Category: General News

News and Resources

• THE Care Conference for Somerset, hosted by RCPA.

We would like to thank all those who were able to make it on Tuesday, despite the challenges following the tragic incident on the M5. We enjoyed the day and hope you did too. We are collating resources and slide presentations from the event and will circulate these via a separate ‘special conference round up’ bulletin asap.

Congratulations to the lucky winners of the hamper, signed copy of Neil Eastwood’s book – ‘Saving Social Care’ and a pair of race day tickets – enjoy! If you can get in touch, share any photos for our social media and website, we would love to hear from you!

Also, if you missed the feedback form, (in delegate packs) we will circulate along with the resources separately, so please kindly take some time to complete and return to admin@rcpa.org.uk. We use the feedback to help us plan future events. Following a brief hiatus, we will be busy planning the conference for 2025!

 

• Govt petition and template letter for MP – lobby, lobby, lobby!

In case you missed it, please see attached letter. The impact of the proposed NIC increases equates to £615 extra for all employees working over 8 hrs per week. Also, members may want to consider the impact of the NLW increases due next April:

• Will the increase affect all my employees and my wages bill (by 77 pence)?
• What am I spending now on my wages bill and what additionally because of the budget?

Also follow this link for the petition re NIC increases. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700080. We’ve also included the link in our organisational email signatures – you may want to! It’s great to hear from members who have been lobbying in their local areas, thank you, let’s make a difference! Also don’t forget our WhatsApp members group if you would like to share your updates, what’s happening in your area. Please contact admin@rcpa.org.uk to join. The RCPA continues to participate in local, regional, and national lobbying.

 

• OMMT update

Access to training places has been a challenge since OMMT was announced. We are pleased to tell you that we have made some progress with lobbying for fair access to training places available via ICB. We recognise there is still much work to do in this area including funding for backfilling costs etc but it’s a start. We understand that funding will cease at the end of March 2025.

***Social care providers have been allocated 10 places per Tier 1 and 10 places per Tier 2 session***.

However, Tier 1 sessions have been running with low attendance, so the training hub might well be able to offer you more than 10 places on that where possible; some may be last minute where other trainees have dropped out. Please see attached update with details about how to register. We have checked the links are working but in case of any issues, please contact somicb.olivermcgowantraining@nhs.net and cc in eelke.zoestbergen@nhs.net

***The only proviso the Training Hub has given is to ask that these links are not shared with anyone outside their own organisation. This will help to ensure fair access to training whilst funding is limited***

 

• Somerset Council public engagement event 25/11, County Hall – ‘Financial planning for your future care and support needs’

In our conversations with SC one of the items discussed included an imperative to create greater awareness amongst the public around ASC provision and sources and access to funding, to help navigate this complex area. Here is the link for tickets should anyone wish to register to attend the presentations (be quick as a few places allocated for providers). The RCPA will be hosting a stand along with a team member from the TA service.

Financial planning for your care and support needs at County Hall event tickets from TicketSource

Here is a link to our website

Come to our free event, ‘Financial planning for your care and support needs’

If you have difficulty registering, please let us know. Spaces filling fast. We understand that the main contact number for SC is advertising the event and may be able to help

 

• Update re pain relief following a fall.

Slow progress but pleased to say persistence seems to be working and we have managed to have a conversation at the end of last month….who we need to make this happen and progress etc.

 

• Skills for Care Southwest stats work force data sets

This month Skills for Care launched their flagship report ‘The state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England’ report. It shows that the workforce grew to 1.71 million filled posts in 2023/24. At the same time, vacancies fell to 131,000 on any given day for the second successive year. You can find the full report on our website alongside an updated interactive data visualisation.

 

• Situation Update – mpox

At time of writing, one further case of clade Ib mpox has been detected in a household contact of the first case, the UK Health Security Agency (UKSHA) can confirm.  This brings the total number of confirmed cases to 4, all of which belong to the same household. Risk to the UK population remains low. More information can be found here: Latest update on cases of Clade Ib mpox – GOV.UK.

