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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.
Care Home Forum – Thank You for Joining Us!
A big thank you to all the providers who attended the Care Home Forum on Tuesday, 20 May. We were delighted to see such a strong turnout, including many new faces!
The session focused on workforce changes and international recruitment, sparking an insightful discussion. Due to the depth of conversation, we didn’t quite make it through the full agenda— if you have any questions or queries please contact socialcarebusinessrelations-mailbox@devon.gov.uk.
Save the Date:
Our next Care Home Forum will take place on Tuesday, 15 July from 2:00–3:30pm. We hope to see you there!
Forum Resources
Please find below the key materials from the session:
📄 Care Home Forum Slides – 20 May 2025
📄 Devon Alliance Presentation
📄 CHF Actions
International Recruitment Support
For more information and guidance on the International Recruitment Displaced Care Worker Process, please visit IR Displaced Care Worker Process - Provider Engagement Network for the latest updates and resources.
Bespoke Pricing Task & Finish Group
We’re kicking off our Bespoke Pricing work with workshops focused on service users whose needs exceed the standard service descriptors:
Workshop 1: Friday, 23 May | 2:00–3:30pm
If you’d like to take part, please contact Heather Mills at Heather.Mills@devon.gov.uk
Unregistered Alternative Provision Referrals
Made-Well CIC is now accepting referrals for our Unregistered Alternative Provision (UAP) placements. These placements are flexible, non-school-based enrichment activities for young people who may not be thriving in a traditional classroom setting. It is often used as a short-term (but can be long-term) solution for those who need a different approach to learning and development. UAPs are not registered schools and are typically arranged as part of an EHCP or local authority provision.
At Made-Well CIC in Hatherleigh, Devon, we provide a calm, supportive, and inclusive environment for young people aged 8 and over (assessed on a case-by-case basis). Our provision is ideal for learners with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, or social, emotional, and mental health needs.
We offer:
- Accessible facilities and inclusive spaces, including our newly enhanced Sensory Room, outdoor gym, and fully adapted site
- Animal care and farm learning – with goats, sheep, Shetland ponies, poultry and more
- Cooking, gardening and café skills in our working kitchen and produce gardens
- Woodwork, pottery, and creative sessions that promote expression and skill development
- AQA Unit Award Scheme, recognising achievement at every level
- 1:1 and small group support, tailored to each individual
- A therapeutic, personalised approach to learning, life skills and wellbeing
Our approach helps build confidence, communication skills, independence, and emotional resilience in a real-world, nurturing setting.
Placements are funded via EHCPs, school commissioning, or personal budgets. We welcome visits and taster sessions for potential learners.
Email - enquiries@made-well.co.uk
Phone - 01837 810584
Website - www.made-well.co.uk
Reminder - 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
LGBTQ+ learning framework – what training do you need?
The Skills for Care LGBTQ+ learning framework, working with LGBTQ+ people in later life aims to provide a base for identifying the insights, knowledge, understanding and skills that the social care workforce need to help them work affirmatively, inclusively and effectively with individuals from gender and sexually diverse communities.
A group in DCC are currently developing an LGBTQ+ learning framework based on the Skills for Care framework. This could provide training and resources for DCC, adults teams, children’s teams, partner agencies and social care providers.
We want to know:
- What current training on LGBTQ+ do you currently offer your teams?
- What training topics would you like the LGBTQ+ learning framework to cover?
Please share your feedback to this email address: Workforcetraining&
education@devon.gov.uk
Elevate Your Adult Social Care Training with Flourish's Online Courses
Flourish’s adult social care training goes beyond the basics, equipping staff with the knowledge and confidence needed to deliver exceptional care.
Flexible and Cost-Effective Learning
Flourish's online learning platform offers flexibility, allowing care providers to save time and reduce costs while ensuring all mandatory training requirements are met. The easy-to-use reporting tools make tracking progress and maintaining CQC compliance simpler than ever.
