Category: General News

News and Resources

• ‘THE Care Conference for Somerset, hosted by the RCPA’

Tuesday 12^th November at Taunton Racecourse

The theme for the day is ‘Train to retain’ with a special focus on the proposed Academy built on the site of the former Bridgwater Community Hospital.

The day will include:

• Networking – the opportunity to connect with other care providers and sector stakeholders
• Speakers – we will be joined by our colleagues and partners from the new Somerset Academy in Bridgwater, Somerset Council, and our keynote speaker Neil Eastwood from Care Friends, amongst others.
• Interactive workshops – a mixture of workshops enabling you to share ideas and gain knowledge
• Question and answer panel
• Trade stands and partners representing key services in the sector – insurance, legal services, training, procurement, international recruitment and many more!
• Entertainment, delegate ‘goodie’ bag and a free prize draw!

Refreshments and lunch are included, and there is plenty of free parking on site.

Spaces are limited and tickets are selling fast, please do complete and return your booking forms as soon as possible to secure your space!

 

• Trusted Assessor service in this month’s edition of The Care Magazine

Spotlight and blog around the RCPA’s Trusted Assessor service in this month’s edition of The Care Magazine! Click here to read on pages 10 and 11.

 

• Article on the Albemarle Centre, Taunton

Spotlight on the Albemarle Centre, Taunton partnering with the RCPA; highlighting Albemarle’s Changing Places facilities and free access and support for visitors to Taunton. Click here to read on page 46.

 

Events

• RCPA MNM (Hybrid) – Tuesday 15^th 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 Q’s re VAT and implications for your business. More details will be circulated 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 12^th 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: International Recruitment & Sponsorship Under a New Government, on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 1:00 pm.

As experts in international recruitment, we will cover:

• How recent government changes impact international recruitment and sponsorship
• Key benefits, challenges, and pitfalls of hiring international staff
• Strategies for onboarding and supporting your international employees to ensure their success
• An interactive Q&A session to address your specific questions

Meet Our Speakers:

Matthew Bond – CEO & Co-Founder, Borderless
With years of experience in the care sector, Matthew leads Borderless in supporting over 350 providers with end-to-end immigration, sponsor licensing, and recruitment solutions.

Zoë-Dawn Anderson – Social Care Leader, Croner-i
Zoë brings 30+ years of experience in adult social care, offering valuable insights into regulatory compliance and best practices for integrating international staff.

Details:

Date: Wednesday, October 9th

Time: 1PM

Register now to secure your spot!

 

Webinar to Avoid Sponsor Licence Penalties!

Are you confident your business is fully compliant with UK immigration regulations?

Join us on October 22 at 11:00 AM for an exclusive webinar featuring Matthew Bond, CEO & Co-Founder, Borderless, and Lul Salah, Senior Immigration Advisor, where they’ll share their expert strategies to help you stay compliant and avoid costly fines or licence revocation.

What You’ll Learn:

• The essential steps for maintaining compliance
• How to avoid fines and licence revocation
• Best practices for ongoing compliance management
• The consequences of non-compliance and how to steer clear
• An interactive Q&A session with our experts

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain actionable insights that will safeguard your business from potential risks.

Register now for your space!

 

• Howden

Protecting your construction investment for the long term

Manging a new construction project is an expensive and complex process for any social care business, exposing them to new risks. Read this blog from our partner Howden to understand what these risks are and what you should consider ahead of any building project.

 

• Optimise Workplace Wellbeing

***LEVEL 3 AWARD IN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID SPECIAL OFFER***

**Only 4 spaces left!!!**

Optimise Workplace Wellbeing are delighted to be partnering with and hosting our Mental Health First Aid Qualification at The Beautiful Mount Somerset Hotel.