 

• LeDeR update

Please see attached story and importance of oral care.

 

• Capacity tracker

The capacity tracker applies to care home and home care services. Completion of the CT is a requirement but also allows providers to advertise their vacancies on the DHSC website (free to use) CareFind, (care homes only at this stage, home care will follow soon). Please find attached the PP slides from our MNM in September.

 

From our Partners

Borderless

Webinar: Adapting HR Strategies for Healthcare and Social Care Under the New Employment Rights Bill – Tuesday 3^rd December at 11.00am

The recently unveiled Employment Rights Bill is set to bring sweeping changes to the workplace, reshaping HR practices in healthcare and social care for years to come. With 28 key reforms—including new day-one rights for employees and the end of zero-hour contracts—it’s essential to understand what this means for your organisation.

Join us on Tuesday, December 3 at 11:00 AM GMT to learn how you can prepare, adapt, and protect your organisation in light of these changes.

What You’ll Learn:

• What’s New in Employment Law: Discover the key changes, including compliance essentials for healthcare and social care providers
• Strategies for Implementing Change: Practical steps to integrate these reforms smoothly within your organization
• Protecting Employee Well-Being: Best practices for managing mental health, absence, and diversity in the workplace
• Live Q&A with Borderless Experts: Get tailored advice on how these changes affect your HR strategies directly from our industry experts

Don’t miss this opportunity to future-proof your HR strategy and stay compliant.

Click here to register.

 

Digital News

Data Security Health Check

This pilot is part of the national Better Security Better Care programme.  We are offering free in-person health check visits to review your completed Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) submission and wider data security in your organisation. We believe that receiving a health check could provide several important benefits for care providers. However, as this is a pilot project, we will also be seeking feedback from you to understand the actual and perceived benefits.

Following the data security health check you will be provided with a confidential report that will detail everything that has been discussed during the visit, giving reassurance that you are doing everything necessary in terms of data protection and cyber security but also highlighting any areas that may need improvement, with resources to guide you. Following the report you receive, an anonymised version will be sent to Better Security, Better Care allowing them to see any common trends or themes that they can use to further support the wider social care sector.

RCPA are currently asking for a small number of volunteer providers to take part in this project. If you’re interested and would like to know more, please email daniel.plummer@rcpa.org.uk

Lobby, lobby, lobby!

The impact of the proposed NIC increases equates to £615 extra for all employees working over 8 hrs per week. Also, members may want to consider the impact of the NLW increases due next April:

• Will the increase affect all my employees and my wages bill (by 77p)?
• What am I spending now on my wages bill and what additionally as a result of the budget?

These will be useful considerations to help your individual cause and service when lobbying in your local areas.

Please can you share this petition widely within your services, friends and family – 100,000 signatures required at which point the petition will be considered for debate in Parliament. The link- https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700080

At time of writing, signatures stand at over 17,000, so let’s keep going! The link also being shared via RCPA social media; please visit and share!

As PMQ breaking today and Leader of opposition asked how £600million will be allocated for ASC and no mention of ring-fenced funding for providers which will in turn increase costs for local authorities. The RCPA continues to participate in national and regional discussions through various alliances, has written to Somerset Council and senior leads with Sft/ICB (who were invited to yesterday’s conference). Any govt funding by the time it reaches Somerset will be appx £6million and won’t even begin to touch the sides. We would like to know how ASC providers can sustain services during this existential crisis whilst simultaneously asking to be included in high level discussions around allocation of any funding and is applied where it has most impact, i.e. across an efficient and effective independent sector who have always supported the NHS through discharges and can only continue to do so if funds are forthcoming via a level playing field.

News and Resources

• Recent Member Network Meeting (MNM)

Thanks to those who were able to make it on Tuesday, 15^th October. Please find attached some slides and a link (below) from the meeting. Information attached regarding –

• VAT RCPA_Kieran Lynch and Co_Key Considerations for VAT Welfare Restructuring_2024rev1
• Home Office updates RCPA Member Meeting – Home Office Updates – 15-10-2024
• Medical Examiner info 3. FAQs GP V4 Sept 2024 8. SMES information letter for relatives V3

Somerset – End Of Life Care & Bereavement Support (eolcare.uk)

 

• Exclusive WhatsApp Group

We are pleased to announce that this is now live. Please contact admin@rcpa.org.uk to ask to be added to the group.

