Care Sector

Welcome to our new and improved bulletin, we have now gone fortnightly. Following your feedback, we have altered the format.
If you have any further comments, please do not hesitate to contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Here you will find all the latest news, information and events happening across the care sector.

This week: 20th September 2021

1. News and Updates

Temporary medical exemptions for COVID-19 vaccination of people working / deployed in care homes

Form for people vaccinated abroad

Form for medical exemptions

Letter on temporary exemptions process

SALT WAITING LIST

Community speech and language therapy services are currently managing some longer waiting times due to a combination of staffing issues and rising referral rates.

The SLT profession recognises that management of eating and drinking is a responsibility that is shared by the care home and the SLT service.
The care home manages the nutrition and hydration needs of all of their residents on a day to day basis and the SLT team provide specialist assessment and advice when required by a resident.
When a patient presents with dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), there are a number of measures that the care home can address and implement without the need for SLT involvement and which may provide the solution for the problems that the resident is having.

ACTION PLEASE READ & DISSEMINATE TO STAFF: ‘Summary Document for community SLT input to care homes’ which includes ‘Feeding safely routines’ and referral information.

Summary document for community SLT input to care homes

Optometry FAQ for Care Home Managers

Dear Care Home Manager,

NHS England and Improvement (NHSE&I) manages the General ophthalmic Services (GOS) contract which commissions sight tests for eligible patients.
Following a number of queries from care home staff, patients and family members, the North West NHSE&I teams have collated a Frequently Asked Questions guidance document (see attached), based on the issues which have been raised.

Domiciliary sight tests are conducted within a strict eligibility criteria. Patients must be eligible for a free sight test based on income/age/health condition. Routine sight test intervals must be adhered to (minimum 12 or24 months) unless the patient has a problem. Patients must be unable to access community opticians, unaccompanied, in order to qualify for a domiciliary sight test.

Frequent (e.g. blanket/block) testing and unnecessary replacement glasses impacts on NHS resources, you can help support the NHS by ensuring resources are used responsibly.

If you have any other queries relating to this service, please don’t hesitate to contact the team.

With kind regards,
Lancashire and South Cumbria Primary Care Optometry/Medical Team

FAQs for Care Home Managers

PHE Winter Vaccination Campaign Webinar

These webinars showcased the insight-led campaign creative and messaging, communications plans and materials. The health and social care and public-facing campaign webinar recordings, presentation slides and FAQ document for the public facing campaign are now available to download from the Campaign Resources Centre.

• For the health and social care campaign webinar please click: Health and Social Care Workers Winter | Campaign Resource Centre (phe.gov.uk)

• For the public-facing campaign webinar please follow this click: Winter Vaccination | Campaign Resource Centre (phe.gov.uk)
A full range of campaign resources will be made available this month.

Samsung tablet offer with data sim

As you will be aware there has been an offer from the CCG in Pennine Lancashire to assist with the provision of equipment to facilitate weekly ward rounds from Primary Care. We have been made aware of some issues providers have had trying to purchase this equipment with a contract for the data package. Due to this we now have an alternative offer which does not require a contract. If you have a lack of equipment and would be interested in the offer of an additional tablet and data sim card please contact us for further discussions ASAP. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call Diane on 07920 265229.

Peer Support - Whatsapp Group

Would you like to join the local Pennine Lancs Care Peer Support whatsapp group? If so please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or text 07780224847 to arrange to be added.

Promoting access to cancer screenings for people with a learning disability

20201207 Final LDC Pack NW

North Cancer Alliance website: https://northerncanceralliance.nhs.uk/?s=learning+disabilities

Testing for professionals visiting care homes

Updated 27 August 2021
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-in-adult-care-homes/testing-for-professionals-visiting-care-homes

People working in CQC-registered care homes will need to be fully COVID-19 vaccinated with both doses by the 11 November 2021

Care home residents will be better protected from death and serious illness, following confirmation people working in care homes will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The new legislation means from October anyone working in a CQC-registered care home in England for residents requiring nursing or personal care must have 2 doses of a COVID-19 vaccine unless they have a medical exemption.

