Greetings!
Welcome to your weekly Wednesday digest of social care news curated by OACP.
In this week's shortened summer edition:
- reminders of help and support available
- a round up of other local, ICS and national news
We're here to help.
There will be no newsletter on 16 August.
Eddy McDowall, CEO, OACP
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Our strength is your involvement
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Oxfordshire provider networks | up next... |
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Coming soon...quarterly in-person networking events for the whole sector.
Details to follow later in the summer.
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OACP Learning Disability network - for supported living services for people with learning disability/ autism/ ABI
OACP Home Care network - for registered home care providers
OACP-OCA Care Home network - for registered residential and nursing homes
Oxfordshire Registered Manager Network - for Registered Managers and Deputies
Safeguarding Quarterly Network with Oxfordshire County Council and Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board
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Changes to parking charges at Oxford University Hospitals
This is the first time the Trust has increased parking charges since 2017. The changes will see a reduction for those spending less time on the sites and increases for longer stayers in the visitor car parks at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Churchill Hospital, and Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre to bring the all-day rate in line with local Headington car parks to prevent misuse of hospital facilities.
Charges at the Horton General Hospital in Banbury remain unchanged as they are similar to nearby public car parks.
Concessionary arrangements for patients and visitors who regularly attend the hospitals remain the same. Free parking for Blue Badge holders is also unchanged – there are 253 spaces on the four sites.
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Please find below the slidesets from the International Recruitment Seminar in Wallingford on Tuesday 25 July
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In the meantime the Grant Application process is now open.
This is for CQC-registered providers only based in south-east region.
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Now Live - South East International Recruitment Hub
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International recruitment is a complex process. Don't be caught out. Make sure you are clear what the legal process is and where you can improve support to migrant workers.
And if you are aware of potential concerns about modern slavery, you have several options for reporting:
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unseen UK is the national reporting channel for members of the public, including care operators
- Call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 or the police non-emergency helpline on 101. In an emergency always call 999.
- If you are concerned about care delivery quality discuss with your local council commissioning team.
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Could Wheels to Work be a solution for your care workforce? |
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Wheels to Work provides a fully serviced and insured 50cc or 125cc moped with maintenance plan, roadside assistance, secure lock, delivery and tracker on a lease arrangement for:
- People new to care (from unemployment/ college/ other sector)
- New starters in a care organisation (transferring from one provider to another)
- People currently working in care (but looking to be more mobile, or spend less on transport)
Applicants can either pay for the package themselves, or apply for a grant from the Care Workers’ Charity (in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council).
A deposit of £150 is required before an individual can collect their moped.
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Supporting Oxfordshire social care workforce |
- Grants and local support
- Accommodation lists
- Hints and tips
- Inspiring stories
- Training and development
- Innovation and horizon scanning
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17 OACP Members are taking advantage of this free Membership offer. |
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If you would like to take advantage of your OACP Membership offer with IHSCM, please contact us for your password to access their services. |
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IHSCM have put together a quick promo video for you just giving a bit of an introduction to your free membership with IHSCM.
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ALL managers who work for you will be able to access these opportunities for free.
If you're not sure if your organisation is eligible as an OACP Member, please contact us.
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Useful local contacts can be found further down, below _Webinars | Podcasts | Events_
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ICS meetings | care homes
Focused meetings on care homes have started in each place-based locality. It's too early to tell how these ICS-led meetings will make a difference, but in theory it should provide a connection between care homes and NHS commissioners. We will keep you updated on subject matter and actions.
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However, there are no domiciliary care focused meetings and we are following this up, as supporting people at home is the major drive by both NHS and local authorities. |
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CQC Single Assessment Framework update
As many of you may have seen recently in the CQC bulletin, the Regulator is progressing with plans to implement in November, the new assessment framework. This will be rolled out regionally, starting with providers in the South of England. The key timescales are:
- 230 providers will be invited on to the new portal in August (we presume this will be a mix of health and care providers, eg; ASC, dentists, GPs etc)
- In November, the portal will be rolled out to all health and care providers in the south of England (we presume this is all those in the southwest, south east and London regions)
- Invitations to join the new portal will be sent your Nominated Individuals
- By the end of March 2024, all health and care providers in all regions will have been onboarded
Any assessments from November onwards for providers in the South will be carried out using the new assessment framework. CQC will still schedule assessments by considering the level of risk, so not all providers will need to have an immediate assessment.
In other regions, CQC will continue to use the current assessment framework for now. CQC will provide further updates as each region moves over to using the new framework.
CQC recommend two actions for providers in the south of England:
- Ensure that contact details for your organisation are up to date so that CQC invites the correct people to join the new portal and can keep them informed about the roll-out of the new approach
- Read guidance to help prepare your organisation for the changes in the way regulation will happen
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UK Honours System - recognise colleagues who are doing an amazing job
Do you know someone working or volunteering in social care who deserves national recognition for going the extra mile? The honours and awards scheme is open to anyone making an exceptional contribution to their communities.
If you know someone who has gained the respect of their peers, displayed moral and physical courage, or showed real innovation and entrepreneurship, click here to nominate.
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£600 million social care winter workforce and capacity boost
'The £600 million fund includes a £570 million workforce fund over two years, distributed to local authorities and £30 million funding for local authorities in the most challenged health systems. This funding follows the social care workforce reforms announced earlier this year, and works, alongside the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, to build a stronger overall foundation for the health and social care workforce. It will help to improve recruitment and retention, boost workforce capacity and ensure a sustainable social care workforce fit for the future. A stronger care system will better meet care needs around the country and support the NHS for future winters, preventing admission to hospital and helping people to be discharged from hospital more quickly, cutting waiting times for A&E and ambulances.'
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Government expects the £570 million funding to enable local authorities to make improvements to adult social care capacity.
Government recognises that local areas are best placed to design and deliver care initiatives tailored to meet local needs effectively. In recognition of this, the £570 million of additional funding is designed to have the same flexibility as the Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund to meet local pressures, and so local authorities can choose to use the funding to:
- increase fee rates paid to adult social care providers, particularly as the system prepares for the future implementation of charging reform
- increase adult social care workforce capacity and retention
- reduce adult social care waiting times
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NHS strikes
Following the recent consultant doctor strike, the BMA has announced a further four-day junior doctors’ strike from 7am on Friday 11 August to 7am on Tuesday 15 August, as well as a 48-hour consultants’ strike from 7am on Thursday 24 Aug to 7am on Saturday 26 August.
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Consultation on mandatory visiting rights in care homes
New regulations will give the Care Quality Commission (CQC) additional powers to allow families to visit loved ones receiving care in residential and other settings.
The Government acknowledges the positive effect visiting has on the emotional wellbeing of all involved. To this end, it has launched a public consultation on how visiting can be mandated effectively and safely within health and care settings, including care homes.
Responses are encouraged from anyone involved in the health or care sector, whether through providing care, drawing on care, or as a friend or family member of someone who receives care.
DHSC is considering reasonable explanations and specific exceptions to the proposed regulations. They have suggested options as reasonable exceptions depending on circumstances:
- If the resident or patient does not wish to receive a visitor;
- If a visitor is confirmed to have an infectious disease or is confirmed to be a contact of someone who has an infectious disease;
- If the person being visited has an infectious disease or there is an outbreak in the care home or hospital;
- If a visitor is a risk to the physical and/or mental health and wellbeing of residents, patients and/or staff;
- If a patient’s treatment plan does not include visiting, in order to aid their recovery;
- If a visitor is requesting to visit at a time outside standard, reasonable, visiting hours (such as late at night or early in the morning);
- If there is an unforeseen emergency occurring in the home or hospital and visiting cannot be safely accommodated;
- If the care home or hospital does not have the capacity to receive a large number of visitors.
The consultation runs until 16 August 2023.
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Webinars | Podcasts | Events |
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CQC series exploring the way they are changing and developing their regulatory approach.
You can now watch the whole series on YouTube.
Our new regulatory approach
Local authority assessments
Integrated care system assessments
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RVS & DHSC | NHS and Care Volunteer Responders Stakeholder Webinar
Dates available:
- Tuesday 15 August, 2 - 3 pm
- Wednesday 30 August, 3 - 4 pm
- Tuesday 5 September, 2 - 3.30 pm
- Book your place here
Hosted by DHSC and RVS, the charity delivering the NHS and Care Volunteer Responders programme, this webinar will provide a short briefing on the programme, the volunteer support available to the ASC sector and how to make a referral.
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HSE | Free webinar for the health and social care sector on work-related stress
HSE will be hosting the webinar in relation to the work-related stress management standards and the HSE stress indicator tool. There will also be a live question and answer at the end where you can ask our panel of experts any questions you may have.
There were an estimated 303,000 work-related ill health cases (new or long-standing) in human health and social work in the three years affected by the coronavirus. This equates to nearly a third of all reported cases, with 914,000 workers suffering in 2021/22 which resulted in 17 million working days lost.
Half of these ill health cases reported during the coronavirus period were either stress, depression or anxiety related.
Recognising the signs of stress and then acting will help employers to take steps to prevent, reduce and manage stress in the workplace. To effectively manage the risk of stress, you can use HSE's stress indicator tool.
Recently, an additional set of questions, which has been designed to gather data on stress, anxiety and depression of workers that work partly or fully from home, have been developed.
The "home and hybrid working tool", which can be found on the HSE website, is an optional add-on module that explores specific stressors that could be linked to modern working practices. This tool helps employers to understand how these might be related to mental health outcomes.
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HMRC | Company directors – payroll and you
Covering:
- tax and National Insurance treatment of payments to directors
- expenses and benefits
- payroll information that has to be submitted to HMRC
- keeping accurate records
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Free MS Awareness training for care providers
Due to popular demand, MS-UK has added a second date for its MS Awareness training specifically for care providers.
