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Has it only been a week since we last met? So much has happened.
It's that time of year when the Radio Times is fatter and fuller than normal.
This may be the first of similarly stuffed mailings in the coming weeks.
BCA, MKB Care, OCA and OACP working together for you.
As we move into another stressful period for you and your teams, all four local care associations are here for you.
Please raise concerns, however small, and we will support you to get them resolved as best we can.
Breaking News that the Migration Advisory Committee is recommending that care workers are to be added to the Shortage Occupation List. A long way to go, but it's a potential step forward to resolve part of the conundrum of where to source care workers, whilst not yet addressing the issue of where they live if they do choose to work in our fair and welcoming islands.

In the meantime here is a step by step guide to navigating the Immigration System in the Care Sector.
As you know Plan B of the Winter Plan is now in force and we are now at Level 4:
  1. Face masks are now mandatory in most public indoor venues
  2. From today, the NHS COVID Pass is mandatory in specific settings, using a negative test or full vaccination via the NHS COVID Pass.
  3. From Monday, people were asked to work from home if they could - read Citation's opinion here.
Government has stated it intends to introduce daily contact test for contacts of confirmed positive cases instead of isolation, but this is not yet guidance and we are unsure whether it will apply to adult social care.

All the local public health dashboards show either an upward trend threatening to overtake confirmed covid-19 cases this time last year, or confirmed cases have already overtaken the same period last year.
The dashboards are at the bottom of this mailing in our Regulars section. Omicron is doubling every other day and is already the dominant variant in London and the south-east.

How do you know if you have an Omicron case?
DHSC has stated:
'Where Omicron is identified in a care home, for now, they can expect very, very intensive engagement with the HPTs, UKHSA, the DPH etc. so they will be walked through what they need to do, which may depend on the circumstances. There will come a point where that can’t be done in every case, but we will provide guidance on how to deal with it.'

People who are vaccinated abroad + Clinical Trials
Guidance has been issued for residents of England who have had an MHRA-approved vaccine abroad to be recognised in the NHS COVID Pass. The guidance covers the following vaccines if they were administered abroad:
  • Moderna (also called Spikevax)
  • AstraZeneca (also called Vaxzevria)
  • Pfizer (also called Comirnaty)
  • Janssen (also called Johnson & Johnson) 
In order for the above vaccines to be added to the NHS system, you will need to book an appointment at a vaccination centre. Details will then be added to the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS). This should then appear in the NHS COVID Pass system. If you are registered with a GP in England and received Novavax, Valneva and Medicago during a clinical trial you can also now access the NHS COVID Pass system.
No information yet about those vaccinated with a non-MHRA approved vaccine abroad. The self-exemption form for overseas vaccinations remains in force until 1 April 2022.
A specific offer from SE ADASS:
In times of emergency councils and NHS step up, however where multiple services are affected over a protracted timeframe this would present more of a challenge in the current climate. SE ADASS is suggesting councils remind PAs, individuals receiving care and their families to agree a contingency plan if the person supporting them is unable to work – at this time the plan (in most cases) should not default to calling the local Council. In a similar vein, SE ADASS is reminding care providers to consider their contingency for individuals where they are unable to staff, again avoiding the Council being the default - this is engaging family or neighbour support where appropriate, or triaging support.

Please be assured that DASSs and their teams really do appreciate all the work that care providers, care workers and the wider teams do and understand the challenges.
Is there anything as providers you need from Councils or the NHS over the Christmas period, e.g. specific out-of-hour contacts etc. All suggestions will be shared with SE ADASS.
VCOD in wider health and social care settings impact assessment
The Regulatory Policy Committee has stated that the impact assessment is not fit for purpose.

Timeline for VCOD in wider health and social care settings
DHSC have provided a rough timeline for the implementation of the wider policy in non-care home settings:
  • December - Votes in the Commons and Lords on VCOD in wider health and care settings
  • December - Stakeholder engagement on operational guidance (we can confirm this has begun)
  • Early January - Start of grace period
  • Early January - Operational guidance issued
  • 4 February - Last date for first vaccine (8 weeks before regulations come into force)
  • 1 April - Regulations come into force
When the regulations are passed by Parliament, the amendments relating to the care home regulations should go live at that point and not in April. The rough timeline provided by DHSC doesn't state this. 

