Join our regular networks and share your concerns, find support and discuss the latest news.
The desperate situation in Ukraine makes us all think about what can we do individually. If you use social media you are probably aware of local collections via schools of sanitary products and baby food for the hundreds of thousands of refugees coming into Romania, Hungary and Poland.
This emergency appeal lists items that are needed including crisis counselling and basic emergency medical kits to support the mainly women and children arriving.
It may be easier logistically to donate via the GoFundMe page organised by the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB). AUGB's official website is here and it has local centres across the UK - the only one in the Thames Valley is in Reading.
Our thoughts are with our Ukrainian colleagues who work in our international workforce.
The Oxfordshire Care Awards 2022 – Inspiration for All!
Do you know someone who deserves to be recognised and celebrated at the Oxfordshire Care Awards 2022?
By nominating a friend, unpaid carer, colleague or company you will be supporting their dedication and commitment whilst raising the profile of the adult social care sector across Oxfordshire. This uplifting and joyous event reinforces the work and dedication of all those who make a difference to the ‘real lives’ in their Care every day! Get involved, nominate someone today, who you know is providing outstanding care in Oxfordshire!

Oxfordshire Care Awards recognise and celebrate individuals, organisations, and companies who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within the care sector in Oxfordshire. The Awards are a partnership between Action for Carers Oxfordshire, Age UK Oxfordshire and OACP.
Nominations are open until 5 pm on Friday 18 March 2022.
The Awards take place on Monday 25 April 2022.
Vaccination as a condition of deployment for staff working in care homes will be removed from 15 March. In their consultation response, Government said,
Our population as a whole is now better protected against hospitalisation from COVID-19 thanks to our world leading vaccine programme and we will build on the existing work to support and encourage vaccine uptake it continues to be a clear professional responsibility of all health and social care staff to be vaccinated. However, combined with the reduced vaccine effectiveness against infection, it is right and responsible to revisit the vaccination as a condition of deployment policy.
As of 13 February 2022, 96% of staff in care homes have received a first dose of the vaccine and 95% a second dose. In wider social care settings, while the regulations have not come into force, providers were reporting that 89% of home (domiciliary) care staff and 76% of staff in other settings had received one dose of the vaccine, as of 13 February 2022. 

Operational guidance for people working in care homes and for people working in other care settings has been updated.
Whilst this policy is now being revoked, there is continuing encouragement for all staff to have both doses plus the booster, which brings us nicely to what is next for the vaccine roll-out.
The JCVI has advised an additional spring booster dose for the most vulnerable individuals in the population. Immunity derived from vaccination declines over time and many of the oldest adults received their most recent vaccine dose in September or October 2021.
These individuals are at much higher risk of severe coronavirus (COVID-19). Therefore, as a precautionary strategy to maintain high levels of immunity, an extra spring dose is advised around 6 months after the last vaccine dose for:
  • adults aged 75 years and over, residents in a care home for older adults
  • individuals aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed, as defined in the COVID 19 healthcare guidance Green Book

Logistically, GPs are likely to return to business as usual so delivery of this spring programme is likely to mainly come through PCNs and pharmacies. Delivery in care homes will enable staff (post mid-March) who need to have a first, second, or booster dose to receive theirs at the same time as residents.
‘Spring’ is described as starting half-way through March. For people eligible (aged 75 and over and/ or living in an older person's care home) 6 months will need to have elapsed since their booster dose.
Looking further ahead into the autumn, it's likely that immunisation will broaden into the early groups 1-6 (or even 1-9) depending on JCVI advice at the time. It's possible that this covid-19 vaccination programme may be tied in with flu cohort eligibility (over 50s). There is also a discussion about aligning with other vaccination programmes.
The choice of age and location for the spring booster is based on a risk-benefit trade-off based on transmission levels. Age remains the biggest single risk factor. Immunity falls off as you get older and this is why working-age adults previously deemed clinical vulnerable are excluded as the ultimate aim is to reduce hospitalisation.
Should we get a further variant that causes concern, the NHS will revert to a surge response with a rapid stand up of vaccination services as happened before Christmas with prioritisation of resources and other services stopping. All dependent on what the priority is at the time.
For people considered extremely vulnerable to Covid-19, guidance has been updated in line with Living with Covid.
There remains a smaller number of people who, in spite of vaccination, are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19. This is due to a weakened immune system (immunosuppressed) or specific other medical conditions and requires enhanced protections such as those offered by antibody and antiviral treatments, additional vaccinations and potentially other non-clinical interventions.
See guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk; people in this group should follow this guidance on keeping yourself safe. You will normally have been identified in one of 2 ways:
  1. Eligibility for a third primary dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
  2. Eligibility for new treatments for COVID-19.
Most people in this group will be under the care of a hospital specialist.
Other guidance has not changed substantively. The line UKHSA/DHSC is adding to guidance is:
There is no longer a legal requirement for people with COVID-19 to self-isolate, however, the public health advice for people with any of the main symptoms of COVID-19 or a positive test result is to stay at home and avoid contact with other people. Due to the higher risk nature of health and social care settings, the advice for staff members working in these settings has not changed.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), in partnership with NHS Supply Chain, has implemented a new PPE portal platform to ensure continued access to free PPE and related items for eligible users until 31 March 2023.
All eligible users will have received or be receiving an invite over the coming weeks and months to ensure migration across to the new platform.
The timescale for social care users is to be migrated week commencing 14 March with 'non-active' users, moved the week after. Eligible social care providers continue to be those registered with the Care Quality Commission only.