The session is open to care and support professionals (or volunteers) who may be supporting people with multiple sclerosis. This could be,
- Residential care home support staff
- Domiciliary or home care workers
- Community support workers
- Personal assistants
- Private carers
Please share with any colleagues who you think may benefit and we hope to see you there. The session is free, but if you are able to make a donation for your ticket it will be gratefully received.
For more information, click here to visit our web page.
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Other training and events |
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Skills for Care | The Care Exchange
Series three features Good Oaks Home Care as the first UK carbon neutral home care company. Ben Ashton, the co-founder and director talks about what you have to do to become carbon neutral, why it is so important and how it fits so well with values-based recruitment and retention. Ben also talks about his positive experiences and shares his learnings of recruiting internationally
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Barclays Digital Wings | FREE online courses to master the digital world
- Essential Digital Skills | Digital foundation skills
- From choosing a device to getting connected, there’s lots to learn. In this module we’ll take you through some of the basics to help you get started.
- Essential Digital Skills | Communicating
- Learn how to set up email and other messaging apps, understand how to create shareable documents and get to grips with video calling to help stay connected with other safely and securely.
- Essential Digital Skills | Communicating for work
- Communicating effectively at work is a vital skill, through email, on video calls or in social media posts. Learn more about the digital platforms that help keep you in touch with others at work.
- Digital office skills | Microsoft 365
- Be more productive at work by making the most of your Microsoft applications. Learn how to make better presentations, create effective documents and organise your inbox.
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Trusted Assessor services
Only one other is active in the south east (in Portsmouth).
The Oxfordshire Trusted Assessor service has restarted.
The Trusted Assessor Service for Berkshire east, funded by Frimley ICS, has launched.
For Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire, the Trusted Assessor Service is run for care homes only by Lincolnshire Care Association.
Contact: Michelle Yusuf -
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Community Dental Services in Berkshire
Community dental services are available in a variety of places to ensure everyone can have access to dental health. Some Oxfordshire residents may be registered with Berkshire community dental services.
If you would like the Word version of the form, please reply to this newsletter.
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The Royal Berkshire Care Home Help-line
To facilitate assessment or repatriation, the Royal Berkshire the hospital is running a dedicated Care Home help-line for 2022. Download the flyer here. Please remember the ward should be your first contact.
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Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board consultation line for professionals
- The line operates from 10 am - 3 pm, Monday to Friday.
- Call 01865 328232 and select option 1.
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Free DSPT support for Berks, Bucks, and Oxon
Digital solutions are here to stay!
Contact the DSPT team now to access this free support.
DSPT contact details for Berks, Bucks and Oxon
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Do you have hospital issues? Complaints? Concerns?
Please raise these through the relevant Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). All matters that go through PALS get raised at clinical governance in their particular area of expertise e.g. orthopaedics / LD etc, so it is imperative that any matters that need raising go through this route.
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OACP, BCA and MKB Care working together for you |
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Care Association Alliance | our big family
We are part of the largest national care association, the Care Association Alliance, with over 6,000 members across England.
This informs us of current concerns, we can source potential solutions on behalf of you and it helps inform our local communications.
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Consistent, quality information
We mail out once a week on a Wednesday, so you know when to look out for it. These updates will provide summary advice on emerging issues and signpost providers to government and other statutory agency advice as needed.
Reminder
We are always keen to hear from providers, if you have anything you would like to share with provider colleagues, please send to the usual address. |
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OACP Member offers | OACP works with the following suppliers to bring you market insight, quality products and expert advice. Contact them today...quote 'OACP' |
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Help yourself to help us
Now available to all Oxfordshire care providers.
Spectrum is a well-established buying consortium with an emphasis on the Care Sector including care homes, domiciliary care and supported living. They have been sourcing discounts with major suppliers for their members since 1992.
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Whatever your goals, Citation will help your business to succeed with unrivalled HR and Health & Safety support and expertise for small and medium-sized business.
10% off your first contract as an OACP Member.
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The home of efficient care home management
Every care home business is unique. We understand that. CoolCare4 is designed by experts who know how care home users need their software to work. As a result, our system is simple and intuitive with helpful functions, which fit seamlessly into the operation of your care home.
Software features include all core aspects of care home business admin. From occupancy management to time and attendance, rostering and invoicing, CoolCare does it.
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The platform for outstanding care management.
Our platform gathers insights to help you allocate resources and speed up your day-to-day tasks, so you can focus more on those in need.
Easy and intuitive, it can be used in any setting, without the need for extensive training. Designed alongside support workers and service users, it's the platform of choice for enriching the lives of everyone in care.
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Log My Care is accredited by NHSX as an Assured Supplier for Digital Social Care Records.
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Person Centred Software’s Mobile Care Monitoring is the most widely-used digital care management system in the UK, and the most widely referred software provider within social care.
Over 3,000 care providers using Mobile Care Monitoring.
Get your membership paid for with your first contract.
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RWK Goodman LLP is the preferred legal supplier for sdvice to the care sector in Oxfordshire.
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National Partners with Care Association Alliance |
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Happy with what you are reading?
Please tell colleagues and pass on this newsletter.
Our strength is your involvement.
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