23 Apr 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Special Brief – 22 April 2020

Wednesday 22 April

Thank you again to everyone who submitted a response to our call for data at the end of last week. Your response helped us contribute to a news package that aired on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday morning (alongside VODG member Certitude) as well as to additional online coverage in various outlets. You can read our statement here. Thank you also to Professor Chris Hatton of Lancaster University who undertook the analysis of the data. We will continue to use the findings in our influencing work in the coming weeks.

Thank you also to organisations that shared anonymous data on the range of increasing costs you are incurring as a result of the pandemic. This is helping the lobby with the Local Government Association and others.

Today, the VODG member finance and funding keeping in touch call took place. We hope participants found it an insightful meeting. Please note for your diaries that the next general KIT call will take place on 29 April. Registration details are below.

Finally, please note the Key messages section below for feedback on testing and other matters, as well as the Sector response section for details of a generous offer from VODG member Dimensions who is sharing isolation care training resources.

Erika Murigi | Head of Communications and Public Affairs

Coronavirus (COVID-19): key messages

ONS figures demonstrating a spike in care home deaths has been quickly followed by a joint Care Quality Commission/Department of Health and Social Care announcement over further expected increases in deaths in this population.
CQC has advised that the DHSC is aware that not all care workers are able to attend a drive-thru test centre. Home test kits are available but to request one requires a national insurance number. CQC does not hold this information and it is not included in the data CQC is gathering for the drive-thru tests. DHSC has asked CQC to support a pilot on the feasibility of home testing. CQC is working with one provider and a small number of its staff members who have been sent a link to order kits to be delivered to their homes. This will inform approach taken for wider roll-out either supported by us or another referral route.
DHSC has communicated that it is piloting mobile testing units which will travel to offer tests where they are needed, providing kits directly to care homes that have a particularly urgent or significant need. There is a network of couriers who collect the completed samples and deliver them safely to a government laboratory. The swab samples is analysed and the result is communicated back to the individual. The aim is to return test results within 48 hours of a swab being taken.

VODG contributed to a roundtable meeting with Sir Keir Starmer discussing various issues related to the pandemic. This resulted in media coverage in The Daily Telegraph and on ITV news. He also used insights from the meeting in today's Prime Minister Questions.
NICE has confirmed that it will not be producing additional guidance for the social care sector having noted feedback around there being a high level of new guidance for the sector.
All feedback, please email [email protected]

Coronavirus (COVID-19): news

Coronavirus care home deaths quadruple in a week

More than 1,000 die in week before Easter, with private homes deaths more than tripling finds reported by the ONS.

Joint statement from DHSC and CQC on further deaths

"It is anticipated that the number of deaths in care homes relating to COVID-19 reported by providers between 11 April and 15 April could be double the number of care home deaths reported [by ONS] yesterday."

Adult social care recruitment campaign

Government to launch 'Care for Others. Make a Difference’ campaign on 23 April to boost the workforce in England.

How home working leaves deaf people out of the loop

Three-quarters of people with hearing loss fear they will be less productive working from home.

Psychiatrists fear surge of cases mental health units

Shortage of protective equipment and tests mean deaths ‘could end up as high as in care homes’.

Ending the divide

Policy Exchange published new report exploring implications of COVID 19 for the government’s health and social care agenda.

Hard to prevent care home deaths

England's chief medical officer says current mortality figures are likely to be an "underestimate".

PPE arrives from Turkey

The delayed flight arrived with about half of the promised protective kit for NHS staff.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance

DHSC communications about use of the CARE brand

"As you are aware, a community interest company was involved in developing the initial brand and producing the badges. With the Department of Health and Social Care taking over responsibility for the brand, and bringing this more closely in line with the NHS logo, we are also taking over responsibility for how this is used going forwards.

"We will shortly be providing guidance on how the brand can be used by providers, and are working on how best to support the use of the badge. We will provide an update on how to access branded materials as soon as possible.

"We will also be using the CARE brand on other forms of support for workers such as a website and app for the social care workforce which will contain guidance and practical support and will be available by the end of April.

