Seasonal Support

We’ve gathered resources from our past events and the best of our education department, to help support you through the winter season and beyond.

Click here to see all upcoming Winter Training.

Vaccinations

Infection Prevention & Control

Care Planning and support

Physical Deterioaration and Safety

Winter Action Planning Guide

Your Detailed Winter Action Planning Guide, is a comprehensive resource designed to help care providers prepare for and manage the challenges of winter. The guide is structured into ten key areas, each addressing a critical aspect of winter readiness—from vaccinations and infection prevention to emergency contingency planning and wellbeing support.

Care providers should approach the guide systematically, working through each tab to review the recommended actions. For each area:

• Assess Current Practice: Use the checklist to identify gaps or areas needing improvement.
• Delegate Actions: Assign specific tasks to appropriate team members, ensuring clear ownership and deadlines.
• Monitor Progress: Regularly review completion status and ratings to track progress and address outstanding actions.
• Promote Team Communication: Encourage staff to share updates, escalate concerns, and collaborate on solutions.

By delegating responsibilities and maintaining oversight across all ten areas, care teams can ensure robust winter management, safeguard the wellbeing of those they support, and respond effectively to seasonal risks.

Health Observations and Deterioration

Importance of Managing Deterioration and Completing Health Observations During Winter

Winter brings increased risks for people receiving care, including respiratory illnesses, infections, and complications from cold weather. Managing deterioration effectively is critical to prevent avoidable hospital admissions and safeguard wellbeing. Key reasons include:

• Higher vulnerability: Frail individuals, those with chronic conditions, and older adults are more susceptible to rapid health decline during colder months.
• Early detection saves lives: Regular health observations—such as monitoring temperature, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and hydration—help identify subtle changes before they become emergencies.
• Pressure on services: Winter often sees increased demand on hospitals and emergency care. Proactive monitoring in care settings reduces unnecessary transfers and supports continuity of care.
• Compliance and quality: Following best practice for deterioration management aligns with regulatory standards and demonstrates commitment to safe, person-centred care.

Across all Care Services

Whether in residential care, domiciliary care, supported living, or nursing homes, consistent health observations and escalation protocols are essential. Staff should be trained to recognise early warning signs and act promptly using tools such as NEWS2 or RESTORE2.

Using the Webinar Resources

Providers can:

• Access the full slide deck here as a reference for training and operational planning. For slide deck with notes click here.
• Watch the webinar recording here to reinforce learning and share with teams. These resources offer practical guidance and examples to strengthen winter preparedness and improve outcomes for people in care.