BCPA - your social care voice in Bucks and beyond | |
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Dear Eddy,
Welcome to your weekly Wednesday digest of social care news curated by BCPA.
In this week's edition:
- Bucks Council uplift 2024-25
- CHC uplift update
- VCSE invitation to Mental Health Action Planning process
- New CQC guidance and regulation page
- a round up of other local, ICS and national news
As always, please let us know if you are looking for something and can't find it.
We're here to help.
See also our website at buckscare.org for many events and resources including our International Recruitment Local Support Directory.
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Next meeting
- Thursday 11 April 2024
- 12 - 1 pm
- Join on Teams
- Informal networking and discussion including:
- Bucks Council uplift
- Hydration and nutrition report - BOB ICS
- International Recruitment update
- Government guidance
Find the slideset and recording from 14 March
From across Bucks, get together, discuss issues and hear latest updates. It may benefit your business.
All virtual networks are on Teams.
All providers delivering in Bucks welcome.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Trusted Assessor Services | |
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Buckinghamshire Trusted Assessor pilot
Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust have commissioned a 6-month pilot Trusted Assessor Service with funding from Buckinghamshire Council.
Two Trusted Assessors working with patients who are usually resident at Fremantle Care Homes (largest care provider in Buckinghamshire). The Trusted Assessors will manage communication and information flow between the Patient, the Care Home and the Ward to ensure patients move through the system quickly and effectively.
The pilot will run through until the end of March.
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The Oxfordshire Trusted Assessor Service provides support Monday - Friday at the John Radcliffe Hospital.
We take referrals on:
- local authority funded care home placements
- self-funders seeking a care home placement
- self-funders seeking a home care package
- complex local authority funded home care packages
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email oacp.taoxon@nhs.net
- call Valerie Jarvis 07864 686 552
- call Michelle Law 07826 950 502
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Your support to overseas recruitment | |
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CHC uplift update
BCPA has approached BOB ICS regarding a decision on an uplift for 2024-25. The ICS say that they have been awaiting the NHSE 2024/25 priorities and planning guidance, now issued with more detailed guidance to come. Therefore, at this stage the ICB is unable to confirm its approach to funding uplift for 2024-25 at this stage.
The ICB say that they remain committed to working collaboratively with all partners and will be in contact with BCPA once a balanced financial plan for the ICB and wider system has been agreed. The final submission of the ICS plan is due on 2 May 2024. Budgets will be delegated to directors and service heads on, or asap, after this date for discussion and decision about uplifts and how to apply. The ICB recognises that this delay is not ideal, but this is a result of the late guidance from NHSE along with significant system pressures.
In the meantime, and as the ICB moves into the new financial year, in the absence of a written agreement for an uplift, providers should only invoice for the currently agreed costs. If invoices are received with an uplift applied, which has not been agreed, then the invoice will be cancelled and will need to be re-raised which may delay payment. Uplifted invoices should only be sent in once written confirmation has been received by the ICB. When the uplift has been agreed, it would be better to have a separate invoice per client. If one invoice arrives with collated uplifts across different clients, then a problem with one could hold up the whole payment. Although this might be more time consuming, it will facilitate faster payment.
Around the country, we have heard of CHC uplifts in the region of between 4 - 5.63%. ICB systems appear to have had a budget increase in the region of 1.5%. BCPA will update you as soon as we hear more.
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Workforce Invitation BOB VCSE-ICS | Mental Health Action Planning Process
- Session 1: Thursday 9 May 2024, 11.00am - 12.30pm (online)
- Need to Know: Understanding the NHS mental health agenda
- Session 2: Thursday 16 May 2024, 10.00am – 2.00pm (online)
- Action Planning Workshop
- Session 3: Tuesday 25 June 2024, 9.30am - 4.30pm (in person - Oxford)
- Youth In Mind: Safe Spaces
Bursary Information:
Your time and insight will be recognised by a £500 bursary paid to your organisation. This bursary aims to support your participation and cover any associated costs.
