COVID RELATED INFORMATION

1. NEW GUIDANCE: Vaccination of people working or deployed in care homes: operational guidance (information for all care homes)
2. UPDATED GUIDANCE: COVID-19: management of staff and exposed patients and residents in health and social care settings (information for all providers)
3. UPDATED GUIDANCE: Visiting arrangements in care homes (for all younger adult care homes)
4. Information from the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Chief Officer about the Trusts approach to Covid-19 testing (information for all Birmingham Care Homes)
5. REMINDER Infection Control and Testing Fund Extension deadline 11.59pm Sunday 8 August – Application process for discretionary funding (information  for all care providers with CQC locations in Birmingham and all Day Care Centres in Birmingham)

IN OTHER NEWS

6. Capacity Tracker Deterioration Survey – deadline 12 August 2021 (information for all care homes)
7. EU Settlement Scheme: post-deadline update on late applications and support available (information for all providers)
8. Care Quality Commission (CQC) consultation response to flexible and responsive regulation (information for all providers)
9. Care Quality Commission (CQC) new guidance on service user bands (information for all providers)
10. Sight Village – Information and Technology Event 17 and 18 August (information for all providers)
11. Stepping Out Activities (information for providers supporting Birmingham citizens with learning disabilities, autism, additional support needs

COVID RELATED INFORMATION

1.NEW GUIDANCE: Vaccination of people working or deployed in care homes: operational guidance (information for all care homes)

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have amended the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 so that, from 11 November 2021, all care home workers, and anyone else entering a care home, will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, unless they have an exemption. Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered managers and registered providers will need to ensure that they do not allow anyone entry into a care home unless they have had a complete course of an authorised vaccine or fall into one of the groups exempt from being vaccinated.

This requirement forms part of the CQC’s fundamental standards and will be monitored and enforced in appropriate cases by CQC when it becomes a duty in November. For further information on the CQC’s approach to this change in legislation in relation to registration, ongoing monitoring and inspection and enforcement, please visit their following web page;

Statement on COVID 19 vaccination of people working/deployed in care homes

Detailed information about how you can prepare for and meet this change in the legislation can be found in the full government guidance below;

Vaccination of people working or deployed in care homes - operational guidance

Thank you to all care homes that responded to the Birmingham City Council COVID vaccination survey on BeHeard. We will use the information to understand the different ways we can support you on this issue going forward.

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

This guidance covers the management of staff, patients and residents who have been exposed to COVID-19. Section 2.5, “If a staff member is identified as a contact of a COVID-19 case”, has been updated clarifying the risk-assessment process and an additional mitigation for staff to avoid working with clinically extremely vulnerable individuals.

The full guidance can be found below:

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

REMINDER: 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.

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

3.UPDATED GUIDANCE: Visiting arrangements in care homes (for all younger adult care homes)

This guidance sets out how care homes can support families and visitors to visit residents. A change has been made to clarify PPE usage when caring for residents with learning disabilities.

The full guidance can be found below:

Visiting arrangements in care homes

4.Information from the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Chief Officer about the Trusts approach to Covid-19 testing (information for all Birmingham Care Homes)

As you may be aware a document titled ‘Hospital Discharge Service: Policy & Operating Model’ was published in August 2020. In the light of the latest wave of COVID we wanted to take the opportunity to confirm what University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust have put in place to implement the requirements to swab all patients prior to discharge from an inpatient ward from hospital to a care home. These are as follows:

• If a patient has tested negative for COVID-19 during their stay in hospital, then they will be re-tested prior to discharge to a Residential/Care home. 
• If a patient has not been tested for COVID-19, then they will be tested prior to discharge to a Residential/Care home.

If a patient has already tested positive for COVID-19, then no further testing will be required prior to discharge. This is because the test will remain positive for 21 days (if not longer) and as such well beyond the period within which one can pass the infection on to the others. 

The result of any COVID-19 tests undertaken will be included in the ward discharge letter and also communicated to you by the appropriate hospital discharge team. 

Where a test result is negative, it is still recommended that the individual is isolated for 14 days from the date of the original negative test, and the hospital discharge teams will clearly inform you of this date in their discharge communication to allow for the necessary arrangements to be made in the care home.  For those patients who have a positive test result or are awaiting the outcome of a test but are ready for discharge, we would expect to work closely with care homes on safely discharging these patients in a timely way however it is recognised that this may not be immediately possible in every case. 

It should be noted that care home residents who attend an A&E Department and who, following assessment, are deemed fit to return to their home will not be tested prior to their return.  This is in line with the national guidance. On arrival to our A&E Departments patients are assessed using the Public Health England (PHE) symptom criteria to determine if a patient is suspected COVID.  Any patient with Covid type symptoms will be isolated on arrival in a cubicle with a door. These patients are not seen in our general waiting rooms or assessment bays.

If a Care home resident presents in ED with COVID symptoms, tests positive and is deemed fit to be discharged, the UHB front door team will work closely with the care home to safely discharge their resident in a timely way with the appropriate isolation requirements in place however it is recognised that this may not be immediately possible in every case.

5.REMINDER Infection Control and Testing Fund Extension deadline 11.59pm Sunday 8 August – 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 spent 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.

