News and Resources
- Recent MNM
Thanks to those who were able to join us on Tuesday. Apologies we did not cover all the items on agenda due to time constraints; we will also f/u with Qs raised in chat section of TEAMs and the issues raised during discussion. As this was our inaugural hybrid approach to meetings, we would like to seek your feedback and how we can improve for future meetings; please contact hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk.
The next meeting, Tuesday 17th September will be via TEAMs, link to follow nearer the time. Meeting on 15th October will be hybrid, venue tbc. If any members would like to host future meetings and/or have items for agenda, please let us know!
***Following member feedback, we will allocate protected time at end of each meeting to devote to a care specialism where some topics and issues may be unique to those services i.e., LD, Day, Dom, Residential and Nursing***
- Somerset Council’s Adult social care briefing and comms
The RCPA has been advocating for improved comms from Somerset Council with providers, including initially moving circulation of bulletin to Mondays instead of Fridays. To this effect we have been invited to give feedback about the weekly briefing and how comms by Somerset Council can be improved for providers. A task and finish group is being established with weekly to fortnightly TEAMs meetings depending on the work:
- reviewing the current content and amending where appropriate
- deciding on regularity of future publications
- deciding who will have oversight of the content and manage the publication of it going forward
If any members would like to be part of this, please contact hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk. Ideally would be good to have representation from different care services – LD, day, domiciliary, residential and nursing etc.
- Mpox
On 14 August 2024, the WHO Director-General declared the mpox (monkeypox) outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. More information on the WHO announcement can be found here. The upsurge of mpox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and a growing number of countries in Africa raises concerns for the health and social care sector as staff who have recently visited affected countries may be identified as a close contact of a positive case of mpox. UKSA’s view is that the potential impact on the health and social care sectors is currently expected to be low. Mpox does not spread easily between people unless there is very close contact. UKHSA is rapidly developing guidance to supplement existing material to help staff in health and social care settings prepare for and manage potential suspected or confirmed cases of mpox.
Existing relevant UKHSA guidance is:
A collection of information and advice for healthcare professionals and the general public.
As a reminder, in the event of increased infection, appropriate PPE and good IPC are paramount. We will post updates as soon as they are received
- ***International Recruitment*** Toolkit for social care
DHSC and the Home Office have published a health sheet to assist adult social care providers applying for a Certificate of Sponsorship.
It outlines the steps involved in the application process and includes tips on how to provide the appropriate evidence required by the Home Office to meet the genuine vacancy requirement.
- Help sheet for applying for a certificate of sponsorship
- Help sheet for becoming a visa sponsor
- Skills for Care International Recruitment guidance
In case you missed it, DHSC and the Home Office are hosting webinars for adult social care providers who are recruiting from abroad or considering international recruitment. The webinars will cover the eligibility requirements of becoming a sponsor and ensuring providers remain compliant with the sponsor requirements. They will also cover the evidence required to support applications for Certificates of Sponsorship.
Date: 17/09/2024
Region: Southwest 1
Time: 10:00 – 11:00
Webinar link here
Date: 20/09/2024
Region: Southwest 2
Time: 10:00 – 11:00
Webinar link here
- Internship opportunity – please see attached.
Some opportunities available for people working in care homes and extra care housing to undertake internships.
SCC_Interns_Cohort 1_E-Leaflet
SCC_Internship Poster_Cohort 1_No QR
Events
- RCPA Data Security Online Workshop – Business Continuity Planning
29th August, 9.30am – 10.30am via TEAMs
Join RCPA’s Dan Plummer as he discusses business continuity planning and how to plan for when 3rd party suppliers’ services are unavailable.
Please click on the below link to register.
RCPA data security workshop – Business Continuity Planning – August 29th 09:30 – 10:30
If you have any queries, please contact Dan Plummer – daniel.plummer@rcpa.org.uk
- RCPA Annual Conference
‘THE Care Conference for Somerset, hosted by the RCPA’
Train to Retain
Venue: Taunton Racecourse
Date: Tuesday 12th November 2024
Times: 9.00am until 4.15pm
Member fee – £70 per ticket
Non-member fee – £100 per ticket
For information on the guest speaker, workshops available and the full programme, please see attached.
To book your space, please fill out the attached booking form and return to admin@rcpa.org.uk
From our Partners
- Optimise Workplace Wellbeing
We are delighted to be partnering with and hosting our Mental Health First Aid Qualification at The Beautiful Mount Somerset Hotel.
Come and join us this October, for 2 full days of learning which will see you gain your recognised and accredited, level 3 Award in Mental Health First Aid, which is valid for 3 years.
When: Tuesday 15th and Tuesday 22nd October
Timings: 9.30am-5.50pm, both days
Where: The Mount Somerset Hotel, Henlade, Taunton, TA3 5NB (Near Taunton, just off junction 25 of the M5)
Only £245 for RCPA Members, inclusive of all training materials, certificate and aftercare support package (usual cost £295 + VAT)
We also include refreshments and lunch on both days too.
On arrival: Coffee/Tea & Warm Pastries
Lunch: Selection of Sandwiches and crisps
Afternoon Break: Tea/Coffee & Homemade Cake
Pop us an email to reserve your spot, or to book your own group training!
Enquiries and bookings to:
Email: jo@optimiseworkplacewellbeing.com
Tel: 07912 446261
Further information can be found here:
https://www.optimiseworkplacewellbeing.co.uk/service/mental-health-first-aid-training/
Digital News
Changes to the Assured Solutions List of Digital Social Care Record suppliers that are eligible for funding.
The following 2 solutions have been terminated and removed from the ASL:
1. StoriiCare
2. Advanced Care Cloud
The following solutions are fully compliant against all 14 effective standards.
1. Care Beans
2. Every life
3. Nourish
4. Person Centred Software (PCS)
5. Care Vision
6. Care Line Live
The remainder are working towards compliance with the GP Connect and Clinical Safety standards. As the solutions achieve compliance against the standards their listing information will be updated.
What does this mean for care providers who have signed a contract with a solution which is no longer on the ASL?
There is no requirement for a care provider to switch solutions unless they are unsatisfied. Some care providers may choose to remain with the solution or continue with their contract until the contract end date.
There may be care providers who have signed a contract with an assured solution supplier who has now exited the ASL, who may wish to consider ending their contact and choosing a different assured solution (if this is an option and they may wish to seek their own legal advice on this). However, it is important to note the transition from one digital social care record solution to another cannot be funded.
If the contract was signed before the date at which the solution exited the NHS Assured Solution list, or before the care provider was informed of the solutions exit from the list, they are still eligible to be supported through the Digitisation in Social Care Project.
If you would like to know more about the changes to the assured suppliers list, please contact digitisationinsocialcare@somerset.gov.uk