DHSC is currently thinking about and asking for thoughts on:
  • How could we make the scope clearer as it relates to extra care / supported living?
  • How much detail is needed within the guidance on the scope of regulations? What should this include?
  • Are there specific examples we should set out in the guidance? 
  • Do you have any additional concerns re: the scope of the policy that we should be aware of? 
  • Do you have any views/concerns on what guidance should be available for employers, staff, local authorities, access to vaccines and wellbeing support?  
All responses will be passed to DHSC. Thank you.

VCOD guidance in wider health settings for NHS
We are awaiting operational guidance for VCOD in wider social care settings - some consultation took place in the early part of this week - but it may be worth noting that the NHS has issued its own 'planning and preparation' guidance for NHS & health settings ahead of VCOD2 - and might be worth a read. It includes links to resources to help uptake.
You'll be aware that the online LFD ordering system went down for a couple of days this week and at time of writing is still unable to fulfil home delivery slots.
DHSC have said:
  • Everyone who needs a lateral flow test can collect test kits – either at their local pharmacy, some community sites and some schools and colleges.
  • Due to exceptionally high demand, ordering lateral flow tests on gov.uk has been temporarily suspended to fulfil existing orders.”
  • You can find your closest location to collect a lateral flow tests kit here.
  • There is no shortage of lateral flow tests and the Government has enough stock to meet demand.
  • To ensure we do not take orders we are unable to fulfil we occasionally stop taking orders online, this is especially true in periods of increased demand.
  • This pause is temporary and availability is refreshed daily. People are encouraged to re-visit the site tomorrow if they are unable to collect tests as more will be available.  
  • We would encourage people to use any tests they may already have at home before ordering or collecting more.
Workforce Recruitment and Retention Fund: examples of allowable activity
The guidance on the workforce recruitment and retention fund has been updated to include examples of activities that have been used by LAs and providers. The use of the current WRRF across England are as varied as the locations we all live in. However, a general theme appears to be a general slowness of allocation. Are you still waiting?

At the time of writing, we are awaiting further guidance on conditions.
The latest monthly unemployment claimant count data (for November 2021) was released by the Department of Work and Pensions yesterday, see article on Oxfordshire Insight. This shows:
  • A decrease for Oxfordshire, down from 12,275 claimants in October 2021 to 11,885 in November 2021 (-3.2%). 
  • By district in November 2021, the rate of unemployment claimants (as a percentage of the economically active population aged 16-64) remains highest in Oxford City followed by Cherwell.
  • By age group, the rate remains highest in Oxfordshire (and England) for claimants aged 16-24.
All four local care associations are part of SESCA, the south-east arm of the Care Association Alliance.
The SE Workforce Sub Group is building a workforce modelling tool for Adult Social Care, which looks at both a council’s own workforce and the wider care sector. Two of nine ADASS regions are involved with two pilots sites in each; Surrey and Bucks are the sites in the SE.
To support the delivery of a workable product there are a number of meetings with various stakeholders, to input thoughts, views and challenges for consideration in developing the tool, approach and future use. More details to come.
Hydration Pilots
NHS England and NHS Improvement have launched a new project to improve hydration in people aged 65+, including those living in a care home, or receiving domiciliary care. The aim is to test interventions to help keep people well and hydrated, reduce Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and reduce the need for antibiotics.
The work will consist of an ICS-led pilot in each region, forming part of a wider regional approach to improve hydration and reduce UTIs. The pilots will help improve knowledge and understanding of the most effective hydration interventions to reduce UTIs, while supporting efforts to tackle the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. An external evaluator will work with the ICS to identify outcomes.
ICSs interested in being a pilot site are asked to contact their identified regional lead to discuss an initiative they would like to pilot over a 12 month period. Suggested initiatives are set out in the Application support pack. Regions will then work with ICSs to identify which proposal(s) are put forward to the national panel. The national panel will choose one pilot in each of the seven regions and will notify sites of the outcome in March 2022. Each region will receive funding to support delivery of the pilot and the spread and implementation of best practice.
Information about the hydration pilots, including the Application support pack and the application form can be found here: Hydration pilot information.
If you do not have an NHS Futures account, you will need to self-register on the futures platform to access these documents. Applications should be submitted by 17 January 2022.
Please email england.prevention-amr@nhs.net if you have any queries or your local contact:  
Update to visiting guidance in light of Omicron
The guidance outlining visiting arrangements in care homes has been updated again ahead of it going live today. This reflects the impact of Omicron and the restrictions announced at the weekend. The guidance uses the same structure outlined in the previous version with the addition of restrictions:
  1. Section 1 is 'Visits in all Circumstances' which makes the guidance around end-of-life visits and essential care giving more prominent in the guidance. There is also a section in here on visiting professionals, including requirements for VCOD and testing.
  2. Section 2 is focused on safe visiting practices such as IPC measures, risk assessments, testing arrangements, visits out of care homes, communications with families and visitors
  3. Section 3 is focused on when alternative visiting arrangements might be required and looks at care home outbreaks and the role of Public Health and DASSs
  4. Section 4 contains information of other sources of support and information

