As we start to move further through COVID recovery we are pleased to inform providers that the work of the Disabilities Quality Assurance (QA) Team will start to move back to business as usual in line with Government guidance. Throughout the periods of restriction we have maintained a QA offer that has worked remotely and whilst we have been able to take some valuable learning from this time, we are very much looking forward to being able to visit services in person again.
The Quality Assessment Framework we will use to review services has been refreshed during the past year to account for new policy, guidance and legislation. The framework, alongside a revised process map and scoring algorithms will be made available on the Quality Portal and the Disabilities Quality pages of the GCC website for those who wish to take a look.
We have also been working on improvements of our supporting software (Quality Portal / Quality Compass) which will allow for an easier and more transparent way of sharing documents, we anticipate this will alleviate some of the administrative tasks required of providers as part of a quality review. Please be assured you will be guided on how to navigate this as part of the introduction to a quality review should one of your services be allocated.
We would like to reassure providers that all visits will be undertaken in line with the GCC risk assessment for fieldwork staff and associated visiting guidance – all of which can be made available upon request. Unless absolutely necessary, visits will always be pre-arranged so any service specific issues/risks can be discussed with the Quality Review Officer prior to visiting. Visiting Officers will have appropriate PPE, will have tested negative by means of an LFD test 24 hours prior to visiting and will observe social distancing guidelines.
Should you have any queries about this, or any other quality assurance matter please do not hesitate to get in touch with a member of the Quality Assurance team via the Helpline on 01452 328463 or disabilityquality@gloucestershire.gov.uk
As the local care provider association, we know the local care market. So, our support is focused on Care Quality Commission registered care providers in Gloucestershire.
We can help care homes, home care providers, extra care housing, supported living and Share Lives services supporting adults of all ages.
We can also support large care groups if all or most of your services are in our local area.
Local webinars: The next webinars are now on the GCPA website which can be found here.
Contact us: To book on to the webinar, to find out more or request support please contact our helpline here or Tel 07436 033514 / 07436 033851
Registered Managers & Aspiring Managers Network Events: We are pleased to be able to announce the next Registered Manager and Aspiring Managers Network Events are coming on the 30th June & 5th July 2021.
These two FREE events include a very special guest speaker, a true superhero, who brings elements of fun and inspiration, whilst discussing their achievements – book now to avoid disappointment:
Registered Managers Network – 30th June 2021 at 1-2.30pm
Aspiring Managers Network – 5th July 2021 at 1-2.30pm
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Have you joined GCPA?
We are continuing our weekly Zoom webinars, which are free to all members of GCPA. We aim to bring our members the best speakers and information available.
Coming up in the next month, we are hosting Mary Hutton – CCG Accountable Officer, Kim Forey – Director of Integration, Chairs of the LD Partnership Board, Professor Sarah Scott – Executive Director of Adult Social Care & Public Health Gloucestershire and more…
If you want to learn more about the membership, please check out this link.
Our next Learning Disabilities Collaborative webinar is approaching fast and we’d love it if you’d all join us! This webinar will be focused on oral health and will take place on 14 June between 13:00 and 14:00. Please click here to book your place.
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Booking for Tier 1 of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training in Learning Disability and Autism Trial is now open.
Tier 1 is relevant not only to health and social care staff, but to people working in any sector who may occasionally interact with people with a learning disability and/or autistic people, but who do not have responsibility for providing direct care or making decisions about care or support - such as those working in education, law enforcement, Jobcentre staff, bus drivers, for example.
Booking onto the training
Health and social care staff can book a place via Proud to Learn, the Gloucestershire County Council learning management system, via this link.
If you do not have a Proud to Learn account, please email here.
You can access more information on the Oliver McGowan Training here.
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The End of Life Care survey will be open until 14th June to give people a further opportunity to complete it.
The survey is for anyone. We would like to ask colleagues to complete it personally but to also share (where/ when appropriate) with people that they are supporting. The survey gives people the opportunity to share their views on end of life care planning as well as any recent experiences they may have of a family member or person they cared for receiving end of life care. The survey also includes views on bereavement services. Please find a link to the service here.
This is a breast screening film for women with learning disabilities, showing clearly what happens during the process of having a mammogram. Whilst breast screening is always an individual choice, the film is intended to take the fear out of going for breast screening and encourage women with LD to come and have the test.
The film can be watched in full, or in short segments, showing different aspects of the screening journey. More information can be found here.
The film producers have also done a film for cervical screening for women with learning disabilities which can be found here.
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This is the 13th year of the “Big Health Days”. Due to covid-19 organisers have planned a fun action packed week of blended activities on-line (via Zoom) and face to face.
This event follows Mencap’s Learning Disabilities Week (14th June - 20th June 2021), which is this year focussing on Art and creativity. For many people with a learning disability and their families, getting creative has been a way to stay connected and positive through the challenges of the last year. We know that people with a learning disability are up to twice as likely to experience mental health problems, due to many factors like discrimination and social isolation.
The full Big Health 2021 programme can be accessed here but here are a few on offer:
Blackbridge Athletics Track – Wheels for All adapted bikes and trikes – Wednesday 23rd June 10 – 2pm
Inclusion Gloucestershire – Drama Taster Session at St Mary’s Crypt Church -Wednesday 23rd June 10.30 – 11.30pm
Inclusion Gloucestershire - try their Hub – Wednesday 23rd June 12 – 1pm
Oxstalls Sports Centre – Short tennis practice on the AstroTurf outdoor court – Thursday 24th June 10 – 12.30pm
Please click here to find easy read information on the event and there is also an easy read programme.
Further information can be obtained by contacting BigHealth2021@ghc.nhs.uk #BigHealth2021
Further information about the Mencap Learning Disability Week can be found on their website – Click here #LDWeek2021
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CQC have launched an ambitious new strategy based on extensive consultation with the public, providers of health and social care services, charities and partner organisations.
CQC’s purpose of ensuring high-quality, safe care won’t change, but how it works to achieve this will. The new strategy is set out under four themes:
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People and communities: regulation that is driven by people’s needs and experiences, focusing on what is important to them as they access, use and move between services.
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Smarter regulation: a more dynamic and flexible approach that provides up-to-date and high-quality information and ratings, easier ways of working with CQC, and a more proportionate regulatory response.
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Safety through learning: an unremitting focus on safety, requiring a culture across health and care that enables people to speak up and in this way share learning and improvement opportunities.
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Accelerating improvement: encouraging health and care services, and local systems, to access support to help improve the quality of care where it’s needed most.
Running through each of these themes are two core ambitions:
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Assessing local systems: giving the public independent assurance about the quality of care in their area
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Tackling inequalities in health and care: pushing for equality of access, experiences and outcomes from services.
For more information and to read the strategy, please click here or join the conversation on social media using #CQCStrategy
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