It will apply to all workers employed directly by the care home or care home provider (on a full-time or part-time basis), those employed by an agency and deployed by the care home, and volunteers deployed in the care home.

Those coming into care homes to do other work, for example healthcare workers, tradespeople, hairdressers and beauticians, and CQC inspectors will also have to follow the new regulations, unless they have a medical exemption.

Key dates:

16-week grace period began 22 July 2021
Last date for first dose in order to be fully vaccinated by the implementation date is 16 September 2021
Mandatory provisions will be fully in force by 11 November 2021

Link to legislation

2. Pathway

Pathway – one number from 1st Sept

01282 805 989 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As those currently on the ICAT pathway (following the decommissioning of the telemedicine service) will be aware, a different telephone number was in place to call after 10pm. This is no longer the case; you can now contact the service 24/7 on the one number noted above where the District Nurses will now pick up after 10pm. A new poster is currently being printed and posted to care homes on the pathway. The pathway will be rolled out to the remaining homes in October when meet and greet session will be arranged via MS teams.

ICAT contact details

Pathway update
Work is underway to expand the service to LD and MH homes and the domiciliary sector.

If you are experiencing any difficulties with clients who have fallen and are on the floor (especially if you have contacted 999 and you have been advised that there might be a long wait for an ambulance), please call ICAT who can facilitate a 2 hour response to avoid the person being on the floor for a long period of time.

8am-10pm (7 days) Contact ICAT Service for advice Tel: 01282 805 989

After 10pm (7 days) Contact OOH District Nursing Team on the same number – 01282 805 989

The ICAT service now have a single point of access, 24 hours a day, 7 days per week for advice and for logging falls.

Alternative Telemedicine Pathway for Reg Care V8 04.08.2021

Discharge to Assess Improvement Event- Staff feedback

In preparation for an improvement event focused on the Discharge to Assess pathway a survey has been developed to help us better understand from the staff that work across the D2A pathway their experience and understanding of the current pathway.

The feedback from this survey will help us better understand the current pathway and any issue staff currently have whilst caring for residents while in a D2A placement. This will then help to develop a future pathway that will ensure it deliver the care and support patients/ residents need.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/QGDNRH7

Either click on the link below or scan the QR code

Direct referral for therapy services

If you would like to refer direct to therapy services please contact - East Lancashire 01254 358008 Blackburn with Darwen 01254 283455

Falls Lifting Service

The service can help reduce the discomfort and stress of residents who have fallen, as well as the demand on North West Ambulance Service (NWAS). I am writing to let you know that you are now able to access the 24 hour service without charge, by calling the Progress Lifeline Control Centre on 01772 436 783 in the event of a fall where there is no obvious injury. The emergency home responders (EHRs) are trained in injury assessment and moving and handling people. They use a battery operated mobile lifting chair called a ‘Raizer’ that helps people off the floor to an almost standing position, making it easier for them to transfer from the chair. The EHRs will usually attend your residential or nursing home within 1 hour of being contacted, the average response time is just 27 minutes. On arrival they will complete an initial triage to establish if the patient is suitable to lift. If they think there is an injury, or it’s unsafe for the person to be lifted, NWAS will be contacted. Otherwise, they will lift the patient and then refer onward to other services, such as local falls prevention, if appropriate. The team have been issued with PPE and will be wearing this prior to entering the premises, they have all received infection control training, which includes the disposal or decontamination of PPE and equipment between visits. Onward referral to falls local prevention services (where patient consent is obtained) is part of the offer. If you have any questions about the service, please don’t hesitate to contact Steven McKiernan at Progress Housing Group or Kenneth John at BwD & East Lancs CCGs. Contact details :Steven Mckiernan, Service Delivery Manager, t: 01772 450642, m: 07765231213, e: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

3. Policies & Procedures

4. Training opportunities

Development Opportunity For Care Sector Staff

(RESTORE2™ - Recognise early soft-signs; Take observations, Respond, Escalate)

RESTORE2 is being promoted and implemented throughout the care sector

Lancashire and South Cumbria Health and Care Partnership (ICS) has developed an exciting opportunity for staff working in the Care Sector to become local RESTORE2 Super trainers and part of the Super trainer network.

