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In this week's PEN, we have lots of free online training sessions that we hope you all will find useful!
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.
Update on the Older Person’s fee model review and new contract
Key Focus Areas:
Nursing Costs: The Council has engaged Valuing Care to initiate an exceptions process to examine costs in greater detail. Nursing providers should have received an email containing a letter about this process and a template on 9 May. The deadline for template submissions is midnight on Sunday 25 May 2025.
ROC and ROO Levels: The Council is undertaking further review of its approach to ROC and ROO in the new Older Persons fee model.
Service Descriptors Development: The Council has initiated a short-term internal working group to consider all the feedback received from providers and further develop the descriptors in partnership with the ICB. Providers who are interested in working with the council to test the descriptors please contact naomi.conlon@devon.org.uk.
Bespoke Pricing Clarification: The Council is coordinating 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 are to contact Heather Mills at Heather.Mills@devon.gov.uk. Initial workshops will take place on 23 May, 2.00-3.30pm and 28th May, 2.00-3.00pm.
Care Home Forum Next Week: 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 today. On the agenda for next week is:
- Update on the Older Persons Fee Model
- Workforce Changes related to International Recruitment
- Update on NHS contract for Nursing Homes
We hope to see you there!
Care Provider Bulleting From The Ombudsman
The Ombudsman has launched its first edition of their new care provider bulletin. The bulletin will be published at least every two months and provide information about recent decisions we have made and learning for adult social care providers. Alongside this we will also provide important updates about our work and examples of good practice.
You can subscribe to the bulletin here The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman once registered you can adjust your subscriber preferences to sector / profession you represent.
The Resources for care providers - Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman offers guidance, template letters and a model complaint procedure which will be beneficial when reviewing your complaints policy and procedure.
Safeguarding Adults and Mental Capacity Act (2005) training for Provider Services
The Torbay and Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership have now published new dates for Safeguarding Adults training and Mental Capacity Act (2005) training on the partnership website.
The following courses are available:
Level 1 Awareness of Safeguarding Adults e-learning
Level 1 Awareness of Mental Capacity Act e-learning
Level 2 Provider Services: Responding to Safeguarding Adult Concerns
Level 2 Provider Services: Responding to Safeguarding Adult Concerns (Refresher training)
*Please note the refresher course is only available 3 years after completing the Level 2 course
Level 2 Provider Services: Mental Capacity Act (2005)
Level 2 Provider Services: Mental Capacity Act (2005) (Refresher training)
*Please note the refresher course is only available 3 years after completing the Level 2 course
All training and resources are available from the partnership website here Training and resources - Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership
For other news on updates, events and webinars, keep an eye on the news feed on the partnership home page Home - Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership
Community Services Commissioning Co-produced - Relaunch
We have an exciting opportunity coming up for you to join us for our Community Services Commissioning Co-produced Relaunch Event on 4 June 2025.
Tickets are free to book. We are offering 2 places per organisation initially, but will extend this further if we have capacity to do so.
We will start the event by presenting feedback gathered from people with lived experience and then move into some workshops, to help us think about how we can commission Community Services in the future.
We anticipate the running order will be between 10am and 2pm but will send out the full agenda in due course.
If you would like to join us at this exciting event please use the following Eventbrite link to reserve your space: Community Services Commissioning Co-Produced Relaunch Event
Reminder to review and update your Capacity Tracker Contact Directory.
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 continuing to engage 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 additional 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
Good News Stories - Victory Celebration Day
Celebrating Victory Day at Hatherleigh Nursing Home
Hatherleigh Nursing Home, in Okehampton, Devon, recently marked VE Day with a celebration that brought together family members (residents), relatives and the team to honour the 80th anniversary of Victory Day.
The dining room was decorated with Union Jack flags, red, white, and blue napkins, and floral tablecloths, creating a bright and patriotic atmosphere. Each place setting featured neatly arranged crockery on red placemats, with colourful cups adding a finishing touch.
A generous buffet was served, offering a mix of savoury bites, fresh salads, and classic British desserts. From cold meats and pastries to BBQ chicken and colourful veggie options, there was something for everyone to enjoy. VE Day–themed buns, gateau, and strawberries and cream also rounded off the meal perfectly. As everyone tucked in, live music from guest performer Kelly added a nostalgic backdrop to the day.
Home Manager, Ashley shared, “Some beautiful smiles, reflective tears and dance moves that shaped the day...but special thanks has to go to Faye and team for preparing a fabulous buffet lunch and Tamsin for organising and decorating the event.”
The celebration was a chance to reflect, connect, and enjoy meaningful moments together, and a reminder of the strength of community at Hatherleigh Nursing Home.
To find out more about Hatherleigh Nursing Home, visit https://www.hatherleighnursinghome.com/live-with-us/
VE Day Tribute: Corporal Pete Shepherd’s Legacy Lives On
As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we remember former Corporal Pete Shepherd – a man whose life has been shaped by service, strength, and love.
Pete joined the Royal Corps of Transport in 1965 at age 20. Over 12 years, he served five tours in Northern Ireland, including high-risk bomb disposal work during The Troubles. His courage in the face of danger helped lay the foundations for modern bomb disposal techniques. Pete also served in Germany and Bahrain.
Decades later, Pete was diagnosed with PTSD, a reminder of the long-term impact of military service. His story highlights the importance of charities like the Felix Fund, which support the mental health of bomb disposal personnel.
Despite hardships, Pete fondly recalls light-hearted moments, from babysitting a rabbit to mischievous regimental pranks. For his service, he received the General Service Medal with Northern Ireland clasp.
In 1971, Pete met and married Sally just two months after meeting – a love story that has lasted 53 years. After leaving the Army, he worked for 30 years at a Spam board factory, showing the same dedication he brought to military life.
Now living with a Dementia, Pete has also faced cancer and major heart surgery. His daughter Claire describes the heartbreak of placing him in care, saying, “Watching his dementia progress feels like constant grief.”
Since moving into Heanton Nursing Home in April 2025, Pete has been supported with care that honours his identity. His room is filled with military memorabilia, and he’s still proudly referred to as “Sergeant Shepherd.” His salutes and discipline reflect the deep imprint of his service, offering a sense of continuity even as his memory fades.
At Heanton, we believe no one is "challenging" when their needs are met with compassion, understanding and their independence is encouraged. At Heanton Nursing Home, life continues with dignity, choice and purpose.
To read the full story please visit Honouring Identity in Dementia: A Devon Veteran’s Story - Heanton Nursing Home
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