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‘Time to Talk’ – Covid-19 Listening Service

‘Time to Talk’

COVID 19 Listening Service available for relatives and residents in care homes

An Edinburgh – Glasgow project of EIFA https://www.edinburghinterfaith.com/

Good day,

I am writing to you on behalf of EIFA – Edinburgh Interfaith Organisation (a multifaith organisation which seeks to enable understanding and mutual respect within communities). The Scottish government has provided seed money to launch a service that will seek to be supportive to care home residents and their families during this time of Covid-19. As we all know, these unprecedented times have hit the care home sector especially hard, with families often unable to visit their loved ones living in care homes.

We will offer a seven day a week (11am – 7pm) opportunity for care home residents and their family members to be listened to by volunteers via the telephone. The volunteers will be vetted for their experience and training as listeners. We hope that care home residents (who are able) and their family members will gain some solace and peace from this and that it will be a support for staff who are under pressure.  Additionally, as this service is being offered through a multi-faith organisation, callers wishing to speak directly to someone of their faith will be connected through our service. It is important to note that although EIFA is a multi-faith-based organisation,all care home residents and their family members are welcomed to make use of this listening service – be they of a particular faith or none.  Also, it is important to stress that this service will offer an understanding and empathic listening service; there will be no advice or counselling offered.

 All calls will be held in the strictest confidence; only very basic background details will be noted as a record of who is making use of this service, to inform future and ongoing offering of this service.

As the manager of this listening service, I am asking if you would be willing to help to get the word out to your residents and their families about this service, so that they may perhaps find a measure of comfort during this most difficult time. I have attached a flyer that can be printed-off and posted/made available to your residents and their families. I am happy to answer any questions or concerns you may have, as well as your suggestions as to additional ways we can let care home residents and families (at present only within Edinburgh and Glasgow) to make use of our service.

Many thanks for reading this letter.  We hope that this service affords a measure of support for all involved. Please feel free to contact me at any time; I will phone you in the few days to follow-up on this.

Thank you and best wishes,

Dr Claire Garabedian

Project Manager – Time to Talk

ClaireA[email protected]

07519 418451

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New Covid-19 resource by NES / SSSC

Recognising deterioration and supporting people with acute care needs

A guide for social care workers supporting people in care homes or their own home 

A new partnership resource developed by NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) highlights the essential skills to respond to and care for people living in care homes or their own home, who have acute care needs due to COVID-19.

Recognising deterioration and supporting people with acute care needs during COVID-19 will be of value to staff caring for people in a care home or in their own homes, or those supporting staff in their role.

The resource provides guidance on the speedy recognition, assessment and escalation of concerns for a person who may be deteriorating. It also provides guidance on ongoing observation and monitoring of the unwell person, as well as the administration of oxygen. This builds on the many and varied skills staff already have.

They are keen to hear views on this new resource and comments can be shared using the anonymised feedback form in the website. Access the resource at https://learn.sssc.uk.com/coronavirus/acutecare/

The resource is also in the process of being uploaded to the NES Turas COVID-19 site at https://learn.nes.nhs.scot/30824/coronavirus-covid-19/practice-in-the-community-setting/social-care-workforce

 

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Disclosure Scotland email notification service – 1 June

Disclosure Scotland are automating the email notification service for priority applications, please see update from them below. 

As part of our response to coronavirus (COVID-19), we issue email notifications to employers of key workers. This allows employers to make quick and safe recruitment decisions.

From 8 June 2020, most notifications you may receive will come from [email protected]. You may still receive some notifications from [email protected]. Notifications will be issued to the email address held on our system.

We are keen this process is compatible with your business continuity arrangements during coronavirus. Please advise if you would prefer us to issue the notifications to an alternative email address by contacting [email protected].

We will no longer send notification that an application is on hold. Some applications will continue to receive a notification of completion where appropriate. All other notification guidelines remain as set out on 27 March.

Additionally, we have removed the need for organisations to submit a cover sheet with priority applications. From today, you only need to submit the application form(s).

If you are submitting more than 50 applications, please continue to give us advanced notice by emailing [email protected]. Please continue to send completed applications and queries to this address.

Thank you for your patience during this time.

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Updated statement on the use of gloves

The ARHAI team (National IPC) has provided the statement below in regards to the use of gloves. 

This should also be considered in the light of:

  • There has been no change in guidance. The National Infection Protection Control Manual has been written with a focus an Acute settings and is mandatory within the NHS.
  • It recognises that Social Care operate within a different environment and the manual is recognised as ‘best practice’
  • There is also a broad appreciation that vinyl gloves have been used widely across the sector
  • The UK 4 nations group has been undertaking a literature review, with input from NHS Scotland to potentially expand upon the different situations where different glove types would be appropriate, in all cases supported by a local risk assessment  
  • There is a recognition that the cost of nitrle is significantly higher than vinyl and a shift in the balance of use would have an impact
  • Nevertheless until the outcome of the 4 nations work is available NSS has agreed to issue only nitrile gloves via the Hub system to ensure the higher standard is available across the sector, this will be reviewed in due course

As per National Infection Prevention and Control guidance vinyl gloves should not be used when the user anticipates risk of contact with blood and/or body fluids, when handling strong chemicals or cytotoxic materials.  Where there is no anticipated risk Vinyl gloves are suitable for social contact, direct contact and contact with the environment. 

