered housing providers that don’t have symptoms can access LFD via the community asymptomatic testing sites across the city. 

Staff with Covid symptoms can book a test as a priority worker

Book a test as a priority worker

Alternatively, providers with 150 staff or more may consider becoming a workplace testing spoke – the prospectus for which is attached and should be read in full before providers consider submitting an expression of interest. Expressions of interest from providers with less than 150 staff members will be considered to potentially host a shared site. If you would like more information on specific detailed aspects before making a submission please email elizabeth.griffiths@birmingham.gov.uk

The above information is for testing in addition to the regular staff and resident testing that is required by the following guidance;

COVID-19 testing for extra care and supported living settings

COVID-19 testing for homecare workers

4.Updated care home visiting position statement 13/01/2021 (Information for Birmingham Care Homes)

Please see below the updated Care Home Visiting Position Statement including the update advice of the Director of Public Health and Director of Adult Social Care to reflect the current national lock down.

Care Home Visiting Position Statement

The updated Government guidance can be found here;

Visiting arrangements in care homes

Arrangements for visiting out of the care home

5.Key messages for Care Homes to prevent the spread of Covid 19 (Information for Birmingham care homes)

Cases of Covid19 are very high in our communities, and we have a number of large outbreaks in our care homes. Please find attached a summary of the key things you can do in your care home to try to reduce the spread of Covid19.

6.Updated guidance on Isolation Periods (Information for all supported living providers)

Please note the following guidance has been updated to reflect that if you have had close contact with someone who has COVID-19, you must self-isolate for 10 days. For people in supported living arrangements, this 10-day period should increase to 14 days based on a risk assessment if the setting is considered high risk.

The full guidance can  be found below

Guidance on isolation periods

7.Controlled Drugs Care Home Newsletter (Information for Care Homes in the Midlands)

Please find attached the Controlled Drugs Care Home Newsletter from the NHSE Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer.

8.Infection Control Fund 2 – 2nd allocations to care homes and community care providers (Information for all care providers with CQC locations in Birmingham)

We are currently working through the process of making the 2nd allocations of the Infection Control Fund round 2 and distributing these to grant conditions compliant providers. We shall issue further communication in due course.

9.Action required - Infection Control Fund round 2 – Monthly spend reporting (Information for Care homes in Birmingham)

Following the distribution of the Infection Control Fund 2 Grant allocations in November, all care home location recipients are required to complete and submit the form in the link below detailing actual and forecast spend of the Grant between 1 October and 31 December 2020.

Care Home Infection Control 2 Grant spending questionnaire

A separate form must be completed for each Registered Care Home Location. The deadline for submission of the form is 25 January 2021

10.Action required - Infection Control Fund round 2 – Monthly spend reporting  (Information for CQC Registered Community Care Locations in Birmingham)

Following the distribution of the Infection Control Fund 2 Grant allocations in December, all CQC Registered Community Care Location recipients are required to complete and submit the form in the link below detailing actual and forecast spend of the Grant between 1 October and 31 December 2020.

Community Care Infection Control Fund 2 Grant spending questionnaire

A separate form must be completed for each Registered Care Home Location. The deadline for submission of the form is 25 January 2021