Register your interest:
To secure your place in this action planning process, please confirm your attendance and commitment to all three dates by 15 April 2024. Selection of participants will be advised by 19 April.
Please continue to the expression of interest form and complete it by 15 April.
If you have any additional queries you can contact kirsty@communityimpactbucks.org.uk.
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REACT Mental Health | 90 minutes, online, free training
To support wellbeing conversations in your teams and communities - open to social care staff
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DHSC | Adult Social Care Training and Development Fund
Government has released guidance for the Fund which replaces the Workforce Development Fund administered by Skills for Care.
The new fund will be administered by the NHS Business Authority and eligible adult social care (ASC) employers in England can claim staff training costs from the Adult Social Care Training and Development Fund. You must show evidence of the spend on training and the staff getting the training must be in qualifying roles.
Guidance covers:
- the eligibility criteria for being able to make claims through the fund
- how the funding can be used, including the courses and qualifications within scope of the fund
- when the funding will be available
- the fund reimbursement rates
- the transition arrangements from the Workforce Development Fund
- details on how adult social care employers will be able to make a claim
Read more here
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CQC | Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014: Regulation 9A
New visiting regulation came into force on 6 April 2024. This Regulation aims to make sure, that:
- people staying in a care home, hospital or hospice can receive visits from people they want to see
- people living in a care home are not discouraged from taking visits outside the home
- people attending appointments in a hospital or hospice, that do not require an overnight stay, can be accompanied by a family member, friend or advocate if they want someone with them.
The Regulation explains what providers must do to make sure they respect the right of each person to receive visits and to be accompanied, following an assessment of their needs and preferences.
Read more here
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CQC | Single Assessment Framework booklet
There is now a new guidance and regulation page on the CQC website, which includes an index page for assessment setting out the process clearly. It enables providers to download all CQC assessment content from a single page into a pdf format. The dates for the 'last significant update' against the assessment guidance have also been included so it’s clear when information has changed.
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Recent conversations with CQC indicate that the number of Quality Statements being used to assess services has risen from an average of 4 to a current 11, out of a total of 34 QS available.
The most common QS reviewed are:
- safe and effective staffing
- involving people to manage risks
- safeguarding
Since the launch of the Single Assessment Framework in April 2023, 3,557 inspections of ASC services have taken place. Of these inspections, 59% resulted in a Good or Outstanding rating.
for those services with a previous rating, 23% improved, 52% maintained their rating and 25% deteriorated.
CQC report that 91 assessments of adult social care services have been inspected in the last month with a further 9 due to be published imminently. CQC has found:
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DHSC | Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund (MSIF)
DHSC has published the guidance and grant conditions for the MSIF for 2024-2025, aimed at Local Authorities.
This year's fund combines the main MSIF with the MSIF workforce fund and carried over funding from the fair cost of care fund for a total of £1.05bn available.
Government considers that 3 vital target areas for improvement underpin the overarching objective of building capacity and improving market sustainability. These are:
- increasing fee rates paid to adult social care providers in local areas
- increasing adult social care workforce capacity and retention
- reducing adult social care waiting times
Read more here
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Police visit to local care home
A Thames Valley care home has reported that recently two Thames Valley Police officers arrived one evening at 7pm to check on recruitment. The care home has a long history of registration with a good stable reputation and would have no expectation for an unannounced visit.
The Registered Manager said that the Police wanted to see personnel files, checked visas and permits, references, payroll evidence, equality and diversity evidence and training records. The RM said that both officers were 'thorough and knew what they wanted to see, especially the radicalisation and safeguarding polices'.
The care home called the SESCA International Recruitment legal helpline and lawyers especially engaged by SESCA for IR report that they have had a number of these calls and provided the following update:
The Police do have a role in Modern Slavery as it is a crime. However, they have NO rights to check on personnel files, or enter a premises without invitation or a warrant. Therefore, they would need to indicate very good reasons, which would include a warrant, to look at personnel files.