Key changes since the last version issued a few weeks ago are listed below, but some of these changes pre-empt other pieces of guidance (on testing and isolation specifically) which have not themselves been updated.
  • Every care home resident can nominate up to 3 visitors who will be able to enter the care home for regular visits (this number does not include essential caregivers or pre-school age children)
  • Since September 2021, if no further positives are identified in the 2 rounds of whole home outbreak testing, subject to the HPT risk assessment, then the outbreak restrictions can be lifted. This could mean that outbreak restrictions are only in place for 7 to 8 days in some outbreaks. However, outbreak controls may be in place for up to 28 days following the last positive case due to Omicron variant. This appears to be a decision for the local HPT.
  • Anyone who is fully vaccinated, and has been identified as a close contact of a confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, does not need to self-isolate if they receive a negative PCR test result and takes daily rapid LFD tests until 10 days after their last exposure to the positive case. DHSC has confirmed that 10 days is the correct number.
  • The testing regime has changed for staff and essential caregivers: 3 LFD tests per week + PCR test. Essential caregivers are also subject to rapid response daily testing in the event of an outbreak
  • Care home residents who have had 2 doses of the vaccine, or are exempt from vaccination, should not have to isolate for 14 days after most visits out of the care home, but should take a lateral flow test every day for 10 days following the visit out. This does not apply in the case of an emergency stay in hospital or visits deemed to be high-risk following an individual risk assessment. In these instances, isolation for 14 days is required.
  • Care home residents who have not received at least 2 doses of the vaccine, and are not exempt from vaccination, should not go on visits out of the care home unless they isolate for 14 days after the visit out. DHSC states that this 'is a necessary precaution following clinical advice in light of a more transmissive variant of COVID-19'
  • There is an increased emphasis on the importance of boosters

The guidance suggests that people who are exempt from vaccination are able to go on visits out while those unvaccinated cannot. Similarly, it is unclear if someone who is medically exempt, but a contact of an Omicron case is expected to isolate or not. The focus is still on enabling visits to happen where possible.
As you will know the Government is pushing the booster programme faster and bigger, which understandably means that normal routine health services may be affected. Resources to promote this can be found here.
The 15-minute waiting period after a covid vaccination and booster has been temporarily waived to free up space and enable more vaccinations to reach the 1m per day mark. If you do have a reaction after the covid vaccination, this is what you should look out for.