Come and join us 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-5.30pm both days

Where: The Mount Somerset Hotel, Henlade, Taunton, TA3 5NB (Near Taunton, just off junction 25 of the M5)

SPECIAL OFFER UNTIL 30th SEPTEMBER:

Just £195 for RCPA Members

Includes all training materials, certificate and aftercare support package

(usual cost £295 + VAT)

Find more info here:

https://www.optimiseworkplacewellbeing.co.uk/service/mental-health-first-aid-training/

 

Spotlight on the Albemarle Centre, Taunton partnering with the RCPA; highlighting Albemarle’s Changing Places facilities and free access and support for visitors to Taunton. Article can be found on page 46, please click on the link below.

https://whatsonsomerset.co.uk/

Spotlight and blog around the RCPA’s Trusted Assessor service in this month’s edition of The Care Magazine! on Page 10 and 11 – https://issuu.com/cimonline/docs/care_home_september_2024/10

 

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 26^th 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’ 10^th October, please register here: State of report launch 2024 (skillsforcare.org.uk)
• Next MNM – Trull Memorial Village Hall 15^th 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 15^th 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 12^th 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.

News and Resources

• Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme  

Information for adult social care employers in England on learning and development support for the financial year 2024 to 2025 can be found here

 

• Capacity Tracker reminder

Just a gentle reminder that the reporting window for Capacity Tracker, for this month is 8^th to 16^th September (slightly extended this month to allow for weekend).

 

Events

• RCPA MNM (Members Network Meeting) – 17^th September

Tuesday 17^th September 14.00-15.00hrs via TEAMs (please find link to join below).

Brief agenda:

• Steven Reynolds, NHS Capacity Tracker Regional Delivery Manager – East of England, Midlands, and Southwest
• Care Find website updates and Capacity tracker Q and As
• Updates and discussion
• WhatsApp Members’ Community Group
• All members welcome with this month’s focus and protected time (15-20 mins) at end of meeting for Day Care services-any specific items/issues Day Care members may wish to raise and discuss.

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 319 134 990 459

Passcode: QRySBN

 

• Data Security and Protection Toolkit 24/225 changes and updates

Thursday 19^th September 10:00 – 10:30 via TEAMs

Join RCPA’s Dan Plummer in this short session as he covers the changes to the 24/25 DSPT.

Topics include:

• New mandatory question on Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Your next steps for republishing and staying up to date

Click here to register

 

• RCPA Annual Conference

‘THE Care Conference for Somerset, hosted by the RCPA’

Train to Retain

Venue: Taunton Racecourse

Date: Tuesday 12^th 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: Navigating the Transition to eVisas: Essential Guidance for Employers

Join us tomorrow, Thursday, September 12th, at 11 am for an exclusive webinar featuring Matthew Bond, CEO & Co-Founder of Borderless, and Lul Salah, Senior Immigration Advisor at Borderless. With their deep expertise in UK immigration and sponsorship management, they’ll guide you through the Home Office’s transition to eVisas, explaining how this critical change will impact your responsibilities as an employer.

Register now to ensure your organisation is ready for the transition!

What you will learn:

• Overview of eVisa Rollout
• Key Changes for Employers
• Employer Responsibilities & Actions
• Preparing your business for eVisas
• Support Resources & Raising Awareness
• Q&A

Click here to register

 

Digital News

• Better Security, Better Care

Better Security, Better Care are launching a new webinar series exploring topics in the DSPT in greater detail. The first one in this series is being held later this month.

DSPT In-Depth – IT Systems and Devices September 24^th 14:00-15:00 –

Click here to join

 

News and Resources

• What we’ve been up to lately at the RCPA!

• • RCPA meeting with MP

Last week the RCPA and Board members had the pleasure of an exclusive meeting with Gideon Amos, MP, Lib Dem for Wellington, and Taunton. We presented the challenges and issues currently facing the ASC sector, both nationally and locally, along with opportunities and perspectives, especially in the first 100 days of a new govt. We have followed up with a summary, including member feedback over the last several months with the request and hope that Gideon can raise these in Parliament and advance the cause of ASC. Gideon mentions the meeting with us on Facebook – please visit our FB page (https://www.facebook.com/rcpaltd).