Live virtual training sessions will support care staff to recognise soft signs of deterioration and undertake observations etc.

We want to develop RESTORE2 super trainers working in the sector who have knowledge of the delivery of excellent care in practice.

Expressions of interest are invited from staff working in the Care Sector to become a RESTORE2 Super Trainer.

For further information and to return the booking form by 31st August, please contact Liz Williams via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Booking Form RESTORE2

Letter RESTORE2 training

Development Opportunity RESTORE2

PNG image RESTORE2

Frailty E-Learning

Frailty E-Learning for excellence in frailty identification, assessment and personalised care - https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/frailty/

Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria Training Guide

HLSC Social Care Training Pack June 2021

Online training diabetes programme for Care Homes

Sanofi have announced a national online training diabetes programme for Care Homes called Sanofi Cares. The programme has been independently developed by EDEN (leics diabetes) and will be delivered by EDEN. It is available across the UK for registered and non registered practitioners who care for people with diabetes in care homes. Up to 4 places per care home available. https://www.diabetesmatters.co.uk/sanoficares.html

COVID 19 / PPE IPC Training

Do you or your staff need PPE refresher training or do you have any new starters? If so contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (IPC Nurse) who can arrange this at your convenience via Zoom or MS Teams.

5. Coronavirus & Vaccinations

Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination of people working or deployed in care homes: operational guidance - Updated 16th August 2021

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/vaccination-of-people-working-or-deployed-in-care-homes-operational-guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-of-people-working-or-deployed-in-care-homes-operational-guidance

Guidance on Care Home Visiting - Updated 23rd August

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visiting-care-homes-during-coronavirus/update-on-policies-for-visiting-arrangements-in-care-homes

Consultation outcome: Making Vaccination a condition of Deployment

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/making-vaccination-a-condition-of-deployment-in-older-adult-care-homes/making-vaccination-a-condition-of-deployment-in-older-adult-care-homes

Mandated Vaccinations for Care Home Workers

Adult social care update - Mandated Vaccinations for Care Home Workers

https://dhsc-mail.co.uk/campaign/Sx1iaZDJ/831992371f3cd2842f72909e/94764d0faf4ba03826b725ed08b62e22?wp-linkindex=0&utm_campaign=Adult_Social_Care_Update_23.07.21&utm_content=dhsc-mail.co.uk&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Department_of_Health_and_Social_Care

COVID-19 vaccination booster programme and flu vaccination programme

A reminder to all health and social care workers that the COVID-19 vaccination booster programme and flu vaccination programme will commence in September. Frontline health and social care workers will be offered a third COVID-19 booster vaccine as well as the annual flu vaccine. Please start to have conversations with your staff around the importance of attending for these vaccination boosters. If staff have not had their COVID vaccination, please sign post them to the National Booking system where they can get vaccinated locally. To support these conversations there are resources available on NHS App - NHS (www.nhs.uk) and modules on vaccine hesitancy on www.e-Lfh.org.uk which are free to access.

e-Learning for Healthcare - providing e-learning to educate and train the health and social care workforce www.e-lfh.org.uk

Please report single Covid cases to LCC IPC Team

FAO Managers - please ensure you report all SINGLE CASES (in staff or residents) as soon as possible to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as well as logging on NECS - as these incidents may trigger Rapid Response Testing.

