ASC Provider Briefing - 15 December 2023
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Dear Care Provider Colleagues,
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Welcome to this week's briefing.
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In this edition you can find a message from Somerset Council about our public consultation launch for the budget, introduction to the new "My Life, My Future" transformation programme, information leaflets on Patient Transportation from E-Zec, Somerset Partners' Bulletin from Age UK, a piece highlighting the underused services of Somerset Urgent Community Response, YouTube link to Abbeyfield's DSCR story, Connect Somerset's learning offer, 11th edition of LeDeR's newsletter, updated poster with dates up to Christmas regarding the vaccine walk-in clinics, a survey from Headway Somerset, a call to participate in a study to inform support services for carers. Along with training dates for homecare providers from RCPA, Skills for care and CareFind, important information from the last LEM, Oliver McGowan Training update for Care Providers, as well as the normal event reminders.
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We also wanted to request stories from you, of your staff and residents, about what their Christmas looks like to highlight in the future editions of the briefing. If there's anything you wish for us to shine light on, please email us with an image and your story at: somersetprovidersbriefing@somerset.gov.uk
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Please find the latest news and updates from Adult Social Care below:
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Message for all colleagues: Public consultation launches on our budget
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Somerset Council has launched a public consultation on its budget, offering residents and businesses the chance to voice their thoughts as the authority faces a financial emergency and is a follow up on the announcement made in November.
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In November, the Council’s Executive declared a financial emergency with an in-year overspend for 2023/24 of £27m and a projected budget gap for 2024/25 of £100m.
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To close the gap and balance the budget next year a series of service reductions, efficiency savings, and increases to fees and charges, including Council Tax, will need to be considered.
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This alone will not close the budget gap and plans to fundamentally change the council's systems and processes to streamline its operations will need to speed up to reduce the size of the council in future.
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The consultation highlights several discretionary services which could be redesigned, reduced or even stopped.
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The budget consultation opened on 11 December and will close on 22 January 2024.
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Introducing ‘My Life, My Future’
Watch this new video to find out how we are transforming Adult Social Care in Somerset with the 'My Life, My Future' programme.
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In the video, Executive Director for Adult Social Care, Mel Lock, explains the programme in detail, including how it can help us make savings whilst improving our services for the people we support.
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As many of you already know, we have declared a financial emergency in Somerset. Additionally, the number of adults over the age of 75 are expected to double by 2040. This means we need to act quickly to make savings whilst ensuring we're still able to deliver essential services for our residents.
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This programme promises to help us to do both.
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With projected recurring savings of up to £14.2m per year, ‘My Life, My Future’ is building on the strengths that we already have in Somerset to design and deliver high quality, person-centred Adult Social Care services that promote independence and wellbeing. It’s an ‘invest to save’ programme, which means that although it has come at a cost, savings are guaranteed and will be recurring.
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Our ambition to help others unites us all in what we do. We need your voice to achieve better outcomes for Somerset and its communities.
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E-zec HUB information leaflets
It was brought to our attention that not all our subscribers had proper documentation or information relating to Patient Transfers. As an update, please find attached a collection of leaflets, policy documents and checklists from E-zec.
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Simon Maddock from E-zec will also be attending the 6th of February 2024 LEM at 3pm to talk about their services and demonstrate them as part of the agenda.
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Somerset Partners' Bulletin from Age UK Somerset's Ageing Well and Falls Prevention Service
Season’s Greetings
We’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you so much for all you have done to help spread news of our service this year- it is very much appreciated.
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Updates
We have some changes to our timetable:
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We have a new Tai Chi class coming to Berrow- starting 8th January, Mondays at 2pm – term-time only, see poster for more details here: Tai Chi QiGong New
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Tai Chi in Milverton is now on Mondays at 11am.
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Tai Chi in West Monkton is now at 2pm on Thursdays
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Our Online Tai Chi class is now on Tuesdays at 11:30am
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Latest Newsletter
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You can subscribe here to get it straight to your inbox:
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Help with urgent care at home for Somerset patients - within two hours of a referral.
It provides a two-hour urgent assessment at home (including care homes) for patients, who without urgent assessment and follow-on treatment would be at risk hospital admission.
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For more information on how the service works please watch this video.
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Somerset Urgent Community Response are open 7 days per week 8am – 8pm. They will come out within two hours of receiving a referral from your GP, 111, 999, your care home or your pendant alarm response service. When asked, please say you would like to be referred to Somerset Urgent Community Response Service.
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Somerset Council working with the NHS to digitise adult social care in Somerset
Somerset Council and NHS Somerset are teaming up to provide funding to care providers who want to go digital by introducing electronic care records which replace paper-based admin systems.
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This project is in its second year running and has already helped over thirty care providers in Somerset to adopt a digital care record system. Writing care notes on paper means that information can be easily lost or duplicated and is not very secure. A digital system reduces these risks in addition to reducing the time care staff need to spend on admin tasks, helping reduce their workload and increasing their capacity to care.
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Abbeyfield Care Home in Taunton have been using a digital social care record (or DCSR) system for three years. Care home manager Paula Howlett discusses the positive impact that the system has had on their staff and care home in this video: A Somerset DSCR Story - Abbeyfield
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#LearnForLove - Online learning worth £100 available for all Somerset Residents
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This is our Connect Somerset universal parenting offer, #LearnForLove – free courses (worth £100) available to all Somerset residents. Find more details on the poster here: #LearnForLove funding.