• • International recruitment

Following raising awareness around IR for social care with our initial masterclass hosted in conjunction with Somerset Council’s P2C last Summer, we hope to update members and how we can support in this area soon. A reminder about those DHSC upcoming webinars posted in previous bulletin:

17/09/2024
Region: Southwest 1
Time: 10:00 – 11:00
Webinar link here

20/09/2024
Region: Southwest 2
Time: 10:00 – 11:00
Webinar link here

• • OMMT

The funding issue continues (cost of training, plus backfilling staff) along with ensuring enough experts by experience available to deliver the facilitator and co-facilitator training. We continue to press home with the ICB the importance of parity of access to training with funding due to end next March and some clear guidance around CQC expectations e.g. we hear reports of assessors/inspectors asking for evidence from providers around OMMT specific training. Currently this can be ‘OMMT style’ training. Please visit the resources section on our website for current guidance – ‘Training’ and see below re Govt ‘commitment’ to OMMT which appears to be ‘double speak’ for kicking the can further down the road. We have also raised this with Gideon Amos, MP, hoping he has an opportunity to raise this important issue in Parliament and through trade association contact with CQC.

• • Pain relief post falls

Following a consensus and suggestions for a Patient Group Directive (PGD) regarding appropriate analgesia along with a falls’ flow chart, we await further information as to how we can progress this. This is at Community Consultant level.

• • Trusted Assessor service update

It’s been five years since the service began and continues to go from strength to strength with a team of four permanent staff and three Reservists. At this stage, the TAs assess for care homes only. We have been approached by other areas/LAs wishing to replicate a similar service and see what ‘good looks like’; other activity includes posting a blog and a care home article shortly to be published. In addition to this, the TAs work with Bournemouth University to support nursing students in placements, important for legacy and mentoring. They are now busy preparing for the conference. Key to success of the service has been communication, adaptability, and flexibility in response to demand as they navigate the ever-changing complexities around discharge planning. Ahead of challenges associated with winter surges and responsiveness, the TAs will commence a three-month rotation pilot on Monday 16^th September. Each permanent TA will work from a different base – YDH or MPH, and with a different colleague for at least one month. There will be no disruption to the usual service other than as a care provider you will get to meet new TAs, and vice versa! The TAs plan to contact providers to introduce themselves over the coming weeks…

• • Somerset Council’s Adult social care briefing

The RCPA will be participating in a task and finish to improve communication with providers following feedback to Somerset Council. Please forward any suggestions you may have and how we can best represent your views to hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk.  e.g. what do you want to see more/less of, day and frequency of circulation- Monday?

• • Representation at several strategic and system wide meetings and Boards –

Somerset Board, Safeguarding, MCA and Dols, People Delivery, Leadership, Academy, Housing, Social Care Nursing Advisory Council (SCNAC).

 

• Adult Social Care training

The govt has announced this is not going ahead with plans announced by previous govt: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2024-07-30/hcws50. (Note the ‘commitment’ to OMMT but silent around funding).

 

• CQC Update

Review of PIR

The CQC has begun to review its Provider Information Return. It will not be incorporated into the provider portal. There will be a consultation launching which providers can respond to.

Designing the CQC Handbook:

CQC wants to coproduce the provider handbook with the sector. They want to know what good looks like. They have set up a survey which closes on 17th September.

Message from Interim CEO:

The interim CEO of CQC, Kate Terroni issued a message this week about the next steps they are taking to rebuild trust.

 

• Mpox Update

In a previous bulletin we mentioned about waiting to hear updates. Still awaiting on social care guidance from UKHSA/DHSC. In the meantime, UKHSA has published a blog post which includes information about what mpox is, the different clades, the key symptoms and how UKHSA is working with partners to respond to the outbreak. It has also produced a toolkit and resources to help organisations share information as appropriate and will be updated as the situation develops.

 

• Fire safety updates 2^nd September 2024

Building regulation in England covering fire safety matters within and around buildings

Fire safety: Approved Document B – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

Events

• RCPA MNM (Members Network Meeting) – 17^th September

Tuesday 17^th September 14.00-15.00hrs via TEAMs (please find link to join below). Open forum and conversation to discuss topics/issues of the day/share best practice.