"Again, thank you for your support of this important step; the CARE brand identity will give much-deserved unified recognition to the social care workforce which will last long beyond COVID-19 and we are really grateful for your support on making this a success."

Government guidance for people receiving direct payments

Advice for people who buy care and support through a direct payment, as well as local authorities, clinical commissioning groups and those who provide care and support.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): sector response

Free access to solation care training

VODG member Dimensions, in partnership with Learningpool and Crossknowledge, is offering free access to an Isolation Care learning pathway to the wider VODG membership, on a first come first served basis. The pathway includes:

Infection prevention and control best practice
How to support someone through a period of isolation and keep yourself and others in the household safe.

The pathway is aimed at people working in social care and family members of people in ‘at risk’ categories during the current pandemic.

To access, email [email protected] ensuring ‘Access request for Isolation Care’ is included in the subject line. Please also ensure to include your name and e-mail address within the e-mail.

Deceased Management Advisory Group (DMAG)

Communications from the DMAG is as follows:

"A DMAG has been established to co-ordinate death care management with the UK Government and devolved governments. It holds weekly meetings with the Cabinet Office, Department of Health and Social Care; Department of Work and Pensions; as well as daily input with the Ministry of Justice.

Membership includes:
Association of Private Crematoria and Cemeteries
Federation of Burial and Crematoria Association
Funeral Furnishing Manufacturers Association
Institute of Crematorium and Cemetery Management
National Association of Funeral Directors
National Society of Allied & Independent Funeral Directors
The Cremation Society

"The DMAG would like to reinforce the practice of disclosing any infectious disease risks to funeral home staff when collecting deceased persons from care home settings. This is particularly important in the current pandemic. Like care home staff, funeral directors are on the frontline and we are working hard to minimise staff absences caused by the spread of coronavirus. "It’s well documented that our respective sectors have faced significant challenges in securing PPE. It is therefore essential that funeral directors are able to use stocks sparingly and only when required. The situation requires all hands on deck to ensure the deceased management process runs smoothly and families don’t face significant funeral backlogs, adding to the misery caused by necessary restrictions to funeral services. "With that in mind, we would be extremely grateful if you could communicate the need for care homes to observe the duty of disclosure to funeral directors in relation to the likely cause of death, that may be the deceased has been tested for COVID-19 and a positive result follows, or testing has occurred and results are awaited. "This will not only reduce the stress felt by funeral directors of handling COVID-19 victims but will also ensure collections are not held up or even worse refused. Similarly, if there are any challenges you face which could be eased by adjustments to funeral director practices at this time, please do not hesitate to let us know."

Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources

COVID-19 testing for personal care assistants

Information for employers and personal care assistants on testing for frontline workers. From Department of Health and Social Care.

COVID-19 Guided Self-help Booklet Series

Guided self-help booklets to support people with mild to moderate learning disabilities. From Scottish Commission for Learning Disability.

Our Frontline – Mental Health At Work

New service from mental health charities to provide round the clock support to those working against the Coronavirus.

Coronavirus, people’s voice and advocacy: a myth buster

Guide debunking myths and misunderstandings that could prevent people from getting access to advocacy during pandemic.

COVID-19 and the rights of disabled people - Easy Read

Statement about rights of disabled people and how they should apply during pandemic. From CHANGE.

Coronavirus statement from people with learning disabilities - Easy Read

Statement from disabled people about rights during pandemic. From CHANGE.

Urgent statement from disabled people and organisations on COVID-19 - Easy Read

Statement about human rights in light of the pandemic. From CHANGE.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): meetings

Trowers Tuesdays webinar | Managing a business during a pandemic | 28 April | 11.30 - 12.15

Next Trowers Tuesdays webinar will explore questions on how to deal with "business as usual" in these unusual times.

VODG member Keeping in touch meeting | 29 April | 11.00 - 12.30

The next virtual Coronavirus (COVID-19) KIT meeting will offer another opportunity for members to share issues and ideas.

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