The key message when using any gloves is to ensure proper hand hygiene is carried out after removing the gloves using either soap and water or ABHR.

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How to take care of your voice when wearing PPE

Wearing PPE for long periods of time may contribute to a strained voice when talking through a mask and visor. You need your voice now more than ever, and these steps can help prevent or alleviate strain in your voice:

Six steps for voice care when using face masks

 

1)    Drink plenty fluids

Your voice will work better and last longer if your vocal cords are lubricated. Drink roughly 2 litres (8 glasses or 4 pints) of water a day. Try steam inhalation.

2)    Breath support

Instead of forcing your voice from your neck to make it louder, take a deep, slow breath before speaking and use your stomach muscles to support your voice. Think of your voice coming forward and through the mask. Open your mouth more than usual when speaking.

3)    Pace yourself

Rest your voice when you can. Reduce background noise when talking if possible. Slow down and keep your sentences shorter than usual. Use pictures, written information and gestures to help get your message across to patients rather than just relying on your voice.

4)    Relax

Take 3 slow breaths – on your first breath out drop your shoulders down, on the next breath out unclench and relax your jaw, on the last breath out relax the back of your tongue to the bottom of your mouth.

5)    Avoid irritants

Limit your general intake of caffeine, alcohol, fizzy drinks and high fat, spicy or acidic food if you are running into voice problems. Cut down or ideally don’t smoke.

6)    Do vocal warm-ups and stretches

Voice exercises before and after your shifts will stretch your vocal cords and help to prevent vocal injury by increasing blood flow to the larynx. Gently hum on a comfortable pitch then hum a scale or tune.

If you’d like more information, you can email: [email protected]

Specialist Speech and Language Therapist, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.

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Guidance on drafting a media statement for Covid-19 confirmed cases/deaths

Media interest continues to increase for a number of providers during Covid-19, with journalists contacting members for their figures on confirmed Covid-19 cases or Covid-19 deaths. Providers may choose to provide a simple media statement to respond to these media enquiries. Whilst choosing not to engage with the media seems like the easiest option, a ‘no comment’ response could be more damaging when used for a negative story. It is likely that the story will still run so a simple statement can provide an opportunity to clarify a situation.

In recognition of this, Scottish Care has collated some information to help members draft media statements. It is important to consider the following information when drafting a media statement on Covid-19 confirmed cases/deaths:

1. Draft a general statement instead of a specific response to any questions proposed by the media

2. Confirm current situation

  • Are there confirmed Covid-19 cases or deaths?
  • You can include figures of cases/deaths if you wish to disclose this information

Example: It is with regret to note that at [name of care home], we do have a number of our residents and staff diagnosed with Covid-19. Sadly, this has included X numbers of deaths.

3. Express concern and offer sympathies for those affected by Covid-19

Example: We offer our deepest condolences for the residents, family and friends and staff who have been affected by this.

4. Highlight the preventative measures that were put in place

  • You could mention the robust supply of PPE/how PPE was used
  • You could mention positive work by the staff
  • You could mention that appropriate guidance was followed
  • Include any measures that saw the delay of transmission of the virus

Example: The staff at [name of care home] have been doing their utmost to provide compassionate care and support to our residents during these challenging times. We have been fortunate to have a robust supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which was used by staff in accordance to guidance. This effectively saw the delay in the transmission of the virus into our home.

5. Highlight any other measures that are put in place to address Covid-19 outbreak

  • Are positive staff self-isolating?
  • Are positive residents isolated?
  • Are staff working in designated areas?

Example: To help reduce the virus spreading in the home, we have put in the following measures in place [list measures].

6. Emphasise ongoing commitment to the health, safety and wellbeing of residents and staff.

Example: The health and safety of our staff and residents are our top priority, and as the Covid-19 crisis continues, we are committed to continually do everything we can to respond quickly and effectively, whilst following the latest advice from the government.

We have also created a Media Toolkit earlier this month to provide members with some tips and advice on how to handle media enquiries. You can access this toolkit here: https://scottishcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Media-Toolkit.pdf

If you require additional support with media requests, please contact [email protected].

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Help for Heroes – mental health & wellbeing resources

 

Forces charity – Help for Heroes in Scotland which supports veterans, service personnel and their loved ones have developed some resources during Covid-19.  These resources include a Field Guide to Self-Care to staff and volunteers which Scottish Care members  may find useful at such a stressful and traumatic time for care workers.

You can access this guide here:

The guide was co-produced by, and for, veterans who have experienced trauma and is now being made available to care workers, NHS staff  – and anyone else who may be feeling anxious and stressed by the current crisis.

There are further resources on their website on dealing with anxiety, sleep disruption and other issues which may also be useful:

https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/get-support/stronger-together/

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