Join our regular networks and share your concerns, find support and discuss the latest news. |
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How has the first week of VCOD been for you?
Locally we haven't heard of specific instances of confusion on the doorstep of care homes, but these are examples of issues elsewhere in the country:
- A care home had to ask their local Council how to have a deceased resident removed from the home as their usual funeral director staff were unvaccinated;
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GPs did not produce evidence of vaccination and denied any knowledge of the need to do so
- An alternative undertaker had to be sourced, because a funeral director's staff were unvaccinated;
- A GP stated that they never carry personal phones, and if the care home refused entry they wouldn't see a medical professional;
- A DoLS assessor dismissed the request as not necessary as she was 'exempt until 24 December';
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District Nurses asked to enter without a covid passport or wasn't able to evidence vaccination; no-one else was sent as they said they were too busy;
- A Quality Contract Monitoring Officer didn't think it applied to them;
- An electrician was allowed into one home without providing his pass and then was refused at the next care home, because he wasn't vaccinated;
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Health professionals from a community health trust expected to have the care home take their word that they were double-vaccinated;
- Two solicitors were very assertive about wanting entry and reduced a Registered Manager to tears.
Some of these instances have resulted in confrontations. If you are faced with similar issues, stand your ground - you are backed by legislation. The registration of your service may depend on refusing entry to people attending in a non-emergency, as well as the health of your residents and staff.
If you have any examples, please do share them with us - they may be one-off misunderstandings or a sign that we need to do some more work supporting specific organisations or business sectors. Our support will always be discreet, educational and supportive.
We have also reached out to our local business hubs in the Local Enterprise Partnership to try and get the message out to all businesses, which may be suppliers to you.
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Have you written to your suppliers to help them understand the new Regulations?
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Following on from the letter dated 28 October from South Central Ambulance Service, which caused some confusion on whether SCAS staff were allowed in and what care home staff responsibilities should be, SCAS has issued an update on their arrangements for patient transport into and out of care homes.
We can confirm that processes are in place to mean that SCAS NEPTS staff will be compliant with [mandated vaccination] regulations. All SCAS NEPTS crew will continue to wear level 2 PPE, adhere to social distancing and clean down requirements as per current covid requirements.
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VCOD and Data Protection
The VCOD regulations say that a care home may process information about vaccination or medical exemption status, but this must be done in a way that is consistent with data protection legislation. This includes updating information asset registers, record of processing activity, and privacy notice. Care homes will also be required to complete a data protection impact assessment (DPIA). Digital Social Care has published information, including a draft privacy policy and DPIA. Find out more here.
A reminder of important guidance
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One of our local colleagues made it on to the DHSC blog recently.
"If having the vaccine could save a life, why wouldn’t you?" Read more here.
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The County Council and the Clinical Commissioning Group have issued a joint letter promoting the flu jab. Currently, numbers are low. please remember that this isn't just about your health, but also the health of the people you support and your business sustainability over this winter. We are expecting a spike in flu cses this winter. |
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Did you know it's self-care week this week?
How are you doing caring for yourself?
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Support for your team – “There are so many resources out there, where do I start?”
If you are slightly overwhelmed by the array of support out there for people handling the pressures of Covid, may I remind you that the You Matter webpages are the best place to start. Here you will find many self-help resources to use with your team, as well as a quick and responsive support offer potentially including fast tracked referral to NHS talking therapy.
The team delivering You Matter are keen to ensure social care colleagues are aware of the services available for them to use, for free. They are available to attend your team meetings – virtually or in person – so if you think your team would find it useful to hear about the service directly, then please invite them to your setting via email or phone: 0800 145 6568.
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Councils should be consulting with you on how to use the Workforce Recruitment and Retention Fund (WRRF) which has been passported from DHSC. One suggestion that is increasingly of interest is Overseas Recruitment. Thanks to Charles Taylor at Oxfordshire Care home Association who has put together and shared under the Care Association Alliance umbrella, this Quick guide to Overseas Recruitment. |
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Recruiting People from outside the UK webinar
Overseas workers will need to have a Covid vaccination in order to work in care homes.
