COVID-19 What's New Bulletin 27 - 4 February 2021
This is the twenty seventh 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.
- Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund 2 Grant – Community Care Providers 2nd allocations (information for non-care home providers with a CQC location in Birmingham)
- Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund 2 Grant – Care Homes – February spending returns (information for Birmingham care homes)
- Rapid Testing Fund (information for Birmingham care homes)
- Workforce Capacity Fund (information for all care providers with a CQC location in Birmingham)
- Vaccine – Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Priority Group 2 - Frontline Social Care Workers (information for non-care home providers in Birmingham)
- Council and NHS to host public question and answer sessions on COVID-19 vaccination (information for all care providers in Birmingham)
- Changes in reporting of vaccination data for the non care home market – questions now included in the National Capacity Tracker (information for all non-care home providers operating in Birmingham)
- Verification of death webinar – 8 February 2021 (information for care homes in Birmingham and Solihull)
- Mental Health support for health and care staff working during COVID-19 pandemic (information for all care providers in Birmingham)
- Amended Government guidance about COVID-19 (information for all care providers)
- CareMatch Portal users please check your dashboards regularly for new referral and service agreements awaiting a response (information for all care providers contracted with Birmingham City Council)
- Family letter about care home visiting (information for Birmingham care homes looking after older adults)
1.Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund 2 Grant – Community Care Providers 2nd allocations (information for non-care home providers with a CQC location in Birmingham)
The Council has now made the 2nd allocations of the grant to CQC Registered Community Care Locations within the Birmingham City Council boundary, which have demonstrated compliance with the grant conditions.
Payments have been processed and we expect the funding to reach bank accounts by 8 February 2020.
Grant Conditions letter circulated to providers forms the Grant Agreement and sets out further details of the administration of the Grant, its purpose, conditions and reporting arrangements. Please read this carefully ensure that you comply with the conditions, reporting requirements and instructions contained within.
It is important that the fund is used for the measures outlined in the agreement, and specifically we want to draw your attention to the need to use the fund to limit the number of different staff visiting an individual in order to reduce the risk of transmission, and also to pay staff full wages if they are sick or isolating because of COVID-19.
You should complete the Appendix 2 – ICF Round 2 Provider Assurance Statement that you have been sent and return this not later than 22 February 2021 by email to marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
Failure to return the Assurance Statement will immediately disqualify the provider from receiving the Grant and any funds distributed in the 2nd allocation must be returned to the Council.
You should also complete the February monthly spending return, detailing how much of the total grant has been spent between 1 October 2020 and 31 January 2021 and the projected percentage total spend on each of the grant measures. You can access the online form via the link below. The deadline for completion is Monday 22 February 2021.
Non-care home ICF spending return
Further details of the Infection Control Fund can be found on the Council’s website:
Infection Control Fund details
2.Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund 2 Grant – Care Homes – February spending returns (information for Birmingham care homes)
Care homes are reminded of the requirement to complete monthly Infection Control Fund 2 spending returns detailing the amounts spent and the projected percentage total spend on each of the grant measures. The February spending return is now open and you are required to submit details of grant expenditure made between 1 October 2020 and 31 January 2021. You can access the online form via the link below and the deadline for completion is 22 February 2021:
3.Rapid Testing Fund (information for Birmingham care homes)
The Department of Health and Social Care has released details of the Rapid Testing Fund, to support care providers with the rollout of Lateral Flow Device testing . We are working through the process of allocating the grants to care homes and eligible community care providers. You do not need to do anything further at this stage and we will issue further communication in due course setting out details of the grant conditions, measures and reporting requirements. However, please note that a condition of this grant is that you continue to complete the National Capacity Tracker at least weekly. You can read information about the grant on the government website:
4.Workforce Capacity Fund for adult social care (information for all care providers with a CQC location in Birmingham)
The Department of Health and Social Care has released details of the Workforce Capacity Fund, to support care providers in maintaining safe levels of staffing and to ensure sufficient workforce capacity across services. We are working through the process of allocating to the measures identified in the grant conditions. You do not need to do anything further at this stage and we will issue further communication in due course setting out further details. You can read information about the fund on the government website:
5. Vaccine – Covid-19 Immunisation Programme Priority Group 2 - Frontline Social Care Workers (information for non-care home providers in Birmingham)
Social care workers are advised to have the COVID vaccination to protect yourself, your families, your patients and service users.
