Coronavirus COVID-19 Care Provider Information

Urgently need PPE?

Please view our information on accessing PPE.

Business Continuity Planning

Find links to guidance, templates and RAG rating examples.

Vaccination information (Care providers and frontline social care roles)

Please view our information on COVID-19 vaccination.

Coronavirus COVID-19 and adult social care in Staffordshire

Message from Dr Richard Harling, Director of Health and Care
(Director of Public Health and Director of Adult Social Services) 

17 September 2021

1. Staffordshire’s current 7-day case rate (per 100,000) is 367.8; whilst this is a welcome reduction from the previous period, we remain above the West Midlands (309.5) and the England (272) case rate.

Vaccinations

2. 94.6% of care home staff in Staffordshire have now received a first dose of the Covid 19 vaccine and 86.9% have received two doses. Based on current forecasts 538 care home staff in Staffordshire, who have not received their first dose, will not meet the condition of deployment from 11 November 2021, subject to exemption on medical grounds. Any care home that is concerned about their ability to maintain safe care beyond this date should contact us urgently.

2. On 15 September 2021, the government announced the temporary vaccination exemption process for persons deployed to care homes; this includes medical exemption and for those vaccinated abroad.  The initial self-certification process needs to be completed asap (by 11 November 2021 at the latest).  For the avoidance of doubt, this self-exemption process will remain in operation for 12 weeks from the start of the new system, not for 12 weeks from 11 November 2021.

3. Covid 19 vaccination boosters will be offered to priority cohorts from next week; this includes care home residents and care workers.  Further information on the local roll out will follow shortly.

4. ACAS will be hosting a webinar at 10:00 – 11:30 on Wednesday 22 September 2021, on issues including the mandatory vaccination of care home staff.

5. Thank you to everyone who has completed our care home vaccination survey; please share your responses by close of business on Friday 17 September 2021.  The responses thus far have highlighted numerous discrepancies with data on the capacity tracker.  Please ensure your capacity tracker entries are accurate.

Testing

6. 9,150 tests were completed in care homes between 6 September and 12 September 2021.  31 care home residents and 42 care home staff tested positive for Covid 19. 

7. 786 tests were completed by home care workers between 6 September and 12 September 2021.  5 home care staff members have tested positive for Covid 19, however we are mindful the number of Covid 19 confirmed staff cases is higher, as a number of staff are testing using local community test centres.

8. DHSC have identified a significant number of PCR test kits sent to laboratories for analysis which have passed their expiry date; whilst there is no risk to the individual being tested, these tests will be void.  This guide details where to find the expiry date.  Please dispose of any expired test kits or those within one week of their expiry date.

Updates and useful information

9. Covid 19: guidance on protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable has been updated to note the confirmation of the end of the shielding programme and to advise that guidance will be updated shortly.

10. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) published their ‘Home for Good’ report, which celebrates examples of successful community support provided to people for people with a learning disability, a mental health need and autism.

11. The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid has written to adult social care providers with further details on the Health and Social Care levy.

12. The Better Security, Better Care webinar  will take place on Wednesday 29 September, 10.45 – 12.00 for CQC registered providers.  Colleagues from the National Cyber Security Centre, the Cyber Resilience Centre (SW) and adult social care providers will give top tips, up-to-date insights and practical support on how to reduce and manage cyber attacks.

13. MiDoS for care homes has been updated to include what a multi disciplinary Team (MDT) is, the frequency of the MDT meetings and the different arrangements that can be expected by care homes.

14. Falls awareness week is an annual event to help raise awareness of falls prevention practices and the support that is available. The campaign runs between 20 and 26 September 2021.  The Falls Prevention Service in MPFT have updated their webpage with guidance and resources. Care homes can also access resources through the MiDoS for care homes platform.

15. The Workforce Development Fund (WDF) 2021-22 is now open to adult social care employers in England to support the development of their staff at all levels, offering funding for a wide range of qualifications, learning programmes and digital learning modules.

Other

16. Please ensure you update your business continuity and infection control information daily or more often as necessary as this helps us with placements and with Covid-19 related support.  

We would like to encourage home care to ensure they regularly update the capacity tracker with their staffing pressures (Covid 19 and otherwise).

17. We remain contactable 7 days per week. For details of how to contact us, please go to How to Contact Us for further details.