20 Mar 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Special Brief – 19 March 2020

Thursday 19 March

Key legislation - the Coronavirus Bill (HC Bill 122) - has been introduced in the House of Commons. Explanatory notes have also been published. VODG will be reviewing the Bill in the coming days and your views on the proposed legislation are welcome. Please email [email protected] with any comments and observations.

Please continue to feedback to VODG on the issues you are facing in order that we can represent your interests. We are sharing what we have and on issues such as key workers, distribution of PPE the situation remains unclear.

The Department of Health and Social Care has launched a portal that allows people to submit questions to be answered by the Minister for Care Helen Whately, Chair of the Social Care Institute of Excellence Paul Burstow and Director of Ageing Well and Community Services at NHS England, Matthew Winn. We've included a link to the portal below alongside a series of answers to questions DHSC are answering on the emergency coronavirus bill.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for today's virtual meeting on technology enabled support with Carezapp. This provided members with the opportunity to explore how technology could be used to support people remotely. Slides and contact details are included below.

In response to positive feedback and a high number of requests for a second VODG member virtual Keeping in touch meeting, registration is now open here for a second KIT call next Wednesday (25).

Erika Murigi | Head of Communications and Public Affairs

Coronavirus (COVID-19): key messages

The Coronavirus Bill has been introduced. Please submit your views for collective representation.
Hospital discharge service arrangements has been published.
DHSC has launched a portal for people to submit questions about coronavirus.
DHSC has made available answers to questions raised during stakeholder meetings.
NHSE/I issues guidance for chief executives of mental health trusts and other mental health service providers, including the independent and third sectors.
Slides from today's Technology Enabled Support virtual call are featured below.
VODG is hosting a second Keeping in touch call for members. Details are below.
All feedback, please email [email protected]

Coronavirus (COVID-19): news

Coronavirus Bill published

Coronavirus Bill is introduced to Parliament and given its first reading on 19 March.

Letter from Jonathan Marron, Director General, Prevention, Community and Social Care

Steps the Department of Health and Social Care is taking.

Hospital discharge service requirements

Sets out how health and care systems and providers should change their discharging arrangements and the provision of community support during the coronavirus situation.

Coronavirus emergency legislation briefing questions

Answers to questions raised in response to the emergency coronavirus legislation. Questions continue to be followed up and this document will be updated accordingly.

Submit your questions about coronavirus and adult social care

Minister for Care, Helen Whately and others will be answering questions.

Preparing organisations and staff for home working

National Cyber Security Centre guidance on home working.

RSH statement on Coronavirus

Regulator issues announcements about access to its offices.

Off-payroll working rules reforms postponed until 2021

Implementation of reforms to off-payroll working rules delayed for 12 months.

Limits for retired nurses to be lifted

Retired nurses who return to the register will be able to work longer hours than normally permitted.

Joint statement on expanding the nursing workforce

Statement sets out specific actions that will be taken to expand nursing workforce.

£2.9bn funding to strengthen care

Funding will help patients who no longer need urgent hospital treatment to return home.

Regulators urge safe giving to charities

Charity Commission and Fundraising Regulator urge people to ‘give safely’ as people continue to respond to current crisis.

Charities told to ‘reflect seriously’ on public fundraising

Institute of Fundraising (IoF) and the Fundraising Regulator issues joint statement.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance

COVID-19: ethical framework for adult social care

A framework to support the planning and organisation of adult social care during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

COVID-19: Mental health, learning disabilities and autism

First of a series of updates to share information on COVID-19. Includes details of upcoming webinars.

Ofsted: coronavirus (COVID-19) rolling update

Guidance for schools, early years, children's social care and further education and skills providers.

UPDATED: Government guidance for educational settings

Guidance for schools and other educational setting. Now with new poster.

VoiceAbility guidance on advocacy.

VoiceAbility has made public its internal guidance about advocacy during coronavirus.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): sector response

CQC updates on how its supporting adult social care through COVID-19

Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, Kate Terroni, discusses how the Care Quality Commission is working to support those working in adult social care.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources

Home working support for employers

Advice on supporting employees to work from home for the first time ever or for the first time on a long term basis. From Roots HR.

Supporting charities and volunteers during coronavirus |

What NCVO is doing to support the sector over the coming weeks and months. From NCVO.

Coronavirus and governance: What charity trustees need to think about

What charity trustees should consider as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. From NCVO.

VoiceAbility coronavirus guidance - advocacy

VoiceAbility are sharing internal guidance about advocacy during coronavirus.

Trowers & Hamlins LLP legal update | Coronavirus - business transformation

Update on the current legal situation for employers. Includes advice on statutory sick pay and school closures.

Skills for Care update and resources

Chief executive Oonagh Smyth updates on Skills for Care's response to the pandemic and outlines a range of resources.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): meetings

Technology Enabled Support virtual meeting (slide deck)

Full slide deck from today's virtual meeting with Carezapp. We will be following up with the group next week. Any inquiries in the meantime can be directed to David Park on 07538 411367 or [email protected].

Coronavirus COVID-19 keeping in touch (KIT) meeting | Wednesday 25 March | 11.30-13.00

The next virtual Coronavirus (COVID-19) KIT meeting will be offer another opportunity for members to share issues and ideas. Click here to register.

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