For Leeds CIL Customers and Personal Assistants: this regularly updated page contains information from Leeds CIL and other organisations about the Coronavirus pandemic.

A message from all of us at Leeds CIL

We would like to reassure you that our staff teams are working hard to maintain the support you need from us during these worrying and uncertain times.

Following Government instructions our staff are working from home where possible, whilst still providing the services you need and use.

On this page we have uploaded useful links and information for our customers.

• Free PPE for PA Employers
• Leeds City Council PPE Quick Reference Guide
• PPE Order Form
• Leeds CIL Coronavirus Information
• Leeds Teaching Hospitals - PA Antibody Testing Guidance

The appropriate use of PPE is central to the control of Corona virus keeping us safe and well. Please watch this video on safe practice wearing PPE. 

Leeds CIL has devised Workplace Risk Assessment tool to help get Employers and look at working practices to keep both PAs, Employers and their families as safe as possible.

• Covid 19 Workplace Risk Assessment 

Message for PA Employers using PPE:

PA employers who order PPE from Leeds City Council will receive an automated message next time you place an order. The automated message states that from 1 April 2022 PPE should be ordered from the government PPE portal instead.

However, PA employers in Leeds can continue to order PPE from Leeds City Council while the Council’s stock of PPE items remains available. The Covid-19 rate of infection is increasing again in Leeds and other parts of the country. So please continue to have your PAs using PPE as you have been throughout the pandemic to keep you and your PAs, and your and their families, safe.

Recruiting during Covid: if you would like view a webinar highlighting practical steps you can take as an employer to attract and recruit workers during COVID-19, visit our Interview & Job Offer page.

FREE Lateral Flow Tests for PAs: 

 Personal assistants are still eligible to receive free lateral flow (LFD) tests if they are directly employed by an individual (or self-employed) to provide care and support to an adult to enable them to live as independently as possible. This care could include support in the home, or to go out into the community.

PAs  should still be testing twice a week taking the test before they begin work, spaced 3 to 4 days apart.  If they only work 2 days per week, they should take LFD tests on these days before beginning work.

The free tests can be ordered via this link:

https://www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

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Information for Personal Assistants on how to get your free Covid-19 booster and seasonal flu vaccination.

 PAs who are employed by individual people to provide care and support for themselves or a family member are classed as frontline health and social care workers, one of the priority groups who have been recommended to have Covid-19 vaccinations (including a booster) to maintain a high level of protection. Leeds CIL has been asked by Central Government to report on the number of PAs within the workforce that have received their Covid-19 vaccinations, booster and seasonal flu jab. We kindly ask that you share with us when you have had your jabs enabling us to provide this anonymised reporting, if you’re willing to do so.

How to get your Covid-19 vaccinations. and booster (must be 6 months following your second dose):

1. Book via the local booking service at Elland Road
   The vaccination centre at Elland Road now has a local booking system for health and care staff: https://patient.inhealthcare.co.uk/selfenrol/v2?t=2168e5ea-e711-4680-a8b8-452d7f0c67aa

        You will need to use the attached ID letter and photo ID wherever possible: personalassistantidletter.pdf

     2.Book via the national booking service

        Book an appointment online at www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-  vaccination/ or by calling 119.

You will need to self-declare that you are a frontline health or social care worker and use the attached ID letter and photo ID wherever possible.

 

How to get your free seasonal flu vaccination

All PAs are eligible for a free seasonal flu vaccination from their GP practice or a local community pharmacy this winter season. Please see the attached leaflet providing further information regarding the vaccine and how to book an appointment. PA’s can see what pharmacies are offering the free flu jab here.

 

ID requirements

• Attached PA ID letter
• a recent pay slip which shows their employer (last 3 months)
• a form of photo id wherever possible
• phefluimmunisationguidanceforpersonalassistants.pdf

 This may be required for all vaccinations booked by the national booking service or local booking services.

Lateral Flow Test (LTFs) kits: 

Despite the continuous vaccine rollout, it is essential to keep testing frontline staff to reduce the spread of the virus. Personal Assistants working in Adult Social Care in England can now access weekly Covid-19 testing. PAs can order lateral flow tests (LFTs) every 21 days for themselves, or an employer can order test kits on their behalf via an online form.

To sign up for a live informative webinar and to order test kits online, please visit the Government website. 

Finally, Leeds CIL has been asked by Central Government to report on the number of PAs within the workforce that have received their Covid-19 booster and seasonal flu jab. We kindly ask that you share with us when you have had your jabs enabling us to provide this anonymised reporting, if you’re willing to do so.  

If you have any questions, please email the team via [email protected] and we will endeavour to answer your query.

 

Covid-19 Vaccine for Personal Assistants in Leeds 

Personal Assistants employed by individual people to provide care support for themselves or a family member are classed as designated key social care workers and a priority group, in line with Central Government Guidance, and as such they can make a vaccination appointment at the earliest opportunity by following this guidance.   

Leeds CIL is working with Leeds City Council, the NHS and other partners to support people to arrange these appointments and we may contact you to check if you have had the opportunity to make an appointment.

Leeds City Council have confirmed that there are vaccination slots available for frontline staff at the Thackray Medical Museum (141 Beckett Street, Harehills, Leeds, LS9 7LN) and Elland Road (The Centenary Pavilion, Lowfields Road, Leeds LS11 0ES - Elland Road Travel Information) sites. The slots are released on a weekly basis, as and when a vaccine delivery is confirmed.