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Development for your team
Do you, or your team, find it difficult to approach health topics with the people you support? Do you find it difficult to start a conversation about healthy lifestyle choices e.g. Increasing activity, or giving up smoking? Make Every Contact Count (MECC) is a simple approach that will increase your confidence and guide you to have thought provoking and behaviour change enticing conversations.
MECC does not add to an already busy job, it is a brief intervention, opportunistic, person-centred and offers you a guide, a set of ‘tools’, as you engage and interact with the people you support. MECC is a national programme developed by NHS England. A flyer is attached regarding some FREE MECC Train the Trainer courses that aim to equip attendees to not only have effective healthy conversations with people they meet every day but to also be equipped to explain MECC and deliver this knowledge and skills back to colleagues in their own organisations. To book a place or find out more email: clare.hodsdon@nhs.net
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Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service - keeping Oxfordshire safe and well
Safe and well visits offer practical advice to older and vulnerable residents about the risks in their home that could lead to falls, fire, or any source of harm.
Firefighters or dedicated advisers will talk to the resident about smoke and carbon monoxide alarms (or fit them) and about how they can keep themselves safe in the event of a fire.
They can also provide advice and signposting on alcohol use, staying well and warm, and scams and doorstep crime prevention.
If you work or support vulnerable people in their own homes, there are two things you can do.
1. Referring someone for a safe and well visit
It’s easy – you can do it quickly and easily on the council’s website. If you have spotted any of the following, then consider a referral:
- There are no working smoke or carbon monoxide alarms in the property.
- The resident may find it difficult to react quickly in the event of a fire or emergency.
- They are using electrical equipment with trailing leads, lots of extensions or possible unsafe wiring.
- There are large amounts of post or other indications that the resident is being targeted directly by possible scams.
- The resident has made comments that they have concerns about staying safe.
There’s no cost for a safe and well visit. It’s just practical advice and peace of mind.
2. Tell Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service what you think about the safe and well visits
Were you aware of safe and well visits? Did you know some of the things you should be looking out for? Are you up to speed with where some of the greatest risks lie?
They’d like some feedback through their online survey. It will only take a couple of minutes to answer but will provide useful information to help improve the service.
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Your views on how GPs communicate with you
- Do you live in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, or Berkshire?
- Are you registered with a GP?
The local NHS is inviting you to complete a short survey about how your GP practice communicates with you.
It’s part of a Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire wide procurement for Online Consultation (OC), Video Consultation (VC) and Text Messaging (SMS) solutions used in primary care.
The survey is open for feedback until Sunday 21 November, so please do take the time to complete and share with friends, family and colleagues.
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Common blood pressure drug does not slow down progression of more advanced Alzheimer’s
New research led by the University of Bristol, has shown the drug losartan, normally used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), is no more effective than a placebo, in slowing down the progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in people with mild-to-moderate disease after 12 months of treatment. However, the drug could still be of benefit if prescribed for longer and if given to people with very early disease. The findings are from the phase 2 multi-centre clinical trial known as RADAR ((Reducing pathology in Alzheimer’s Disease through Angiotensin taRgeting).
The trial, part of the Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia, was awarded nearly £2 million by the Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation (EME) Programme, an MRC and NIHR partnership, and investigated whether losartan, compared with a placebo, could reduce brain volume loss, as a measure of disease progression in people clinically diagnosed with established AD.
The research, published in The Lancet Neurology, is the first to evaluate the potential benefit of losartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker, which is a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure, in clinically diagnosed AD using brain imaging as a primary outcome.
It found that 12-months’ treatment with losartan in patients with clinically diagnosed and established mild-to-moderate probable Alzheimer’s disease did not significantly slow down the progression of AD.
Two-hundred and sixty-one people aged 55 years or older diagnosed with AD, who had not been prescribed similar hypertension drugs, and who had capacity to consent, were recruited from 23 UK National Health Service hospital trusts between 22 July 2014 and 17 May 2018.