It is strongly recommended that you get vaccinated as soon as possible. If you have not already booked an appointment for the first dose, as a social care worker you can attend any of the Birmingham and Solihull Hospital Hubs to have the vaccination.
For more information about the vaccine including answers to frequently asked questions, leaflets and videos, please visit the Birmingham and Solihull COVID Vaccination website
How to book an appointment at a Hospital Hub:
Appointments for health and social care staff are available at the following locations:
Please be aware that slots get added as and when they become available so keep checking for updates.
In order to book an appointment you will need to provide:
- Name
- Date of birth
- NHS number
- Residential post code
- Mobile telephone number (so that appointment date and time can be texted)
On the day of appointment, staff will need to bring their ID badge or proof of their employer such as a payslip.
Further information and queries
Any queries regarding COVID-19 vaccination for health and social care staff ONLY should be directed to: CovidVaccine@uhb.nhs.uk
6.Council and NHS to Host Public Q&A Sessions on COVID-19 Vaccination (information for all care providers in Birmingham)
Birmingham City Council are hosting online events alongside NHS colleagues to discuss how the covid-19 vaccine is being rolled out across the city. Hosted by Councillor Paulette Hamilton, Cabinet member for Adult Social Care and Health, this is an opportunity to understand more about the vaccine rollout process and for local residents to ask questions, discuss and highlight their own thoughts or concerns.
Throughout February 2021 there will be five online Q&A sessions which will allow the public to ask any questions they may have about the vaccination.
Each session is localised. Click below to register and to share the links
4 February at 6pm-7.30pm. North Birmingham
9 February at 6pm-7.30pm. South Birmingham
11 February at 6pm-7.30pm. East Birmingham
24 February at 6pm-7.30pm. West Birmingham
25 February at 6pm-7.30pm. Central Birmingham
7. Changes in reporting of vaccination data for the non care home market – questions now included in the National Capacity Tracker (information for all non-care home providers operating in Birmingham)
From Tuesday 2 February questions have been added to the Home Care / Dom Care COVID-19 Update (Daily) Survey within the National Capacity Tracker to collect data around the vaccination of the social care workforce. These questions will now be removed from the weekly Non-care home services - COVID 19 capacity and business continuity questionnaire circulated by the Market Intelligence Team to remove duplication of data collection.
Please review the “What’s new” section under the “Help” menu within the Capacity Tracker for further information and guidance on completing these questions.
8.Verification of death - free online webinar for Care Homes – 8 February 2021 at 15.00 (information for care homes in Birmingham and Solihull)
9.Mental Health support for health and care staff working during COVID-19 pandemic (information for all care providers in Birmingham)
Details of the BSol Staff Mental Health Hub have been circulated to all care providers. If you haven't received a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
10.Amended Government guidance about COVID-19 (information for all care providers)
Please can we draw your attention to the following updates to Government guidance;
COVID-19 guidance for households with possible coronavirus infection
Updated to reflect legal duty for public to isolate following a positive LFD test. Added information for staff being tested regularly in care homes.
COVID-19 management of staff, exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings
Added new section on lateral flow device (LFD) testing in asymptomatic staff.
11.CareMatch Portal users please check your dashboards regularly for new referral and service agreements awaiting a response (information for all care providers contracted with Birmingham City Council)
There are a large number of referrals and service agreements pending provider acceptance on CareMatch. In order for brokers to progress these please can you check your dashboards and action any outstanding referrals and service agreements. Until brokers are able to approve service agreements, no payments will be made for the service you are providing.
12. Family letter about care home visiting (information for Birmingham care homes looking after older adults)
A letter has been circulated to care homes in Birmingham looking after older adults, about visiting, which can be shared with family members and friends of residents, to explain the current position of Birmingham City Council and NHS regarding care home visits. If you do not have a copy of this letter, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
Further information about care home visiting can be found on the Council’s website
Care home visiting - Birmingham City Council position statement