Perfect for Adult Care Social Providers
These courses are tailored to compliment hands-on experience, providing deeper insights into key topics that caregivers can apply in their daily routines. This balanced approach ensures that staff are not only engaged but also building essential skills while adhering to legal and ethical standards.
Comprehensive Course Offerings
With access to 134 online courses covering a wide range of subjects, e.g ADHD Awareness, Care Planning, Continence Management and Diabetes Essentials. Flourish ensures that every aspect of adult social care is addressed. This extensive curriculum helps carers gain the confidence to deliver compassionate, high-quality care consistently.
Quote from a current user “The e learning has been a game changer for our care team and company. It has given the care team a wide range of learning and skills about our client's individual needs”.
How to get involved: Devon County Council has partnered with Flourish to provide part-funded social care courses for all adult care providers in the region until 31 March 2026. If you are interested in signing up, 'Click' the eLearning platform can be accessed for £1 per learner, per month, plus VAT, specifically for our Adult Social Care online course bundle. This is subsidised by Devon County Council who will be covering two thirds of the cost of 'Click'. To access the platform, use the form below and the team will get you set up in no time. https://flourish.co.uk/partner/devon-council
Stay tuned for more updates and discover how Flourish can help you achieve training excellence in adult social care.
Good News Stories - Passion for Cricket Grows and Doll Therapy Discovery
Basils love for cricket continued thanks to Golfhill
Golfhill had the pleasure in being able to support one of their fantastic staff members, Basil. With his passion for cricket, as they know he absolutely loves the game and playing with his Tavistock team.
Golfhill was thrilled to support him by covering his membership costs to help him continue enjoying his cricket matches and social activities. Good luck Basil!
Reaching the Heart: What I Learned About Dementia and Doll Therapy
When I first joined Evolve Care Group in 2024 as part of the Communications Team, I wanted to deepen my understanding of dementia and the care approaches that make a difference to the lives of those living with the diagnosis. It quickly became clear that dementia isn’t a single illness, but an umbrella term to describe a complex array of symptoms affecting memory, decision-making, and cognition. Alzheimer’s, the most common form, affects 60-80% of those with dementia. While there is no cure, various therapies—like doll therapy—can hugely impact the well-being and quality of life for people living in care homes. This recognised therapy brings comfort and emotional support, providing a grounding and familiar comfort for those who may feel lost within their own minds.
If you imagine your mind as a bookcase filled with memories, dementia is like an earthquake that shakes the shelves. The memories on the top shelf, the most recent ones, fall first, while the earliest memories on the bottom shelves remain relatively stable. Although we can pick up these “fallen books” of recent memories, they can be hard to reach, and they may not go back where they once were. However, the feelings linked to these memories often remain, leaving an emotional trace - which is how doll therapy can be so powerful. The familiarity of holding a doll, for instance, may invoke emotions and even memories, that are tied to long-cherished moments, allowing people with dementia to reconnect in ways they can still feel, if not fully remember.
Whilst visiting one of Evolve Care Group’s nursing homes in Ilfracombe, I saw the impact of doll therapy first-hand. One lady has a doll in a pram that she takes everywhere with her and becomes upset if her doll is not treated like a human baby. In moments like these, memories may not be there, but the emotions and feelings very much are. The Home Manager of the North Devon home (Edenmore Nursing Home) Gayle Cooper, remarks how that lady’s behaviour has improved since introducing dolls to the home and seems ‘calmer in herself’.
I became aware that doll therapy is not wholly understood, and sadly when posting images of family members with dolls as part of my communications role, I have occasionally faced backlash. Some view it as infantilising, not realising the emotional impact this approach has for those on a dementia journey. To combat this, Evolve Care Group ensures that every team member is extensively trained to implement doll therapy with care, respect, and understanding, whilst recognising the unique needs of each family member.
Through my time at Evolve, I’ve come to see that caring for someone with a dementia means recognising that their world is different but not diminished. Embracing therapeutic techniques like doll therapy is one way we respect and enhance the quality of their lives, providing continuity, comfort, and companionship, one touch at a time. To find out more, visit https://www.evolvecaregroup.com/latest-news/
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