Editorial
Dreadfully, tragically, needlessly it appears that
officers of Haringey, health workers and the police
have let down a young child.
A 17-month-old boy, baby P died after suffering
months of abuse. And he WAS on the at-risk
register!
Eight years after the death of Victoria Climbie –
death, who am I kidding? After the MURDER of
Victoria there has been another needless murder of
an innocent child – we are told that there were more
than 60 visits to the home over eight months.
After a trial lasting almost two months Jason Owen,
36, and another man aged 32 have been convicted
of “causing or allowing the death of a child or
vulnerable person"
The mother, who can’t be named pleaded guilty at an
earlier date.
All three are due to be sentenced on 15.12.08.
Children's Minister Beverley Hughes told BBC News
that questions needed to be asked of Haringey
Council.
"I certainly want to investigate further the situation in
Haringey.”
"I think it's perfectly reasonable given that this
happened before in the same place eight years ago.”
"A second child should not have died in these
circumstances, when the authorities were aware that
probably abuse was taking place."
Shockingly, an internal inquiry by Haringey's Local
Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) blamed legal
advice taken a week before the baby's death for the
decision not to take him into care and said that it
found "numerous examples" of good practice in the
case although there had been "weaknesses" in
information flow.
I’m sorry, that's just not an acceptable response.
A child is dead. He deserved better.
There is no article this week
Parliament
11.11.08 – HoC – Debate on law relating to assisted
dying; Dr Evan Harris; Westminster Hall
12.11.08 – HoL - General Medical Council
(Constitution) Order 2008 Baroness Finlay of
Llandaff to move that a Humble Address be
presented to Her Majesty praying that the Order, laid
before the House on 6 October, be annulled.
Next
Abuse
1. Council suspends two senior officers over
‘financial abuse’ claim
7 November 2008—Liverpool Daily Post
Wirral Council has suspended two senior council officers
after allegations of “institutional financial abuse”
in social services.
It follows an Audit Commission report based on evidence
from a ‘whistleblower’, Simon Mountney, Conservative
who led calls for an investigation into the
issue, said the case “had been a disgrace”. He went
on “This council needs to examine exactly what its
priorities are and understand the seriousness of what
has happened.” He said he had evidence that there
had been “institutional financial abuse”.
The investigation concerns findings by the Audit
Commission that Wirral’s adult social services department
allowed a “special charging policy” since
1999.
Wirral said it had investigated where service users
were at risk of being unfairly charged, and said the
majority were not. The authority insisted that safeguards
are now in place to ensure the financial protection
of vulnerable people.
One of the allegations raised was that a ‘special
charging policy’ was applied by social services in
respect of supported living users with learning disabilities.
The allegation made was the policy had not
been approved by the council and was “excessive
and unlawful”.
2. Cover UP Claim
5 November 2008—Wirral Globe
Front page item about the whistleblower apparently
‘paid off’ to keep shtum about the goings on within
the social services department whereby the council
appears to have levied charges against service users
which were excessive and unlawful.
Ed. It seems to me for those people who suffered
loss, first, they have a claim for restitution of the
monies wrongfully deducted/claimed by the council,
plus interest at the rate of 8%pa. Second, it
seems that all of the persons with knowledge of
the wrongdoing are at risk of criminal prosecution
on a number of levels, and , in relation to service
users who lack legal capacity, under section
44 Mental Capacity Act 2005 for ill-treatment, for
which the maximum penalty is 5 yrs in prison.
5 November 2008 – House of Commons –Written
Parliamentary Question and Answer regarding the
number of vulnerable older people who have undergone
physical or physiological abuse in residential
care homes in the last 12 months. The Question was
tabled by the Liberal Democrat MP for Leeds North
West, Greg Mulholland, and was answered by the
Minister of State for Care Services, Phil Hope on behalf
of the Government. This Question and Answer
can be viewed online using the following link: http://
www.publications.parliament.uk/
3. Adults at Risk Due to Widespread Failures
in Safeguarding
5 November 2008
Irwin Mitchell is supporting renewed calls by Action
on Elder Abuse for legislation to protect vulnerable
adults from abuse after a study found that current
arrangements based on government guidance are
failing. Neglect and abuse varies nationwide depending
on the quality of services available, according to
the study published today.
