29 May 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Special Brief – 29 May 2020

Friday 29 May

VODG continues to raise concerns around the government’s coronavirus (COVID-19) testing programme based on member feedback on the issues and challenges some are facing. As part of its COVID-19 Recovery Strategy, the government aspires to offer a COVID-19 test first to every staff member and ‘resident’ in care homes for older people with dementia and then to roll this out to wider groups later in June. We are concerned about issues of parity and the fact that aspirations often take longer to come to fruition than planned. And most recently the launch of the NHS Test and Trace programme has added additional layers to those concerns, particularly around what the impact the programme will have on providers’ workforce and HR arrangements, as well as issues around the accessibility of the programme for disabled people. We have been raising our concerns within the Department and want to shine a light on the impact of testing as you see it. We are inviting you to take part in a very short snap survey about COVID-19 testing to help inform our collective influencing work. We have structured the survey questions in such a way that we do not require you to provide numbers and figures – we seek only your views. The survey takes no longer that two minutes to complete. Given the immediacy of this work, we would be grateful if you could complete the survey by midday on Tuesday 2 June.

You can complete the survey here.

Erika Murigi | Head of Communications and Public Affairs

Coronavirus (COVID-19): key messages

This week, the government launched the NHS Test and Trace programme. Links to guidance on the programme as well as further detail on the process are included below. In a call with the Department of Health and Social Care, VODG has raised concerns around the accessibility of the programme. We will continue to follow up with the department on how it will address these concerns, and report back to members accordingly.
The Care Minister, Helen Whately, has written to local authority chief executives, directors of adult social services and directors of public health (cc'ing care home providers and the Local Government Association for information) about implementation of the £600million Infection Control Fund for adult social care. Please find this letter and an accompanying grant circular below.
All feedback, please email [email protected]

Coronavirus (COVID-19): news

NHS Test and Trace programme launched

Anyone who tests positive for coronavirus will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace and will need to share details of recent interactions.

New online social care recruitment platform

'Join Social Care’ aims to make it easier for care providers to reach out to people in local areas looking to work in the sector.

£5m to mental health community projects

Community projects supporting people with their mental health during the pandemic to benefit from share of £5m additional funding.

New portal for PPE

Small care homes with 24 beds or less, home care domiciliary services with 99 clients or less and GPs can register on the PPE Portal.

Government signs new PPE contracts

Government has signed deals with more than 100 new global suppliers and increased domestic production.

NHS England and NHS Improvement webinar slide deck

Webinar slide deck from the learning disability programme at NHS England and NHS Improvement.

NHS England and NHS Improvement FAQs

FAQs from the learning disability programme at NHS England and NHS Improvement.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance

Test and Trace workplace guidance

Guidance for employers on new NHS Test and Trace programme.

Test and Trace strategy external

Q&A document for external stakeholders on new NHS Test and Trace programme.

Test and Trace Infographic

Infographics explaining the process for new NHS Test & Trace programme.

Looking after people who lack mental capacity

For health and social care staff who are caring for, or treating, a person who lacks the relevant mental capacity.

Safeguarding adults with dementia

Guidance to support care providers and staff to safeguard people with dementia during the COVID-19 crisis.

Adult social care infection control fund grant circular

Document sets out the conditions upon which the infection control funding is paid and the local authorities to whom it will be paid.

Letter from Care Minister about adult social care infection fund

Letter from Helen Whately explains how funding should be used to help reduce risk of infection and is not intended to be used to improve provider financial resilience.

Claim back Statutory Sick Pay paid to employees due to COVID-19

How to use the Rebate Scheme to claim back employees' coronavirus related SSP.

Charity shop reopening pack

Updated version of guidance, including information on risk management. (Please delete previous versions.)

Coronavirus (COVID-19): sector response

Skills for Care enews

Latest edition includes links to a supplement published to support the practice of safe and fair recruitment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Commissioning and contracting – shaping the 'new normal'

NCVO and partners would like to hear from providers about their experience of public sector contracts during the pandemic.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources

Coronavirus - public and patient information

Information about coronavirus for older people, children and young people, and people with learning disabilities. From HEE.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): meetings

Trowers Tuesdays webinar | The Future of Furlough | 2 June | 11.30

Imogen Reseigh and TomStephenson will discuss furloughing part-time, how furlough will work after 1 August and employers' contribution to the cost of furlough.

VODG member CEO call | VODG Futures | 10 June | 13.00 - 15.00

An opportunity for VODG member chief executives to discuss next steps and future actions for VODG Futures programme.

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