COVID-19 What's New Bulletin 36 - 8 April 2021
This is the thirty sixth 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-19 additional costs claims process – REVISED 1 April 2021 (Information for all care providers supporting Birmingham citizens)
- Adult Social Care Infection Control and Testing Fund Ring-Fenced Grant 2021 (Information for all care providers with a CQC registered location in Birmingham)
- Notice of Contract Variation and Contract Extension to Framework Agreement for the Provision of Home Support Approved Premises and Home Support Sensory Loss (Information for all contract holders)
- Notice of Contract Variation and Contract Extension to Flexible Contracting Arrangements for the Provision of Care Homes With and Without Nursing Services and Care and Support (Supported Living) (Information for all contract holders)
- UPDATE Social care staff Covid – 19 vaccinations (Information for all care providers)
- Updated Government guidance: PPE change of recommended use for Care Homes, Home Support and Supported Living (Information for all care providers)
- Updated government guidance: Visiting arrangements in care homes (Information for all Care Homes)
- Update government guidance: Arrangements for visiting out of the care home (information for all care homes)
- Further information about COVID-19 PCR home test kit instructions (Information for all care providers)
- Capacity Tracker weekly national provider Q&A session – revised invitation (Information for all care providers)
1.COVID-19 additional costs claims process – REVISED 1 April 2021 (Information for all care providers supporting Birmingham citizens)
In previous bulletins we alerted you that some elements of the Council’s COVID19 financial support to the care market would cease or change. We have since reviewed and revised the COVID additional cost claims process. The revised guidance and claim form can be found on our webpage (link below). The previous scheme which operated up until 31 March 2021 is now closed – all claims for costs incurred from 1 April 2021 should be submitted following the revised process.
COVID-19 additional cost claims
2.Adult Social Care Infection Control and Testing Fund Ring-Fenced Grant 2021 (Information for all care providers with a CQC registered location in Birmingham)
The Adult Social Care Infection Control Fund was first introduced in May 2020. It was extended in October 2020 and, by March 2021 had provided over £1.1 billion of ring-fenced funding to support adult social care providers in England for infection prevention and control (IPC). The Rapid Testing Fund was introduced in January 2021 to support additional lateral flow testing (LFT) of staff in care homes, and enable indoors, close contact visiting where possible.
Due to the success of the Infection Control Fund and the Rapid Testing Fund in supporting care providers to reduce transmission and re-enabling close contact visiting, the government has announced that these funding streams have been consolidated and extended until June 2021, with an extra £341 million of funding. You can read further details about the grant on the government website:
Adult social care infection control and testing fund
The Council is working through the process of administering and distributing the grant, and we shall issue further updates and instructions via this weekly bulletin.
3.Notice of Contract Variation and Contract Extension to Framework Agreement for the Provision of Home Support Approved Premises and Home Support Sensory Loss (Information for all contract holders)
A Notice of Contract Variation and Contract Extension to Framework Agreement for the Provision of Home Support Approved Premises and Home Support Sensory Loss was issued on 7April and has been circulated to contracted care providers. Should there be any queries or feedback in relation to this notification please email Chris MacAdams, Commissioning Manager, Commissioning (Adult Care) at chris.macadams@birmingham.gov.uk
4.Notice of Contract Variation and Contract Extension to Flexible Contracting Arrangements for the Provision of Care Homes With and Without Nursing Services and Care and Support (Supported Living) (Information for all contract holders)
A Notice of Contract Variation and Contract Extension to Flexible Contracting Arrangements for the Provision of Care Homes With and Without Nursing Services and Care and Support (Supported Living) was issued on 7April and has been circulated to contracted care providers. Should there be any queries or feedback in relation to this notification please email Chris MacAdams, Commissioning Manager, Commissioning (Adult Care) at chris.macadams@birmingham.gov.uk
5.UPDATE Social care staff Covid – 19 vaccinations (Information for all care providers)
Please note the National Booking system is not currently available for frontline social care workers, unless they fall within one of the categories below;
- they are aged 50 or over
- they are at high risk from coronavirus (clinically extremely vulnerable)
- they have a condition that puts them at higher risk (clinically vulnerable)
- they have a learning disability
- they get a Carer's Allowance, get support following an assessment by their local authority or their GP record shows they are a carer
The current NHS advice for frontline social care workers is to contact their GP surgery to arrange a vaccine;
Coronavirus vaccination - who can get the vaccine?
6.Updated government guidance: PPE change of recommended use for Care Homes, Home Support and Supported Living (Information for all care providers)
The following guidance has been updated to include recommendations to change PPE after each episode of personal care and to use eye protection when delivering personal care within 2 metres.
The full amended guidance can be found here;|
COVID-19: how to work safely in domiciliary care in England
COVID-19: how to work safely in care homes
Order limits in relation to visors were updated on the 24March 2021. Please see the following guidance for current order limits;
PPE portal: how to order COVID-19 personal protective equipment
Please note the government’s commitment to provide the adult social care sector with free PPE for Covid-19 needs has been extended until the end of March 2022.
7.Updated government guidance: Visiting arrangements in care homes (Information for all care homes)
The guidance has been updated in the following sections to reflect that from 12 April, each care home resident can name up to 2 people who can come for regular indoor visits; ‘Guidance on care home visiting’, ‘Summary of guidance for visitors’ and ‘Visiting arrangements: one-page overview’. The ‘Guidance on care home visiting’ section has been updated in relation to essential care givers and a new section added on visits involving children and young people aged under 18.
The full guidance can be found here;
Visiting arrangements in care homes.
The Council is reviewing its Position Statement in light of the new guidance.
8.Update government guidance: Arrangements for visiting out of the care home (information for all care homes)
The guidance has been updated to include more information about steps that should be taken to reduce the risks around a visit out of the care home.
The full guidance can be viewed here;
Arrangements for visiting out of the care home
9. Further information about COVID-19 PCR home test kit instructions (Information for all care providers)
Government guidance has been updated to include information about the 'Be My Eyes' app, where you can have a live video call with specially trained NHS Test and Trace staff to help you and your staff register and take a home coronavirus test.
Download the free ‘Be My Eyes’ app and go to the ‘specialised help’ section:
The full guidance can be found here;
COVID-19 PCR home test kit instructions
10.Capacity Tracker weekly national provider Q&A session – revised invitation (Information for all care providers)
Please find below a message from the Central Capacity Tracker Team;
Dear Providers
Every Tuesday until 29June, from 1pm to 2pm,you are invited to attend the weekly national Provider Q&A call where all provider types can have any questions they need answered, hear about new developments and requirements for using the Capacity Tracker system.
PLEASE NOTE: This is your opportunity to be supported directly by the central Capacity Tracker team in updating and using the Capacity Tracker system and is key to you providing safe patient service, protecting acute capacity and keeping business viability where relevant.
Please click on the link below to join the call during the time indicated in the invite. PLEASE NOTE: If you are unable to click on the link to join please right click on your mouse and open hyperlink, this will also enable you to join.
We look forward to speaking with you shortly and thank you again for your participation.
Thanks, Central Capacity Tracker Team