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Hope you all got the chance to enjoy some of the lovely Bank Holiday weather. This issue contains a range of training and other opportunities, and important Capacity Tracker information…
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.
Capacity Tracker Contact Directory updates.
Providers would have been recently informed by NECS Capacity Tracker of the following:
Extract from 'What's new to Capacity Tracker' published on 30 April.
Contact Directory Refresh
Changes have been made to the Contact Directory, which will make it easier to use and help ensure that the details there are kept up to date. Please note that information previously stored in the directory has been removed and this section should therefore be reviewed and updated. Each month, a location's Registered Manager will be imported directly into the directory using information from the CQC.
Validation is in place to prevent duplicate contacts being added. An error message will appear if attempts are made to add a duplicate contact.
This change has cleared all providers contact directory information with the exception of the registered managers email which has been pulled from CQC source data, NB: the email address may be the original one used whilst completing the CQC registered manager process unless since updated and may not be the providers preferred contact email. Because of this we are asking providers to review their information in the contact directory and reach out to CQC directly to amend the information if it needs updating.
In addition to this, we ask that providers add all additional contacts into the Capacity Tracker Directory selecting the appropriate role i.e., for referrals select referrals team and ensure that you tick the ‘public’ box, NB: the public box refers to extractable reports by partners i.e., Local Authority which is not accessible through public domain.
DCC are engaging with Capacity Tracker to ensure that the downloadable reports used by us will contain the correct email correspondence for the appropriate role
If you need any addition support please contact the Capacity tracker support centre – 0191 691 3729 (08:00-17:00 Mon-Fri excluding bank holidays) or email necsu.capacitytracker@nhs.net
The Capacity Tracker platform has various resources available including training events - Events - Resource Centre - Capacity Tracker
Next Steps for the Older Person’s (65+) Care Homes Fee Model and Upcoming Care Home Forum
Dear Care Home Providers,
Following our letter on 11tApril regarding the 2025/26 Care Home inflationary uplift award and our review of all the provider feedback received from the recent engagement exercise, we are pleased to outline the council's next steps for the new fee model.
Key Focus Areas:
Nursing Costs: The Council has engaged Valuing Care to examine costs in greater detail. Nursing providers, please expect a separate email soon outlining how you can support this process.
ROC and ROO Levels: In response to provider feedback, the Council will undertake further review of its approach to ROC and ROO in the new Older Persons fee model.
Service Descriptors Development: The Council plans to further develop the Residential and Nursing service descriptors. To achieve this, a short-term internal working group has been established to:
- Thoroughly consider all feedback received from providers
- Further develop the descriptors in partnership with the ICB
- Invite providers and front-line social care staff to participate in testing them to finalise this important work.
Bespoke Pricing Clarification: The Council plans to coordinate a Task and Finish Group on Bespoke Pricing (the process for service users whose needs exceed those outlined in the service descriptors) and we are looking for volunteers to be part of this process. Providers of older person’s care homes who are interested in developing the Bespoke Pricing approach and a clear process to contact Heather Mills at Heather.Mills@devon.gov.uk. The task and finish group will commence the week of 12 May.
In collaboration with Valuing Care and our care providers, we are committed to implementing a new Older Persons (65+) fee model and contract this year. However, as previously stated, there will be a delay in the proposed June implementation date as we finalise the model.
Nursing Home Forum Update - 6 May 2025
The Nursing Home Forum held on Tuesday, 6 May, was well attended. Thank you to everyone who participated. The actions from the meeting can be accessed here and the slides here. These will be emailed out to all Nursing providers and added to the PEN website on the Older Person’s Fee Model page.
Upcoming Care Home Forum Event: We invite all our care home providers who hold an open contract with DCC to join our next online Care Home Forum on Tuesday, 20 May, from 2:00-3:30 pm. Please save the date in your diary. More details, including the meeting registration link, will be sent out via GovDelivery.
Review and update your DSPT – two months to go!
Care providers have two months to publish their Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) for 2024/25. If you published in previous years, all your information will still be there. But remember, you must review and update the content, it’s not simply a tick and republish exercise. There are new issues to consider such as: tech that you may have introduced, multi-factor authentication, use of AI, and of course there are always new cyber threats.
If you’ve never published your DSPT before, there is still time to meet the 30 June 2025 deadline – but we recommend you start now.
Access free, expert support from our Better Security, Better Care programme – including a range of webinars on how to complete and implement the DSPT. Click here for more information
COVID-19 Vaccination Campaign duration reminder
We are halfway through the Covid-19 spring booster campaign which started on 1 April and will end on 17 June 2025
Covid-19 Spring Booster programme 2025
We are halfway through the Covid-19 spring booster campaign which started on 1st April and will end on 17th June 2025.
Eligible cohorts
- adults aged 75 years and over
- all residents in care homes for older adults
This includes those who will turn 75 years old by 17 June 2025. They will be eligible for a vaccination at any point in the campaign. Those who are new residents in an older adult care home or become immunosuppressed by 17 June 2025 are also eligible.
Adults 75+ and those who are immunosuppressed and residing in supported living or Non-Older Adult Care Homes are eligible for the vaccination and will have been identified by the vaccination team. Where appropriate invitations will be sent or arrangements will be made for the individual/s to receive a vaccination via the PCN, Outreach Team or via their Local Mass Vaccination Centre Vaccinations National Booking Service - NHS England Digital
Please direct queries to: d-icb.devonvaccinationsupport@nhs.net
- Eastern and Southern team: 07729 300349
- Northern Team: 07385 934988
- Western Team: 07729 300350
Further information relating to the Spring Booster Programme can be found here – Vaccine update: issue 356, March 2025 - GOV.UK
Reminder Please can care homes update the seasonal vaccination section of the capacity tracker once the vaccinations have been completed.
Join Our Monthly Drop-In Session with International Recruitment specialist Lisa Mulholland
Are you seeking expert advice on international recruits? Do you have specific questions about visa renewals, compliance, or employing displaced workers? Look no further! Every month, you have the unique opportunity to get your questions answered by International Recruitment specialist Lisa Mulholland from Stephen Scowns Solicitors.
Highlights from April’s session
Thank you for the providers that attended the session. Lisa provided invaluable insights on several critical topics:
- English test centres
- Contracted hours for hourly rates
- Sponsor duties
- Sponsorship cancellation
- New rules in April, increase to minimum salary requirement to all new COS
- Sponsored care workers who have been displaced now take priority
Top tip: Have your own sponsor licence policy in place about what your sponsor duties are.
Don't Miss Out! This is an incredible opportunity to gain expert knowledge and ensure your organisation is well-prepared to handle international recruitment challenges. If you have questions or want to learn more, join us at our next drop-in session. Make the most of Lisa's expertise while you can!
Book it in your calendar for our next session on Thursday 22nd May and save this zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83570036130
If you have any specific questions you'd like to ask Lisa in the next session, add your question to the infra 360 board.
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
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