Greetings!
Welcome to your weekly Wednesday digest of social care news curated by OACP.
In this week's edition:
- International Recruitment hub now live
- a round up of other local, ICS and national news
We're here to help.
Eddy McDowall, CEO, OACP
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Our strength is your involvement
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Oxfordshire provider networks | up next... |
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OACP Home Care network - for registered home care providers
- Monday 24 July, 1 - 2 pm via Zoom (4th Monday link)
Safeguarding Quarterly Network with Oxfordshire County Council and Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board
As from 1 August all of our networks will be moving to Teams.
OACP Learning Disability network - for supported living services for people with learning disability/ autism/ ABI
OACP-OCA Care Home network - for registered residential and nursing homes
- Wednesday 13 September, 2 - 3 pm, Teams link to follow
Oxfordshire Registered Manager Network - for Registered Managers and Deputies
Daytime Support Network has been paused pending review
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For Oxfordshire providers - Tuesday 25 July
Howbery Business Park, Fountain Conference Centre
Benson Lane, Wallingford OX10 8FD
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The event is full, but we are holding a waiting list in case of drop out. |
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The slides from the event will be sent to attendees first, then to all providers next Wednesday. |
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The Oxfordshire Joint Strategic Needs Assessment 2023 is now live.
The JSNA is designed to inform local decision-making, by identifying community needs, so that they can be met by service provision. It provides the intelligence that will inform the Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy (currently in development) which, in turn will identify priorities for action to improve the health and wellbeing of Oxfordshire’s residents and reduce health inequalities.
You can use the JSNA to:
- find out about the key issues affecting the health and wellbeing of your local
- community
- identify demographic groups and geographical areas that need targeted support
- provide evidence of local needs to support funding applications and inform
- research projects
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Could Wheels to Work be a solution for your care workforce? |
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Wheels to Work provides a fully serviced and insured 50cc or 125cc moped with maintenance plan, roadside assistance, secure lock, delivery and tracker on a lease arrangement.
This initiative is for:
- People new to care (from unemployment/ college/ other sector)
- New starters in a care organisation (transferring from one provider to another)
- People currently working in care (but looking to be more mobile, or spend less on transport)
Applicants can either pay for the package themselves, or apply for a grant from the Care Workers’ Charity (in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council).
A deposit of £150 is required before an individual can collect their moped.
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Activate Learning are keen to work alongside the Health & Social Care sector to ensure they create the right talent for your business.
Feedback from within the industry says that when businesses play a part in the development stage - helping to shape students early on - students can go into their employment when they leave college and hit the ground running.
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Supporting Oxfordshire social care workforce |
- Grants and local support
- Accommodation lists
- Hints and tips
- Inspiring stories
- Training and development
- Innovation and horizon scanning
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17 OACP Members are now taking advantage of this free Membership offer. |
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If you would like to take advantage of your OACP Membership offer with IHSCM, please contact us for your password to access their services. |
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IHSCM have put together a quick promo video for you just giving a bit of an introduction to your free membership with IHSCM.
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ALL managers who work for you will be able to access these opportunities for free.
If you're not sure if your organisation is eligible as an OACP Member, please contact us.
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Useful local contacts can be found further down, below _Webinars | Podcasts | Events_
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Summer Event Recap
BOB VCSE Health Alliance recently held a Summer Alliance meeting and heard from Nick Broughton, the Incoming CEO of the BOB Integrated Care Board. Katie Higginson and Catherine Mountford provided an update on the process for creating the MoU between the ICB and the Alliance.
Professor Tony Chapman described outcomes from recently commissioned research in the BOB area exploring the impact of the not-for-profit sector.
Research Report - VCSE BOB
The short and long reports by Prof. Chapman are now live on the website. The extra information in the long report is the comparability of BOB data with other parts of England. BOB report that there are 44,500 FTE paid staff in the VCSE sector and 162,000+ regular volunteers.
Research - Phase Two
But BOB wants to know what these people do? Why do they work with the VCS? And what do they need to continue their work. Research project article.