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 319 134 990 459

Passcode: QRySBN

 

• RCPA Annual Conference

‘THE Care Conference for Somerset, hosted by the RCPA’

Train to Retain

Venue: Taunton Racecourse

Date: Tuesday 12^th 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

• Borderless

Webinar: Navigating the Transition to eVisas: Essential Guidance for Employers

Join us on Thursday, September 12th, at 11 am for a webinar featuring Matthew Bond, CEO and Co-Founder of Borderless, and Lul Salah, Senior Immigration Advisor. With their extensive experience in UK immigration and sponsorship management, Matthew and Lul will guide you through the Home Office’s transition to eVisas, explaining how this significant change will impact your responsibilities as an employer. Gain essential insights on how to prepare your business and support your employees during this transition.

Register now to ensure your organisation is ready for the shift to digital immigration status!

What you will learn:

• What Are eVisas and What to Expect
• Preparation Strategies
• Compliance vs. Non-Compliance
• Consequences If You Get It Wrong
• Q&A Session

Click here to register

 

Digital News

• Better Security, Better Care

Better Security, Better Care are launching a new webinar series exploring topics in the DSPT in greater detail. The first one in this series is being held later this month.

DSPT In-Depth – IT Systems and Devices September 24^th 14:00-15:00 –

Click here to join

New RCPA members service – Caldicott Guardians 

The RCPA is pleased to announce a new Caldicott Guardian Service for members. This service is designed to offer you support and guidance around data security.

What is a Caldicott Guardian?  

A CG is a specialist role that sits within the senior leadership of a health and social care organisation. The role represents and champions information governance and is sometimes referred to as the conscience of the company. The role is not defined by any specific legislation and uses a range of legislation to work including GDPR, DPA, FOI, Common law of confidentiality, Health and Social Care Act and the NHS 10 data security standards. Caldicott Guardians help their organisations to ensure that confidential information about health and social care service users is used ethically, legally, and appropriately.

All health and social care organisations are required to have a CG. However, smaller organisations who don’t have the internal structure or budget to appoint one should have consideration for the CG principles or outsource the role.

Who will be your Caldicott Guardian? 

Many of you will already know our Project Delivery Officer, Daniel Plummer, who has been supporting providers with the Data Security & Protection Toolkit.  Daniel is registered on The UK Caldicott Guardian register and has completed full training for this role.

What will the service offer?

• Initial consultation to understand your organisation and how the CG can support you.

• Ongoing availability to handle issues and give guidance.

• Report to your organisations board or senior leadership with updates and recommendations

• Support for data breaches (this service isn’t an incident management service)

• Review and advice on data protection impact assessments (DPIAs)

 

There will be an annual fee for this service, no obligation to renew and full terms and conditions will be provided before any commitment is made.

We would like to gauge interest in this service amongst our membership.  If this is a service you would be interested in hearing more about or have any questions then please email daniel.plummer@rcpa.org.uk. Once we have gauged interest we will contact you with our full service offer.

 

Message from CHC digital 

CHC Digital End-to-End Person Management System 

Dear Care Provider, 

Please be advised that in the last few months, NHS Somerset ICB has undergone a procurement exercise for the provision of a Continuing Healthcare Digital End-to-End Person Management System.  

The procurement exercise has now been concluded and can confirm that the successful bidder is IEG4 Limited.    

The Continuing Healthcare Team is now entering into the Mobilisation phase of the project and therefore, we will be contacting you in the coming weeks to provide you with further information on the implementation of the new system and training for care providers on how to access and use the Provider Portal within the system.  

In the meantime, if you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the Continuing Healthcare Team at somicb.chcdigital@nhs.net.  

 

NHSmail – Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) 

To improve cyber security, NHSmail have started to introduce MFA from August 19^th. The updates from NHS England have been summarised below:

New account creations for National Administration Service (NAS) managed organisations will start to have Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) applied by default from 29 September, with existing user accounts to follow at a time to be confirmed.

Due to a desire to ramp up cybersecurity and streamline processes the rollout of MFA to all existing NAS user accounts will now mirror the timelines for remaining non-NAS accounts.

