RCPA Members Bulletin – 7th February 2024

Dear Member,

Please find a roundup of the latest news and resources we think may be of interest to you.

 

News and Resources
24/25 Fee Negotiations and member consultation
Thank you for your patience in this matter and for feedback following the recent member consultation. The RCPA and board members have recently met with Somerset Council to expedite discussions around fees and other issues you have raised. Any decisions regarding fees are expected to be ratified at Somerset Council’s executive level around 20th February; we will keep you updated as soon as we hear more.

• Respiratory infection updates
Please find attached recent guidance from the UKHSA and a letter from DHSC.

 

Events
• February members call
The next member call has been rescheduled and will be held on Thursday 15th February at 10-11.00hrs. Please email admin@rcpa.org.uk for the meeting link.

RCPA & SWCRC workshop – Keeping your IT infrastructure safe from prying eyes – 22nd Feb 11:00 – 12:00
Join RCPA’s Dan along with Ross and Andrew from The Southwest Cyber Resilience Centre for a workshop around your home routers and IT infrastructure. Ross and Andrew will be covering:
o Why keeping software up to date is important
o Encrypting data on laptops
o Backups and disaster recovery
To register for this workshop, please click here.

• Registered Manager’s Network meetings
We are pleased to announce the next general RMN will be Thursday 29th February 13.30-15.30hrs. This will be a F2F event, and the venue and programme will be confirmed soon. Please contact admin@rcpa.org.uk to register.

The final LD/Dom RMN of 23/24 will be held at Stoke St Gregory village hall on 13th March, 13.3-15.30hrs, again, programme to be confirmed soon.

Please find attached the resources from our sponsor, Marr Procurement, CQC, SfC, Somerset Council’s Tech enabled Care contact is Claire Collett or Julian Bellew at AdultSocialCareTEC@somerset.gov.uk etc following the recent LD/Dom care RMN held on 31st January.
NB-Some follow ups to Qs and responses from CQC at the meeting:
• The Environmental Sustainability Quality Statement will not be reviewed in ASC for the foreseeable future. There is no planned start date.
• At present we will be continuing to gather evidence as detailed in this link – https://www.cqc.org.uk/assessment/quality-performance/gather-evidence. As the provider portal continues to be developed the functionality will be increased and therefore it’s hoped that the evidence providers have identified will be able to be uploaded at that point.
***** We are looking for a co-chair to support with the LD/Dom network meetings. Please contact hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk if you are interested***** The purpose of a co-chair will be to ensure the meetings are relevant and focused on what providers would like to hear/learn more about.

• RWK Goodman Seminar: Key HR and employment law changes in 2024 – are you ready?
Tuesday 5th March 2024, 9.45am until 1.00pm
Edgar Hall, Somerton, TA11 6SB
Free onsite parking
£10 per ticket for RCPA members
An in-person employment law seminar with the specialist employment solicitors in RWK Goodman’s Health & Social Care team.

What can you expect?
The seminar will cover upcoming changes in HR and employment law in 2024 including:
• Changes to holiday entitlement and pay calculations for bank and casual workers
• New worker rights to request predictable working hours, flexible working and carer’s leave.
• Changes to family leave rights including statutory paternity and maternity leave
• New duty to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment
• HMRC targets care sector for National Minimum Wage – are you compliant?
• A new workforce strategy for social care

RWK Goodman will be discussing the practical impact of these changes and how your organisation can prepare for them.
There will also be an opportunity for you to ask questions, share experiences and network with your peers.
For more information about the seminar, please click here. To register please email admin@rcpa.org.uk with delegate names, organisation name and email address for invoice.
Places are first come first serve, so please reserve your place today to avoid missing out.

• RCPA & Howden data security workshop – Prevention is the best defence – 28th March 10:30 – 11:30
Joining RCPAs monthly data security workshop, Howden will be discussing cyber security and how being prepared and fostering a strong culture will help defend your business.
To register for this workshop, please click here.

 

Skills for Care

Information and support from Skills for Care, please click here

 

Digital News

Dear provider,
As of 5th February 2024, digital social care record supplier Sekoia Ltd is no longer an assured solution on the NHS Assured Solutions list.
What to do if you are currently in the process of purchasing this solution?
If you are currently in the process of purchasing Sekoia DSCRs please contact digitisationinsocialcare@somerset.gov.uk for how to best proceed.
To remain eligible for the funding you will need to select a new supplier from the assured solutions list.
What does this mean for care providers who have signed a contract with this solution?
There is no requirement for you to switch solutions unless you are unsatisfied. You may choose to remain with the solution or continue with the contract until the natural end date.
If you have signed a contract with Sekoia, you may wish to consider ending the contract (if this is an option) and choose a different assured solution. However, it is important to note the transition from one digital social care record system to another cannot be funded using the Adult Social Care Digital Transformation Fund.
Given its removal from the assured solutions list, Sekoia is now exempt from the previously mandated standards and assurance requirements.
If the contract was signed before the date at which the Sekoia exited the assured solution list, or before the care provider was informed of Sekoia exit from the list, they are still eligible for the funding.
If you have any questions please contact digitisationinsocialcare@somerset.gov.uk