Health Alliance Action Groups
Action Groups are open to new members and the next meeting dates are:
- Learning Disability & Autism on Thursday 20 July
- Mental Health on Thursday 7 September
- Ageing Well on Wednesday 20 September
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Placements sought in social care settings for OTs, physios and other allied health professionals
At our last (BOB-wide) Registered Manager meeting at the end of February we had a presentation from the placements team who organise placements for occupational therapists (OTs), physios and other allied health professionals - they are offering and seeking placements in adult social care settings.
It's a great opportunity to have a student in your setting and benefit from the expertise and focus that they can bring as well as them receiving crucial experience and insight into ASC services (which they may choose to work in or will be working with if they choose a health setting for their career). The team are continuing their work and still seeking placements.
Please contact them if you have any queries. They may have been in touch with you already so please do get back to them if you want to discuss further:
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Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems
This course is fully funded and is available to anybody in Oxfordshire and surrounding counties.
It might be a good opportunity for staff to have some CPD in this area to enable them to underpin their knowledge and be able to support others.
For those of you who are employer/ providers of apprenticeships it might help you support apprentices as well.
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Skills for Care Size and Structure of the Workforce
- The number of filled posts increased by around 1% (20,000) between April 2022 and March 2023. However, the previous year, the number of filled posts fell for the first time on record, by around 4% (60,000). This year’s increase is not enough to reverse that previous fall.
- At the same time, the vacancy rate decreased to 9.9%, or around 152,000 on any given day, compared with 10.6% (around 164,000) the previous year.
- Some employers are using international recruitment to help them address recruitment and retention challenges, with around 70,000 people recruited from abroad into direct care-providing roles after adult social care was added to the Shortage Occupation List in February 2022. This compares to 20,000 last year.
- The total number of filled posts in adult social care in 2022-23 was estimated at 1.635 million. These posts were filled by 1.52m people, which is 5.2% of the total workforce in England, and more than the number of people working in the NHS, schools, or food and drink manufacturing.
The report shows that the workforce situation in social care remains critical. The small reduction in vacancies is a direct result of international recruitment. Over 70,000 workers have joined the English care workforce from other countries, and their presence is a contribution to be celebrated, whilst at the same time recognising it masks a further shrinking of the domestic workforce.
[article from NCF]
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Log my Care has launched its latest feature, Device Access Control.
This allows managers to take charge of care data access, reducing cyber security risks and protecting sensitive information.
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High Court rules ‘strike-breaking’ agency worker regulations unlawful
UNISON has defeated the government in the High Court over strike-breaking legislation that was introduced last summer. The High Court has ruled that the legislation, which allows employers to use agency workers to replace those on strike, was unlawful, unfair and irrational.
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AI and digital regulations guidance released for health and social care
New online guidance has been launched to help developers and adopters of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology learn what regulations to follow and how to evaluate effectiveness.
The AI regulation service is facilitated by the NHS Transformation Directorate and its partners to support the adoption of AI and data-driven technologies. The aim is to bring together regulations, guidance and resources for digital health and care technologies. This should help to increase the uptake of safe, effective and value-adding AI and digital technologies across health and social care.
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Hot Weather Guidance for Carers
In case the jet-stream allow the current exceptionally hot weather in southern Europe to extend to the UK, UKHSA's new guidance may be useful.
Hot weather can pose a range of health threats to elderly and vulnerable people so new e-learning has launched increase carers’ awareness of the risks and show how to protect themselves and those they care for.
The e-learning has been created in collaboration with NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care and the UK Health Security Agency and is hosted on the Learning Hub.
It is intended for front line carers who are supporting elderly and vulnerable people both in domestic and care settings. The modules explain the health risks of excess and extreme heat in care settings and demonstrate quick and simple measures to reduce the health risk.
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UKHSA Health Protection Briefing Note 2023/027 | Bacillus cereus contamination of linen in health and adult social care settings
UKHSA are reporting that laundry company Elis detected high counts for Bacillus contamination on freshly laundered items during routine monthly testing they have.