Please note that by joining the WhatsApp group, members accept the group terms of reference (TORs) which are available from admin@rcpa.org.uk.

 

• The Care Conference for Somerset

It is now less than a month until The Care Conference, please see information included below, (if you haven’t already registered, would urge you to as soon as possible as limited spaces available). We hope you will find the day enjoyable as well as informative with some light entertainment, delicious lunch, and refreshments, ‘give aways’ and raffle on the day. We have added some updates and details to workshops in the recently to help you decide which options to choose, please see here. This year our trade exhibitors will be allocated across two areas, ground and 1^st floor, which will allow more room to mix and mingle, also improved options for lunch with the backdrop of what promises to be some great entertainment!

 

• 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: Compliance 101: Safeguarding Your Business Against Fines and Licence Revocation

See how you can avoid expensive penalties with an immigration platform.

Join us in one week, October 22 at 11:00 AM for a live discussion with 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.

Click here to register now

 

Webinar: Streamline Sponsorship and Employee Referrals for Maximum Growth

Is your business fully maximizing the benefits of sponsorship to grow your talent pool?

Join us on Thursday, October 24th at 11:00 AM for an exclusive webinar featuring Matthew Bond, CEO & Co-Founder of Borderless, and Neil Eastwood, Founder & CEO of CareFriends. They’ll reveal how combining sponsorship with employee referrals can enhance retention, efficiency, and growth in your care organization.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to simplify the sponsorship process and reduce associated costs
• Best practices for combining sponsorship with employee referral programs to boost recruitment success
• Real-life examples of care homes using sponsorship to access a wider, skilled international talent pool
• How sponsorship can help you overcome recruitment challenges in the care industry
• An interactive Q&A session with our experts

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to effectively leverage sponsorship for long-term growth and recruitment efficiency.

Click here to register

News and Resources

• What we’ve been up to at the RCPA!

We are now in the run up and last weeks to The Care Conference, please see information included in this bulletin, (if you haven’t already registered, would urge you to as soon as possible as limited spaces available). We hope you will find the day enjoyable as well as informative with some light entertainment, delicious lunch, and refreshments, ‘give aways’ and raffle on the day. We have added some updates and details to workshops in the last few days to help you decide which options to choose. Look out for the weekly highlights too.  This year our trade exhibitors will be allocated across two areas, ground and 1^st floor, which will allow more room to mix and mingle, also improved options for lunch with the backdrop of what promises to be some great entertainment!

Aside from conference planning, making up hampers and prizes for raffles (we’ve been told we do this well) and meeting entertainers, coordinating speakers and workshops, time slots and IT, with Laura and Diana managing registrations and queries with aplomb, we have been developing the exclusive members only WhatsApp group. Apologies for the delay but we want to ensure it’s as seamless as possible… We are pleased to announce that this will be live from Wednesday 9^th October. Please contact admin@rcpa.org.uk to ask to be added to the group. Please note that by joining the WhatsApp group, members accept the group terms of reference (TORs) which are available from

admin@rcpa.org.uk.

On the radar…following up on OMMT with the ICB to ensure access/places on the lived experience training (announced recently and in ASC briefing), digital project work including free support for DSPT continues, international recruitment support for providers, ASC briefing development, patient group directive (PGD) for pain relief post falls, supporting a BU student placement with Trusted Assessors, meeting with MPs and Somerset Council, to advance our cause and member challenges and concerns, to name a few!

Finally, did you see us featured in the Trusted Assessor blog for ‘The Care magazine’? https://issuu.com/cimonline/docs/care_home_september_2024/10

 

• CQC updates – SAF project

Sharing this and encouraging members to take part in the survey! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cpasafreview The survey will close at 5pm on Sunday 20^th October.