Accessing the new portal
If you are an eligible user, you will have received email communications confirming timings for your migration. Please check the inbox of the same account that is registered with the existing PPE portal.
Upon successful migration to the new platform, you will receive an email from ppe-portal@dhsc.gov.uk with the subject line ‘Welcome to the PPE portal’. This email will list the steps you need to take to register and log in to your account on the new portal.

If you have questions regarding the migration to the new platform, contact our customer services team on 0800 876 6802. The team is available 7am to 7pm, 7 days a week.
You can also raise queries directly through the new platform.
Until you receive an email confirming the timing for your migration, please continue to use the existing portal.
If you provide end of life care you may be interested in Palliative and end of life care profiles
These profiles provide data updates, statistics and commentaries across multiple geographies in England. They support the interpretation of new data and provide core information for service improvement. The data include:
  • place of death
  • underlying cause of death
  • mortality rates
  • care homes and the community
  • dementia
The Prime Minister has announced the Chair of the Public Covid-19 Inquiry.
Baroness Hallett retired from the Court of Appeal in 2019 and was made a crossbench life peer. She has previously conducted a range of high-profile and complex inquests, inquiries and reviews, including acting as coroner for the inquests into the deaths of the 52 victims of the 7 July 2005 London bombings; as chair of the Iraq Fatalities Investigations; and as chair of the 2014 Hallett Review of the administrative scheme to deal with ‘on the runs’ in Northern Ireland.
Baroness Hallett is currently acting as coroner in the inquest into the death of Dawn Sturgess, who died in July 2018 following exposure to the nerve agent Novichok. A new chair for that inquiry will be appointed early in the new year.
The Green Book, chapter 14a which guides the management of covid-19 including vaccination and drug development, has been updated to include:
  • approval of Novavax,
  • clarification around deferral after COVID-19 infection,
  • one-off programme for 5 to 11 year olds who are not in clinical risk groups,
  • advice on use of the paediatric formulation in those aged 12 years,
  • spring booster recommendations (including flexibility around timing) and expectations for an autumn booster,
  • clarification of the management of individuals with a history of allergic reactions,
  • updated advice on management of people who have ITP following vaccination.
The Government's plan for reforming social care, Build Back Better: Our Plan for Health and Social Care has been updated to include:
  • updated case studies in 'Adult social care charging reform: further details' to reflect likely inflationary changes in the rate of the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) or Personal Expenses Allowance (PEA) after reform is implemented from October 2023. The MIG or PEA figures remain the same in the current system. In addition, the case studies were simplified to remove Attendance Allowance, and now reflect daily living costs at the forecast level they will be in October 2023.
CQC Statement on Visiting in Care Homes
CQC has recirculated a statement it issued at the start of the month about the necessity of providers enabling visiting.
Kate Terroni, Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care, said: "we have taken decisive action throughout the pandemic to help keep people safe in care settings [...] and making absolutely clear to providers that not following government guidance is unacceptable and may trigger an inspection."
At their Board meeting on 23 February, CQC published updated data on the adult social care workforce.
This includes information that shows:
  • Vacancy rates remaining high but not increasing
  • A rise in staff turnover rates
  • A rise in bed occupancy rates
  • An increase in staffing events that stop a service in December, before returning to normal levels in January.
You can find the full data on their website.
Long-term conditions and vulnerable groups
Nuffield Trust has been monitoring trends in the quality of care for people with serious illnesses, who require long-term support.
In the latest QualityWatch update they look at a range of performance measures for the care of people with long-term conditions, disabilities and serious diseases such as stroke and heart attack, to give a view of how services have fared over the last decade and throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. 
The report covers a summary of indicators, including care home admissions for people aged 65 and over in England. This decrease could be understood through many different lenses:
with links to charts and more detailed analysis.
REMINDER | 2021-22 Workforce Development Fund (WDF)
If you have not yet updated your ASC-WDS accounts you have until 31 March 2022 to update your ASC-WDS account and until 31 May 2022 to submit your WDF claims.
If you’d like to apply for money from this year’s Workforce Development Fund (WDF), and are NOT currently a member of a WDF partnership, you must sign up to access the fund by Friday 28 February 2022 using this application form.
You can then claim money towards the cost of any listed qualifications and learning programmes.
Sarah Jarvis
Administrator -Thames Valley Workforce Development Partnership (TVWD)
Telephone: 07912 083 480 
Join our regular networks and share your concerns, find support and discuss the latest news.
Oxfordshire provider networks
Fortnightly
  • OACP Home Care network: Monday 1-2 via Zoom. Next meeting: 11 March
  • OACP Learning Disability network: Tuesday 10-11 via Zoom. Next meeting: 12 March
  • OACP-OCA Care Home network: Wednesday 2-3 via Zoom. Next meeting: 9 March
Monthly
  • OACP Day time support network: 2nd Friday in the month via Zoom. Next meeting: 11 March
Webinar & Podcast city
Watch / listen / read again | ICYMI

