News and Resources
Recent MNM
Thanks to those who were able to make it on Tuesday. Please find attached some slides and links.
- Capacity tracker and Carefind- slide deck attached, including upcoming training (Thursday 26th September) and resources/contacts. Discussed the importance of updating profiles, celebrating the success, awards and uniqueness of services to help increase enquiries around vacancies. Home care launch planned soon.
- OMMT updates – guidance on our website under resources section. The challenges around access to training have been raised at local and national level including via national trade association meeting with CQC. These challenges include adequate provision of facilitator and co-facilitators, those with lived experience who are available to undertake the F2F sessions and unpicking the reasons behind these (benefits, support etc). Whilst there is much work to do, we have made some progress and would like to draw your attention to:
Oliver McGowan Training Opportunities
Somerset NHS ICB are organising (free) Oliver McGowan Facilitator and Co Facilitator (expert by experience) Training in Somerset – if you are a provider or an expert with lived experience who lives or works in the Somerset system and are interested please contact somicb.olivermcgowantraining@nhs.net to register your interest. If you want to discuss this further, then please feel free to email Eelke.zoestbergen@nhs.net
- WhatsApp Members exclusive community group soon to be launched – we have been developing TORs, GDPR etc. Please look out for updates soon.
- SfC Launch of ‘State of Care’ 10th October, please register here: State of report launch 2024 (skillsforcare.org.uk)
- Next MNM – Trull Memorial Village Hall 15th October – F2F and TEAMs. Following August’s MNM we have invited a guest speaker specialising in VAT in the care sector. Also, a presentation from Borderless about international recruitment. Please join us and be prepared to ask any Qs re VAT and implications for your business. More details soon.
What we’ve been up to at the RCPA!
- It’s been particularly busy these last few weeks and more so leading up to The Care Conference for Somerset which we are proud to be hosting. Please ensure you submit your registrations asap. Please also look out for weekly highlights, explaining in more detail what you can expect at the workshops and from the presenters.
- We have been advancing the cause locally and nationally for OMMT and parity of access to training for ASC providers (as above).
- The RCPA is supporting task and finish work around improved comms for providers, (ASC briefing), the frequency and content of these. More about this soon. Thanks for your feedback around this.
- International recruitment – we hope to bring you updates soon as to how the RCPA can support providers involved in international recruitment.
- The Trusted Assessors’ rotation pilot is now in full swing having commenced last week (TAs rotating between their teams to work in a different hospital). They value provider feedback so please drop them a line or if you have any questions YDHTA@rcpa.org.uk or MPHTA@rcpa.org.uk. The pilot is expected to finish in the New Year at which point we will review. Please note, it’s only a review of the rotation between TAs; we can assure you that the service will continue as normal!
- We link in with other system partners particularly Somerset Council, on a regular basis to bring issues (and offer solutions!) to their attention. Thanks to those members who contact us to tell us what’s happening in your area/service. Recently at an MNM, and thanks to Wendy from Crystal Care who raised an item about financial assessments:
‘It is a great help to talk and sound out colleagues via the RCPA meetings. Recently I felt my ideas around a potential saving the council could make were validated. I had recognised that financial assessments were well overdue and if carried out by the council could generate them extra income via individuals making a well afforded contribution to their care fees. I had already raised this with colleagues at the council and was met with a reluctance to consider this. The RCPA arranged a face-to-face meeting with Sarah Wakefield (Lead member for ASC) and Paul Coles, (Deputy Director of ASC), to discuss many issues and to share information – and where I was again able to reiterate my idea and frustrations that the council were not taking up this easy win- potentially losing out on an easy revenue – especially at this time of financial difficulty. Following the meeting some individuals in my service were contacted about a re-assessment of their finances with a view to them making contributions to the council. I feel we were listened to at the meeting with Sarah and Paul. I hope this vital work is continued where the council can recover funds in these constrained times’
Most recent update re mpox and progress of the virus.
At the time of writing, there are no cases of mpox clade I in the UK.
Relevant guidance
The ‘HCID Mpox (Clade I): Guidance on the management of staff working in health and social care settings who have returned from countries currently affected by mpox clade 1’ guidance is still yet to be published to emphasise the importance of following current IPC measures and the promotion of good IPC practice.