The study by the Commission for Social Care Inspection
(CSCI) found councils that perform well on safeguarding
tend to have not only better arrangements
for assisting people who have experienced abuse, but
also better systems for helping to prevent abuse happening.
The study also reports that disabled and older people
who experience abuse get a varied quality of support
and campaigners say the key issue of concern is that
under current arrangements there is no statutory basis
for adult protection, leading to inconsistency in
approach across the country.
CSCI chair Dame Denise Platt said: "Everybody receiving
care services has the right to be safeguarded,
and any form of abuse is unacceptable. They should
also have access to a range of options to support
them and help keep them safe.”
The UK Charity Action on Elder Abuse is calling on
the Government to introduce legislation for:
• A statutory basis for the construction and work of
Adult Protection Committees (APCs).
• A duty on agencies to collaborate, actively participate
at a senior level in APCs, and work together
• A duty on agencies to share information.
• The right to access the adult at risk, without hindrance
or coercion
• Data to inform policy planning.
• Adequate funding for adult protection work
Gary FitzGerald, Chief Executive Action on Elder
Abuse, said:
“The CSCI report mirrors our own research findings
that not all social care organisations have made
enough progress in developing effective safeguarding
arrangements. The argument for legislation is not
complex and is strengthened yet again by CSCI’s
conclusions.
We know from child protection and domestic violence
experiences that legislation is needed to ensure that
protection works effectively. We even know it from
animal protection too.
If the Government understood the need, and found
time last year, to introduce the Animal Welfare Act, it
is not unreasonable to ask why they can’t do at least
as much for adults experiencing abuse. Like most
people, I like kittens and puppies. But are they really
more important than our old people?"
The report suggests that more needs to be done to
ensure people who direct their own support are able
to benefit from appropriate and individually tailored
safeguards, and that everyone using services should
be able to access a range of options for support to
keep them safe from abuse.
4. Commission for Social Care: Safeguarding
adults
4 November 2008 – CSCI
Study focusing on the arrangements that are in place
across England to protect adults from abuse.
For full report click here
5. Indecent photo care worker sacked
31 October 2008 – BBC News
A female care worker accused of taking an indecent
photo of an elderly resident in Dundee has been
sacked.
The woman was initially suspended from her job at
Lochleven Care Home following the allegations.
However, at a disciplinary hearing on Thursday she
was told she was being dismissed from the company.
Thistle Healthcare, which owns the care
home, has also banned the use of personal mobile
phones at all its homes in Scotland.
Ed. We have advised a number of care providers
on mobile telephone policies and the ease with
which privacy and dignity of service users can be
compromised – this case demonstrates that there
are some people who will go much further and
deliberately engage in unlawful activity.
If Brunswicks can assist you with your policies
please get in touch by emailing
info@brunswicks.eu quoting ‘phone ban’ in the
subject field of the email.
Business News
6. Four Seasons Healthcare sees value drop
7 November 2008 - Financial Times
According to a recent assessment by Knight Frank
the value of real estate held by Four Seasons Healthcare
has fallen more than a third to £929m (down
from £1.49bn 08.2006).
PricewaterhouseCoopers valued the entire business
at £1.2bn.
The company has debts of about £1.5bn. Four Seasons’
creditors agreed to a ‘standstill agreement’,
postponing the debt repayment deadline until January
2009.
Ed. There is now a further opportunity to completely
renegotiate the debt – thoughts are there
might be a debt for equity swap whereby the
creditors own the business or part of it in much
the same way as we all now own the banks – so,
very soon we might all be owning a bit of Four
Seasons!
7. VOYAGE GROUP ACHIEVES STRONG ORGANIC
GROWTH
6 November 2008
Group earnings up 20%
Voyage Group Ltd specialist provider of residential
care for adults with learning disabilities and other
complex needs announced strong growth for the year
to 31 March 2008, with Group revenue up 8% to
£116.3m, compared to £107.8m for the same period
in 2007. Earnings increased by 20% before interest,
tax, depreciation and amortisation to £30.0m, compared
with £25.0m in 2007, driven entirely by organic
growth.
