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New, smart COVID testing centre for Bootle’s Strand

13 May 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News, Sefton Council, Uncategorized

Sefton Council is moving its RAPID coronavirus testing centre for people with no symptoms from Bootle Leisure Centre to Bootle’s Strand shopping centre.

From 9am on Saturday 15th May, people without COVID-19 symptoms will be able to get a test, with a result in as little as 30 minutes, at the town centre location.

Specially adapted

Bootle Strand owner, Sefton Council, has specially adapted the former H Samuel unit in the Strand for people to come along and take a RAPID test safely. It will be open seven days a week.

The Strand site replaces the Bootle Leisure Test Centre, which will close at 5pm on Friday 14th May.

Tell-tale symptoms

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “Around one third of people with coronavirus do not show any of the tell-tale symptoms so by taking regular rapid tests, we can check if we’re one of these asymptomatic carriers to help make sure we don’t pass on the virus accidentally.

“I’m glad that we can now provide the facility where people can take those rapid tests and collect free home testing kits at this convenient Bootle town centre location.”

Sefton’s other RAPID test site is at Southport’s Splash World.

Results

Rapid home testing kits involves taking a throat & nasal swab, dropping the sample into the container supplied and then checking for the result after 20 to 30 minutes.

As well as both RAPID testing sites, kits are available from any Sefton pharmacy and between 2.30pm and 8pm, seven days a week from the Borough’s walk-through Local Test Centres. These are located opposite Bootle Town Hall and at Crosby Library Car Park, Netherton Activity Centre and Southport Town Hall and are open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.

Relaxed

Cllr Maher added: “Now that lockdown restrictions are being relaxed and more people are going out to their workplaces, going for a drink or meal at a pub or restaurant or meeting up with friends and family outside, taking regular rapid tests is increasingly important to keeping down the spread of COVID.

“Any of us who is regularly out and coming into regular contact with others needs to be taking a RAPID test as often as twice a week.”

Assisted

People who aren’t confident about taking a rapid test at home can choose to go for an assisted test at Sefton’s new Bootle Strand or Southport Splash World test sites.

Cllr Maher continued: “RAPID tests will help to finding those of us who do not show the key coronavirus symptoms of a new persistent cough, a high temperature or a loss of sense of taste or smell.

“But it is still vital that anyone who does develop these symptoms or does get a positive test self-isolates for 10 days and immediately books a PCR test by visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus or phoning 119.”

Eligible people who test positive are entitled to the £500 Test and Trace Support Payment in the same way as a regular swab test through NHS Test and Trace.

Find out more about testing and self-isolating in Sefton. 

New ‘one stop shop’ online mental health platform launched

13 May 2021
Bridie Finnan
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

A new online resource has been launched this #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek to help children, young people, parents and professionals to make referrals into partnership mental health services in Liverpool and Sefton.

The new platform, available on the Liverpool CAMHS and Sefton CAMHS websites, allows just one referral form linking a wide range of mental health services across Liverpool and Sefton, who work in partnership together.

Previously, the referral process has been long, complicated and difficult to navigate. It is the first-time mental health services have been integrated in this way in the UK.

Alder Hey’s innovation team have worked closely with service users; children and young people & their families and mental health providers to develop the Sefton and Liverpool CAMHS platform that makes accessing the right mental health services much easier.

 

Lisa Cooper, Director of Community and Mental Health Services at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust said:

“7 in 10 children and young people who experience mental health conditions in the UK have not had appropriate interventions at a sufficiently early age. Part of the problem can be knowing what is available and accessibility. The new digital platform makes the process so much easier to self-refer and also gives children and young people online support before they see a clinician.

Mental health is just as important as physical health and this past year has had a huge impact on our children and young people. We’ve seen more than double the amount of crisis cases than the previous year. I’m thrilled that with this new platform we are pioneering the future for digitising healthcare and helping some of our most vulnerable children and young people get the help they so desperately need and deserve.”

