Join our regular networks and share your concerns, find support and discuss the latest news. |
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With the war in Ukraine getting worse, Government has confirmed arrangements for its Ukraine Family Scheme visa which would allow Ukraine nationals who have family in the UK already to bring in their extended family. It feels a dreadfully slow response compared to what adjoining countries to Ukraine have had to put in place in quick time. In the recent past, we have tried to offer work and accommodation (through some care homes) to Afghanistan refugees. However, the process seems disjointed, incredibly slow and opaque. We will continue to enquire how the adult social care sector can help. |
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We are in contact with DHSC about emerging planning and also how our sector can prepare for the inevitable financial shock. For example, several contacts have raised questions about the HMRC all-user car rate of 45p above which the reimbursement is taxable. It's been 12 years since this mileage rate has been raised although it is reviewed quarterly. If there is anything else you would like raised please let us know - you can just reply to this mailing. |
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Consultation on Operational Guidance to Implement a Lifetime Cap on Care Costs
The consultation closes on 1 April 2022.
The consultation and operational guidance is primarily for Local Authorities.
The Cap
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A cap on eligible care costs will be set at £86,000 and come into force from October 2023. This will only apply to those assessed as being eligible for care and support under the Care Act 2014. Eligible care costs refer only to the personal care and support component of any care and support package, not daily living costs (more below on this).
- The upper care limit will rise to £100,000 (from £23,250) and the lower capital limit will increase to £20,000 from £14,250. This means anyone with chargeable assets below £100,000 will be asked to contribute £1 per week for every £250 in assets that fall between the lower and upper limits.
Daily Living Costs
Daily Living Costs (DLCs) are defined as rent, food, utility bills, etc and apply to residential care settings. The definition splits out everyday costs from care costs and creates a level playing field with people in their own homes who would be paying those costs anyway. DLCs, therefore, do not count in the metering towards the care cap. The guidance talks about these being set at a 'national, notional' amount of £200 per week for these metering purposes. It is not clear whether providers are only able to charge £200 for these DLCs. £200 may simply be for the purposes of the LA calculating how much an individual pays towards the cap on care costs. This means that if an individual reaches the cap, they will still have to pay DLCs. More information when clarity is provided.
How people progress towards the cap
Everyone with eligible needs will be given a statement that sets out the costs that will count towards the cap, either in:
- A form of a personal budget where a person’s needs are met by the LA (already exist, and will not be changed by the introduction of the cap). It is the amount the person is charged, excluding the amount paid by the LA. Daily living costs and top-up payments are also excluded from this. Note that a self-funder can request for the LA to arrange their care and would be given a personal budget in this scenario.
- An independent personal budget (IPB), where a person fully funds and arranges their care themselves. This will be the record that sets out what the cost would be to the LA of meeting the person’s eligible needs. It is this that counts towards the care cap - the amount that the LA would have had to pay to provide the care the self-funder has arranged.
You will note that that any LA contribution does not count towards the cap. Care and support costs that count towards the cap are the costs of any provision that helps meet eligible needs as defined under the Act. The LA will assess the person’s care and support needs, and consider how they will be met. This means in line with the intention of personalisation in the Care Act, LAs must consider all the care and support needs a person has, establish the impact of those on their daily needs, and decide how best to meet them.
What does not count towards the cap?
- If a preventative service does not meet current eligible needs, it will not count towards the cap.
- Care and support needs met through other legislation do not count towards the cap.
- After the cap is reached, people will still remain responsible for meeting their daily living costs (DLCs), such as rent, food and utility bills. DLCs will be set at a national, notional amount of £200 per week in Financial Year 2021 to 2022 prices. If people are not able to meet daily costs from their income, they would need to make up the difference from their assets, including after they reached the cap.
- DLCs need to be deducted from the cost of the person’s care package to meet their eligible needs (as set out in their personal budget or independent personal budgets). DLCs are not included in the amount that meters towards the cap and people will continue to be charged for them once they reach the cap.