Royds Withy King | Essential Immigration Update - a legal guide to recruiting care workers from overseas
Royds Withy King | Data Protection Compliance in conversation
Citation: The end of self-isolation: what it means for employers

Citation download:
HMRC webinars
Find out about operating payroll for directors, payrolling employee benefits and the latest information on the Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme by joining the following live webinars. 

Company directors – payroll and you 
We’ll cover the Income Tax and National Insurance treatment of payments to directors, how to deal with expenses and benefits, submissions you need to make and keeping records. 

Payrolling – tax employees’ benefits through your payroll 
Tax your employees benefits through your payroll and you may not need to complete forms P11D. This webinar shows you how to register for payrolling and uses example to show you what happens next.  

COVID-19 Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme 2 
This webinar looks at making payments to employees who are off sick or self-isolating because of coronavirus, on or after 21 December 2021 and what employers can claim under the scheme.

Key changes affecting payroll for the 2022 to 2023 tax year. 
Join this live webinar for an overview of the new rates for: 
  • National Insurance
  • National Living Wage/National Minimum Wage
  • statutory payments.
HMRC will also tell you about any changes to expenses and benefits, Student Loan deductions, freeports, employer National Insurance contributions relief, and the new Health and Social Care Levy. 
You can ask questions during the webinar using the on-screen text box. 

Finally, find out when and how to pay PAYE with a short video on HMRC’s YouTube channel.
How can we support innovation and tackle implementation challenges in the social care sector? | NIHR ARC North Thames: Innovation and Implementation in Social Care

Explore and discuss insights into the barriers of implementing evidence and how innovation in social care can be supported by research and collaboration. This free, online event will feature three presentations from leading researchers and practitioners in social care - Professor Jon Glasby, Dr Juliette Malley and Dr Lisa Trigg and chaired by Professor Annette Boaz – and will be followed by a 30-minute panel discussion and a chance to ask questions.
 
The webinar is open to all, including people working in health and social care, research, public health, and anyone with an interest in innovation and implementation across the social care sector.

This is part of the ARC North Thames Academy’s Innovation and Implementation webinar series, which aims to share learning and practice, interdisciplinary approaches, opportunities and challenges, and stimulate thought-provoking discussions around the implementation of health innovations in diverse settings. 
Skills for Care is looking to organise some short virtual events with Job Centre Plus and the National Careers Service and are looking for some volunteers to help with recruitment into the care sector open across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire
  • Sessions for job seekers – these sessions will tell individuals about working in the sector and any employers who speak at them can also signpost to specific vacancies so it’s a good opportunity to advertise.

The request is could you speak for 10 minutes about working in your part of the sector (care home, home care, supported living or PA) on any of the following dates:

Sessions for job seekers:
  • Wednesday 6 April – 11 - 12
  • Thursday 9 June – 11 - 12
  • Thursday 8 September – 11 - 12
  • Thursday 10 November – 11 - 12
  • Thursday 19 January 2023 – 11 - 12
  • Monday 13 March 2023 – 11 - 12
 
Grey Matter Learning
8 programmes of Lead to Succeed and Well Led across 2022. 
If a place is booked before 31 March 2022 you can get 22% off each place you book using the code 2022. 

If you are registered on ASWDC (Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set) and compliant by 31 March you can claim back up to £500 per person that completes a programme before the end of May.

If you’d like to book a programme for your organisation, GML are also offering 22% off when booked before 31 March.
The discount can’t be used alongside any existing discounts for places or programmes.
Regulars
Oxfordshire Care Awards 2022
Do you know someone who deserves to be recognised and celebrated at the Oxfordshire Care Awards 2022? By nominating a friend, unpaid carer, colleague or company you will be supporting their dedication and commitment whilst raising the profile of the adult social care sector across Oxfordshire. This year we are delighted to announce cash prizes will be given alongside the engraved glass trophies and certificates.

