Covid-19 Guidance and Webinar Resources
Please find below Local and National COVID-19 Guidance for Hertfordshire Care Providers
Section | Guidance | Additional Information | Links |
---|---|---|---|
ACAS | Coronavirus: Advice for employers and employees inc SSP | Click here | |
CQC/ Regulators | Looking after people who lack mental capacity | Click here | |
CQC/ Regulators | The ethical framework for Adult Social Care | Click here | |
Funding* | Herts CC Original Covid-19 Fund (for contracted providers only) | Herts Original Covid-19 Fund - Open to contracted providers only - Funding available to cover PPE (extra to that which the National free PPE portal supplies AND for covid-use only), Cleaning costs and Equipment that was previously reused but due to IPC is now single use (e.g. call bell mats) If applicable, please fill this claim form and return to your usual HCC Contracts Officer / Monitoring Officer / Commissioner: https://hcpa.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7275e7980a25c4f5e4939ee06&id=b7eb5479d2&e=9b7f8bd309 Information on proportionality of your claims may be requested from your HCC Commissioning or Monitoring Officer If you have any questions about contacting your Commissioning or Monitoring Officer at HCC, or other questions about this fund, please contact the HCPA Care Provider Hub 01707 708 108 | |
Funding* | Infection Control Fund (All providers eligible) | For the most up to date information of the second round of the Infection Control Fund, please visit www.hcpa.info/covid-19 and look in the big piink box marked "Latest Infection Control Funding letters here". Further details, and a recording of the recent HCC HCPA webinar can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxBxD75IJ3g&feature=youtu.be and more info can be found here: https://mailchi.mp/hcpa/covid-19-daily-update-1281588?e=9b7f8bd309 . PLEASE NOTE THIS FUNDING DOES NOT COVER PPE | Click here |
Funding | January 2021 update - Letter to ADS about funding | Click here | |
GOV.UK | Coronavirus (COVID-19) Adult Social Care Action Plan | Click here | |
Visiting care homes during COVID-19 | Key message: Each care home (the registered manager) is responsible for setting the visiting policy in that home. They should do so on the basis of a dynamic risk assessment taking into consideration the needs of individuals within their home and with regard to the advice of the local Director of Public Health (DPH). All care homes – regardless of Tier – and except in the event of an active outbreak – should seek to enable: - indoor visits where the visitor has been tested and returned a negative result – (section 2.1 of guidance) outdoor visiting and ‘screened’ visits – (section 2.3 of guidance) - Visits in exceptional circumstances including end of life should always be enabled – (section 2.4 of guidance) - In all cases it is essential that visiting happens within a wider care home environment of robust Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures, including ensuring that visitors follow (and are supported to follow) good practice with social distancing, hand hygiene and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use. - In the event of an outbreak in a care home, the home should immediately stop visiting (except in exceptional circumstances such as end of life) to protect vulnerable residents, staff and visitors (section 1.4 of guidance) Care Home visits guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/arrangements-for-visiting-out-of-the-care-home/visits-out-of-care-homes and Lateral Flow Testing and Visiting guidance here: https://www.hcpa.info/guideline/care-home-visitor-guidance/ | Click here | |
GOV.UK* | Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person | If you have been in close contact with, but do not live with, a person who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19), follow this guidance. This may include people in your support bubble. | Click here |
GOV.UK | Guidance for employees, employers and businesses | Click here | |
GOV.UK* | Guidance for providers ofservices for people who use drugs or alcohol | This guidance outlines COVID-19 advice for commissioners and service providers involved in assisting people who are dependent on drugs or alcohol or both. | Click here |
GOV.UK | Guidance for providers of Supported Living services | Click here | |
GOV.UK | Testing service for extra care and supported living settings | Click here | |
GOV.UK* | Guidance for Social or Community Care and Residential settings on COVID-19 | Guidance for Home Care: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-how-to-work-safely-in-domiciliary-care Guidance for Residential settings: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-how-to-work-safely-in-care-homes | |
GOV.UK* | Guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable | For advice on services provided to those shielding or considered Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (CEV): https://www.hcpa.info/guideline/shielding/ If you have further questions please contact the Care Provider Hub: 01707 708108 / assistance@hcpa.info | Click here |
GOV.UK* | Overview of adult social care guidance on coronavirus | Click here | |
