Information for providers

Message from Dr Richard Harling, Director of Health and Care
(Director of Public Health and Director of Adult Social Services) 

16 April 2024

Welcome to this edition of your Health and Care update.

 

1)  Communications feedback

We would like your feedback about our communication updates. Your insights are crucial in ensuring that we provide you with the most relevant and helpful information moving forward.

Please take a moment to complete a brief 5-minute questionnaire? Your input will play a vital role in shaping the type of updates you receive, ensuring that they are tailored to your needs and preferences.

Click here to fill out the form

2)  Prospective employees’ perception of adult social care

We are also interested in your views about the perception of adult social care among prospective employees. We know not everyone understands what adult social care is, and what an amazing and fulfilling career it can be.

We will then combine your thoughts with a range of other data, before going out to the public to get their opinion before launching our campaign later in the year.

Click here to fill this form

3)  Infection Prevention Guidance

Please don’t forget, that from the 1st April 2024 the revised Infection prevention and control guidance in adult social care: acute respiratory infection (ARI) came into effect.  One of the key changes was the cessation of routine Covid testing of people being discharged from hospital settings to care homes.

4)  Final CQC Guidance: Regulation 9A: Visiting and accompanying in care homes, hospitals, and hospices. Following national consultation, the CQC have now published their final guidance on the new fundamental standard 'Regulation 9A: Visiting and accompanying in care homes, hospitals and hospices.'

5)  PPE Portal Closure

The Department of Health and Social Care’s scheme to provide free COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) to health and care providers ended on 31 March 2024. Due to this decision, the PPE Portal will be closed from Thursday 23 May 2024. Last order dates through the portal will be 23 May with the last delivery date occurring week commencing 27 May.

Click here to get to the PEE portal

6)  New resource for business continuity plan audit tool

Local Authorities and care providers can now access a business continuity plan audit tool that aims to consider how thoroughly cyber security and data protection issues are addressed as part of a business continuity plan.

7)  Care and Audit guides

The Care Market Development Team have produced support guides for Care Planning (473KB) and Audits (486KB) These and other resources are available on MiDoS for CARE.

8)  Wellbeing support

Ahead of mental health awareness week next month, below are some ways you and your team can find wellbeing support, alternatively you can also use MiDoS for CARE, under Supporting Staff and Wellbeing to find more resources.

9)  Register Managers wellbeing support webinar.

This webinar will take place Thursday 16 May 2024. It will look at simple and effective ways to best support your workforce, helping them manage the latest pressures and workload. It will explore how you can offer meaningful wellbeing initiatives which will not break the bank, whilst convincing others – including the CQC - of the value this brings to your service.

With live panel discussions and debate, the webinar will be shaped around questions from delegates attending.

Click here to find out more, or to book your space

10)     Well-being college

The North Staffordshire Wellbeing College summer prospectus is now available, for courses April – July 2024.  The prospectus may be downloaded via this link and their free Wellbeing workshops are available for anyone 18years or over living in Stoke, Newcastle and Staffordshire Moorlands. They can be contacted by email at wellbeingcollege@combined.nhs.uk

11)      Staff Benefits Handbook

Download your own benefits handbook and share with all your team. Includes information on wellbeing support, benefits and discounts for staff.

Click here to download your handbook (8.65 MB)

12)      Student Work Experience Request

Stoke-on-Trent College are looking for companies to offer work experience placements to their students and potentially further partnerships and involvement with the college.

Please contact Celine at cwill5sc@stokecoll.ac.uk if you are interested in offering work experience opportunities.

13)      International recruitment

We are very pleased that the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), in collaboration with Skills for Care have now published the Toolkit for International Recruitment for Adult Social Care Providers.
Click here to get your toolkit

14)      Care Homes - Outcome Pilot

Staffordshire County Council are eager to pilot an outcome measuring tool with care home providers and are seeking volunteers to participate.

Our goal is to gather meaningful data on meeting people's outcomes without adding significant workload.

The pilot will run for a couple of weeks in May. We'd appreciate feedback on the tool's usefulness, completion time, and any suggestions for improvement.

Please get in touch with us via email to carehomesrecommissioning@staffordshire.gov.uk by the Friday 26^th April 2024

15)     Workforce Development Funding

Transitional arrangements are being developed by Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Skills for Care, aiming to maintain similar benefits initially and expand them as the new scheme progresses. The new fund will be know as the  'Adult Social Care Training and Development Fund' 

Click here to find out more

16)      Dignity in Care Awards: last chance to make a nomination

Please ensure you submit your nominations for the Dignity in Care Awards by 28 April 2024.