At any time the Police have nothing to do with policy and procedures etc and in the lawyer's experience the Police are seriously overstepping their responsibilities with these visits.
The lawyer has the care home to write to local MPs and Thames Valley Police to raise concerns. This is likely to dampen similar visits for a while.
If you have similar experiences we would welcome your comments in confidence.
The SESCA International Recruitment free legal helpline is open until Friday 28 June and is available to all Oxfordshire care providers regarding any queries you may have about international recruitment.
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Citation | sponsored promotion
The latest CQC changes have been at the front of everyone’s mind lately, but it’s crucial to understand that sometimes it's not the new or different standards you need to worry about - often it’s the same old areas that trip care providers up when it comes to inspection.
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That’s why our sponsor Citation have analysed dozens of CQC reports from last year to outline which areas care providers repeatedly fell down and how to avoid doing the same so you can achieve outstanding in your next inspection.
Download now: https://tinyurl.com/57z7z5rr
PLUS as an BCPA Member, you can claim 12 months FREE access to Certified E-Learning when you partner with Citation for their HR, Health & Safety and regulatory compliance support. With this care exclusive offer you can upskill your workforce, increase productivity and meet regulatory requirements through their library of CPD-certified and RoSPA-approved online modules all for free! If you’d like to take advantage of this limited-time offer click here to get a quote. And remember to let them know you’re an BCPA Member.
Ts & Cs apply.
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International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC) | Annual Survey 2024
This year’s IFIC Annual Survey is posing the following question:
- To what extent do people think that person- or people-centred care is being delivered today in health and care systems based on the needs, preferences and values of people at the centre of care?
Person-centred care was identified in the 2022 Survey as the most important feature of integrated care, but what does that mean in practice and how is it being experienced today? There is a short position paper to support the survey available here. IFIC want to hear from people who are, or should be, at the centre of care, community partners, health and care workers, system leaders, researchers and policy makers.
The survey only takes 5 minutes. The report will be published in September 2024 with a webinar to discuss findings. The survey is open until 3 May 2024.
Complete the IFIC Annual Survey 2024 here
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DHSC | £20 million boost for adult social care and unpaid carers
People in adult social care and unpaid carers will benefit from a £20 million boost to fund innovative projects across the country, as the government continues to deliver on its vision for social care reform.
The Accelerating Reform Fund will expand community-based care models such as Shared Lives, a service that matches people aged 16 and above with approved carers..
Read more here
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DHSC | 4D tech to prevent falls to be rolled out in social care settings
4D imaging technology which can prevent falls and automatically alert carers to a medical issue could soon be rolled out in more care homes across England.
Whzan Guardian, a UK-developed technology, is a monitoring system that uses 4D mapping technology to track people’s movement around the house and detect falls through sensors placed around the home.
Read more here
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The Disclosure and Barring Service is hosting its Spring Conference on Tuesday 30 April – a free virtual event open to everyone with an interest in safeguarding.
DBS supports employers to make safer recruitment decisions by processing and issuing criminal record checks and by maintaining the Adults’ and Children’s Barred Lists.
You will be able to join all six webinars throughout the day, or choose any specific ones you are most interested in.
To keep up to date with announcements, and to view details of the webinars, click on the LinkedIn page, DBS Spring Conference 2024, follow the page and turn on the page notifications at the top of the page.
The sessions will be available after the conference via this page on LinkedIn and on a separate landing page for the benefit of non-LinkedIn users.
If you have any queries, please email the team at DBSEngagement@dbs.gov.uk
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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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BCPA Member offers | BCPA works with the following suppliers to bring you market insight, quality products and expert advice. Contact them today...quote 'BCPA' | | |
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10% off your first contract as an BCPA Member.
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The platform for outstanding care management.
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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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National Partners with Care Association Alliance | | |
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