Douglas Quinn, CEO, Voyage Group Ltd, says: “This
is another strong set of results. We have invested
significantly in new developments over the last five
years and we’re now seeing those investments delivering
for us. As a Group, we continue to focus on
organic growth and we are committed to our strategy
of working closely with local authorities to develop
innovative, high quality registered and supported living
services which meet the real needs of individuals
and local communities. The increasingly wide range
of services we offer enables us to align support to
the changing needs of individuals and the high quality
of our staff and the care we provide are testament
to our continued success.”
8. Mears Group PLC
4 November 2008
Mears releases its Interim Management Statement
for the period from 01.07.08 to date.
Trading update - Mears has continued to experience
strong trading across all divisions since announcing
its interim results in August 2008. The full year
results are forecast to be in line with management's
expectations.
The demand for our services has never been
stronger. Importantly, our two growth markets, Social
Housing and Domiciliary Care, which account for
over 80 per cent of Group revenues, are defensive
sectors where spend is predominantly
non discretionary and cash generation is robust.
Given our public sector client base, we
are substantially immune to bad debts and our customer
work patterns and payment terms have remained
on schedule.
Social Housing - Our Social Housing division is well
positioned in a growing market and the outlook remains
excellent. The Board continues to expect organic
growth rates in excess of 30 per cent in the
current year. There is continuing demand for a longterm,
broadly-based service provision which plays to
our strengths as a leader in that market. We are seeing
continued consolidation of Registered Social
Landlords ('RSLs') and a trend of Local Authorities
transferring their housing stock into Housing
Trusts. Both these trends provide increased opportunities
to the larger broad-based Social Housing
players such as Mears.
The Group has announced a number of new social
housing contract awards since 1 July, amounting to
over £230m and a total of in excess of £400m since
the annual results were announced in March, and we
continue to build on the strong performance in the
first half. The bid pipeline remains strong and we are
currently at advanced stages of negotiating further
significant opportunities.
Domiciliary Care - Careforce continues to build a
presence across a growing geographical
area and is well placed to take a leading position in
the consolidation and evolution of the Domiciliary
Care market. We are pleased to announce further
contract awards as follows:
Norfolk
A contract to supply home care to Norfolk
County Council ('NCC'); initially for a period of 5
years commencing in January 2009, with a possible
extension for a further 2 years thereafter. The expected
volume under this contract is 3,700 hours per
week. This represents the single largest new contract
award achieved by Careforce since it was acquired
by Mears and extends the Careforce coverage into a
new geographical location. Following the award of
this contract, the number of providers to NCC has
been reduced from 11 to 5 with Careforce being
awarded a third of the works.
Windsor and Maidenhead
A contract to supply homecare to the Royal Borough
of Windsor and Maidenhead Council will commence
February 2009 and run for a period
of 2 years with a possible extension for a further 2
years thereafter. It is expected that the hours supplied
under this contract will be 1,100 hours per week. This
is in addition to the work we do with the Council already.
These new awards add a further 4,800 hours per
week or £3m of annualised revenues and including
the 5 contracts won by the Group's Domiciliary
Care division since the full year results were announced
takes the total to 11,000 hours per
week added since March.
The integration and rebranding of Careforce's 11 bolton
acquisitions is nearing completion. We have continued
to invest significantly in IT, accounting systems
and in our workforce's development and training programmes.
The Government remains committed to prioritising the
agenda of housing in an ageing society to ensure that
as people grow older they stay comfortable and secure
in their own homes. We continue to see a convergence
between our Social Housing and Care divisions,
with increasing opportunities to combine our
Care and Repair offerings and thereby add further
value for our customers.
Mechanical and Electrical (M&E)
The M&E division has continued to make a significant
contribution since 1 July 2008, both in terms of
turnover and operating profit. This continues to be a
sound and well managed business.
Financial position
Mears continues to benefit from a strong balance
sheet with low gearing. Our strong cash flow continues
to give us significant financial flexibility to take
advantage of any acquisition opportunities that may
arise.
Outlook
We have secured revenues for the current year and
have already secured 81 per cent (2007: 78 per cent)
of next year's budgeted revenue. We have a strong
and experienced management team which has been
extremely successful in building our forward order
book. This now stands in excess of £1.6 billion and
we are well positioned in an active contract bidding
market to grow this further. We remain confident in
Mears' prospects for the future as we continue to
grow the Group.