GOV.UK* | Management of staff and exposed patients or residents in health and social care settings (Outbreaks) | This guidance provides advice on the management of staff and patients or residents in health and social care settings according to exposures, symptoms and test results: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-management-of-exposed-healthcare-workers-and-patients-in-hospital-settings/covid-19-management-of-exposed-healthcare-workers-and-patients-in-hospital-settings How long do we wait before we can declare an outbreak is over? The Covid-19 outbreak can be declared over firstly once no new cases (staff or residents) have occurred in the 28 days since the appearance of symptoms in the most recent case, or if case is asymptomatic then the date the swab was taken. All residents should have completed their 10 days isolation period. And secondly to confirm the outbreak is concluded, please order swabs via the national portal and swab all residents and staff. If the results are negative, then the outbreak can be defined as having concluded. When the outbreak has been declared concluded the home should complete a post outbreak deep clean of the Home. Information on processes (National and local): https://www.hcpa.info/guideline/swabbing/ Note: Self Isolation period for residents in care settings remains at 14-days: The national guidance has been revised and now recommends that health and social care professionals who are contacts of a case should self-isolate for 10 days. Please refer to Section 8. This is also applicable to in-patient contacts of a positive case (Section 10). Care Home residents who are contacts of a case will also need to isolate for 14 days. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-management-of-exposed-healthcare-workers-and-patients-in-hospital-settings/covid-19-management-of-exposed-healthcare-workers-and-patients-in-hospital-settings#patient-exposures-in-hospital PHE East of England Following on from the Government’s decision to reduce the isolation period down from 14 days to 10 days. The Government has made further changes to the guidance for health and social care professionals and Care Homes, the guidance can be found here: https://hcpa.us3.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7275e7980a25c4f5e4939ee06&id=85027ff6fa&e=9b7f8bd309 • Any health and social care professionals who is a contact of a case should self isolate for 10 days • Care Home residents who are contacts of a case will also need to isolate for 14 days • In-patients who are known to have been exposed to a confirmed COVID-19 patient while on the ward, should be isolated or cohorted with other similarly exposed patients who do not have COVID-19 symptoms, until their hospital admission ends or until 14 days after last exposure | Click here |
GOV.UK | Supporting adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults | Click here | |
GOV.UK | Admission and care of residents in a care home during COVID-19 | Click here | |
GOV.UK* | PPE supply | The information for adult social care providers delivering services to Hertfordshire residents is set out below: The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has set up a PPE Portal which will supply PPE free of charge to care providers who are registered to use the portal. This is open until March 2021 and should be the first port of call for all COVID-19 PPE needs. Accessing government-funded PPE this way will help to reduce the council’s financial burden and will be a requirement before accessing council support. The amount of PPE that can be requested from the PPE Portal varies by sector. Please refer to the government guidance. If you are experiencing problems with the PPE Portal, or the limits do not meet your needs please contact the PPE Portal Customer Service team on 0800 876 6802. PPE available through the PPE Portal is for COVID-19 needs only. Your business-as-usual (pre-Covid) PPE requirements should continue to be sourced from your usual business supply channels. If you have COVID-19 PPE requirements that cannot be met by the PPE Portal or require PPE in an emergency, please contact our Provider Hub (01707 708108 / assistance@hcpa.info). A note about ordering from Govt PPE Portal (0800 876 6802) Depending on the type and size of Care service, Providers have limited quotas for Fluid repellent surgical masks (IIR), aprons, gloves, hand gel and visors. Ordering is best managed every 7 days, to meet your covid IPC needs. As there has been some confusion about ordering and quotas, please note the following illustration: • Care Provider (fewer than 10 beds) has a quota of 200 fluid repellent surgical masks (Type IIR). • Care Provider orders 199 fluid repellent surgical masks on Monday. • Care Provider then tries to order a further 199 fluid repellent surgical masks on Sunday, but can only order 1 fluid repellent surgical mask. • Care Provider would have been able to order 200 fluid repellent surgical masks if they had waited for a full 7 days to elapse between orders (i.e. only order every 7 days) • Quota limits will never be reduced, only ever increased. If you wish to speak about increasing your order, please call the Portal 0800 876 6802 An important note – Deliveries of PPE should NEVER arrived opened. If the boxes have been opened, the PPE items may no longer safe to use. Always call the PPE Portal if your deliveries arrive opened 0800 876 6802 Full details and quota limits can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ppe-portal-how-to-order-emergency-personal-protective-equipment#orthodontists-order-limits | Click here |
GOV.UK* | Government has approved the self isolation payments to help people self isolate in appropriate circumstances | For websites and contact numbers: https://www.hcpa.info/wp-content/uploads/Local-Authority-websites-and-Contact-phone-numbers-for-self.docx Details from National website: https://bit.ly/36Sfu1v | Click here |
GOV.UK* | Routine Homecare staff testing | Flyer can be found: https://www.hcpa.info/wp-content/uploads/Homecare-worker-flyer.pdf Full details and slides from DHSC webinar: https://www.hcpa.info/wp-content/uploads/Homecare_Worker_Webinar_Slides.pdf NOTE: Testing is strongly encouraged (but is not mandatory) for those who provide care and any others within the organisation who they are in contact with Regsiter for tests here: https://request-testing.test-for-coronavirus.service.gov.uk/ Instructional video for taking swabs: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-taking-swab-samples/how-to-use-the-self-swabbing-kit-for-a-combined-throat-and-nose-swab-video - Any problems with this service or with registering swabs, please call 119 | |