- Top-Ups. People receiving care, or a third party (such as a relative), can make additional payments for a preferred choice of care arrangement (e.g. premium rooms).Top-up payments will not count towards the cap and will still be payable by the person once the cap has been reached.
Care accounts
Through care accounts, local authorities will be responsible for keeping track of an individual’s progress towards the cap. They will need to provide regular care account statements to keep people informed of their own progress. Government is proposing the statements are digital by default and go out on a 6-monthly basis.
To reflect the proposed amendment for people to meter by their financial contribution, Gov intend to set out in the regulations that a care account statement must set out both a person’s current rate of progress towards the cap as well as the total cost of meeting the person’s eligible needs, that is, including any local authority contribution.
A fuller briefing will follow later this week, alongside an invite to a workshop to discuss our response to the consultation.
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Revocation of VCOD - 15 March 2022
The response also states that the government intends to launch a separate consultation on the Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infections to strengthen requirements in relation to COVID-19. We await further detail.
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Vivaldi Staff Testing Letter
A letter that was sent to all care homes taking part in the Vivaldi study at the start of February has now been uploaded to the DHSC website. Staff in care homes taking part in the Vivaldi care home study are asked to continue taking PCR tests in addition to the pre-shift daily LFD tests. |
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The guidance comes into force in November, and we understand that NHSEI does not think that providers should purchase compliance packages.
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PROTECT COVID-19 National Core Study
A research programme on transmission of the COVID-19 virus, funded by HM Treasury and managed by HSE is currently conducting some stakeholder engagement activity to inform the next stage of the programme and would like to include representatives from the care sector.
This is an invitation to take part in one of a small number of online roundtable discussions. As detailed below, these events will be chaired by the Health and Safety Executive’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Professor Andrew Curran, and will take place in the second half of March.
What do we still need to know about transmission of the COVID-19 virus? Help shape the next stage of the PROTECT National Core Study
The PROTECT COVID-19 National Core Study on transmission and environment, led by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Andrew Curran, is conducting a series of online roundtable discussions in late March 2022 to help prioritise work on the next stage of the programme.
Since October 2020, researchers on the PROTECT study have been generating insights on how the COVID-19 virus is transmitted to inform government policy responses and industry practice. Extra money has now been allocated to continue this work until March 2023. As well as completing ongoing research, the 2022-23 financial year represents a new phase of the programme, with an increased emphasis on translating our evidence for the greatest benefit to stakeholders, as well as securing the legacy impact of PROTECT.
To help inform resource allocation for this new stage, PROTECT would value the input of stakeholders including national, devolved and local government, businesses, trade associations and unions, in relation to your own outstanding knowledge gaps and evidence needs. These could include:
- Existing research evidence that may require clearer communication.
- Existing research evidence that may benefit from translation into accessible guidance resources and tools.
- Remaining evidence gaps that could be filled by additional research in 2022-23.
- Remaining evidence gaps that could inform the development of longer-term, sustainable UK research capacity on respiratory disease transmission.
If you would be happy for you, or someone else from your organisation, to take part in these discussions, please reply to Ed Morrow. The discussions are likely to last around an hour, depending on the size of your organisation.
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The one-page summary shows data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (released February 2022) on Emergency hospital admissions for falls injuries or for fractured neck of femur in persons aged 65 and over to 2020/21, with the trend for Oxfordshire county and the variation by district council area.
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REMINDER | testing guidance
PCR tests remain:
- for staff & resident symptomatic testing
- if a staff member is a close contact
- outbreak testing (first week only for care home staff)
- care homes in the Vivaldi study
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Join our regular networks and share your concerns, find support and discuss the latest news. |
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Oxfordshire provider networks
Fortnightly
- OACP Home Care network: Monday 1-2 via Zoom. Next meeting: 14 March
- OACP Learning Disability network: Tuesday 10-11 via Zoom. Next meeting: 15 March
- OACP-OCA Care Home network: Wednesday 2-3 via Zoom. Next meeting: 23 March
Monthly
- OACP Daytime support network: 2nd Friday in the month via Zoom. Next meeting: 11 March
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So you want to drive your organisation to a digital future, but how?