9. Priory confident if Four Seasons for sale
3 November 2008 - Financial Times
The Priory may well put a bid together with a private
equity partner to acquire Four Seasons, which it values
at around £800m.
Priory is reported to have hired UBS to find a partner.
A partner would be expected to put in around
£250m to £300m.
Southern Cross is a likely counter-bidder and private
equity groups may make a bid of their own.
Chai Patel, former chief executive of the Priory and
former Government advisor, said last week there was
a risk of the social care sector "tipping over" into a
wave of closures.
10. Bouncing Back
November 2008 - Health Investor
Douglas Brown reports on Assura, a company which
has seen its share price slump (along with others)
from £2.50 to less than 50p in a year or so and plans
to rebuild.
Care Homes
11. 'Filthy' care home to finally close its
doors
4 November 2008 - Blackpool Gazette
The Laurels, Warley Road, North Shore, was given a
zero rating by the Commission for Social Care Inspection
(CSCI) and that Blackpool Council launched
an investigation into allegations of poor care, lowstaffing
and unsatisfactory standards.
CSCI said some practices were "placing the health
and well-being of residents at unnecessary risk".
Blackpool Council has a number of residents for
whom it is responsible placed at the home.
A spokesman for the council said "This investigation
has not been concluded, but we have now received
notice that The Laurels is closing.
"We are now working with our residents and their
families to find suitable care elsewhere."
12. HSE sends out clear warning after death
of care home resident
See ‘CASES, In the news’, item 14.
13. Home Truths
November 2008 - Health Investor
Vernon Baxter provides his view on the worries besetting
the residential care sector which he describes
as ‘paranoid inertia’.
14. HSE sends out clear warning after death
of care home resident
HSE warned the care industry to ensure it identifies
the risks in the workplace and manage them, following
the death of a 56-year-old man at a residential
care home in St Albans.
MacIntyre Care, of Milton Keynes, was fined £10,000
and ordered to pay full costs of £2,476, at St Albans
Magistrates' Court on 04.11.08 after pleading guilty to
breaching Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at
Work etc Act 1974.
On 26 February 2007, a resident of MacIntyre Care
home on Crosby Close in St Albans, fell whilst being
hoisted from a chair to his bed. It was necessary to
use the hoist as the resident had profound physical
disabilities. As a result of the fall the resident suffered
fractures to one of his hip bones and his elbow -
and later died of sepsis, with the coroner highlighting
the fall as a contributing factor to his death. An inadequately
trained employee was entrusted to hoist
the resident and failed to attach the sling properly to
the hoist.
HSE Inspector, Rubeena Surnam said:
"This was a needless death. I hope it demonstrates
to care home employers that they need to take positive
steps to identify the risks in their workplaces and
manage them.
"Employers must be sure they adopt safe systems of
work and care staff are trained in the use of equipment
such as hoists and aware of the potential risks
involved."
Section 3(1) of the Health and safety at work etc
Act 1974 states: "It shall be the duty of every employer
to conduct his undertaking in such a way
as to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable,
that persons not in his employment who may be
affected thereby are not thereby exposed to risks
to their health or safety."
Case Reports
Law Reports
Nothing to report
Disciplinary cases
Nothing to report
Cases in the news
15. Nurse struck off over porn e-mail
7 November 2008 – BBC News
Steven Bowmaker, a nurse on an old people’s ward
has been struck off after a tribunal heard that he who
sent sexually explicit images of an elderly woman to
colleagues.
He admitted all charges at the Nursing and Midwifery
Council hearing, saying it was a "pathetic attempt" at
humour.
For full report click here
16. Coroner criticises care home after OAP's
death
5 November 2008 – Thisisstaffordshire.co.uk
An inquest has heard how Alan Raynes, an elderly
care home resident had to wait at least two days with
a fractured hip before he was taken to hospital.
Mr Raynes lived at Selwyn House Guardian Care
Centre, in Longton Road, Trentham, never recovered
from the injury he sustained in a fall and died in December
2005.