As counts now exceed the agreed action limits, the laundry will contact and inform all of their customers.
They are also planning to issue replacement linen (from another site), for patients, who have been identified as being at increased risk. The primary customer base of Elis is acute trusts.
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NECS Capacity Tracker compliance
As summer holidays arrive, NECS suggest that you have at least one other member of staff registered with Capacity Tracker who will be able to submit data on your behalf.
For queries or support, please contact the Capacity Tracker Support Centre on 0191 691 3729 or email: necsu.capacitytracker@nhs.net Monday to Friday 8am-5pm (excluding public holidays).
If you believe you should not be submitting data, please email NECS at capacitytracker-guidance@dhsc.gov.uk and explain why you believe this to be the case – you should still submit a nil return.
Please note, the automated email reminders which include a “NoChangeLink” allow the refresh of previously entered information without logging in to Capacity Tracker. This may be a viable option if there are no significant changes over summer. This still needs to be done within the submission window, 8th - 14th each month.
NECS have reported that Capacity Tracker (CT) receive their lowest ever submissions as at 13 June across England.
June 2023 is the first month where non-consistent entries may prompt fines. The first step is a NOI notice of intent, which provides just 14 days to respond and is accompanied by potential CQC enforcement. Penalty fines, if imposed, will be equal to your CQC registration fee.
Providers who have received a NOI letter are contacting CT when they should contact enforcement team. Enforcement contact details are included in the letter.
Letters are sent by post. We have suggested NECS send these by email as well.
Some NOIs were issued at end of June. Fines may follow in a July-August timescale.
It appears that usually data not received is consistently from the same providers, but NECS have noted that amongst those reporting there are three groups:
- those who report within the required window (8th - 14th each month)
- those who leave it until the final day (14th of each month)
- those who report but do so outside of the compliance window
Care Providers cannot submit retrospective data. If you miss the window, you cannot upload your monthly data.
NECS has also stated that reporting cannot be done from outside the UK for security reasons. Uploading must be done from device IP address in the UK.
NECS have offered the following tips to make the process smoother:
Reminders and updates
- In 'My details/ access ' make sure you have opted in to receiving communications from Capacity Tracker. You need to make sure the box under 'Job Role/ type is checked.
- Unchecking the box means you will not receive updates or reminders.
Training
NECS offer regular provider training sessions found in: Resource Centre > Events > Provider Training sessions
Concerns about access/ correct details
If your details are incorrect because you have moved registered premises or your business has changed owners, please escalate any concerns about data to CQC. Capacity Tracker gets its data feed from CQC.
To make this smoother, 'Contact CQC' has been added to the Help drop down menu
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Current compliance in Thames Valley at 11 July 2023 |
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Bracknell Forest
Care homes 66% compliance
- 10 submissions
- 5 no submissions
Home care 71% compliance
- 12 submissions
- 5 no submissions
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Reading
Care homes 39% compliance
- 12 submissions
- 19 no submissions
Home care 51% compliance
- 24 submissions
- 23 no submissions
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Slough
Care homes 29% compliance
- 4 submissions
- 10 no submissions
Home care 44% compliance
- 16 submissions
- 20 no submissions
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RBWM
Care homes 43% compliance
- 16 submissions
- 21 non-submissions
Home care 39% compliance
- 9 submissions
- 14 no submissions
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West Berkshire
Care homes 51% compliance
- 22 submissions
- 21 no submissions
Home care 47% compliance
- 14 submissions
- 16 no submissions
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Wokingham
Care homes 60% compliance
- 29 submissions
- 19 submissions
Home care 36% compliance
- 16 submissions
- 28 no submissions
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Buckinghamshire
Care homes 55% compliance
- 68 submissions
- 55 no submissions
Home care 49% compliance
- 48 submissions
- 50 no submissions
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Milton Keynes
Care Homes 43% compliance
- 20 submissions
- 27 no submissions
Home care 44% compliance
- 42 submissions
- 53 no submissions
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Oxfordshire
Care homes 58% compliance
- 77 submissions
- 56 no submissions
Home care 53% compliance
- 87 submissions
- 75 no submissions
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Care Workers’ Charity (CWC) nominated for charity of the year
CWC has now allocated more than 10,000 grants to frontline care workers across the UK. As the cost of living crisis continues and there appears to be no sign of a fix to adult social care funding, CWC have stepped in to support our lowest paid workers.
