|
This week’s issue is brimming with training and development opportunities, many of which are free. Make sure you take advantage of the support on 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.
March County Care Home Forum postponed to 30 April
March’s County Care Home Forum scheduled to take place at 2-3pm on Tuesday 26 March has been cancelled.
The next meeting will now be from 2-3pm on Tuesday 30 April 2024, with a focus on sharing information on who’s who in Devon County Council’s QAIT, Contracts and local Operational Teams.
Further meeting details to be shared with all care homes shortly.
March Housing with Support Forum
postponed to 25 April
The next meeting for Housing with Support was due to take place on 28 March at 11am-12noon, however it has been cancelled due to lots of apologies and Easter break
The next meeting will take place on 25 April 11am-12noon.
Provider Assessment and Market Management Solution (PAMMS) system ends in April
Devon County Council continuously evaluates the tools and systems we use to support our work with providers. After extensive review and consultation, we have made the decision to not renew our contract for the PAMMS system when it expires next month.
This decision comes after a comprehensive assessment of the current PAMMS system's performance, costs, and the evolving needs of both our local authority and the broader provider community.
Our aim is to develop a system that is more aligned with our specific requirements for quality assurance and contract management.
What this means for you:
- We are committed to open communication and will provide regular updates on the development of the new system, including timelines and training opportunities.
- We will seek input and feedback from you, our provider partners, to ensure that the new system meets the needs of all stakeholders and facilitates a more collaborative approach to quality assurance.
We believe that this change, offers an exciting opportunity to enhance our quality and contract assurance processes.
Please contact: adultsc.qualitycontract-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
Older Persons’ Care Home Fee Model Review, call for Feedback
On 12 March 2024 Devon County Council and Valuing Care met with Older Persons Care Home providers. The purpose of this meeting was to set out the Council’s approach to reviewing the Older Persons Fee Model. The Council is committed to working in partnership with the care home market and this process is actively seeking feedback and engagement from providers.
The Council have instructed Valuing Care Ltd to undertake an independent review of the cost of providing care home services for older people in Devon. Valuing Care have been reviewing the cost of care home services since 2006 and have developed established processes for undertaking cost surveys and identifying the usual costs of care. https://valuingcare.co.uk
The objective of this review is to provide commissioners with the latest intelligence about the cost of delivering services and the current pressures faced by local providers. The scope of this exercise is for Older People / Over 65s long stay residential placements funded by the Council. Health placements and hospital discharge rates are excluded.
Older Person’s care home providers are invited to submit feedback on the following documents which were sent out after the meeting to providers.
- The proposed service categories/ needs groups which seek to differentiate between levels of needs. The council has drafted these with the aim of better defining the care needs of residents in a care home setting.
- The draft survey template which is intended to understand the cost of delivering services to each needs group. The survey template has been completed with notional data to demonstrate how it works.
The deadline for submitting feedback on these documents to Valuing Care is 3rd April 2024, please email your feedback to: enquiries@valuingcare.co.uk
International Recruitment Toolkit published
DHSC have now published the Toolkit for International Recruitment for Adult Social Care Providers. This toolkit is a best practice guide, to support providers to ethically recruit care workers and senior care workers from overseas. The toolkit can be used by providers who are new to international recruitment to help support through the new processes, or by providers who are looking to refine their current international recruitment processes.
The toolkit has been written in collaboration with Skills for Care and is hosted on their international recruitment hub, alongside other key resources and information to support with ethical international recruitment – International recruitment (skillsforcare.org.uk). We’ve also worked with gov.uk to create a summary version to highlight the key messages within the toolkit - International recruitment toolkit for adult social care providers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
International recruitment (skillsforcare.org.uk).
International recruitment toolkit for adult social care providers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Legislation affecting Care Home visiting comes into effect on 6 April
This update to the Health and Social Care Act strengthens visitor rights in care homes, hospitals and hospices and applies from 6 April.
The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (legislation.gov.uk)
Training & Education Opportunities from the the NHS Eastern Care Services team and Northern Care Homes Team
These NHS Teams have a range of different training available for all care providers including; RESTORE2, Intro to Diabetes, Nutrition and Hydration and so much more.
If you’re based in Exeter, East and Mid Devon, contact the Eastern Care Services Team rduh.careservices@nhs.net for more information or book training on their page.
If you’re based in North Devon contact the Northern Care Homes Team rduh.northerncarehomesteam@nhs.net for more information or book training on their page.
Grey Matter Learning: Part-funded and renewed until March 2025 with Demo Session
With the extension of Grey Matter training, there will be a one hour demo session to learn more about this e-learning platform.
Providers across Devon can access over 100 different eLearning courses from Safeguarding, Medication, Infection control, Wellbeing, with an option to add the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training part one.
“This training platform has enabled us as a small new company to train our staff to a much higher level in a broader range of subjects. The accessibility features are also unique and ensure understanding regardless of language, dyslexia etc.” – Feedback from a Devon Social Care provider.
For More information about the funding sign up here
Survey for Carer Workers working under a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
Your voice can make a difference to UK sponsorships journeys. This ‘Gobby’ survey is brought to you in collaboration with Devon Integrated Adult Social Care Alliance, Devon County Council, Plymouth City Council and Torbay Council.
The results will be used to inform policy and support that could influence a positive change in the UK.
Gobby survey.
Gas Safe Charity newsletter and workshops
The Spring issue of the ‘Think CO’ newsletter from the Gas Safe Charity. This highlights some of their recent work, as well as other carbon monoxide developments. They continue with regular Zoom training and you or your colleagues can book a future workshop HERE
Measles vaccination reminder
Think Measles! Vaccination rates have fallen, and cases of measles are increasing in England (publishing.service.gov.uk) is a poster aimed at NHS staff but same message applies for care providers.
Info here confirming that care staff are eligible for MMR vaccine MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
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
|
