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Social Care Providers are playing a critical role in protecting and caring for the most at-risk citizens in our communities. These are challenging times and the leadership of social care in Wales really appreciates everything you are doing to keep people safe.
This document should be read in conjunction with the most recent advice from Public Health Wales (PHW) and Welsh Government.
The aim of this briefing is to keep providers informed of the latest updates, provide advice and respond to general enquiries
Topic | Detail | Link |
Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) – Deaf and those living with hearing loss | The Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Prof Chris Jones has issued a letter addressing the concerns raised by organisations representing the deaf and hard of hearing population, that the use of masks during the pandemic is creating difficulties for people when accessing health and care services. The letter, which is aimed at social care providers, medical directors and nursing directors of local health boards and trusts, includes a list of key principles on the use of PPE and notes the importance of consideration being given to communicating safely to ensure people are able to receive the health and social care services they require. | Communication assistance for deaf where PPE is worn - bi-lingual |
Volunteers required for the COVID-19 Vaccine Study
| Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is recruiting now for a COVID-19 vaccine study, run by Oxford University, which aims to find a safe vaccine that can be used to create immune responses against the virus and prevent the disease. The study team in Wales is hoping to recruit staff working in social care who live in specific postcodes in Cardiff and Newport areas. They are looking for healthy staff volunteers aged 18 and over who are in contact with people who use care and support. | Staff who are interested in helping find a solution to the COVID-19 pandemic should visit https://covid19vaccinetrial.co.uk for more information. |
Welsh Government Statements and News | ||
Children’s social services during the COVID-19 pandemic: guidance
| Revised Welsh Government Operational guidance on the delivery of Children’s Social Care for local authorities and partners involved in safeguarding children was re-published on 22 May. This guidance helps local authorities and partners continue to provide effective support to vulnerable, at risk and care experienced children, whilst maintaining their statutory duties during the coronavirus outbreak. The revised guidance sets out the measures that should be put in place to minimise the impact of the pandemic, including the handling of fostering medical assessments. | https://gov.wales/childrens-social-services-during-covid-19-pandemic-guidance |
Update to self-isolation explanatory diagram
| Welsh Government has updated its diagram (originally published on 21 March) explaining how many days to stay at home for different scenarios. |
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Guidance - Using the coronavirus home testing kit | How to use the coronavirus home testing kit if you think you have coronavirus.
The UK Government announced the expansion in eligibility of testing to under 5s, which will also be applicable in Wales. We will be publishing guidance and amending our critical worker policy to reflect this position. This will mean that home test kits can be made available for under 5s across Wales. | https://gov.wales/using-coronavirus-home-testing-kit
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Testing for coronavirus: weekly updates | Includes the number and results of coronavirus tests, who was tested and where they were tested. | |
Guidance - Allied health professionals’ (AHP) role in rehabilitation during and after COVID-19 | This statement outlines our four nations’ collective strategic priorities and approach to AHP rehabilitation leadership during and after COVID-19. | https://gov.wales/allied-health-professionals-ahp-role-rehabilitation-during-and-after-covid-19 |
Launching risk assessment to support BAME workers | A new risk assessment has been launched to support people from BAME backgrounds in the NHS and social care in Wales. UPDATED 29 May: The COVID-19 workforce risk assessment tool is now available via the Welsh Government website | https://gov.wales/launching-risk-assessment-support-bame-workers |
Written Statement: All-Wales COVID-19 Workforce Risk Assessment Tool | The First Minister of Wales informs of the emerging evidence suggests people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds are being disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
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Care home testing guidance | Guidance issued on Welsh Government approach to testing in care homes. | |
Written Statement: Test, Trace, Protect | The Minister for Health and Social Services provides a written update to members on progress in implementing our Test, Trace, Protect strategy.7 M20 | |
Written Statement: Older people's rights and coronavirus | The Deputy Minister for Social Care has issued a written statement on older people’s rights and coronavirus. It is vital that we work together to create a more equal society that upholds human rights and enables people of all ages to fulfil their potential no matter what their background or circumstance. | https://gov.wales/written-statement-older-peoples-rights-and-coronavirus
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Right-sizing Community Services for Discharge | In 2019/20, the NHS Wales Delivery Unit and Prof John Bolton worked with Regional Partnerships Boards on the national ‘Right-sizing Community Services for Discharge’ project. This report gives an overview of the national findings and makes recommendations. for the way forward. It is published now as the recommendations are pertinent to the current response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and will support future system recovery. |
Letter re National Report on Right-sizing Community Services for Discharge
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Social Care Wales | ||
Social care worker card benefits
| You can find a full list of the benefits available with the social care worker card, which aims to help social care workers in Wales prove they are key workers, in our FAQs pages. Please check back regularly to keep up-to-date with the latest information. | https://socialcare.wales/service-improvement/social-care-worker-card-faqs
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Care Home Cwtch
| Care Home Cwtch is a new digital support network for care home managers in Wales. The Cwtch is exclusively for adult care home managers and meets every Wednesday to:
Cwtch is run in partnership by Improvement Cymru, Age Cymru, Cofio Dementia Training and Social Care Wales, and is supported by Welsh Government and Care Inspectorate Wales. | To join up, please email dementia@socialcare.wales |
WeCare Wales jobs portal
| Social care employers: we want to help address the staff shortages you might be facing right now. To help you find the right people to fill your vacancies and support your business, we’ve created a jobs portal that will list current social care jobs in Wales. Post your job vacancies on Twitter and include the following details:
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Dolenni links / Useful links:
Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru – tudalennau gwe COVID-19 https://gofalcymdeithasol.cymru/gwella-gwasanaethau/gwybodaeth-ac-adnoddau-ich-tywys-trwy-covid-19 | Social Care Wales – Covid-19 web pages: https://socialcare.wales/service-improvement/information-and-resources-to-guide-you-through-covid-19 |
ADSS Cymru – Support for Commissioned Providers | ADSS Cymru – Cefnogaeth i Ddarparwyr a Gomisiynwyd |
Public Health Wales, Daily 2pm Statements: | Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru, Datganiadau Dyddiol am 2yp: |
Care Inspectorate Wales, FAQs: | Arolygaeth Gofal Cymru, Cwestiynnau Cyffredin: https://arolygiaethgofal.cymru/coronafeirws-covid-19-cwestiynau-cyffredin |