For full report go to http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/
Coroner-criticises-care-home-OAP-s-death/article-450618-
detail/article.html
17. 'Filthy' care home to finally close its
doors
4 November 2008 – Blackpool Gazette
The Laurels care home in Blackpool will be closing
after it was given a zero rating by the Commission for
Social Care Inspection. Blackpool Council launched
an investigation which has led to its closure.
For full report go to http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/
blackpoolnews/39Filthy39-care-home-to-finally.4657240.jp
18. NHS' 'failure' over woman's death
4 November 2008 – BBC News
Pembrokeshire coroner Michael Howells has accused
the NHS of systemic failure after a 60-year-old
woman died. She’d repeatedly called on the service
for medical help and died of natural causes but her
cause of death was "aggravated by neglect".
The inquest heard how Mrs Hedge made a series of
calls for help on 30 April last year, and at one stage
dialled 999, but was told she did not need an ambulance.
For full report click here
Children
19. Care Leavers Association draws up quality
mark for councils
3 November 2008 – Community Care
The Care Leavers Association has launched its own
quality mark to award local authorities and charities
that are currently providing good access to childhood
care records.
The scheme is part of the association’s campaign to
improve access to records after a survey of 100 local
authorities last year revealed that there was a wide
variation in providing information.
For full report click here
Conferences & Courses
20. Leading the way in social care
Social Care Leadership Development Programme—
by SCIE
November 2008 and January 2009
SCIE is running a third year of the highly successful
Social Care Leadership Development Programme,
which will be run by the King’s Fund, Birmingham
University and the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust.
The programme welcomes applications from:
• Potential directors of adult social services and
potential directors or chief executives in provider
organisations
• Black and minority ethnic applications
• Private sector provider applicants
The programme is designed to provide a developmental
and outcomes-focused framework that draws
on participants’ experiences and relates to their current
work environment. Core content themes are:
• Leadership for social care outcomes
• Personal and organisational leadership
• Community leadership
The programme is funded by the Department of
Health with a maximum of 24 participants in each
group.
For more information and an application form please
contact Elizabeth Scott, Programme Administrator,
SCIE, Goldings House, 2 Hay’s Lane, LONDON,
SE1 2HB on 020 7089 6920 or elizabeth.
scott@scie.og.uk
21. Action on Elder Abuse - FORTHCOMING
events
Alliance for Adult Protection Legislation Meeting,
London Nov 2008
> Parliamentary Reception, London Dec 2008
> Legislation Conference, London, Jan 2009
> AEA’s National Conference, Nottingham, 23/24
March 2009
For details please contact Natalie Fernandez on natalie@
elderabuse.org.uk, or call us on 0208 765 7000
22. Westminster Health Forum keynote seminar
Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy
Morning, 19th November 2008, Westminster SW1
With Glen Mason
Director of Social Care Leadership & Performance,
Department of Health
Our Website | Book Online
Planned sessions will look at:
The central themes of the Adult Social Care Workforce
Strategy;
Implementing the personalisation of adult social care
services;
Remodelling the adult social care workforce; and
Regulating and measuring the performance of the
adult social care workforce.
We are delighted that Glen Mason, Director of Social
Care Leadership & Performance, Department of
Health will be delivering a keynote address at this
seminar.
Other speakers are expected to be confirmed shortly.
Typically, attendees at our seminars are a senior and
informed group numbering around 120, including
Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government
officials involved in this area of public policy,
health professionals, trade unions, representatives of
health consumer organisations, academia, interested
and affected charities and other related industries,
together with representatives of the trade and national
press.
Booking arrangements
To book places, please use our online booking form.
Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed
booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions
below.
Please pay in advance by credit card on 01276
489144. If advance credit card payment is not possible
please let me know and we may be able make
other arrangements.
Options and charges are as follows:
Places at Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy
(including refreshments and PDF copy of the transcripts)
are £190 plus VAT (£223.25);
Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded
individuals and those in similar circumstances
are £80 plus VAT (£94). Please be sure to apply for
this at the time of booking.
23. The King's Fund Annual Conference 2008
Reshaping the NHS: Creating locally-driven
evidence-based service change
Tuesday 25 November 2008, 9.30am–5.30pm
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists,
Regent's Park, London
What is the conference about?