The grants, cumulatively worth over £5.6m, highlight the commitment of CWC to improving the lives of those who care for others, whilst policy makers consider options to ensure social care receives enough funding to adequately pay for our outstanding workforce.
Individuals and organisations interested in contributing to the CWC’s mission can visit its Just Giving page or find out more on its website.
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Unison speaks out over modern slavery
UK care operators have been accused of exploiting migrant workers in an article in The Guardian and many other news outlets. Unison says it is receiving increasing reports about care workers who were:
- Required to be permanently on call
- Working 19-hour shifts without breaks
- Having wages withheld
- Required to pay large sums to recruitment agencies, which are then split with the care operator.
Whilst it is difficult to understand the extent of the concerns, all agencies are agreed that there is an increase in incidents. We understand from SE ADASS that six care operators in the south east have had their sponsorship licences suspended pending investigation for 'not following processes'. These may be entirely innocent errors or deliberate manipulation.
International recruitment is a complex process. Don't be caught out. Make sure you are clear what the legal process is and where you can improve support to migrant workers. There still some places available for our International Recruitment seminars - see Local News above - mostly at the Aylesbury and Wokingham events. These are led by immigration specialists and will form the basis for further support to the local sector.
And if you are aware of potential concerns about modern slavery, you have several options for reporting:
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unseen UK is the national reporting channel for members of the public, including care operators
- Call the police on the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 or the police non-emergency helpline on 101. In an emergency always call 999.
- If you are concerned about care delivery quality discuss with your local council commissioning team.
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Nearly 2/3 of care providers are DSPT compliant
Thank you to everyone who completed their Digital Security Protection Toolkit over the last few weeks ahead of the deadline in mid-July. National compliance sits at 62.90% as of Friday 7 July.
In our local area our compliance rate sits slightly higher at 65.11%. This is a huge increase from the 2% when our DSPT team took on the challenge in April 2021.
DSPT is a self-assessment of your processes that provides an action plan to improve digital security.
Free support is available to you to complete and ensure you are protected and secure.
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MOVEit vulnerability and data extortion incident
Criminals have exploited a vulnerability in Progress Software’s MOVEit file transfer app, which is used by thousands of organisations around the world. A number of organisations whose supply chains use the MOVEit app have suffered a data breach as a result, with customer and/or employee data being stolen.
It is also important to note that organisations that do not use MOVEit, may still be affected if a business in their supply chain does. This further highlights how vital supply chain mapping and security is.
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RWK Goodman | Exiting the care sector: how to prepare for sale
The care sector is facing significant challenges that are forcing some providers to exit the market. The combination of challenging funding environment, rise in energy costs, recruitment issues, increasing regulation and market saturation is making it difficult for small and medium sized operators to remain in business.
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IFS | Covid-19 retirement and income levels
It’s often assumed that older people who left the workforce during the pandemic were largely wealthy people retiring in comfort.
A new report by IFS, part of an annual report on living standards, poverty and inequality and funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, finds that this wasn't the case for many. Findings show that nearly half of the older adults who had left the workforce in 2020–21 ended up in relative poverty.
This report examines recent trends in households’ living standards, with a particular focus on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–21 and 2021–22.
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Consultation on mandatory visiting rights in care homes
New regulations will give the Care Quality Commission (CQC) additional powers to allow families to visit loved ones receiving care in residential and other settings.
The Government acknowledges the positive effect visiting has on the emotional wellbeing of all involved. To this end, it has launched a public consultation on how visiting can be mandated effectively and safely within health and care settings, including care homes.
Responses are encouraged from anyone involved in the health or care sector, whether through providing care, drawing on care, or as a friend or family member of someone who receives care.
