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Testing times: ARC England update from Lisa Lenton
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H ello,
It's been a week of many conversations about testing; between Government departments, ministers and within the Task and Finish group I am involved in.
In particular, this week saw the welcome announcement that testing for whole care homes has started, and a portal is available now for managers (or local authorities) to register their service. Home testing kits will be sent for residents and staff, whether showing symptoms or not, and the test can be carried out by clinicians or staff if they are comfortable and confident to do so.
However, although we are hearing ministers proudly quoting numbers of tests carried out, we still hold significant concerns that the amount of testing going on each day in reality simply isn’t enough; systems aren’t working properly, logistics are poor and prioritisation of social care staff has been lost.
Read Lisa Lenton's full blog >
ARC Member Conference Calls
This week's call featured updates and discussion about learning disability and autism guidance, Track and Trace, testing and funding. The ARC team and I will be taking these issues forward and we will report back to our members on any developments.
The next ARC conference call is on Wednesday 20th May 2.30-3.30pm. Email your questions to Liz Collins at liz.collins@arcuk.org.uk.
Membership Renewal
Many of you have successfully renewed your memberships for 2020-21 - thank you. We are calling and emailing with reminders this week. We value our members' support more than ever as we face this difficult time together.
If you aren't a member check out our membership benefits and join today.
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 CQC reports 175% increase in learning disability deaths
The Care Quality Commission has released figures that show there has been a 175% increase in deaths of people in settings where people with learning disabilities live in England, compared with the same period last year.
Coronavirus: Care homes felt 'completely abandoned'
Care homes felt "completely abandoned" as the coronavirus crisis swept across the UK, the National Care Association has said.
Read the full story at BBC News >
Care homes report first decline in virus deaths
Deaths in care homes due to Covid-19 appear to be starting to fall but health and care leaders have warned there is no room for complacency.
Read the full story at Nursing Times >
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New : Distance Learning: Level 2 Award Independent Advocacy
We are delighted to launch our new Independent Advocacy Level 2 Award Distance Learning Pack and accompanying Workbook. It is in an easy to follow format, including activities, scenarios and handouts, to help consolidate your knowledge and understanding whilst taking you through the learning outcomes of the award, with the support of your personally allocated assessor.
The distance learning pack is ideal for anyone wanting to understand the basic principles of independent advocacy and its role. Email enquiries to qualifications@arcuk.org.uk.
Full details about our distance learning Level 2 Award in Independent Advocacy >
Skills For Care DBS Webinar: An Introduction to DBS Checks for Social Care
The Disclosure and Barring Service recently hosted a webinar for Skills for Care which aims to improve understanding of emergency COVID-19 Barred List(s) checks and free-of-charge checks, the DBS eligibility tool and barring referrals.
Watch a recording of the webinar >
For information about ARC England's online DBS Service please email DisclosureService@arcuk.org.uk
SCIE Infection Control Video Course
Infection prevention and control are essential to prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). This video-based course for care providers in care homes and home care will teach you about the spread of infection and what you can do to protect both yourself and the people you care for.
Find out more about the SCIE Infection Control course >
SCIE Safeguarding Adults training webinar
An introduction to safeguarding adults. This is the first in a series of webinars to support you and your team to keep vulnerable adults safe in a variety of settings.
View recorded SCIE Safeguarding Adults training webinar >
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance and Resources
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Government launches new portal for care homes to arrange coronavirus testing
Please note the Government has prioritised homes that support older people and those with more than 50 residents and state they are taking a phased approach to prioritisation to test the most vulnerable first.
Gov.uk Care Home Testing Portal >
Coronavirus (COVID-19): health and wellbeing of the adult social care workforce
Advice for those working in adult social care on managing your mental health and how employers can take care of the wellbeing of their staff during the
coronavirus outbreak.
Gov.uk Health and wellbeing of the adult social care workforce >
Data collection systems: Letter from CPA to providers
The CPA has a clear position on data collection during the COVID crisis: the two national data collection mechanisms - NHS Capacity Tracker and the CQC Update - are the priority for care providers who offer care home/nursing homes and/or home care to complete on a daily basis and other duplicate data requests are not.
Read the CPA letter to providers >
Department of Health and Social Care: Deaths of employees and volunteers in the adult social care sector
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has written to all local authorities and social care providers setting out their commitment to ensuring that employers, families, and the people who they cared for are given the support they need. The letter includes a request for providers to inform DHSC if a care worker has died and the process for doing this is outlined in the letter.
Read the DHSC letter to providers >
Coronavirus (COVID-19): revised general government guidance
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: step by step guide for employers
This guide explains the information that employers need to provide to claim for their employees’ wages.
Gov.uk Step-by-step Employer Guide to Job Retention Scheme >
Coronavirus (COVID-19): hospital discharge service requirements - Easy Read guides
Three new Easy Read documents have been added: ‘What you need to know about leaving hospital – Easy Read leaflet’, ‘When you leave hospital to go home – Easy Read leaflet’ and ‘Leaving hospital to go to a care home – Easy Read leaflet’. Sets out how health and care systems and providers should change their discharging arrangements and the provision of community support during the coronavirus situation.
Access the Easy Read guides about hospital discharge at Gov.uk >
NHS guidance: Visiting arrangements during end of life care
NHS clinical guidance for supporting compassionate visiting arrangements for those receiving care at the end of life.
Read the NHS guidance in full >
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We hope you enjoyed the latest edition of Real People. If you have a story you would like to promote or comment on, please email us at realpeople@arcuk.org.uk.
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