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Provider Corner - Latest News and Information

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Please see below for the latest news and information relevant to the health and social care provider market.

March 2024 - Ralstonia pickettii cluster linked to outbreak in Australia

Please find attached a UKHSA Health Protection Briefing Note regarding a Ralstonia pickettii cluster linked to outbreak in Australia associated with sodium chloride irrigation/inhalation solution products used in health and care settings.

Legency Remedies Private Ltd has issued an urgent Field Safety Notice (FSN) Product Recall for sodium chloride 0.9% w/v solutions for irrigation, inhalation and eye wash, produced between April 2023 and November 2023.  Clinical service providers that use saline products for irrigation, inhalation or eye wash, and distributors (clinical service leads, pharmacy, procurement, and other relevant leads within organisations) are asked to read the attached briefing and FSN and ensure review of inventory to determine if any of the batch numbers listed in the FSN are present in your stock, and if so follow information to quarantine and return the recalled products.

Download Briefing Document

Emergence Of New Ribotype (Strain)

What is Clostridioides Difficile? Bacteria that can cause diarrhoea particularly in frail, elderly and in those that have been in hospital or had antibiotics. 

New Ribotype (Strain) 955

Following the pandemic there has been an increase in the numbers of Clostridioides infections and there doesn't appear to be any reason for the increase. However, UKHSA has identified a new strain 955 which so far has resulted in 50 cases. 

What is the concern?

It appears to be passed on easily, cause more severe disease and also in some cases death. 10% of the total number of cases identified have dies.

Guidance for Care Homes:

Prompt isolation of any individual who develops diarrhoea and inform IPC Teams. City 0115 8834902' County IPCT 01623 673081

Review resident information and identify if they have had antibiotics in the last 3 months, or been into hospital or had C. difficile previously. 

Obtain stool sample and monitor diarrhoea frequency and type using the Bristol Stool chart. 

If a resident is discharged or has been commenced on Vancomycin treatment for C. difficile infection and they are not responding to treatment and are still having regular episedoes of diarrhoea then please escalate to the GP to review.

Ensure any resident with diarrhoea is not only isolated but that appropriate IPC principles are put in place to reduce the risk of transmission across the home. IPC can advice

Further information can be found on IPC principles in the documents below:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/national-infection-prevention-and-control-manual-nipcm-for-england/

Infection prevention and control in adult social care settings - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Announcement Of Care Workforce Pathway

Last week the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) announced the first version of the Care Workforce Pathway and the introduction of and funding for a new Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate qualification, which are both projects Skills for Care has consulted and supported on with the sector. They also announced an uplift to the Workforce Development Fund this financial year, to expand access to learning and development and a new digital leadership qualification

These initiatives will encourage learning and development opportunities for people working in different care services as well as supporting with the recruitment and retention challenges which we know employers are continuing to face. We look forward to seeing the impact this package can have for people working in care.

Jan 2024 - Compliance Visits, What To Expect From A Home Office Visit

A guide for East Midlands care providers and licensed sponsors on their sponsorship obligations and what to look at when preparing for a UKVI sponsor compliance visit.

For information on compliance visits please download the recent Compliance Visits Presentation and Immigration Compliance Document

July 2023: Use of Flame-Retardant Bedding Pack Instruction

Care Provider; use of Flame-Retardant Bedding Pack for Occupier.

Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service have provided the occupier 2 x Bedding packs and a flame retardant throw due to them smoking in bed. This is a high-risk activity. NFRS have advised about the danger of smoking in bed and the danger of a fire developing because of this. NFRS have therefore supplied your client with a set of flame-retardant bedding in the hope that this will reduce the risk of the bedding catching fire.

Flame Retardant Bedding Sets

During a recent safe and Well visit carried out by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS), concerns were raised regarding smoking practises within the property, in particular the practice of resident’s smoking whilst in bed. NFRS has strongly advised against this behaviour as this is considered a high-risk activity. As an initial control measure to help reduce the risk of fire caused by this activity, NFRS has supplied either two sets of flame-retardant bedding or one set of bedding and one linen pack dependent on the circumstances. Further bedding sets, if/when required (see below), must be purchased by the employer, occupier, or owner of the premises or those responsible for their care.

Linen Pack, Pillowcase and Duvet Set Washing Instructions

WARNING: If you are reading a printed copy of this document please refer to the Intranet to ensure you are reading the most current version.

The bedding supplied by NFRS meets British Safety standards BS7175/Source 5

Please note that the flame retardancy of this bedding set will last for approximately 50 washes (Based on washing at 71 degrees for infection control), at which point, to maintain its effectiveness, NFRS recommend that they be replaced.

NFRS recommend that a record should be kept of how open the bedding is washed to predict when replacements are required and to continue to manage the risk posed by fire in these circumstances. Wherever possible, it is recommended that the practice of smoking in bed should not be permitted.

NFRS would like to take this opportunity to highlight the following:

It is the duty of the responsible person to ensure that measures are taken to reduce the risk of fire on the premises and to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks to which relevant persons are exposed. The responsible person must, in premises to which the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order applies, identify, and take such general fire precautions as are needed to comply with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. If in doubt about your role or your regulatory duties please seek expert advice.

NFRS advises the following:

• This bedding should be always used whilst the practise of smoking in bed continues.
• The use of flame-retardant sleep wear should be considered as an additional safety precaution.
• The risk of being injured by fire through smoking in bed is increased if an airflow mattress and/or emollient creams are being used.
• If the household requires care and support then those responsible for the care must ensure a suitable risk assessment is in place and reviewed regularly. 
•If you require further information or guidance, please email personsatrisk@notts-fire.gov.uk

The following suppliers are stockists of bedding sets:

Vision Support Services *
Contact: 0845 194 8664 or www.visionsupportservices.com/shop

Thomas Kneale * Contact: 0161 274 4464 or www.thomaskneale.co.uk

* When purchasing additional bedding, please ensure that it meets the required safety standards for the circumstances of the occupier.

May 2023: DHSC: What Good Looks Like (WGLL): A Framework To Support Digital Working In Adult Social Care

This aspirational framework provides a set of goals for local authorities and care providers as they work towards digitisation. It has been developed as part of NHS England and DHSC’s wider collection of What Good Looks Like guidance to support health and social care leaders with digital transformation. The guidance has been co-developed with the adult social care sector through a series of workshops and in-depth interviews.  In the coming weeks, additional resources, webinars and case studies will be shared to further support local authorities and care providers. Digital working in adult social care: What Good Looks Like - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk

DHSC: What Good Looks Like (WGLL): a framework to support digital working in adult social care

This aspirational framework provides a set of goals for local authorities and care providers as they work towards digitisation. It has been developed as part of NHS England and DHSC’s wider collection of What Good Looks Like guidance to support health and social care leaders with digital transformation. The guidance has been co-developed with the adult social care sector through a series of workshops and in-depth interviews.  In the coming weeks, additional resources, webinars and case studies will be shared to further support local authorities and care providers. Digital working in adult social care: What Good Looks Like - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk

April 2023: Adult Social Care Data Enforcement Commenced

Notice

Adult Social Care data enforcement commenced 1 April 2023

This means adult social care providers who fail to submit their data through the Capacity Tracker each month could be issued with a financial penalty. The guidance on how to comply with the information provisions in the Health and Care Act 2022 and how they will be enforced is available online here. We encourage all providers to read through the guidance to ensure they are aware of what is expected and how to be compliant. If providers have any further questions or need advice, please contact the Team at capacitytracker-guidance@dhsc.gov.uk.

The formal notice which details the data that needs to be submitted can be found here.

Collection windows open on the eighth of each month and close on the fourteenth of each month unless this falls on a weekend or bank holiday, when the final day for submission moves to the next working day.

To be compliant, providers must submit their data during the collection window

Updating Capacity Tracker

A system generated email is sent to all providers registered on Capacity Tracker as notice that the monthly collection window is open. The email contains two links:

  1. Directs the user to the Capacity Tracker to review, update, and save their information
  2. Enables the user to provide a 'nil' return or to save the previously updated information

Another system generated email reminder is sent 48 hours prior to the collection window closing, to those who have not completed any update.

If a provider believes their type of service do not have a duty to provide data but have been approached by our delivery partners NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) or North of England Commissioning Support (NECS) to do so, please submit a 'nil' return as set out above.

If a provider needs assistance updating the Capacity Tracker or need general advice and support, please contact the Support Centre on 0191 691 3729 or via email

necsu.capacitytracker@nhs.net

Feedback From Our Sector Engagement Activity

Below are the top five queries we had from our engagement with providers over the last seven months.

  1. Where a provider has more than one location, they were unsure if they should update information for each location. Providers should submit an update for all settings and locations, failing to do so will reflect as non-compliance.
  2. Providers were unsure if they should provide update for both types of provisions they offer. Where both home and residential care are offered by the same provider, said provider must update data for each care type.
  3. CQC is not always notified about changes so the data is not always up to date. For example: a setting is now dormant, changed ownership or closed locations. CQC must be notified as soon as possible to ensure we store the correct data and mitigate against the risk of being issued with a penalty.
  4. Capacity Tracker location contacts are not kept up to date. If an individual no longer works for a provider, the Capacity Tracker must be updated to ensure the correct contact information is held.
  5. Some providers are updating information in Capacity Tracker but not during the designated windows. The collecting windows are the 8th day of every month till the 14th day of every month – or next working day if the 14th is a weekend or Bank Holiday.

The full list of frequently asked questions, including contact information to obtain guidance and support, can be found here.

With kind regards,
DHSC

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