GOV.UK | Support for Care Homes | Click here | |
Hospital Discharge to Home Care* | Hospital discharges to Home Care Provision. | Please note: Clients returning home from hospital to an existing package of care will be swab tested and the folloiwng options apply: If Positive results are returned, they will be discharged to full barrier Service for a 14 day isolation period, so long as the ward can confirm they are Medically Optimised and the Home Care Provider has sufficient PPE and the ability to meet the discharge care needs. If Negative results are returned, the ward must ensure the patient is Medically Optimised, and the Home Care Provider has sufficient PPE and the ability to meet the discharge care needs. If Inconclusive results are returned, they will be discharged to full barrier Service for a 14 day isolation period (as if positive results has been received) until further testing and results are available, while ensuring patient is Medically Optimised, and the Home Care Provider has sufficient PPE and the ability to meet discharge care needs. For further information https://www.hcpa.info/wp-content/uploads/Covid-19-testing-for-service-users-discharged-or-transferred-home-with-home-care-services-clarification-16-07-2020-TP-JM-alterations-1.pdf | Click here |
HPFT | List of online resources | Click here | |
HPFT | HPFT COVID-19 Support Letter | Click here | |
HPFT | Managing risks from wandering or walking with purpose during COVID- 19 | Click here | |
HPFT Contracted Services | Hertfordshire Care Provider Claim Form | Click here | |
Local Authority Updates* | Letter and factsheet for those with care or support needs | Letter for people with care and support needs: https://www.hcpa.info/wp-content/uploads/Letter-for-people-with-care-and-support-needs-04.11.20.pdf Factsheet: https://www.hcpa.info/wp-content/uploads/Standard-factsheet.pdf | |
Local Authority Updates | Letter to Community Care / HomeCare Providers (updated 04/11/2020) | Click here | |
Local Authority Updates | Letter to Older Persons Residential Care Providers (updated 04/11/2020) | Click here | |
Local Authority Updates | Letter to all Commissioned Voluntary & Community Sector Providers (Updated 04/11/2020) | Click here | |
Local Authority Updates* | Letter to all Family Carers and FAQs (updated 04/11/2020) | Frequently asked questions for Family Carers: https://www.hcpa.info/wp-content/uploads/Carers-what-you-need-to-know.pdf Letter to Family Carers: https://www.hcpa.info/wp-content/uploads/Letter-for-carers-03Nov2020.pdf | Click here |
Local Authority Updates* | Payment Guidance to Care Providers | Information on standard and additional payments to providers | Click here |
Local Authority Updates | Letter to care homes re non essential visitor guidance | Click here | |
Local Authority Updates | Letter to family members and carers around residents visiting the family home | Click here | |
Local Authority Updates | Letter to vistors around the local visitor policy | Click here | |
Local Authority Updates | Guidance for Day Opportunity Providers (OP and ADS) | Click here | |
NCVO | Your organisation and managing the Coronavirus | Click here | |
NHS | Public facing COVID-19 NHS information | Click here | |
NHS | Updates from Skills for Care newsletter | Click here | |
NICE | Community-based care of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) | Click here | |
NICE | COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing suspected or confirmed pneumonia in adults in the community | Click here | |
NICE | COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing symptoms (including at the end of life) in the community | Click here | |
NICE | NICE publishes first rapid COVID-19 guidelines | Click here | |
NICE | SCIE/NICE quick guide: Helping to prevent infection in Care Homes | Click here | |
PROVIDER RESOURCES | Business Continuity Plans – Your provider checklist | Click here | |
PROVIDER RESOURCES* | Guidance on Care Home provision | https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/878099/Admission_and_Care_of_Residents_during_COVID-19_Incident_in_a_Care_Home.pdf | |
PROVIDER RESOURCES* | Personal protective equipment (PPE) | Govt Guidance on PPE: Care Homes: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-how-to-work-safely-in-care-homes Domicilary Care Organisations: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-how-to-work-safely-in-domiciliary-care If you are concerned about your stock and need urgent support, or want advice about suppliers, please don’t hesitate to email assistance@hcpa.info or call 01707 708108 Guidance for using PPE (inc Donning and Doffing): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/911188/PHE_PPE_guide_for_community_and_social_care_settings_AUG_2020.pdf | Click here |
SCIE (Social Care Institute for Excellence)* | Delivering safe, face-to-face adult day care (Updated 2 December 2020) | Updated information including guidance on re-opening services and risk assessments | Click here |
Sick Pay (SSP) | Sick pay from day one for those affected by Coronavirus / returning from abroad | Click here | |
Health and Safety Executive* | Fogging: Disinfecting premises using fog, mist, vapour or ultraviolet (UV) systems during the coronavirus pandemic | Do not spray people with disinfectants, Only use products authorised in the UK, Choose the correct treatment, Avoid harm, Do not disinfect large outdoor spaces, Supply and manufacture of disinfectants, The law on chemicals, Sealing off rooms - Full guidance: https://www.hse.gov.uk/coronavirus/disinfecting-premises-during-coronavirus-outbreak.htm | |
Health and Safety Executive | Cleaning and disinfectants: Hand sanitiser products and surface disinfectants during the coronavirus pandemic – use, manufacture and supply | Click here |
Future webinars
see our upcoming webinars for you and your staff to book on to.
If you have any questions or are in need of support, email assistance@hcpa.co.uk