Current guidance and advice can be found at:: Infection prevention and control: resource for adult social care – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) & High consequence infectious diseases (HCID) – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Mpox Vaccine
UKHSA published a press release on 16 September 2024 which provides more information around the Government’s plans and support to boost the country’s resilience and to support the international effort to control the disease.
This UKHSA press release also provides information on who should be offered vaccination, based on expert advice.
UK secures more vaccines to help boost resilience against mpox – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Medical examiners service – important update
Please find attached an update on the medical examiner service roll out, informing providers that the medical examiner service may contact the provider with any feedback or concerns regarding quality and pt safety and concerns of enhanced or intensive nature will be shared with system partners and CQC where relevant. The ICB is in process of developing an SOP for Somerset.
Events
- RCPA MNM (Hybrid) – Tuesday 15th October 2024
Trull Memorial Hall, Church Road, Trull, Taunton TA3 7JZ
2.00pm until 3.30pm
We have invited a guest speaker specialising in VAT in the care sector. Also, a presentation from Borderless about international recruitment. Please join us and be prepared to ask any Qs re VAT and implications for your business. More details soon.
There is no need to register to attend. We look forward to welcoming you on the day, the meeting is open to RMs, owners, deputies and clinical leads.
Joining the meeting via TEAMs will also be available for those members who are not able to travel on the day. The meeting link will be sent out nearer the meeting date.
- RCPA Annual Conference
‘THE Care Conference for Somerset, hosted by the RCPA’
Train to Retain
Venue: Taunton Racecourse
Date: Tuesday 12th November 2024
Times: 9.15am 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
- Borderless
Webinar: Feeling the challenges of hiring, training, and retaining staff in the care industry? We’ve got you covered!
Date: Thursday, 3rd October 2024
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Join us for an exclusive joint webinar between Found by Lottie and Borderless, where Matthew Bond (CEO, Borderless) and Tom (Commercial Lead, Lottie) will share their expert insights on best practices for building and retaining a strong care workforce.
In this interactive session, you’ll gain practical tips on:
Hiring the Right People
- Learn how to attract the right talent to improve long-term retention
- Explore tools and strategies to streamline your recruitment processes
Using Software Systems to Boost Recruitment & Retention
- Discover how technology can simplify onboarding and track sponsored workers
- Stay ahead of hiring needs with cutting-edge solutions
Supporting New Staff for Better Retention
- Ensure a smooth transition for new hires with proven strategies
- Understand how to maintain transparency during the onboarding process
Effective Onboarding Practices
- Best practices for onboarding UK and non-UK hires
- How onboarding systems can set your team up for long-term success
Plus, there will be a live Q&A to answer all your burning questions!
Don’t miss this chance to elevate your recruitment and retention strategies. Register now to secure your spot and get valuable insights tailored to your care organisation.
Digital News
New data security and protection eLearning resource for the adult social care sector – end user testers wanted
The Institute of Public Care is developing free training materials for those individuals working in social care who have responsibility for data security and protection within their organisation. The aim of this new resource is to build on the existing Data Security and Protection eLearning for frontline staff and provide more in-depth knowledge and understanding relevant to the responsibilities of the role. The training materials will also help care provider organisations to demonstrate that they have met the requirements of the Data Security and Protection Toolkit.
We are looking for Registered Managers, Deputy Managers, Office Managers, Senior Administrators or whoever within a smaller social care organisation has responsibility for data security and protection, to help us test the draft and final learning materials. This invitation is open to all providers including non CQC registered providers.
What is expected?
During September – October, testers will be emailed a link to a draft version of the materials to review as well as a link to a survey for feedback. This will take approximately 30 minutes of your time. We also have virtual focus groups organised on the following dates for people to attend and provide feedback in person.
If you are willing to be involved, please contact daniel.plummer@rcpa.org.uk.
What are the benefits of taking part?
You will help us to develop training materials that are realistic, easy to use and meet the needs of the sector. The eLearning will be freely available from the Digital Care Hub. Your involvement will also provide useful evidence to CQC of your organisation working with partners to support the sector.
What is the Data Security and protection Toolkit (DSPT)?
The Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) is an online self-assessment tool for health and social care organisations. It shows you what you need to do to keep people’s information safe and provides reassurance that you are following good practice. One of the toolkit questions is ‘Have the people with responsibility for data security and protection received training suitable for their role?’. This eLearning will support you to answer this question.