In case you missed the announcement from CQC this week:

‘Sir Julian Hartley will be appointed as CQC’s new Chief Executive. He has been the Chief Executive of NHS Providers since February 2023, prior to which he had a distinguished career as Chief Executive of several organisations, most recently 10 years as Chief Executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Start date is yet to be confirmed. The full announcement is available on our website

 

• Mpox update as of 7/10/24

There are currently no cases of mpox clade I in the UK. Please do refer to guidance from a recent bulletin which remains unchanged with pathways and advice for suspected cases of mpox or any HCID (high consequence infectious disease). 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)

 

• eNOID

The Health Protection Board have shared the new process issues by the Health Security Agency for the electronic Notification of Infectious Diseases (eNOID).

This process is applicable for registered medical practitioners. Registered medical practitioner means doctors (covers all doctors – NHS and private), this is in the legislation but practically it can be delegated to other staff members. In care homes it may be usual for the manager or nurse in charge do the notifications rather than GPs. Please see attached.

 

Events

• MNM Tuesday 15^th October; 14.00-15.30hrs

Trull Memorial Village Hall, Church Rd, Trull, Taunton TA3 7JZ

Hybrid joining options available, TEAMs link below –

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 319 134 990 459

Passcode: QRySBN

 

(To facilitate TEAMs on the day, please can you forward any questions for presenters to hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk by COB Monday 14^th October).

Agenda to include (not necessarily in this order)

– VAT for care providers: Jock Waugh of Kieran Lynch & Co will be making a presentation on the ‘Key Considerations for VAT Welfare Restructuring’. This will cover what it is exactly, and the key points required to implement the planning. He will also discuss the current timeline to achieve the VAT benefits and the position of funders in accepting this planning.

– Medical examiner system: Following on from the national Death Certification Reforms and the Medical Examiner system becoming mandatory across England & Wales, we welcome Helen Waldon, RGN, Implementation Lead – Somerset Medical Examiner Service and Head of Bereavement & Medical Examiner Services, SFT. Helen will be joining us in person to talk about the implementation of the Medical Examiner system across Somerset, the aims of the system and how it works. She will also talk about how any concerns would be escalated from the ME or the family to the care providers.

– Borderless: We will also be joined by Will Murch, from our sponsors, Borderless. “Home Office Insights: Navigating Sponsorship Trends” where Will shares insights with the Home Office, what they have seen changing and Labour govt’s potential reforms/changes in this area.

– Domiciliary care focus

There will be protected time, appx 15-20 mins at the end of this MNM for Domiciliary care members, any Qs, and issues you would like to raise. Next MNM focus will be on LD.

(Please note due to the upcoming conference, there won’t be an MNM in November).

 

• 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: Compliance 101: Safeguarding Your Business Against Fines and Licence Revocation

How well is your business set up to handle UK immigration compliance?

Join us on October 22 at 11:00 AM for a live discussoon 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.

Click here to register now

 

• Optimise Workplace Wellbeing

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

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:

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/

 

Digital News

The clock is ticking to apply for digital funding

Are you still using paper to for your care records? Are you a CQC registered care provider? If so, you can apply for funding to help you move to a digital social care record.

But time is running out! Applications for funding need to be made in the next few months. Make sure to contact your integrated care system to apply for funding before it’s too late!

For more information about the funding available please contact: digitisationinsocialcare@somerset.gov.uk

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.

Hilary, CEO, RCPA and Kylie, Trusted Assessor and RCPA EOL Lead, attended an SFT event “We need to talk about death” on 12^th September. A fantastic day with many speakers providing updates and support for those caring for people at the end of their life.  We learnt about the importance of spirituality, advanced care planning, oral care, and dysphagia as well as the management of someone at the end of their life and how we can make it as comfortable as possible. The highlight of the day was most definitely the film “We need to talk about death” which showed members of My Day Care services working collaboratively with a production team to express their views, feelings and personal experiences on death and the importance of taking about what is such a normal process.