The 211 eligible participants were then randomly allocated with 105 assigned to receive the study drug, 100 mg of losartan, and 106 to the placebo (an identical looking pill with no active medicine) once a day for 12 months. From the 197 (93%) participants who completed the study, primary outcome data were available for 171 (81%) participants.
The trial assessed the rate of whole brain shrinkage (i.e. atrophy) on MRI scan compared with participants on losartan and those on placebo. The researchers also examined differences in memory tests, day-to-day quality of life and in a subgroup of participants, changes in levels of vascular damage to the brain as measured by MRI.
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Government voucher scheme to cover up to 50% of costs for software
From December, businesses across the UK will be able to access free and impartial online support on how technology can boost their business performance.
The online support service will be joined by a voucher scheme, where businesses will be able to apply for a discount of up to 50% on the costs of approved software, worth up to £5000.
With many businesses needing to adapt the way they do business during the pandemic, the support the Government is offering through the Help to grow: Digital programme will help them build on their new ways of working.
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The latest monthly unemployment claimant count data (for October 2021) was released by the Department of Work and Pensions on 16 November, see article on Oxfordshire Insight.
This shows:
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A decrease for Oxfordshire, down from 12,720 claimants in September 2021 to 12,475 in October 2021 (-2.7%).
- By district in October 2021, the rate of unemployment claimants (as a percentage of the economically active population aged 16-64) remains highest in Oxford City followed by Cherwell.
- By age group, the rate remains highest in Oxfordshire (and England) for claimants aged 16-24.
The Coronavirus Job Retention scheme finished at the end of September 2021.
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REMINDER
Workforce Development Funding claims for this month need to be with TVWDF by 20 November
Telephone: 07912 083 480
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- implications and impact of covid-19 on the sustainability and retention of the social care workforce
- workforce retention and low-wage labour markets
- determinants of staff turnover in adult social care
- sick leave and retention of personal assistants
- migrant workers and the resilience of the long term care sector
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We would like to encourage members/ care workers to give their views in a national survey of care workers’ experiences during COVID19. This is the second wave of the survey (the first wave was April-June 2021) but everyone delivering frontline care in the social care sector is eligible to take part, even if you did not take part before. A presentation of the wave one findings can be found here. Wave one highlighted the significant impact of COVID-19 on the health and wellbeing of the social care workforce, including raising issues of abuse and working conditions.
Those who complete the survey will be given the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win a £50 Amazon voucher!
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Oxfordshire provider networks
Fortnightly
- OACP Home Care network: Monday 1-2 via Zoom. Next meeting: 22 November.
- OACP Learning Disability network: Tuesday 10-11 on Teams. Next meeting: 23 November.
- OACP-OCA Care Home network: Wednesday 2-3 via Zoom. Next meeting: 1 December.
Monthly
- OACP Day centre network: 2nd Friday in the month via Zoom. Next meeting: 10 December.
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Ed sets off to find out what life is really like on the front line for those who work in elderly social care and the people they serve. Ed goes to live and work in St Cecilia’s in Scarborough, a typical family-run mid-sized business [St Cecilia's is run by Mike Padgham of the Independent Care Group - a member of the Care Association Alliance].
For many years, Ed's mother has had dementia, and for the last three has been in a care home. He feels guilty that when he was in government, he failed to tackle the care sector crisis.
His exploration is timely. After a decade in which £8 billion cuts have been made to care spending, the pandemic dealt a blow which left the sector on its knees.
With the government promising to raise money for health and social care through a National Insurance rise, Ed wants to find out from the people on the ground what the biggest issues are.
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Since the pandemic, recruitment and retention has become increasingly challenging in Health and Social Care but there has always been a shortage of men across the sector.
Curado Group has recently undertaken a study in collaboration with Kingston University to look at how to increase the number of men working in social care. The findings from this – including the work Curado has done to grow their own male workforce, will be shared at a webinar.
