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We have got another Bank Holiday coming up this weekend, and it looks like being sunny too! This weeks issue contains useful advice for beating the heat.
We do our best to keep the content and structure of our PEN website up-to-date in these fast-changing times and your suggestions on how to improve the website are always welcome.
Countywide Strategic Forum now on Monday 5 June
Our Provider Engagement Network Countywide Strategic Forum meeting date has been changed to Monday 5 June from 1-3pm.
The council is hoping that many of you can join the strategic forum. Tandra Forster our Director of Integrated Adult Social Care will be attending the Forum and this is a fantastic opportunity people to meet and engage with Tandra.
We are also pleased that Councillor James McInnes the portfolio member for Integrated Adult, can join the session to hear from providers.
Many providers have expressed concerns about the ongoing challenges of workforce and also racism in Devon, therefore a key focus will be on workforce which Ian Hobbs will lead.
Agenda
- Welcome from the Chair
- Introduction from Tandra Forster – 15 minutes
- Workforce development Ian Hobbs and invited guests – 40 minutes
- Preparing for CQC Assurance of local authority adult social care functions. Steve Blandford / Damian Furniss presenting – 30 mins
- Anti-Racism – 15 mins
- AOB
- Reflection from Councillor James McInnes – 15 mins
Please email socialcarebusinessrelations-mailbox@devon.gov.uk if you have not received the joining link.
Bank Holiday reminder
Reminder for Providers for the coming Bank Holiday Weekend and for any out of hours emergency enquiries
If an emergency situation happens outside these hours or on a Bank Holiday contact the Emergency Duty Service on 0345 600 0388.
Please remember to record this in your business continuity plans in case of an emergency.
Integrated Adult Social Care Peer Challenge in preparation for CQC inspection
From the 1 April 2023, the Health and Care Act 2022 empowered the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to assess how well local authorities are delivering on their adult social care duties defined in part one of the Care Act 2014. Over the next two years the CQC plan to assess and publish ratings as to how all local authorities are delivering on those duties, followed by an ongoing cycle of review.
Councils across the country are preparing for the new CQC Assurance Framework, with many taking part in a Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Challenge to be ‘inspection ready’. Peer Challenges are enormously helpful in providing experience of an inspection process by independent and experienced colleagues from elsewhere in the country and demonstrate an open and accountable culture.
From the 19 to the 21 of July 2023, an LGA Peer Challenge will be taking place at Devon County Council, to assess how well the Council, working with its partners and providers, delivers on its duties relating to adult social care.
We have created a Peer Challenge website where we will continue to share information and in which you can find the full briefing. This will include material to brief colleagues who might be meeting peers or participating in a case audit. We will also publish the report and our response to it when we receive it in September.
Please complete our Peer Challenge survey
As part of our peer challenge, we are asking stakeholders to fill in a short leadership survey. This wont take long and is an opportunity to comment on different aspects of the leadership of adult social care in Devon.
Energy Bill Relief Scheme extended to some care providers
The standard Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) was introduced to support customers with standard energy supply arrangements. This was followed by the EBRS for Non-Standard Cases (NSC), launched in January for non-domestic customers supplied by licence-exempt providers via the grid where prices paid are pegged to wholesale energy prices.
Applications are now reopening for more organizations to apply retrospectively for Non-Standard Case support, covering eligible energy consumed between 1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023. This includes care providers on licence-exempt supply provided via private wire or pipe not through the grid, where prices paid are pegged to wholesale energy prices.
The expanded cohort are also now eligible for support under the Energy Bills Discount Scheme (EBDS) for Non-Standard Cases, covering eligible energy consumed between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024. The EBDS was introduced following a HM Treasury review of the energy schemes and reflects the fact that wholesale prices are lower than they were.
Eligibility
Care providers must receive gas and/or electricity via wire or pipe from a licence-exempt provider where prices paid are pegged to wholesale energy prices. Support is only available when wholesale prices exceed a certain threshold and is subject to a maximum rate. We are encouraging Qualified Energy Providers to apply on behalf of their customers where possible.
Claims timescales
For eligible energy consumed between1 October 2022 and 31 March 2023 claims can be made until 11 September 2023.
For eligible energy consumed between 1 April 2023 and 31 March claims can be made until 15 April 2024.