After last week's revelation that Martin Kemp (late of Spandau Ballet) had been roped in to promote covid vaccination, this week it's the turn of Lewis Hamilton; the actual F1 Champion, Max Verstappen, presumably being unavailable as he's still celebrating. Still, we're sure that this will make people race to get their booster jab, and, luckily for us, in charge of the covid-vaccination roll-out is the NHS, not the FIA.
In a timely move here is an EasyRead poster explaining Boosters for people with a learning disability.
And many of you will have had an email from the Council about completing the Capacity Tracker. The Council has said that potentially they 'will be seeking repayment of the ICF5 (officially IPC round 3) grant that has been paid to you along with any and previous ICF grant that has been paid. This is a last resort, but one we will enforce if required'. 
This particular issue affects a comparative handful of regulated providers and we would urge them to update CT as soon as they can. We have suggested to the Council that a letter to the whole market when the majority of providers are completing the Tracker, is probably not helpful and targeted work may pay better dividends.
COVID-19 Antivirals
DHSC has announced a national study for COVID-19 antivirals for over 50s and those with underlying health conditions. 
Levelling Up Committee Launches Inquiry into Exempt Accommodation
The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (LUHC) Committee has launched an inquiry into exempt accommodation - a type of supported housing that is exempt from Housing Benefit rules limiting rents to particular levels. The inquiry will accept evidence until 28 January 2022 and it aims to establish a clearer picture of the amount and quality of provision of exempt accommodation. This includes understanding the strengths and weaknesses of current provision and looking for recommendations on the changes that might be needed to improve exempt accommodation
Wider reading
If you'd like some Christmas reading and missed the initial publication of People at the Heart of Care, find some bite-sized information on Government plans for transforming social care here.
Oxfordshire provider networks
Fortnightly
  • OACP Home Care network: Monday 1-2 via Zoom. Next meeting: 20 December
  • OACP Learning Disability network: Tuesday 10-11 on Teams. Next meeting: 21 December.
  • OACP-OCA Care Home network: Wednesday 2-3 via Zoom. Next meeting: 12 January.
Monthly
  • OACP Day centre network: 2nd Friday in the month via Zoom. Next meeting: 14 January.
Webinar & Podcast city
Home Care Association and Bracknell-based family-owned home care provider, Care-In-Your-Home Ltd featured on BBC News recently on the challenges of delivering home care currently.
Hear how you can claim Workforce Development funding (WDF) to contribute towards the cost of vocational learning such as social care qualifications, learning programmes and digital learning modules.
  • Wednesday 19 January 2022
  • 14:30 - 16:00
  • Online event - via Zoom
  • Book here
  • Registrations will close 90 minutes before the scheduled start of the event
The session is aimed at managers in care services with responsibility for training and development.
In the session, we will tell you about which qualifications can be funded through WDF this year, the timescales involved, and how to set up or update your Adult Social Care Workforce data set account (ASC-WDS).
We will also give you details of how to:
  • Join a local or national partnership
  • Claim funding directly from Skills for Care
A webinar for social care workers, managers and local authorities to discuss the accelerated booster rollout to the social care workforce in light of the Omicron variant.
A space to hear from expert speakers about the public health case and operational plans for driving booster uptake, to find out about support available to the sector, and a chance to ask questions and give feedback.
Chaired by Sir David Pearson (Chair of the Social Care Task Force, DHSC), accompanied by speakers Deborah Sturdy (Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, DHSC); Professor Jackie Cassel (Deputy Dean at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Honorary Consultant in Public Health); and Dr Nikita Kanani MBE (Deputy SRO, COVID-19 Vaccination Deployment Programme).
Regulars
Proud to Care Oxfordshire
A new website for people looking to enter adult social care has been launched today. 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
Testing guidance
This very useful page brings together all testing guidance for adult social care, including non-regulated services.
Bookmark it.
DSPT support for Berks, Bucks and Oxon
Link and instructions on how to book: https://oacp.org.uk/events/. See also June webinars above.

If you are not sure which is the right webinar for you, please contact the DSPT team at dspt@oacp.org.uk. This is our dedicated team delivering the Better Security, Better Care roll-out across the Thames Valley.

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.

And Train your staff to be Cyber Aware
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.