DHSC Bulletin – Adult social care update – June 2022
The latest bulletin from the Department of Health and Social Care which includes information on the new mandate for data collections that will take place from 31st July. For more information, click here or see the section below on Capacity Tracker changes.
Using the NHS COVID-19 Pass to demonstrate COVID-19 status – Updated 23rd June
Guidance updated to reflect that children aged 5 to 11 years in England and Wales can get an NHS COVID-19 Pass letter to travel, where they have evidence of a positive COVID-19 NHS PCR test within the last 180 days. For more information, click here.
Skills for Care updated resources – Updated 23rd June
Two resources have been updated by Skills for Care to support providers as part of their Good and Outstanding care package. For more information, click here.
CQC – Infection prevention and control in care homes – Updated 23rd June
Updated to reflect latest changes in government guidance. For more information, click here.
UK to strengthen the regulation of medical devices to protect patients – Published 26th June
New plans have been announced to strengthen the regulation of medical devices to improve patient safety and encourage innovation. For more information, click here.
UK supports new international drive to prevent and prepare for future pandemics – Published 26th June
The Prime Minister has announced £25 million in UK aid backing for a new fund to ensure the world is better prepared to defeat future pandemics. For more information, click here.
Better mental health support for people in crisis – Press release 27th June
Update following a draft Mental Health Bill moving to the next stage. For more information, click here.
Draft Mental Health Bill 2022 – Published 27th June
The Government is publishing a draft Mental Health Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny, to modernise the Mental Health Act for the 21st century. For more information, click here.
CQC – Examples of notifiable safety incidents (duty of candour) – Updated 27th June
Changes made to clarify how you should apply the term ‘unexpected or unintended’ to decide if something qualifies as a notifiable safety incident or not. For more information, click here.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): advice for UK visa applicants and temporary UK residents – Updated 28th June
Update to announce that the exceptional assurance date has been extended from 30th June 2022 to 30th September 2022. For more information, click here.
Digital revolution to bust COVID backlogs and deliver more tailored care for patients – Press release 29th June
Press release that people across the country will benefit from faster, more personalised healthcare following a digital revolution to make the health and social care system fit for the 21st century. For more information, click here.
A plan for digital health and social care – Published 29th June
Policy paper published on the Department of Health and Social Care’s new plan for digitial health and social care. For more information, click here.
CQC – Regulation 18: Staffing – Updated 30th June
All CQC registered providers must now ensure staff receive training on interacting with people who have a learning disability and autistic people. For more information, click here.
Hospital discharge and community support guidance – Updated 1st July
Added guidance box to highlight that from 1st July there is a new duty for the NHS trusts and foundation trusts to involve patients and carers in discharge planning. For more information, click here.
Who can issue fit notes: guidance for healthcare professionals and their employers – Published 1st July
New guidance has been published on who can certify fit notes. For more information, click here.
Most significant change to taxi and private hire vehicle accessibility legislation in 12 years – News story 1st July
New laws to protect disabled people when travelling in taxis or private hire vehicles has come into force. For more information, click here.
Monkeypox: contact tracing – Updated 1st July
Contact tracing guidance has been updated. For more information, click here.
Monkeypox vaccination resources – Updated 1st July
Monkeypox: waiting for your vaccination leaflet added. For more information, click here.
CQC – Our annual update on the safe management and use of controlled drugs – Updated 5th July
The annual update from the CQC on the safe management and use of controlled drugs has been published. For more information, click here.
Infection prevention and control in adult social care: COVID-19 supplement – Updated 7th July
The supplment has been updated with a correction in relation to AGPs in the community, as well as highlighting that people with cognitive conditions such as dementia may present with atypical symptoms and all visitors are encouraged to wear face masks rather than face coverings. For more information, click here.
Coronavirus Act 2020: status – Updated 7th July
Table reflecting the status of each measure in the Coronavirus Act 2020 has been updated. For more information, click here.
Heat-health alert issued by the UK Health Security Agency – Press release 7th July
The heat alert has been issued for 11th to 15th July, as high temperatures are predicted for a prolonged period. For more information, click here.
Capacity Tracker Changes
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will soon be mandating some data items via Capacity Tracker. These data items will need to be provided on a monthly basis and will cover:
- Care home bed vacancies and home care service users
- Workforce resourcing including absences
- Vaccination – COVID-19 and (seasonal) flu including data relating to the coming autumn’s COVID-19 booster campaign
- Visiting (care home) data
Policy Updates
- Reference to the new learning disability and autism training requirement has been added to a number of key policies including:
- Adults with Autism Policy and Procedure
- Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 Policy and Procedure
- Service Users with Communication Difficulties Policy and Procedure
Risk Assessment Updates
- All risk assessments continue to be updated in light of any recent government updates