Booking a Free Vaccination Appointment:

As a priority frontline member of Health and Care staff, you can use the dedicated online booking service to book an appointment at either Elland Road or Thackray Museum site. Please email [email protected] with your full name and telephone number (if you have one) so that we can send you a link to this booking service and details about the ID required.  

Important: As slots are released in batches it may take multiple attempts to secure an appointment. If you are initially unsuccessful in obtaining an appointment, please try again across different days and times until you are able to book a slot. 

Due to the UK Chief Medical Officer’s decision to have a longer timeframe between first and second doses so that more people can get their first dose quickly, the booking system will now offer second vaccination slots to meet this 12 week timeframe. Please make sure you are free to attend on both dates. Work is ongoing to contact and support anyone who has had to cancel a second appointment to assist them to re-book their second appointment. 

Staff should ensure they have received confirmation of their appointment before travelling to get vaccinated,

Once you have booked your vaccine appointment, please send confirmation by email to [email protected]. You should send further confirmation emails once you have received your first vaccine and then your booster vaccine. 

Vaccination Checks (NHS Information):  Staff Vaccine Step by Step Guide - NHS

Staff should allow about 30 minutes in total for the vaccination (they will need to remain on site for 15 minutes following the vaccination). Staff can only be vaccinated:

• If they have not been positive with Covid-19 within the last 28 days
• Have had no other vaccinations in the last 7 days (including the flu vaccine)
• Are not pregnant or breast feeding.
• Please check that your NHS records held by their GP have an up to date email and contact telephone number as the booking system may access these to send you confirmation of their booking.
• Staff can only be vaccinated if they have booked on via the online form.
• Each time slot is only for one member of staff.

• Do not bring friends or children to the appointment.
• Bring your ID – we will use this to verify your appointment. Please take your PA Identification Letter as provided by Leeds CIL to your employer.
• It would be helpful to take details of your GP practice – name, address and postcode.
• Staff should wear clothing which has loose or no sleeves and which is easy to move aside so vaccinating staff can carry out the vaccination in the upper arm without delay.
• Reading glasses if you need them (for completing the consent form).
• If possible, please minimise the amount of bags and coats you bring into the venue and do not leave any valuables unattended.

• As we are trying our best to vaccinate as many staff as possible, it’s really important that colleagues do attend the slots that are booked. If for any reason they are unable to attend, there is a cancellation option online.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine is safe and effective after extensive trials. It gives you the best protection against coronavirus. In the video below, an expert team of NHS vaccinators answer some of your main concerns about the vaccine, including:

• Is it safe?
• Can it be trusted?
• What about allergic reactions and side effects? 
• Does it contain animal products?
• Is it worth it? 

New guidance has been issued for the use of the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. 

This follows further reviews by the independent regulator, the MHRA, and the Commission for Human Medicines, of a very small number of people in the UK who have developed a very rare blood clotting syndrome since having the Oxford AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine.

The overwhelming message is that the Oxford AstraZeneca is an excellent vaccine and the benefits of having it outweigh the risks.

The recommendations are:

• Everyone who has had the AstraZeneca vaccine should still have a second dose, irrespective of age, unless they have had a blood clot or have an existing risk of thrombosis (blood clotting)
• People aged 30 and over or who have a health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe Covid-19 disease should still be offered the Oxford AstraZeneca.
• People aged 18-29 who don’t have a health condition that puts them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 disease will be offered an alternative vaccine where available.  (This has been recommended as a precaution as people under 30 are at less risk from COVID-19 and not because they’re considered at greater risk of developing the rare blood clot.)
• People under 30 can still choose to have the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine if this will mean they can be protected more quickly and they’re aware of the guidance.

For more details please click this Gov.uk link.

Regular Covid Testing for PA's

Despite the continuous vaccine rollout, it is essential to keep testing frontline staff to reduce the spread of the virus. Personal Assistants working in Adult Social Care in England can now access weekly Covid-19 testing.

For details on how Employers and PA's can order testing kits and eligibility please click this Gov.uk link  

Please also see the following Covid-19 Vaccination Guide for Social Care Staff which will hopefully answer many of your queries.

We will continue to update you as further information becomes available.

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You can help us best deal with your queries by doing the following:

Payroll

Submitting Timesheets: If you normally send your timesheets by post or deliver these in person, and have not already made alternative arrangements, please contact your Payroll Support Worker (PSW) who will arrange an alternative way with you.

Contact your dedicated PSW directly or phone 0113 231 1125.

PA Recruitment & Employment Queries

Directly email or phone your Independent Living Team dedicated contact person, or:

E-mail: [email protected] | Tel: 0113 231 1125

Supplier Account Queries

E-mail: [email protected] | Tel: 0113 231 1125

General Enquiries:

E-mail: [email protected] | Tel: 0113 231 1125

Additional Emergency Support

• Adult Social Care: 0113 222 4401
• Children’s Social Care: 0113 222 4403
• Volunteer Support: 0113 378 1877 (Leeds City Council has launched a helpline, so that people in need of support can call and be matched with a local volunteer who can help.
• Web: Leeds City Council Coronavirus Support