Please remember to complete the international recruitment employers’ survey we featured last week and to share the recruits survey with relevant staff in the run-up to the Migrant Integration Programme second launch event next Wednesday. We’ve already had a good response but the more information received, the better the support the programme will be able to offer.

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.

Reminder: International Recruitment Update - January 31 Event and Surveys for Employers and Recruits 

Next Wednesday, 31 January sees the second launch event for the major Migrant Integration Programme being delivered across Devon by Plymouth Hope. Please RSVP by emailing us and please participate on our two short surveys as the more information we have the better we will be able tailor the support on offer.

Employer survey

We encourage you to complete the very short employer survey we sent out at the end of last year. You will be separately contacted by DCHC and DISCA to support you with this if you have not already completed it. Please take the Devon International Recruitment survey.

International Recruits survey

We are also undertaking a survey of International Recruits and would ask that you share this ink to the Devon International Care Workers Survey with your staff.

Useful websites

The Migrant Integration Programme is now open for registration and referral and the new Migrant Social Integration website contains lots of useful resources at https://www.migrantsocialintegration.org/

The NHS Devon Alliance for International Recruitment website also contains information on working in the care sector at https://devon-alliance.com/

The Aliiance have published a very useful Social Care Employers Handbook at https://torbayandsouthdevon.pagetiger.com/employersguide/employersguide

County Care Home Forum on Tuesday 30 January

Please join us for the next County Care Home Forum meeting on Tuesday 30 January, from 2-3pm.  An open invitation to all care homes within the Devon County Council footprint to regularly meet with Devon County Council, NHS Devon and other professionals to share information on key topics of interest and concern, hear about and get involved in care home commissioning work and find out more about other key national and local care home priorities. 

January’s meeting includes the following agenda items:

1. Market Sustainability Plan refresh & market oversight
2. Equality Diversity & Inclusion (workforce) discussion
3. Topics planned for 2024 meetings

We have worked with DCHC (Devon Care Home Collaborative) to finalise the agenda.

A bulletin will be sent to directly to care home providers and we look forward to seeing you all there.

Are you benefiting from the Workforce Development Fund?

Simply join the DCHC WDF Partnership by 29th February 2024 and claim up to £2,000 per learner!

You can claim funding for a range of qualifications and learning programmes, including Dementia Care, Falls Prevention and Level 2-5 Diplomas and Apprenticeships in Care. 

Check out the full list here.

To access this funding, all you need to do is submit a Declaration Form by 29th February 2024 and update the Adult Social Care Workforce Development Set (ASC-WDS) by 28th March 2024.

For more information about the WDF or instructions on how to make a claim, please visit our website or email wdf@devoncarehomes.org.

Want to work for Yourself offering care and support? Community Catalyst can help!

Benefit from free professional advice to help you get set up!  

To find out more please contact Simon Tickner, Devon Community Catalyst by calling or texting 07741 260 674, or emailing simon.tickner@communitycatalysts.co.uk  

Proud to Care

Proud to Care is Devon County Council’s team dedicated to raising the profile of Adult Social Care, and supporting providers with recruiting, retaining, and training staff in the sector. We have several free-to-use tools to help with your recruitment activities, including:

• A self-service Jobs Board: Advertise and manage your vacancies quickly and efficiently.
• Social Media support: To increase the exposure of your vacancies

To find out more, please email Proud to Care.

Are your contact details up-to-date?

We encourage providers to update their contact details (especially email addresses) with the Procurement team. We use these details to communicate with providers. It is very important that we reach the correct person in your organisation to receive appropriate referrals and timely updates from DCC, and that you do not miss out on any opportunities. Please ensure we have your most recent email address.

Skills Bootcamps in Health and Social Care

Did you know that employers can use Skills Bootcamps to support their staff to develop new skills and transform their business?

Train4Tomorrow provides the support you need to invest in your team’s expertise with courses designed to equip your employees with the latest knowledge and best practices in providing exceptional care.

There are two part funded courses that are recruiting now:

• Working in Health and Social Care at Petroc College,
• Working in Healthcare at Exeter College

To find out more about available courses visit: https://www.train4tomorrow.org.uk/bootcamps/

NICE newsletters and alerts sign up

Keep up to date with the latest news and guidance that may impact on your service and clients via the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

Sign up to receive NICE newsletters here.

Ethnically Diverse Communities – Directory of Services for Devon, Plymouth, and Torbay

This updated directory contains details of the many organisations and agencies, from all sectors, that offer support services for people from Black, Asian and Ethnically Diverse communities in Devon.

Ethnically Diverse Communities - Directory of Services for Devon, Plymouth, and Torbay - Migration and resettlement

Remember to share your good news stories in this newsletter

Has your support helped transform someone’s life? Have you got innovative practice to share? Send us your celebratory photos and words and we will help share good practice.

Revisit previous good news stories

Issue 161, 25 January 2024

Are your colleagues missing out? Ask them to sign-up to this PEN newsletter here!

NHS and Care Volunteer Responders

The Volunteer Responders programme – now named NHS and Care Volunteer Responders - is being expanded to support adult social care providers in England. You can now arrange volunteer support for recipients of social care, including domiciliary care and people living in care homes. The volunteer services on offer include:

• Check in and Chat – short-term telephone support consisting of friendly conversations to improve mental health and wellbeing.
• Pick up and deliver – transportation of medication to people’s homes from NHS sites.
• Community Response (coming soon) – help with activities including collecting and delivering food shopping and essential items and / or prescriptions and medications.

For more information, please visit the NHS Care Volunteer Responders website. 

DCC COVID-19 updates

Coronavirus advice to the public

National COVID-19 guidance updates

The GOV.UK website

The NHS.UK website

National vaccination publication collection

The national government page contains vaccination guidance, training resources, consent forms, letters, leaflets, posters and more.

NHS Devon vaccination stakeholder briefings

Read the latest weekly briefing and view previous ones.

Get involved in Provider Engagement Network activities

There are a variety of ways for you to engage with us. These include regular emails, newsletters, webinars and engagement meetings. 

PEN participation - Provider Engagement Network (devon.gov.uk)

PEN newsletter archive

View previous issues

Affordable, Devon Based, Quality Assured Healthcare Training from Life Lessons

Life Lessons Training offers over 35 different Healthcare courses including mandatory training, induction training and update training. We can come to you and do some in house training or you can come to us, the choice is yours!

Contact Rosie by leaving a message on 07543 678002 or emailing rosie@lifelessonstraining.com or visit www.lifelessonstraining.com

Agency Contact List online reminder

Dear Providers,  you can find the Agency Contact List on the PEN Website here  should you need to find additional staff.

Also please remember that COVID-19 Cases have been increasing recently so this is a timely reminder in case you require additional staffing.

Integrated Care System for Devon (ICSD)

ICSD is a partnership of health and social care organisations working together with local communities across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay to improve people’s health, wellbeing and care. Their website contains general information on vaccination including FAQs.

Webinars, online training and forums in one place

Make sure you have the opportunity to participate in local and national webinars, online forums and training by visiting our website.