Curado Men In Social Care Video Speakers – including Oonagh Smyth, CEO of Skills for Care, and Neil Eastwood, author of ‘Saving Social Care’ – will be considering the barriers to attracting men to the sector as well as possible solutions. We would like to invite care providers – and other organisations with an interest in social care careers and recruitment - to join us.
There will be opportunities to share your own experiences – as well as your thoughts about what we need to be doing to attract more men into care.
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Care Friends
A discovery webinar for Care Providers who are considering using their WRRF (Workforce Recruitment and Retention Funding) for Care Friends. See the app in action and learn about the different ways you can use your allocated WRRF to launch a highly effective employee referral programme that will grow and retain your workforce.
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REACTMH® wellbeing conversation training is an amazing initiative that will provide managers, supervisors and those with caring responsibilities, in clinical and non-clinical services, with the tools and confidence to have wellbeing conversations with people in their teams and community.
The REACTMH training is an evidence-based active, listening skills training session which enhances mental health awareness among staff by enabling staff to identify, engage with and support people in their teams who may be struggling with their wellbeing. The training is designed to improve confidence in initiating supportive wellbeing conversations.
During the course you will gain new knowledge and have a chance to put this into practice during the session. The training is underpinned by psychologically sound principles and the REACTMH technique comprising of: Recognise, Engage, Actively listen, Check risk, and Talk about specific actions.
Many studies have shown that line managers, supervisors and those with caring responsibilities can significantly impact, both positively and negatively, on the mental wellbeing of the people in their teams. Long-term negative impact on mental health can be significantly reduced where managers receive training in identifying the need for and successfully engaging in supportive wellbeing conversations.
The training sessions are delivered online and are 90 minutes in duration.
- Mon 22nd November 12.00pm – 1.30pm
- Wed 24th November 6.30pm – 8.00pm
- Fri 26th November 9.30am – 11.00am
- Tues 30th November 12.00pm – 1.30pm
- Wed 1st Deember 1.30pm – 3.00pm
- Fri 3rd December 9.30am – 11.00am
When making your booking please confirm the date you would like to attend, your full name and the Trust or Organisation you work for.
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Enhancing care quality, recruitment and retention through free training
- Tuesday 23 November 2021
- 11 am-12 noon
This webinar is primarily for care providers in Slough, Bracknell, Windsor and Maidenhead, however, colleagues from across the whole of Berkshire are welcome to attend.
Following a recent survey about apprenticeships in the east of Berkshire this webinar is being held to help adult social care employers understand the facts about apprenticeships and how their organisation can benefit from this opportunity to enhance quality of care, recruitment and retention.
What we will cover:
- East of Berkshire apprenticeships survey and results
- Overview and the facts about apprenticeships including range of apprenticeships (care, leadership and support roles), Levy and transfers, Flexibility around the 20% off the job
- Frimley rotational apprenticeship programme
- Employer success stories
To book a place please email your name, role and organisation details to rachel.reid@skillsforcare.org.uk who will send the MS Teams link to join the session and also a copy of the slides after the webinar.
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Our partners, Citation, have two care-specific webinars:
Hosted by Citation’s Care Business Manager and ex-CQC inspector, Mick Feather, the culture webinar will discuss:
- Key points surrounding culturally appropriate care and the CQC’s increased focus on culture, including during inspection
- Identifying and responding to closed cultures, including important culture definitions
- Practical hints, tips and guidance to support your service
- Building solid HR and Employment Law foundations, including recruitment, documentation, and employee engagement and wellbeing.
Citation’s Head of Employment Law, Gillian McAteer, is hosting our care vaccinations webinar, including:
- Updated guidance on the COVID vaccination exemption scheme
- What is considered acceptable proof of temporary and permanent exemption status?
- What process should you follow if an employee refuses to be vaccinated without being exempt?
- How to handle grievances raised concerning mandatory vaccination
- CQC’s approach to enforcement
- The proposals for the new rules in wider social car
- What you should do now to prepare for the new rules.