DHSC is considering reasonable explanations and specific exceptions to the proposed regulations. They have suggested options as reasonable exceptions depending on circumstances:
- If the resident or patient does not wish to receive a visitor;
- If a visitor is confirmed to have an infectious disease or is confirmed to be a contact of someone who has an infectious disease;
- If the person being visited has an infectious disease or there is an outbreak in the care home or hospital;
- If a visitor is a risk to the physical and/or mental health and wellbeing of residents, patients and/or staff;
- If a patient’s treatment plan does not include visiting, in order to aid their recovery;
- If a visitor is requesting to visit at a time outside standard, reasonable, visiting hours (such as late at night or early in the morning);
- If there is an unforeseen emergency occurring in the home or hospital and visiting cannot be safely accommodated;
- If the care home or hospital does not have the capacity to receive a large number of visitors.
The consultation runs until 16 August 2023.
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Webinars | Podcasts | Events |
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CQC series exploring the way they are changing and developing their regulatory approach.
You can now watch the whole series on YouTube.
Our new regulatory approach
Local authority assessments
Integrated care system assessments
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HMRC | Statutory Sick Pay
This webinar is for anyone dealing with SSP. It will cover the qualifying conditions:
- Paying SSP
- How SSP is affected by:
- Company sick pay
- Holidays and Bank holidays
- Agency, casual and term-time workers
- What happens if not entitled to SSP
- The records you need to keep
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HSE | Free webinar for the health and social care sector on work-related stress
HSE will be hosting the webinar in relation to the work-related stress management standards and the HSE stress indicator tool. There will also be a live question and answer at the end where you can ask our panel of experts any questions you may have.
There were an estimated 303,000 work-related ill health cases (new or long-standing) in human health and social work in the three years affected by the coronavirus. This equates to nearly a third of all reported cases, with 914,000 workers suffering in 2021/22 which resulted in 17 million working days lost.
Half of these ill health cases reported during the coronavirus period were either stress, depression or anxiety related.
Recognising the signs of stress and then acting will help employers to take steps to prevent, reduce and manage stress in the workplace. To effectively manage the risk of stress, you can use HSE's stress indicator tool.
Recently, an additional set of questions, which has been designed to gather data on stress, anxiety and depression of workers that work partly or fully from home, have been developed.
The "home and hybrid working tool", which can be found on the HSE website, is an optional add-on module that explores specific stressors that could be linked to modern working practices. This tool helps employers to understand how these might be related to mental health outcomes.
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Free MS Awareness training for care providers
Due to popular demand, MS-UK has added a second date for its MS Awareness training specifically for care providers.
The session is open to care and support professionals (or volunteers) who may be supporting people with multiple sclerosis. This could be,
- Residential care home support staff
- Domiciliary or home care workers
- Community support workers
- Personal assistants
- Private carers
Please share with any colleagues who you think may benefit and we hope to see you there. The session is free, but if you are able to make a donation for your ticket it will be gratefully received.
For more information, click here to visit our web page.
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Other training and events |
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Skills for Care | The Care Exchange
Series three features Good Oaks Home Care as the first UK carbon neutral home care company. Ben Ashton, the co-founder and director talks about what you have to do to become carbon neutral, why it is so important and how it fits so well with values-based recruitment and retention. Ben also talks about his positive experiences and shares his learnings of recruiting internationally
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Barclays Digital Wings | FREE online courses to master the digital world
- Essential Digital Skills | Digital foundation skills
- From choosing a device to getting connected, there’s lots to learn. In this module we’ll take you through some of the basics to help you get started.
- Essential Digital Skills | Communicating
- Learn how to set up email and other messaging apps, understand how to create shareable documents and get to grips with video calling to help stay connected with other safely and securely.
- Essential Digital Skills | Communicating for work
- Communicating effectively at work is a vital skill, through email, on video calls or in social media posts. Learn more about the digital platforms that help keep you in touch with others at work.