How to work safely in Care Homes - updated guidance:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-how-to-work-safely-in-care-homes

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-how-to-work-safely-in-care-homes/personal-protective-equipment-ppe-resource-for-care-workers-working-in-care-homes-during-sustained-covid-19-transmission-in-england

6. Domiciliary Care

7. Primary Care

Pathway

Access to Primary Care remains unchanged for all areas. Homes in Pendle and Hyndburn can now contact your GP practices directly. The new pathway is here

Primary Care Briefing

The latest primary care briefing can be found here

Primary Care - please use these contact details to log any issues

Following on from the Coffee & Engagement session on the 9th June and issues raised around contacting Primary Care, please use these contact details to log any issues -
Customer Care Team
Telephone: 0800 032 2424
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please also continue to report any concerns into the CCG's connect inbox - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Also if someone wants to make a formal complaint and doesn’t want to do this through the Practice Manager at the practice concerned they can do this through NHSE:

NHS England
PO Box 16738
Redditch
B97 9PT

Tel: 0300 311 22 33 (Mon – Fri 8am-6pm)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

8. Digital IT & Data

NHSmail Application Process

DSPT waiver period ended 30^th June 2021.

From 1^st July onwards, all care providers requesting an NHSmail account are required to be compliant for the Data Security Protection Toolkit (DSPT) https://www.dsptoolkit.nhs.uk

Once the care provider is DSPT compliant follow the link https://www.digitalsocialcare.co.uk/covid-19-guidance/covid-19-quick-access-to-nhsmail/nhsmail-fast-track-how-to/ to apply for NHSmail accounts.

Send the completed form to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If the care provider has not received an acknowledgement in 8 calendar days or experiencing difficulties in completing the form, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Note: The NHSmail application form is update regularly on the Digital Social Care Website please visit the website to obtain the most up to date application form https ://www.digitalsocialcare.co.uk

Digital Social Care

Digital Social Care is a dedicated space to provide advice and support to the sector on technology and data protection.
Digital Social Care - Run by social care providers for social care providers.

9. Key dates and information

Care Allocation Service Team Contact Details

Please note the service now uses capacity trackers to determine bed availability. This means you WILL NOT receive a daily phone call from the CAST team. All other processes remain unchanged. If you have any question or concern please contact Service Manager Mandy.
Mandy Griezans IDS Service Delivery Manager 01254 732146 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NW ADASS in partnership with CQC

CARE HOME QUALITY WEBINARS July, September and October
Please see flyer - NWADASS Webinars

Pennine Lancashire Care Provider Forum

No need to book, just use this link to dial in - Join Microsoft Teams Meeting - dates in table below.

		Sep-21	Oct-21	Nov-21	Dec-21
PL Care Sector Coffee & Engagement Sessions	Second Wednesday of each month 2-3	8th	13th	10th	8th
PL CCG Care Sector Provider Forum	Last Tuesday of each month 2 - 3.30	28th	26th	30th	28th

Coffee and Engagement Events – Second Wednesday of each month, 2pm-3pm

Calling all Regulated Care Providers! Please join us for a coffee and chat session to have your say! The purpose of these sessions are to support the Regulated Care sector to provide high quality and safe services and to be a fully integrated part of the Pennie Lancashire Health and Social Care service delivery model by listening to, learning from and working together. Please use this MS teams link to dial in at 2pm on the dates below, no need to book. Click here to join the meeting We look forward to seeing you there. Please see dates in the table above.

10. Spotlight on: our feature about you, your residents, staff and settings

11. Health and Wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing Bulletin

CCG Wellbeing Bulletin September Edition is available to view here

Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria Social Care Wellbeing Toolkit

Wellbeing guidance and resources tool for social care, which brings together a range of easy to use, bite size resources and information support around finance and wider support.

HLSC Social Care Wellbeing Toolkit June 2021

Previous Editions

Issue 32, 6th September 2021

Issue 31, 23rd August 2021

Issue 30, 9th August 2021

Issue 29, 26th July 2021

Issue 28, 12th July 2021

Issue 27, 28th June 2021

Issue 26, 7th June 2021