 

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) is a collection of NHS and voluntary sector organisations that provide a range of mental health support for children, young people and their families. As well as offering information, advice and guidance, assessment, diagnosis, treatment and intervention for young people who are experiencing problems with their emotions, behaviour or mental health, these partners also promote ways to develop positive mental health, including building resilience and training. This support covers a range of mental health difficulties including depression, eating disorders, self-harm, abuse, violence or anger, bi-polar, schizophrenia and anxiety among many other difficulties.

Lisa Nolan, Programme Manager for children and young people’s mental health at Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said:

“This is an exciting development which will improve access to mental health support for the population of children and young people and their families.  A true example of co-production and collaboration between the CAMHS Partnerships across Liverpool and Sefton, Alder Hey Innovation team, CCG’s, digital partners and Children, Young People and Families. This digital development will ensure quicker access to information, advice, resources and support for Children and Young People across both Liverpool and Sefton.”

 

Wendy Hewitt, Children and Safeguarding Lead for NHS South Sefton CCG and NHS Southport and Formby CCG said:

“This is a fantastic new development which will enable GPs and other professionals across Sefton and Liverpool to better support children and young people with mental health conditions. As everything is in one place, we will be able to access and share health information more easily, and quickly refer those children and young people needing mental health support.”

You can access the platform here: www.seftonliverpoolcamhs.com

 

Ninety-seven per-cent of households respond to Census 2021

12 May 2021
Martin Driver
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News, Sefton Council

The response to Census 2021 has exceeded all expectations, with 97 per cent of households across England and Wales making sure they count when it comes to local services like school places, GP surgeries and hospital beds. This is above the pre-census target of 94 per cent, while all local authorities have seen over 90 per cent of households respond, exceeding an 80 per cent target.

Important insight

Cllr Ian Maher, Leader of Sefton Council, said: “Thank you to those who have completed their questionnaire. The census provides an important insight into our community and it is great to see that so many Sefton residents have taken part. This will ensure going forward we understand the needs of our community.”

“It is important that those who are eligible, and haven’t already completed a questionnaire do so, or they could face a £1,000 fine if they do not complete an online form by the 17th May.”

Amazing response

Deputy National Statistician Iain Bell, from The Office for National Statistics said: “We’ve had an amazing response to Census 2021. Those who have taken part have done so to ensure they are represented for their local area.”

“ I’d like to thank everyone who has filled out their form so far as well as all the community groups, organisations and local authorities who have helped us make this census a success.”

Time running out

Although Census Day – Sunday 21 March 2021 – has been and gone it is not too late to complete the online questionnaire. It only takes around 10 minutes per person. Time is running out as this online option will close on 17 May. After this only paper questionnaires will be available. If you have lost the letter or have a second address you have not visited, go to http://www.census.gov.uk to request an online completion code for your address via SMS text message.

Local census support centres have now closed but help and paper questionnaires are still available through the census contact centre on freephone 0800 141 2021 in England and 0800 169 2021 in Wales.

Fines

If people refuse to take part, they could be taken to court and issued with a £1,000 fine and criminal record. The census non-compliance operation will begin on May 25.

Now the main census field operation has ended, around 350,000 households across England and Wales are being invited to take part in the Census Coverage Survey (CCS). This short, separate, interviewer-led survey will enable the ONS to get a final view of the response rates.

Since 4th May , a sample of households have been receiving a card through the post asking them to take part in the CCS. After that, an interviewer, following the government’s COVID-19 guidelines, will visit the address and fill in the questionnaire on the doorstep. The interviewer will be able to show an ID badge on a Census 2021 branded lanyard. For more information on the CCS visit Census Coverage Survey – Census 2021.

Funding for new Mental Health Support Team to support wellbeing in Sefton schools this #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

12 May 2021
Bridie Finnan
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Health, Latest News

Partners in Sefton have been awarded £320,000 of new funding to extend their Mental Health Support Team (MHST) programme, to boost early intervention and mental health support for school children and young people in the borough.

The news follows the earlier roll out this spring of two pilot MHSTs working across 40 schools and colleges in Sefton, as part of a national programme to transform children and young people’s mental health services. The announcement of additional funding means that the teams can extend their support across even more educational institutions in Sefton from 2022 autumn term onwards.

MHSTs are led locally by a partnership bringing together Sefton Council and NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), NHS Southport and Formby CCG, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, North West Boroughs Healthcare, schools and voluntary community and faith (VCF) sector colleagues.

These teams aim to provide early intervention of some mental health and emotional wellbeing issues and build on the support already available in schools from local health and care services and community, voluntary and faith sector organisations. They can help support children and young people with issues such as mild to moderate anxiety, offering one to one and group support to pupils and their families, as well as school staff.

They are also helping staff within the 40 schools and colleges to provide a ‘whole school approach’ to mental health and wellbeing, by supporting designated mental health leads at each school to embed a culture of awareness of emotional wellbeing and good mental health, within each school community.

Jackie Lunt, clinical lead for Sefton Schools MHST, said:

“Our Mental Health Support Teams are part of a revolutionary change in how child mental health support is provided.

“Funding an additional team will help us to provide support to many more schools in Sefton, creating educational communities that strengthen our young people’s emotional health and wellbeing.”

“We are so pleased to be providing psychological support for students, families and educators alike. Ultimately, our goal is to help children and young people to get the right help at the right time for their mental health and emotional wellbeing and thrive as well as access all the life chances the education systems can provide.”

Find out more about the Mental Health Support Teams in Sefton, on the Alder Hey website here: https://alderhey.nhs.uk/services/sefton-mental-health-support-team-mhst

You can find out more about MHSTs in schools across England here: www.england.nhs.uk/2021/05/more-than-a-million-children-given-access-to-nhs-mental-health-support-at-school/

Care providers in Sefton eligible for new grant from the Liverpool City Region

12 May 2021
Bridie Finnan
No comments
Categories: Front Page, Latest News

Childcare and care home businesses are now eligible for new grant funding from the Liverpool City Region under the Care Provider Grant Fund.

The grant will be administered by Sefton and will target those businesses that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Through the Fund, which was agreed and will be administered by the Liverpool City Region’s six Local Authorities, adult care homes, child minders, out of school clubs, and day care nurseries/pre-school providers will be eligible for one-off grants of up to £5000.

This is the latest round of more than £40 million of support provided to businesses in the Liverpool City Region by the Combined Authority, using central government’s Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG).

Previous grants have focused on Hospitality, Leisure and Retail.  The last grant round expanded this to include businesses who had lost 40% or more of their income.

The Covid-19 pandemic has also had a significant impact on the Liverpool City Region’s childcare and care home businesses, including a fall in demand, alongside increased costs related to creating Covid-safe environments.

Speaking about the LCR Care Providers Fund, Frank Rogers, Chief Executive of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said:

“Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Combined Authority and our constituent local authorities have worked together, doing everything we can to support our local businesses through what has been an enormously challenging period.

“This latest round of funding for the social care sector is about maintaining momentum in providing that support. 

“We are ready to kickstart our economic recovery when we come out of the other side of the pandemic.  Until then we will continue to support local businesses affected by the pandemic to help ensure they can stay afloat until that point.”

The LCR Care Providers Fund is available to CQC registered adult care homes, Ofsted registered child minders, out of school clubs, and day care nurseries/pre-school providers in the Liverpool City Region, who have not previously accessed funding from the Additional Restrictions Grant, and that qualify as small and micro businesses.

One-off grants are available as follows:

Childminder £500
Out of school club £2,500
Day Care Nursery/pre-school provision £5,000
Care home (Adults) £5,000

Businesses should visit the website for more information, guidance and how to apply.

The LCR Care Providers Grant closes on 18th May.

Please note, due to the volume of applications expected, it may take several weeks to consider applications and for applicants to receive a decision. An application made during the ‘grant application window’ does not guarantee approval for payment.

Completed applications will be appraised in order of receipt by the Local Authority.

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