For many care businesses, COVID-19 kickstarted the journey to invest in digital solutions and highlighted the need for integration and innovation. As the care sector continues to accelerate towards digital transformation and care users increasingly expect more adaptive digital solutions, how can we embrace new ways of working?
In this Industry Support Guide webisode, hear from expert speakers driving forward the transformation of the social care sector through digital technology as we consider what it means to be getting your organisation ‘digital ready’ and how data protection, GDPR and information sharing can benefit your care organisation.
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How can we support innovation and tackle implementation challenges in the social care sector? | NIHR ARC North Thames: Innovation and Implementation in Social Care
Explore and discuss insights into the barriers of implementing evidence and how innovation in social care can be supported by research and collaboration. This free, online event will feature three presentations from leading researchers and practitioners in social care - Professor Jon Glasby, Dr Juliette Malley and Dr Lisa Trigg and chaired by Professor Annette Boaz – and will be followed by a 30-minute panel discussion and a chance to ask questions.
The webinar is open to all, including people working in health and social care, research, public health, and anyone with an interest in innovation and implementation across the social care sector.
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Skills for Care is looking to organise some short virtual events with Job Centre Plus and the National Careers Service and are looking for some volunteers to help with recruitment into the care sector open across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire
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Sessions for job seekers – these sessions will tell individuals about working in the sector and any employers who speak at them can also signpost to specific vacancies so it’s a good opportunity to advertise.
The request is could you speak for 10 minutes about working in your part of the sector (care home, home care, supported living or PA) on any of the following dates:
Sessions for job seekers:
- Wednesday 6 April – 11 - 12
- Thursday 9 June – 11 - 12
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Thursday 8 September – 11 - 12
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Thursday 10 November – 11 - 12
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Thursday 19 January 2023 – 11 - 12
- Monday 13 March 2023 – 11 - 12
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Grey Matter Learning
8 programmes of Lead to Succeed and Well Led across 2022.
If a place is booked before 31 March 2022 you can get 22% off each place you book using the code 2022.
If you are registered on ASWDC (Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set) and compliant by 31 March you can claim back up to £500 per person that completes a programme before the end of May.
If you’d like to book a programme for your organisation, GML are also offering 22% off when booked before 31 March.
The discount can’t be used alongside any existing discounts for places or programmes.
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Oxfordshire Care Awards 2022
Do you know someone who deserves to be recognised and celebrated at the Oxfordshire Care Awards 2022? By nominating a friend, unpaid carer, colleague or company you will be supporting their dedication and commitment whilst raising the profile of the adult social care sector across Oxfordshire. This year we are delighted to announce cash prizes will be given alongside the engraved glass trophies and certificates.
The aim of the Oxfordshire Care Awards 2022 Inspiration for All! is to recognise and celebrate individuals, organisations, and companies who have demonstrated outstanding excellence within the care sector in Oxfordshire. Three organisations are involved, Action for Carers Oxfordshire, Age UK Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers (OACP), working together in partnership is at the heart of this Awards initiative. Oxfordshire Care Awards 2022 Inspiration for All! is all-inclusive, bringing together statutory and independent care providers, the community/voluntary sector and unpaid carers.
The Awards take place on Monday afternoon, 25 April 2022 at the Voco Hotel Thames Oxford
Sandford-on-Thames, Oxford OX4 4GX.
Nominations are open now and close at 5 pm on Friday 18 March 2022.
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Proud to Care Oxfordshire
Our new website for people looking to enter adult social care has been launched. 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.
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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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Free DSPT support for Berks, Bucks, and Oxon
View the latest DSPT webinar recording:
Data Protection Compliance in conversation with Royds Withy King - Watch it here
Come to our next webinar event 'Boost your Cyber Knowledge' with Chris White, Head of Cyber and Innovation from the Cyber Resilience Centre South East - Book here
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Digital solutions are here to stay! The Better Security, Better Care programme will continue throughout 2022/23. We are reviewing current activities, and the availability and format of support will change after March 2022. We strongly encourage you to contact the DSPT team now to access this free support.
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.
DSPT contact details
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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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