For further information please see the government guidance at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-bills-discount-scheme-non-standard-cases
Beat the heat: Be prepared for summer heatwaves
With global warming happening even faster than feared, the Met Office has warned:
- There is a 66% chance that global temperatures will exceed the 1.5C pre-industrial average for at least one of the next five years;
- There is a 98% chance that one of the next five years will be the warmest on record;
- This follows heat waves of increasing duration and intensity in recent years with temperatures recorded in England at over 40C last July with widespread ‘tropical nights’.
We know that older people and people with certain health conditions are less able to adapt to hot weather, especially when it is overnight and for extended periods.
That makes it more important than ever that as organisations which support people vulnerable to hot weather, we are informed and prepared.
We will continue to issue heat wave warnings when we receive them as PEN newsflashes or within this weekly newsletter.
It is important all of us check our business continuity and other arrangements with the potential of longer and more intense heat waves in mind.
Here is some advice that may be useful:
UKHSA guidance ‘Hot weather and health: supporting vulnerable people’
This information aims to assist professionals in protecting vulnerable people from the health impacts of severe heat in England.
This includes specific advice for social care staff managers and carers and for healthcare professionals.
UKHSA guidance ‘Adverse Weather and Health Plan’
The Adverse Weather and Health Plan aims to protect individuals and communities from the health effects of adverse weather and to build community resilience.
UKHSA guidance ‘Beat the heat’
This guidance provides advice for everyone on how to stay safe during hot weather. Includes a poster and leaflet.
UKHSA guidance ‘Heat Health Alert Action Cards’
Heat-Health Alert (HHA) action cards summarise suggested actions to be taken by different professional bodies and organisations in the event of extreme heat.
This includes specific advice for commissioners, providers, and the voluntary and community sector.
Care Provider Alliance guidance on business continuity planning, including for hot weather
You will also be aware that Devon reservoirs have been well below capacity for some time, with water use restrictions in place. Devon County Council and our Local Resilience Forum are in regular dialogue with South West Water on this and don’t currently anticipate any disruption to supply for domestic or health and care settings.
Digitalisation of Social Care drop-ins and events
Calling all providers from across Adult Social Care in Devon, Cornwall and Somerset. You’re invited to attend an online event which will be exploring the world of digital.
Whether you are new to digital or an early adopter that can share your insights – come and join us on 22 June from 10am to 12.30pm online and meet the teams behind the Digital Social Care fund, sign up here. There are also a number of drop-in events throughout May and June lined up for providers from across Devon to attend.
We will be bringing together care homes and domiciliary care providers from across the South West to find out more about the funding and support available to start managing your organisation with a care management system from a list of approved suppliers.
To apply for funding, or for further information about digitalisation of social care please sign up using this expression of interest Form
Care Home and Home Care Capacity Tracker Training sessions
The sessions are aimed at Adult Social Care CQC regulated Care Home and Home Care Providers. The training includes:
- How to get set up on Capacity Tracker
- What Capacity Tracker is and its general functionality
- Tips & tricks to make your service stand out
- Current government policy and guidance, related to Capacity Tracker
- How Capacity Tracker is used to source vacancies
- How Capacity Tracker benefits the health & social care system
Joining Instructions
- Sessions will be hosted on Microsoft Teams.
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No prior booking is required and the number of participants per session is unlimited
- Please join the session a few minutes beforehand to allow for a prompt start
- Estimated Duration of each session: 1 hour
Home Care date:
Care Home date:
 NEW! Optimal Handed Care - Moving and Handling Course
The Health and Social Care Skills Accelerator Programme (HSSAP), part funded by the European Social Fund (ESF) is pleased to be offering FREE Optimal Handed Care Moving and Handling courses to Domiciliary Care Providers to support you and your organisation with single handed care approaches. These 3-hour sessions will increase your confidence and enhance your practical skills in safe moving and handling practice.
Courses will run weekly and be available through Petroc College and South Devon College from March to July 2023.
Spaces are limited so book early to avoid disappointment! To find out more or to book a place, please contact hssap@petroc.ac.uk or louisenorthcott@southdevon.ac.uk.
*Eligibility criteria applies.
** Places are only open to care staff that already have the mandatory Moving and Handling Training qualification.
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