Partners and providers of children’s services

Overview

The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is going to affect everyone’s daily lives. To assist providers, below is some of the information applicable to children’s services. This is not an exhaustive list and much of the guidance is being updated daily, so please continue to review the coronavirus (COVID-19) list of guidance regularly.

Please see the NHS website for information about how to access coronavirus testing as well as guidance on coronavirus vaccinations and boosters. The government website has advice on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread.

Guidance

The government has published guidance for children’s social care services, which includes information about keeping residential settings safe from coronavirus.

Guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection has been published as well. So too has information about when to wear face coverings and any exemptions.

Please refer to the NHS website for advice about when to self-isolate and what to do.

Supporting children and young people

This may be a difficult time for children and young people. The Every Mind Matters campaign developed by Public Health England has a dedicated section on mental health and self-care for young people.

Details of local and national services to support young people are available.

Residential settings

The government has published guidance for children’s social care services.

Please also refer to the government website for guidance on safe working in education, childcare and children’s social care settings, including the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning in non-healthcare settings.

Short breaks

Do you provide short breaks services for children and young people with SEND? The Children’s Commissioning Team are running a virtual short breaks provider forum. Meeting monthly, the forum offers a regular opportunity to come together to share information and learning and to explore service development.

If you’re interested in attending and would like to be added to our distribution list, please contact us.

Further guidance about protective measures for holiday and after-school clubs, and other out-of-school settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak is available on the government website.

PPE requests

Devon County Council will continue to support services, ensuring PPE is available locally as described below:

National PPE Portal

The nationally run ‘PPE Portal’ supplies free packages of PPE to the following sectors:

• Adult Social Care homes and Domiciliary Care Agencies
• Children’s Care homes and Secure Children’s care homes
• Children’s residential special schools
• Primary care (GP practices, optometrists, dental practices including urgent dental care centres)
• Community pharmacies
• Community Drug and Alcohol services

Services listed above are encouraged to register directly with Clipper to obtain the free PPE weekly (for additional requirements to pre-COVID use).

Devon County Council will continue to provide emergency supplies of PPE to these sectors in the case of an emergency or if the volumes do not meet the needs of the service.

The PPE Portal have recently increased the amounts that these services can access via the portal each week.

Service providers with any queries relating to the National PPE portal, including how to get registered, should be directed to the PPE customer service team on 0800 876 6802. This number can also be used if you have concerns about a product’s suitability.

All services/organisations, should complete this PPE request form if they require emergency PPE from Devon County Council.

All services will need to collect their PPE from a local store. The 4 local stores are based in Barnstaple, Newton Abbot, Exeter and Tavistock.

All services listed above must evidence that they have ordered PPE through the PPE Portal routes and must describe why the emergency stock is required (e.g. COVID outbreak) before any PPE can be received.

Services not able to receive PPE via the national PPE Portal

If unable to access via normal supply routes, PPE will be available via Devon County Council for all services/organisations listed below.

• Local Authority services (including children’s and adult social workers)
• Mental health community care
• Personal Assistants
• Unpaid Carers
• Domestic Violence refuges
• Rough sleeping services
• Education (and childcare) services

All services listed above will need to complete this PPE request form if they require PPE.

All services will need to collect your stock from a local PPE store. The 4 local stores are based in Barnstaple, Newton Abbot, Exeter and Tavistock. Please allow at least five days’ notice when submitting a request for PPE.

The Council and its NHS partners remain committed to working with providers and services. Thank you for all that you are doing to support the people of Devon.

Further support and contact

If you have any questions, there are impacts on your service as a result of COVID-19, or you need to speak to a member of the team please contact childrenscommissioningsecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk