NHS England and the UK Health Security Agency have created a toolkit of resources to raise awareness of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) prevention, symptom recognition and treatment which includes advice on how and when to seek help.
People with urgent support needs who would run out of food or medicine within the next 3 days should be encouraged to contact the West Sussex Community Hub either by phone on 033 022 27980 or via the website. The website also gives information on other sources of support, where the request for support is less urgent.
Free delivery from a local pharmacy is available if people have no other way to get their medicines due to self isolating.
The Aldingbourne Trust has developed easyread home exercise ideas and home activity ideas.
Reasonable adjustments for people with learning disabilities
The two links below, to videos hosted on YouTube, explain what reasonable adjustments are and how they help people with a learning disability use mainstream health services.
Beyond Words is providing free picture stories and illustrated guides to support people with learning disabilities and autism through the coronavirus pandemic
People at high risk from Covid-19 are no longer told to stay at home (shield). There are still things you can do to keep yourself safe.
Please see DHSC Guidance for people previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19 for further information on this.
The Alzheimer’s Society has a range of resources and help available to support people living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
They have also produced guidance on supporting people living with dementia during bereavement.
Alzheimer’s Society helpline: 0333 150 3456 .
Further resources
There are many examples of transparent masks to help with lip reading that can obtained through online suppliers.
The charity SignHealth provides British Sign Language (BSL) videos of guidance published by the NHS.
Designed to improve communication through the PPE barrier, the flashcards are available in different languages and help COVID-19 patients understand hospital staff. To find out more visit the Cardmedic website.
There are communication boards now available for used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) has increased support and services to ensure blind and partially sighted people get the information they need. Anyone who needs support and advice can call the helpline by phone on 0303 123 9999 or email helpline@rnib.co.uk.
RNIB’s helpline has extended its opening hours. It is now open on weekdays from 8am to 8pm and on Saturdays from 9am to 5pm.
Social Care Institute for Excellence has developed a guide which includes information, resources and ideas that you can use and share with the people you support. This provides a wide range of information including:
There are a number of helplines available to support people with their mental health which would be particularly useful for people who are isolated or vulnerable.
Cruse Bereavement Care has developed resources on how bereavement and grief may be affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
At a Loss.org has information and advice to support people who are bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic, including ideas to help people feel less isolated, supporting someone who has been bereaved, advice on funerals and memorials, supporting children, and useful contacts.
New process for repeat Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)
West Sussex County Council DoLS team is changing its process for ‘repeat’ DoLS assessments, (further DoLS assessments when a resident has already had at least one DoLS authorisation). With your help, we want to ensure as many residents as possible who need a DoLS get one in good time and in a proportionate and sensible way.
Implementation of Liberty Protection Safeguards
The Government has issued a statement which provides an update on the implementation of Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS). LPS was due to come into force on 1 October 2020, however this has been moved to April 2022.
For more information, read the statement provided by the Department of Health and Social Care .
Best interests decisions: A COVID-19 quick guide
This Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE) guide covers best interests decisions during the pandemic and aims to offer some useful thoughts about what to take into account in different situations. It covers topics such as self isolating, social distancing, testing and making decisions about moving home.
Further information
Mental Capacity, Best Interests Decisions and Deprivation of Liberty: A Guide for Managers of Care Homes and Hospitals - West Sussex County Council guidance.
The Social Care Institute for Excellence has produced guidance on the implications for the MCA during the COVID-19 pandemic.
CQC has produced guidance on working within the Mental Capacity Act during the coronavirus pandemic. This highlights issues to consider when thinking about care and treatment that might involve restrictions because of COVID-19.
The West Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) website provides information and guidance on safeguarding, for providers and the public.
The board has collated useful links on COVID-19 from government, health and local organisations.
The SAB website also includes general safeguarding policies and procedures.
The Sussex bereavement guide was contributed to by Partners across the Sussex Health and Care System (SHCS), during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This highlights guidance and support with a focus on both the practical requirements, such as registering a death and organising a funeral, and the effect of bereavement, for example when people would like to talk to someone about their experience or feelings and more specialised aspects, such as when someone is experiencing mental health problems or the impacts due to faith or religious beliefs.
Sudden - Free bereavement support
Sudden is an early intervention service providing emotional and practical support in the first ten weeks following an unexpected bereavement. They help if a loved one (usually a family member or partner) has died in a way that may be sudden or shocking. They can also help if you are caring for someone bereaved in this way.
Their service is free of charge and provides emotional support and help with many practical things. Sudden will provide a named, qualified, friendly and professional caseworker to give support whatever the cause of death. For more information please see their website.
This is an organisation which uses live music as a way to help everyone to feel connected, expressive and more joyful. The team are professional music facilitators, trained specifically to work with vulnerable people. A new "Doorstep Music" programme has been created which involves live music being played to people from a safe distance in front of their homes. This free service is being offered to care homes across Sussex who have an outdoor space. Visit the Wishing Well website to find out more.
A guide to online resources for 'Maintaining activities for older adults during COVID-19'has been developed by the Health Innovation Network. Please note this document might not be suitable for users with assistive technology. If you need this information in another format, please contact aopcontracts@westsussex.gov.uk
The West Sussex online library has a wide range of resources and useful information including:
There is also a dedicated section specifically for care homes
For those who feel safer staying at home or are unable to get to the library, the library may be able to deliver the items. Please indicate on the Staff Select form or during a phone call to the library that a delivery is being enquired about.
Activities to Share are offering free activity resources to download.
Research shows that there are risks associated with transfer of Covid-19 through build-up of aerosol droplets during group singing activity in indoor spaces. However we know that singing plays an important role in care settings. This resource sets out some tools to help you make informed choices and decisions about whether and how to sing.
On 15 April, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) published new guidance: Supporting safer visiting in care homes during infectious illness outbreaks. The document provides general principles to support advice and decision making for anyone involved in the provision of advice to adult social care homes.
It provides a review of the issues which should be considered in safely planning and protecting visiting during outbreaks of infectious illness.
There should not normally be any restrictions to visits into or out of a care home. However, during an infectious disease outbreak, health protection teams may, in exceptional circumstances, advise that providers reduce the number of people entering and leaving a care home to reduce the spread of infection. This should only happen if facilitating a visit would pose a significant risk to the health or wellbeing of someone in the care home premises, which cannot be mitigated through other precautions.
Guidance has also been updated recently in line with changes to testing policy from 1 April 2024.
• From 1 April 2024 routine asymptomatic COVID-19 LFD testing on discharge from hospital into care or hospice settings will end aligning with the approach for other respiratory illnesses.
Further information can be found on the government website.