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Learning from the Lives and Deaths of People with Learning Disabilities and Autism (LeDeR)
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Flu and Covid-19 vaccines walk-in clinics across Somerset
Find out where the latest walk-ins are in Somerset for the Autumn/Winter 2023 COVID-19 vaccine programme at this link:
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You are eligible if you are employed:
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- by a registered residential care or nursing home
- by a registered domiciliary care provider
- by a voluntary managed hospice provider
- through direct payments or personal health budgets
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If you're a social care worker who is eligible to have a flu vaccine on the NHS, you do not need to present your ID at a pharmacy.
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Headway Somerset Survey
Headway Somerset exists to support individuals with an acquired brain injury (ABI) and their families and supporters. Part of our mission is to raise awareness and give education around how an acquired brain injury presents itself and the impact it can have on all individuals.
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An acquired brain injury includes a trauma (e.g. assault, RTA, fall), stroke, infection, tumour or lack of oxygen. For many individuals they feel their injury is a hidden disability and therefore there is often a lack of understanding around how their life has changed.
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At Headway Somerset, we feel it is important to hear from those affected to help us shape services, raise awareness and train others. We have designed this survey to gather information of people's experiences in Somerset, with the hope that our findings will help improve individual’s experiences in the future.
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*If you feel you need support to complete this survey, please contact our head office on 01823 618519, where someone will be able to assist you through the questions. We can also provide a paper version if required.
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Closing date Friday 19th January 2024
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Opportunity: participate in a study to improve support available to carers facilitating needs of people with learning disabilities
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Karen Coulman who is a Research Fellow and Obesity Specialist Dietitian from the University of Bristol attended the Southwest Health and wellbeing network meeting and is asking for volunteers to take part in a study to improve the support available to people caring for people with learning disabilities who may also benefit from weight loss. She would like to interview managers and commissioners who are currently involved in service organisation and delivery. Please see attached further information here:
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Events
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RCPA Data Security Workshops – New Free E-Learning
Better Security, Better Care have developed new data protection and cyber security eLearning for social care providers. Join RCPA’s Project Delivery Officer Dan for an introduction to the training, how to access the training and what to expect from the training. Dan Plummer will be hosting the e-learning workshops in January; please see dates below:
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5th December Care Provider Learning and Engagement Meeting.
Information from the most recent LEM (5th December) for everyone.
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Michelle Bell – I&PC Winter Readiness.
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Jessica Huges – Fresensius Kabi thickener update/demonstration.
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Olivia Blunn – Dysphagia training offer update.
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Gemma Beasley and James Sangster – commissioning.
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Care home in Somerset presentation
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Maria Tutton – DSCR and falls update.
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Expression of interest form – Digitisation in Social Care (DiSC). Somerset Council and NHS Somerset are working together and have secured a fixed amount of funding from the NHS Transformation Directorate Digitising Social Care Programme (DiSC). The project will contribute to the continued development of the evidence base for digital social care records and falls prevention, evaluate the impact and share the benefits across our integrated Care System footprint. If you are partially or fully digitised, you may still be able to apply for funding.
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Deb Geraghty – CSE – keep your home warm presentation.
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Phil Mackey from Symmetrikit – mini demonstration of equipment, training offer - Contractures guidance.
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Social care nursing council information
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Contact for further details:
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External link for the LEM
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Previous learning and engagement links and resources can be found:
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Being Prepared for CQC Inspection Seminar
Tuesday 23 January 2024
10:00 - 15:30
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An interactive seminar for services who want to understand the practical ways to be ready for their CQC inspection.
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- why inspection is important
- CQC standards and legislation
- CQC monitoring and inspection process, including ratings
- involving others in the inspection process
- the importance of quality assurance
- evidencing that you meet CQC standards
- latest insight into CQC priorities.
- Gain an understanding of successful approaches to being ready for the CQC inspector calls and visits.
- Learn to map out how your service can prepare your staff team for CQC inspection.
- Know what you will be expected to evidence and how to demonstrate your service meets or exceed what the CQC expect.
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Oliver McGowan Training update for Care Providers
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Please find attached a leaflet produced for Social Care Providers to explain how they can get their staff onto the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training. This has been developed following the feedback received at the recent RCPA conference. Please share across your teams and services.
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CareFind - Training Dates for Care Home Providers
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We recently contacted you on the 20th of November with some exciting news. Please click here.
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At Capacity Tracker, we’re developing a new tool to help members of the public to search for Care Home vacancies via a new public facing website, CareFind. Capacity Tracker will provide this as a free service for Providers, on an opt-out basis, with some conditions in place.
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The concept of CareFind has been developed with the support of the DHSC and NHSE. CareFind aims to give benefits to both providers and people looking for care services, building on the information and resource of Capacity Tracker.
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In the New Year we will be running training sessions on how to create your public profile that will be visible on CareFind. To register for a session, please click on the appropriate link and register.
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For later dates, please visit our resource centre here
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While you are waiting to attend a training session we would recommend reviewing/refreshing your provider details. Please check the following details are up to date:
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- Contact Details (If not, please contact CQC and request they are changed enquiries@cqc.org.uk)
- Extended Room Detail
- Accessibility Information
- Care Type
- Funding Sources
- Short/Long Term Services
- Languages
- Costs and Vacancies (to be updated as and when things change)
- Out of Hours Placements
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If you have any queries when updating your information, please don’t hesitate to contact the Capacity Tracker Support Centre 0191 691 3729 or necsu.capacitytracker@nhs.net
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Upcoming Event and Training Reminders
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Please see below the dates and links to Eventbrite to book on.
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Please continue to share or promote these briefings and our webpage to others in your organisations.
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Somerset’s Provider Engagement Team
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Somerset Provider Briefing
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Rachel Caunce, Care Provider Support Lead
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