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Home Care Research Forum
- Wednesday 24 November
- 2 - 4pm
Speaker 1: Katherine McDermott, Your Support Matters
Before and Beyond Covid: The effects of Covid on PA's and IE's across Greater Manchester
Speaker 2: Dr Sue Woodward and Sangeeta Sooriah
Preventing Incontinence Associated Dermatitis – an overview of current research
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Oxford Health Community Services Strategy workshop
- Wednesday 8 December 2021
- 3-5 pm
Oxford Health is holding a workshop at which carers, friends and family members of patients can share their experiences of accessing health services and help shape future plans for the county’s community services.to get involved:
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Proud to Care Oxfordshire
A new website for people looking to enter adult social care has been launched today. A partnership of OACP, Aspire Oxford, Activate Learning and OCC, the website builds on experiences in other local areas to attract people into the sector.
The website is open to all care providers operating in Oxfordshire across all settings. Over the next few months we will add information on what the sector offers; the different roles available and support available to enable a first step into social care.
If you would like to advertise on Proud to Care, please contact Jane Wood or Diana Olszewska at hello@proudtocareoxfordshire.org.uk. Proud to Care is managed by OACP.
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Your free guide to recruitment and retention in care
As England introduces new national lockdown restrictions, and the government is reportedly drawing up plans for carers to be banned from working in more than one home, there has never been a more important time to attract and retain your brilliant people.
With that in mind, the care experts of OACP partner, Citation, have created a free guide on recruitment and retention, specifically for care providers.
This guide includes things to consider when recruiting the right people for your business, and methods and tips for engaging your employees to keep them happy and working for you.
Your OACP member benefit
From recruitment and retention, staff training, mental health and wellbeing, professional bereavement and tricky HR issues, to infection control, risk assessments and visiting arrangements, Citation can help you operate both safely and compliantly in the coming weeks and months.
They can also help with fire and electrical safety, Care Policies & Procedures, Care Mock Inspections, and CQC Pro – an application to demonstrate you’re meeting CQC requirements.
To find out more or arrange a free consultation, click here or call 0345 844 1111.
Quote ‘Oxford Association of Care Providers’ when enquiring to access your preferential rates as a member.
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Testing guidance
Bookmark it.
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DSPT support for Berks, Bucks and Oxon
If you are not sure which is the right webinar for you, please contact the DSPT team at dspt@oacp.org.uk. This is our dedicated team delivering the Better Security, Better Care roll-out across the Thames Valley.
If you are based in MK and have not yet been contacted by Bedfordshire Care Association who are leading on this for BLMK ICS area, please let us know and we will signpost you.
And Train your staff to be Cyber Aware
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COVID-19 infection rates dashboards usually updated weekly:
Check vaccination levels across the country via this interactive map for first dose and second dose - whole population statistics. |
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Trusted Assessor services
The Oxfordshire Trusted Assessor service is now closed.
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For Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire, the Trusted Assessor Service is run for care homes only by Lincolnshire Care Association.
Contact: Michelle Yusuf -
The project runs also for Hinchingbrooke and Addenbrookes hospitals.
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BCA, MKB Care and OACP working together for you. |
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Care Association Alliance | our big family
As well as a constant stream of questions and answers by email from around the country, we are also part of the CAA weekly teleconference - Wednesdays at 10am. This informs us of current concerns and potential solutions and helps inform our local communications.
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Consistent, quality information
We are mailing out once a week on a Wednesday, so you know when to look out for it. These updates will provide summary advice on emerging issues and signpost providers to government and other statutory agency advice as needed.
Reminder
We are always keen to hear from providers, if you have anything you would like to share with provider colleagues, please send to the usual address.
Receiving this newsletter for the first time?
We are adding new colleagues all the time.
OACP
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OACP Member offers | OACP works with the following suppliers to bring you market insight, quality products and expert advice. Contact them today - click on the logo... |
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Help yourself to help us
Now available for all Oxfordshire care providers.
Spectrum is a well-established buying consortium with an emphasis on the Care Sector including care homes, domiciliary care and supported living. They have been sourcing discounts with major suppliers for their members since 1992.
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