- Digital office skills | Microsoft 365
- Be more productive at work by making the most of your Microsoft applications. Learn how to make better presentations, create effective documents and organise your inbox.
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Trusted Assessor services
Only one other is active in the south east (in Portsmouth).
The Oxfordshire Trusted Assessor service has restarted.
The Trusted Assessor Service for Berkshire east, funded by Frimley ICS, has launched.
For Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire, the Trusted Assessor Service is run for care homes only by Lincolnshire Care Association.
Contact: Michelle Yusuf -
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Community Dental Services in Berkshire
Community dental services are available in a variety of places to ensure everyone can have access to dental health. Some Oxfordshire residents may be registered with Berkshire community dental services.
If you would like the Word version of the form, please reply to this newsletter.
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The Royal Berkshire Care Home Help-line
To facilitate assessment or repatriation, the Royal Berkshire the hospital is running a dedicated Care Home help-line for 2022. Download the flyer here. Please remember the ward should be your first contact.
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Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board consultation line for professionals
- The line operates from 10 am - 3 pm, Monday to Friday.
- Call 01865 328232 and select option 1.
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Free DSPT support for Berks, Bucks, and Oxon
Digital solutions are here to stay!
Contact the DSPT team now to access this free support.
DSPT contact details for Berks, Bucks and Oxon
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Do you have hospital issues? Complaints? Concerns?
Please raise these through the relevant Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS). All matters that go through PALS get raised at clinical governance in their particular area of expertise e.g. orthopaedics / LD etc, so it is imperative that any matters that need raising go through this route.
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OACP, BCA and MKB Care working together for you |
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Care Association Alliance | our big family
We are part of the largest national care association, the Care Association Alliance, with over 6,000 members across England.
This informs us of current concerns, we can source potential solutions on behalf of you and it helps inform our local communications.
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Consistent, quality information
We mail 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. |
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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...quote 'OACP' |
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Help yourself to help us
Now available to 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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Expertly crafted award-winning dishes.
We’re the leading producer of delicious and nutritious food.
Prepared by specialist chefs
Frozen to lock in nutrition
Cooked and served with ease
Supported from day one
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Whatever your goals, Citation will help your business to succeed with unrivalled HR and Health & Safety support and expertise for small and medium-sized business.
10% off your first contract as an OACP Member.
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The home of efficient care home management
Every care home business is unique. We understand that. CoolCare4 is designed by experts who know how care home users need their software to work. As a result, our system is simple and intuitive with helpful functions, which fit seamlessly into the operation of your care home.
Software features include all core aspects of care home business admin. From occupancy management to time and attendance, rostering and invoicing, CoolCare does it.
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Log My Care is accredited by NHSX as an Assured Supplier for Digital Social Care Records.
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The platform for outstanding care management.
Our platform gathers insights to help you allocate resources and speed up your day-to-day tasks, so you can focus more on those in need.
Easy and intuitive, it can be used in any setting, without the need for extensive training. Designed alongside support workers and service users, it's the platform of choice for enriching the lives of everyone in care.
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Person Centred Software’s Mobile Care Monitoring is the most widely-used digital care management system in the UK, and the most widely referred software provider within social care.
Over 3,000 care providers using Mobile Care Monitoring.
Get your membership paid for with your first contract.
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RWK Goodman LLP is the new brand for Royds Withy King and is the preferred legal supplier for the care sector in Oxfordshire.
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SY has been actively working with small businesses for 20 years.
We build stable, secure IT environments and
deliver high-quality IT services to our clients.
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With annually rising charges and continual changes in government legislation, we believe there’s a better, brighter way of managing your utilities over and above the habit of annual renewal.
Zenergi takes the complexity out of procuring your utilities.
We can help cut through the confusion; free you from the stresses of managing bills, chasing payments and validating invoices.
We can help you establish low-carbon, energy-efficient plans, delivering profound cost savings and helping to safeguard the environment for future generations.
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National Partners with Care Association Alliance |
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Happy with what you are reading?
Please tell colleagues and pass on this newsletter.
Our strength is your involvement.
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