IN OTHER NEWS

6.Capacity Tracker Deterioration Survey – deadline 12 August 2021 (information for all care homes)

As you know already, it is really important to be able to spot the early signs of a care home resident becoming unwell (deterioration). This means that quicker escalation and response can be given which often prevents the need for more treatment and avoids going to hospital. There are lots of different tools out there which help staff recognise when their resident is becoming unwell and help communicate this to other health and care professionals to get the early response needed.

West Midlands Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) are working with the NHS National Patient Safety Team, the 14 Patient Safety Collaboratives (PSCs) across England, supported by Enhanced Health in Care Homes (EHCH), to help care homes to use deterioration tools and personalised care and support plans for their residents.  You can find out more about who they are, by visiting the national AHSN website

Care homes | AHSN Network

The purpose of the survey is to find out how many homes are already using tools, which types and how often they use them to find out where more help is needed and what type of free support can be offered. To complete the Deterioration Survey please go to the "survey" section of "Manage Your Care Homes" within the Capacity Tracker.  Additional information can be found by logging in to the Capacity Tracker

Capacity Tracker

The deadline for completing the survey is 12 August 2021.

7.EU Settlement Scheme: post-deadline update on late applications and support available (information for all providers)

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and their family members who were resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 who have not yet applied to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) should check if they need to apply to obtain UK immigration status to allow them to continue living in the UK.

The deadline for most people was 30 June 2021, but you can still apply if you have reasonable grounds for not applying by the deadline or that deadline did not apply to you (for example, family members newly arriving in the UK from 1 January 2021 to join a family member who already has pre-settled or settled status).

Support remains available across the UK, with further details on the GOV.UK website.Telephone support is also available through the Home Office Settlement Resolution Centre on 0300 123 7379.

Get help applying to the EU settlement scheme

Apply to the EU settlement scheme (settled and pre-settled status)

8.Care Quality Commission (CQC) consultation response to flexible and responsive regulation (information for all providers)

The CQC have published their response to a recent consultation on changes for more flexible and responsive regulation. This followed on from their main strategy consultation earlier in January 2021.

The proposals were designed to:

• Allow CQC to assess and rate services more flexibly, so we can update our ratings more often in a more responsive and proportionate way
• Make ratings easier to understand for everyone.

Further information explaining what the changes mean in practice, and how and when they will be implemented, will be published shortly.

Read the full consultation response below

Responding to our consultation: Changes for more flexible and responsive regulation

9.Care Quality Commission (CQC) new guidance on service user bands (information for all providers)

The CQC application forms ask you to select from a range of specialist ‘needs’ that your service aims to meet. These ‘service user bands’ represent needs that are the main reason someone requires care or support. This information is used by the CQC to help assess your service at registration and inspection. This information is also published on the CQC website to help people search for services that can meet their needs.

As it is important that service user bands reflect the service you offer at any point in time, guidance has been added to the CQC website to describe what service user bands are and why they are used. If the focus of your service changes, you can amend your service user bands by updating your statement of purpose and sending the CQC a statutory notification (SN12) to tell them about any change in the needs your service will meet.  

Read the guidance below

Service user bands | Care Quality Commission

10.Sight Village – Information and Technology Event 17 and 18 August (information for all providers)

Sight Village are holding their 2021 event in Birmingham at Queen Alexandra College on the Tuesday the 17 and Wednesday 18 August. Sight Village is the UK’s leading exhibition for blind and partially sighted people and offers an opportunity to see leading providers of products and services all under one roof. Exhibitors are local, regional and national agencies providing a great opportunity to have hands on experience of products and technology as well as providing information on their services and support provision.

Sight Village is an accessible event for people who are blind or partially-sighted; professionals supporting and advising individuals living with a sight loss which is impacting their daily living as well as businesses and other organisations wishing to improve their services for the visually impaired.

Pre-register for your FREE tickets via the relevant link below or you can email: sv@qac.ac.uk or call: 0121 803 5484: 

Pre-register for Tuesday 17 August (AM), 9.00am - 12.30pm

Pre-register for Tuesday 17 August (PM), 13.30pm - 17.00pm

Pre-register for Wednesday 18 August (AM), 9.00am - 12.00pm

Pre-register for Wednesday 18 August (PM), 12.30pm - 15.30pm

For further information about exhibitors, getting to Queen Alexandra College and the measures we will be taking, please visit our website

Queen Alexandra College website

11.Stepping Out Activities (information for providers supporting Birmingham citizens with learning disabilities, autism, additional support needs)

Community Catalysts and Adult Social Care have developed a range of activities for adults within learning disabilities, autism and additional support needs. As the pandemic restrictions are lifting slowly, we thought it was time everyone had the opportunity to start ‘Stepping Out’ again!

The programme is specifically for adults in Birmingham aged 18+ years who have learning disabilities, autism, additional support needs. The sessions require pre-booking and payment – Direct Payment recipients can use their allocation for these activities. Places are limited so please book early.

The sessions will run over 6 weeks, starting 2 August to 10 September 2021. Attendees will be encouraged to attend their chosen activity every week to ensure regular, active involvement. Attendees can also attend as many/as few activities as they wish.

Booking and other information has been emailed to all care providers. If you don't have copies, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk