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Alternatively, you can read this week’s update here:
A) COVID-19: CQC Transitional Monitoring Approach – Published 01 October
This details the CQC’s new approach to monitoring services and regulating during the pandemic. For more information refer below or click here. Our guidance to support with this new approach can also be found in the Resource Centre on the QCS management system.
B) COVID-19: When to Get a Test – Updated 05 October
An update to the number of days in which to get a test has been put in place by the Government. This has been changed from a window of 5 to 8 days for testing. For more information click here.
C) COVID-19: Vinyl Gloves – Published 06 October
An update from UKHCA advised that the Department of Health and Social Care had made a mistake in their recent PPE guidance and it will be updated to make it clear that vinyl gloves can be used in the majority of situations where gloves are needed. Only when staff are likely to come into contact with blood should they wear nitrile, neoprene or latex gloves. For more information click here.
D) COVID-19: NHS Test and Trace: how it works – Updated 06 October
The Government have updated this to now reflect the requirement to self-isolate if you test positive or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace as being law. The second contact phone number that NHS Test and Trace may call on has also been removed. For more information click here.
E) COVID-19: NHS COVID-19 App – Updated 08 October
Information on pausing the contact tracing section of the App has been provided for certain situations. For more information click here.
F) COVID-19: Testing Guidance for Employers – Updated 08 October
A new annex B has been issued as a pratical guide to employers who want to offer workplace testing for asymptomatic employees. For more information click here.
G) CQC Transitional Monitoring Approach
This new approach focuses on safety, how effectively a service is led and how easily people can access the service. It includes:
- A strengthened approach to monitoring, based on specific existing key lines of enquiry (KLOEs) so risk in a service can be monitored
- Using technology and local relationships to better direct contact with people who are using services, their families and staff working in the service
- Targeting inspection activity where there are concerns
Once the CQC have reviewed information about your service, you will have a conversation online or via telephone. This is not an inspection and you will not be rated from this. It will help decide if further regulatory action is needed.
Where an inspection or other regulatory action is not needed, a copy of the monitoring summary record will be sent. Where risks are identified to the safety of people using the service, further regulatory action may be taken, including help to find additional sources of support for the service, an inspection to be carried out or enforcement processes. A monitoring summary record will not be sent in such cases and the necessary action will be taken.
H) Policy Updates
- In light of the recent government updates, as detailed above, the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Policy and Procedure has been updated
- COVID-19 Testing Summary, within the Resource Centre, has been updated in light of the changes to the number of days in which you can be tested