Please find a roundup of the latest news and resources we think may be of interest to you.
News and Resources
• Following our last members’ call and discussion around administration of specialist medication/injections by nurses in nursing homes and access to DN support, RCPA has flagged this and will be working with NHS to look at building a matrix of training to support ASC nurses. This also follows raising awareness regarding syringe driver training and competencies which LARCH is now delivering. We’ll keep you posted.
• ** IMPORTANT: Letters templates for your local MP **
In this election year and constrained times, it’s vitally important that our voices are heard at a local and national level. The RCPA and Board members have composed a couple of template letters which we would encourage you to personalise and send direct to your local MP, as soon as possible. You may prefer to send one or both; the ‘Speaking up for Care’ letter is a direct invitation to the MP and media to your care setting. The more voices, the louder and stronger the message!
We would love to hear about any responses you receive!
Speaking up for Care letter template
Link to list of MPs and their contact details can be found here:
https://democracy.somerset.gov.uk/mgMemberIndexMP.aspx?bcr=1
• Sarah Dyke. Liberal Democrat. Somerton and Frome.
• Marcus Fysh. Conservative. Yeovil.
• James Heappey. Conservative. Wells.
• Ian Liddell-Grainger. Conservative. Bridgwater and West Somerset.
• Rebecca Pow. Conservative. Taunton Deane.
Many thanks for your support with this.
• *** ASC Provider consultation and financial update reminder ***
As part of the fee settings for 2024/25, there will be a live webinar being held on the 23rd February between 11.00 and 13.00. Please save this link to join.
In this webinar Paul Coles will share with you the proposals being put forward as part of the fee levels for 2024/25 and explain in more detail the adult’s budgetary situation, the challenges, and opportunities we face in the adult social care sector.
• International recruitment illustrative scenarios from DHSC, following latest changes, correct as of 29/1/24, please find attached.
• **** Oliver McGowan training updates ****
Following raising awareness with access to training for ASC providers, please find attached a poster asking for ‘Expressions of Interest’ from people to train to become Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training trainers (Tiers 1 and 2 of training and the ‘trio’ of facilitator and two experts by experience). Submission deadline is 1st March. The RCPA understands that the training duration is four days; the first two days are the Learning Disability training and the following week the second 2 days will be the Autism training. The sets of days are one week apart. It’s anticipated that this will take place in Taunton, but we will keep you posted as soon as we hear more from NHS.
• Wellbeing podcast
Wellbeing podcast information attached re Borderline Personality disorder – ‘What is normal?’ also link https://somersetemotionalwellbeing.castos.com/episodes/borderline-personality-disorder-what-is-normal
Events
• 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
REMINDER: The next general RMN will be Thursday 29th February 13.30-15.30hrs at West Coker Village Hall, 94 High St, West Coker, Yeovil BA22 9AU. Programme will be finalised early next.
Please contact admin@rcpa.org.uk to register.
The final LD/Dom/Day Care RMN of 23/24 will be held at Stoke St Gregory Williams Hall on 13th March, 13.3-15.30hrs, programme to be confirmed soon.
• 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.
• SASP (Somerset Activity Sports Partnership)
‘Fit for work’ course in Bridgwater. SASP are delivering a number of ‘Fit for Work’ courses this year, with the first being in Bridgwater in 1 weeks’ time. The course is designed to support adults with LD and autism, who are looking for / interested in gaining employment, to be physically fit for the workplace. The aim is to increase stamina and functional movement, as well as develop their soft skills such as teamwork, communication, resilience, stepping outside of their comfort zone etc. Link to the course here: https://www.sasp.co.uk/events/2024/02/fit-for-work-bridgwater
From our Partners
• RWK Board Briefing
12th March, 10.00-11.00hrs via ZOOM.
This session is an ‘executive digest’ that will provide insights into a range of topics currently
on the agenda of care sector businesses across the country. RWK will highlight the latest developments, trends, issues, and opportunities in the care sector, and provide practical frameworks to deal with current challenges.
Date
Tuesday 12 March
Time
10am-11am
Venue
This is a virtual event hosted on Zoom
RSVP
• Borderless
Borderless wins government contract to launch in the South East.
Big News!
We have just won a government contract to deliver the Borderless platform across the South East of the UK.
In partnership with SESCA (South East Social Care Alliance) and Oxfordshire County Council, the platform will become available to more than 4,500 care providers across the region, handling all aspects of recruitment, immigration and compliance.
Read the full announcement here.
Join our introductory webinars on February 28th and 29th to learn more about the platform and how it can benefit your organisation!
• Optimise Workplace Wellbeing
Optimise Workplace Wellbeing works with organisations and businesses to plan, implement and deliver wellbeing strategies and training into the workplace. The service you receive is bespoke and tailored to meet the needs of your business and its vision, and our promise is that we continue to support you once we are engaged, completely free of charge.
As a QualSafe Registered Training Centre, we offer OfQual accredited Mental Health First Aid, Mental Health Awareness & First Aid in the Workplace qualifications.
We also provide a range of Wellbeing therapies, including but not limited to Massage, Yoga, Relaxation Workshops, Mindfulness, Stress & Anxiety Coaching as well as Executive Coaching, our new Wellbeing Leadership Programme – a 6 module training programme, and our incredible Wellbeing Retreats, focused at Senior Leaders to enable them to appreciate and learn about the benefits of having a robust mental health and wellbeing programme in place.
EXCLUSIVE OFFERS FOR RCPA MEMBERS:
FREE Wellbeing Health Check:
Let us look at what you have on offer to support your colleagues’ mental health and wellness and let us help to see how we can help you utilise this for your employees in the most effective way possible. Helping to reduce absenteeism and create a happy, valued team of people within your organisation is our area of expertise.
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID QUALIFICATION: £245.00 instead of £295.00
Throughout this 2-day course, learners will develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to actively promote positive mental health in the workplace by covering a range of topics, including: understanding mental health and its importance, awareness of their own wellbeing as a Mental Health First Aider, common mental health conditions, Learn how to spot the signs and support people that are struggling with a wide range of mental health conditions, including: Depression, Suicide, Anxiety Disorders (including OCD, Panic Disorder, Phobias, Social Anxiety, Separation Anxiety, Generalised Anxiety Disorder and PTSD), Eating Disorders, Psychosis and Self-Injury ad learn how to support those experiencing poor mental health at work with tools such as active listening and non-judgemental support.
Upcoming Course:
Our next MHFA Course is 19th and 26th March at The Ibis Hotel, Bridgwater – lunch, refreshments and training materials provided.
For more information or to book onto a course please contact hello@optimiseworkplacewellbeing.co.uk