COVID RELATED INFORMATION

1. URGENT REMINDER Care Homes COVID compulsory vaccination survey, deadline 2 August  (Information for Birmingham Care Homes)
2. Infection Control and Testing Fund Extension – Application process for discretionary funding (information  for all care providers with CQC locations in Birmingham and all Day Care Centres in Birmingham)
3. UPDATED GUIDANCE COVID-19: management of staff and exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings (information for all care providers)
4. Self isolation exemption for Adult Social Care Staff (information for care providers with CQC locations in Birmingham)
5. COVID-19 vaccination: booking an appointment letter (Information for all care providers)
6. COVID-19 vaccination programme (information for all care providers)
7. Regulator warns against purchasing inaccurate infrared thermometers (information for all care providers)

IN OTHER NEWS

No other news this week

 

COVID 19 RELATED INFORMATION

1.URGENT REMINDER: Care Homes COVID compulsory vaccination survey, deadline extended from 31 July to 2 August (for the attention of all care homes in Birmingham)

As you will no doubt be aware from the national press release from 16 June 2021, the Government are currently preparing Regulations to allow only vaccinated staff to be deployed into care homes. This includes anyone who has to enter the care home for work including carers, administrative staff, maintenance staff, care home managers and owners, District Nurses, GP’s, social workers, CQC inspectors, faith leaders, therapists, tradespeople etc.

National press release about COVID 19 vaccination of staff in care homes

Update further to the issue of the press release: The vaccination as a condition of deployment regulations have been signed, and the 16-week grace period began on Thursday 22 July. This means that the regulations will come into force on Thursday 11 November. For those beginning their vaccination journey, they must have their first dose by Thursday 16 September to allow the eight-week gap between doses and ensure they are fully vaccinated by Thursday 11 November.

We know that current vaccine uptake rates across care home staff varies significantly and we do appreciate there is very little confirmed detail at present. However, we are conducting a short survey to help us understand the impact on care homes across the City and to ensure we can collectively mitigate any potential risks of this decision.

We will be conducting a similar survey with potential visiting professionals that we are able to identify, to ensure we do our best to identify any risks.

The revised deadline for completing this survey is Monday 2 August 2021

Please use the following link to complete the survey

Birmingham Care Homes compulsory COVID 19 vaccination survey

In order for the Council to determine what support is provided it is imperative that Birmingham Care Homes complete this short survey.

2.Infection Control and Testing Fund Extension – Application process for discretionary funding (information  for all care providers with CQC locations in Birmingham and all Day Care Centres in Birmingham)

Further to the government announcement of the extension of the Infection Control and Testing Fund (ICTF), the Council has made the decision to make the discretionary element of the grant funding available to care homes, CQC registered community care locations and day centres through an application process (Please note this is separate to the Infection Control and Rapid Testing Fund elements of the ICTF Extension which are passported automatically to care homes and Infection Control Funds passported automatically to community care locations). The total amount of available funding through this process is as follows:

Infection Control - £694,580.87

Rapid Testing - £606,372.00

The size of allocations made through this process will be dependent upon the number of applications, however our intention is to allocate 70% of the available funds to care homes and 30% to CQC community care locations and day centres. The Council reserves the right not to make allocations or vary the amount of the allocation if the location is not compliant with the grant conditions, or we have reason to believe that the funds will not be spend on measures identified in the grant conditions.

Care homes, CQC registered community care locations and day centres located in Birmingham wishing to apply for discretionary funding should complete and submit the relevant application form below.

Care Home application for discretionary funding

Day Care application for discretionary funding

Community Care application for discretionary funding

The deadline for submission of applications is 11.59pm Sunday 8 August, after which applications will no longer be accepted.

3.UPDATED GUIDANCE COVID-19: management of staff and exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings (information for all care providers)

This guidance covers the management of staff, patients and residents who have been exposed to COVID-19. It has been updated with information about fully vaccinated staff who have been identified as contacts attending work in exceptional circumstances.

The decision must be made on a case by case basis, and only after a risk assessment by an individual nominated by the organisation’s management, and authorisation by the organisation’s local Director of Infection Prevention and Control and/or the lead professional for health protection and/or Director of Public Health relevant to the organisation.

The full guidance can be found below;

COVID-19: management of staff and exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings

4.Self isolation exemption for Adult Social Care Staff (information for care providers with CQC locations in Birmingham)

From 19 July 2021, social care staff who have been notified as a close contact of a case of COVID-19 only (i.e. not tested positive for COVID) may be able to continue working in their role, but it should be noted that this will be in exceptional circumstances only.

Further information can be found in the newly published PHE guidance below

COVID-19 management of staff and exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings

The aim of this policy is to support the sector to manage staff shortages in exceptional circumstances. These guidelines mean employers may be able to allow staff to return to work, not to ‘compel’ staff to return to work, on the basis that in certain circumstances, those workers may have a reasonable excuse not to comply with a self-isolation duty. This approach should only be introduced if there is a likelihood that staff absence creates a significant risk to the health or safety of service users and their specific activities are critical to the ongoing provision of care.

For this scenario to apply there needs to be approval from the Director of Public Health for Birmingham but in the first instance you should contact Chris MacAdams, Commissioning Manager via email at chris.macadams@birmingham.gov.uk

5.COVID-19 vaccination: booking an appointment letter (Information for all care providers)

NHS letter inviting eligible adults to book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, including added link to accessing COVID-19 vaccination without an NHS number. The letter can be read below

COVID-19 vaccination: booking an appointment letter

6.COVID-19 vaccination programme (information for all care providers)

Documents relating to the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination programme. Full details below

COVID-19 vaccination programme

7.Regulator warns against purchasing inaccurate infrared thermometers (information for all care providers)

The public and healthcare professionals are being warned to take care when purchasing infrared thermometers online and to familiarise themselves with warning signs for poor quality products. Details below

Regulator warns against purchasing inaccurate infrared thermometers