The aim of the Oxfordshire Care Awards 2022 Inspiration for All! is to recognise and celebrate individuals, organisations, and companies who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within the care sector in Oxfordshire. Three organisations are involved, Action for Carers Oxfordshire, Age UK Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers (OACP), working together in partnership is at the heart of this Awards initiative. Oxfordshire Care Awards 2022 Inspiration for All! is all-inclusive, bringing together statutory and independent care providers, the community/voluntary sector and unpaid carers.

The Awards take place on Monday afternoon, 25 April 2022 at the Voco Hotel Thames Oxford
Sandford-on-Thames, Oxford OX4 4GX.

Nominations are open now and close at 5 pm on Friday 18 March 2022.
Nominate here: https://bit.ly/3JekzD0

If you would like more information, please contact Jane Wood at awards@oacp.org.uk
Proud to Care Oxfordshire
Our new website for people looking to enter adult social care has been launched. A partnership of OACP, Aspire Oxford, Activate Learning and OCC, the website builds on experiences in other local areas to attract people into the sector.
The website is open to all care providers operating in Oxfordshire across all settings. Over the next few months we will add information on what the sector offers; the different roles available and support available to enable a first step into social care.

If you would like to advertise on Proud to Care, please contact Jane Wood or Diana Olszewska at hello@proudtocareoxfordshire.org.uk. Proud to Care is managed by OACP.
Your free guide to recruitment and retention in care
As England introduces new national lockdown restrictions, and the government is reportedly drawing up plans for carers to be banned from working in more than one home, there has never been a more important time to attract and retain your brilliant people.
With that in mind, the care experts of OACP partner, Citation, have created a free guide on recruitment and retention, specifically for care providers.
This guide includes things to consider when recruiting the right people for your business, and methods and tips for engaging your employees to keep them happy and working for you.

Your OACP member benefit
From recruitment and retention, staff training, mental health and wellbeing, professional bereavement and tricky HR issues, to infection control, risk assessments and visiting arrangements, Citation can help you operate both safely and compliantly in the coming weeks and months.
They can also help with fire and electrical safety, Care Policies & Procedures, Care Mock Inspections, and CQC Pro – an application to demonstrate you’re meeting CQC requirements.
To find out more or arrange a free consultation, click here or call 0345 844 1111.
Quote ‘Oxford Association of Care Providers’ when enquiring to access your preferential rates as a member.
Resources
Resources
Testing guidance
This very useful page brings together all testing guidance for adult social care, including non-regulated services. Not yet updated after Living with Covid announcement for changes after 24 February.
Bookmark it.

Free DSPT support for Berks, Bucks, and Oxon

View the latest DSPT webinar recording:
Data Protection Compliance in conversation with Royds Withy King - Watch it here

Come to our next webinar event 'Boost your Cyber Knowledge' with Chris White, Head of Cyber and Innovation from the Cyber Resilience Centre South East - Book here
Digital solutions are here to stay! The Better Security, Better Care programme will continue throughout 2022/23. We are reviewing current activities, and the availability and format of support will change after March 2022. We strongly encourage you to contact the DSPT team now to access this free support.

If you are based in MK and have not yet been contacted by Bedfordshire Care Association who are leading on this for BLMK ICS area, please let us know and we will signpost you.

DSPT contact details
COVID-19 infection rates dashboards usually updated weekly:

Check vaccination levels across the country via this interactive map for first dose and second dose - whole population statistics.
Trusted Assessor services

The Oxfordshire Trusted Assessor service is now closed.
For Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire, the Trusted Assessor Service is run for care homes only by Lincolnshire Care Association.
Contact: Michelle Yusuf -
The project runs also for Hinchingbrooke and Addenbrookes hospitals.
BCA, MKB Care and OACP working together for you.
Care Association Alliance | our big family
As well as a constant stream of questions and answers by email from around the country, we are also part of the CAA weekly teleconference - Wednesdays at 10am. This informs us of current concerns and potential solutions and helps inform our local communications.
Consistent, quality information
We are mailing out once a week on a Wednesday, so you know when to look out for it. These updates will provide summary advice on emerging issues and signpost providers to government and other statutory agency advice as needed.

Reminder
We are always keen to hear from providers, if you have anything you would like to share with provider colleagues, please send to the usual address.

Receiving this newsletter for the first time?
We are adding new colleagues all the time.
Please let us know if there are other colleagues you would like this mailing sent to.

OACP
OACP Member offers | OACP works with the following suppliers to bring you market insight, quality products and expert advice. Contact them today - click on the logo...
Help yourself to help us
Now available for all Oxfordshire care providers.
Spectrum is a well-established buying consortium with an emphasis on the Care Sector including care homes, domiciliary care and supported living. They have been sourcing discounts with major suppliers for their members since 1992.