The timeline and process is as follows:

• For all existing NHSmail accounts, on the 19 August users will receive a pop-up notification asking them to register an MFA authentication method when you logging to their account. This prompt can be snoozed for a period of 14 days.
• By 2 September, if you MFA has not been enrolled in, access to NHSmail will change.

How will access change? 

NHSmail accounts will be moved to a specific group policy that will require a stronger password policy approach and additional restrictions with stringent security measures applied, these being:

• Enhanced password policy including having to reset your password on 2 September and requiring a minimum of 20 characters.

• Not having persistent browsing sessions.

• Restrictions on sign in frequency.
• Password expiring every 90 days.

If any RCPA member is having difficulty enabling MFA or implementing the new password policy then please contact the Digital Social Care team – digitisationinsocialcare@somerset.gov.uk

 

Workshops/events

• RCPA Data Security workshop – Business Continuity planning – 29^th August 09:30-10:30. Click here to register 

• Completing the Data Security and Protection Toolkit – 3^rd September 15:00-16:00. Click here to register 
• Review and Republish your Data Security and Protection Toolkit – 10^th September 15:00-16:00. Click here to register

• Busting Myths on Digital Social Care Records (DSCRs) – 11^th September 14:00-1530. Click here to register

• Take a virtual tour of the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) – 18^th September 13:30 – 14:30. Click here to register

• Completing the Data Security and Protection Toolkit – 22^nd October 15:00-16:00. Click here to register
• Review and Republish your Data Security and Protection Toolkit – 29^th October 15:00-16:00. Click here to register

 

Digital Social Care Records Feedback

The Digital Social Care team (DiSC) are seeking provider feedback for the implementation of digital social care records (DSCRs). Particularly from providers who have not yet gone digital or accessed the DiSC funding. The team are looking to support providers who have already accessed the funding and gone digital, and how to help providers who have not accessed the funding yet.

Please could you share your experiences with DSCRs and the DiSC project funding – digitisationinsocialcare@somerset.gov.uk

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 17^th September will be via TEAMs, link to follow nearer the time. Meeting on 15^th 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.

Mpox Background information such as the epidemiology, symptoms, diagnosis and management of monkeypox virus infections.

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

29^th 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 12^th 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 15^th and Tuesday 22^nd 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

News and Resources

• Update on SWAPs

Regarding West Somerset recruitment training opportunity from last weeks’ bulletin – for those members who registered, please save the date – we will shortly send you a booking form for an employer’s event 19^th September, many thanks for registering your interest.

 

• International Recruitment e-Visa info

Please find attached flyer re IR with some dates for E-Visa info events (some of which already full so need to be quick!)

 

• WhatsApp members’ exclusive community group

We will update you very soon as we are currently finalising details/TORs around this.

 

Events

• Member Network Meeting (Hybrid) – Tuesday 20^th August

Trull Memorial Hall, Church Road, Trull, Taunton TA3 7JZ

2.00pm until 3.30pm

We will be joined by Sarah Wakefield, Lead member for Adult Social Care, Somerset Council.

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.

Brief outline for agenda on the day:

• RCPA’s Dan Plummer and Caldicott Guardians
• Sarah Wakefield, Lead Member for Adult Social Care, Somerset Council,

member Qs.

• Workstreams
• AOB, items for future MNMs

Here is the TEAMs Link if you can’t make it to Trull –

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 319 134 990 459

Passcode: QRySBN

 

• RCPA Data Security Online Workshop – Business Continuity Planning

29^th 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 12^th 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

• Borderless

Webinar: Navigating Home Office audits: Ensure your organisation is compliant

Join us on Tuesday, August 20th, at 11am to gain essential insights into the Home Office audit framework, learn best practices for documentation and preparation, and understand the consequences of non-compliance.

Register now to ensure your care organisation is audit-ready!

What you will learn:

• What is an audit and what you should expect
• Preparation strategies
• Compliance vs. non-compliance
• Consequences if you get it wrong
• Q&A session

Click here to register