Lord Darzi's NHS Next Stage Review makes it clear
that all future NHS reconfigurations should be clinically
driven, evidence based and locally led – with
inputs from patients and the public. The King's Fund
Annual Conference 2008 will look at what this means
in practice. We will explore different types and applications
of evidence, consider the roles that service
commissioners and providers need to adopt, and
showcase successful national and international service
reconfigurations that reflect these principals.
Keynote speakers
International keynote speaker: David Levine, President
and Director General of the Health and Social
Services Agency in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
UK Keynote speaker: Geoff Mulgan, Director, The
Young Foundation
Exhibition and sponsorship
Following the success of last year's exhibition we are
delighted to be offering a limited number of extra
conference stands in 2008. We have a wide variety
of sponsorship packages available.
Places at this event are limited so we recommend
that you reserve a place as soon as possible by
downloading a booking form from our website or
booking online. For further information please visit
our website or email us and we will be happy to provide
you with more details.
24. DIGNITY MATTERS CONFERENCE -
ONLY 200 PLACES
25 November 2008
Hosted by the Department of Health
New Connaught Rooms, 61- 65 Great Queen Street,
Covent Garden, London WC2B 5DA
Invitation to National Dignity Champions Conference
Key Speakers: Phil Hope, Minister for Care Services
Cynthia Bowers, Shadow Chief Executive Care Quality
Commission
Sir Michael Parkinson
A national conference to enable dignity champions to
take ideas into reality.
This event will include the launch of 'Beyond Slogans-
A New Framework for Assessing Progress with
Dignity In Care' The conference is for dignity champions
and those interested in the dignity campaign from
health, local authorities, clinicians, commissioners,
the independent sector, managers and practitioners.
25. Capita’s National Conference
Improving the Lives of People with Dementia
Capita’s National Conference
Improving the Lives of People with Dementia
Tuesday 25th November 2008 – Central London
Please note that we are now taking bookings on this
popular event, which is CPD Certified and supported
by UCL, the Alzheimer’s Society, and Age Concern.
We are also taking bookings on the related Half
Day Briefing on Wednesday 26th November, Developing
the Skills of the Dementia Care Workforce.
RECEIVE A 20% DISCOUNT FOR BOOKING ON
BOTH EVENTS.
Please click here for further details of this conference.
If you have any problems with the hyperlink,
please e-mail me at dave.eastman@capita.co.uk and
I will send the brochure as an attachment.
Chaired by Maria Parsons, Executive Director, London
Centre for Dementia Care, our expert speakers
include:
• Ruth Eley, CSIP National Programme Lead,
Older and Disabled People, Department of
Health
• Alison Murray, Provider Relationship Manager,
Inspection, Regulation and Review Directorate,
Commission for Social Care Inspection
• James Buckley, Chief Executive Officer, Tunstall
• Andrew Chidgey, Head of Policy and Public Affairs,
National Dementia Strategy Implementation,
Alzheimer’s Society
• Tony Tench, Extra Care and Services Director,
Hanover Housing Association
• Philip Hurst, Policy Manager, Age Concern
• Rachael Dutton, Specialist Dementia Research
Manager, Housing 21 Dementia Voice
• Lee Sims, Operational Manager, Housing 21
Dementia Voice
Launching in October, the Government’s first National
Dementia Strategy for the UK will have profound
implications for all stakeholders involved in dementia
care and support services.
Organised to address the key challenges ahead,
Capita’s National Improving the Lives of People
with Dementia Conference brings together expert
speakers from forward thinking organisations involved
in dementia care. They will provide local authorities,
housing providers and care support services
with advice and practical guidance on improving
well-being, inclusion and quality of life for people
with dementia.
This timely event will cover a range of pertinent issues,
including:
• Providing workforce wide support for implementing
the National Dementia Strategy
• Ensuring flexible care services to meet different
support needs
• Methods for enabling early diagnosis and intervention
for people with dementia
• Ways to improve dementia support in care
homes through design and integrated specialist
services
Places can be booked on this event either by filling
out and returning the booking form on the final page
of the conference brochure, or by e-mailing the
d e l e g a t e d e t a i l s d i r e c t l y t o
dave.eastman@capita.co.uk. Alternatively you can
book online by clicking here and using Booking
Reference Code TSDE.
26. “A Place of Safety or the New Asylums?
Implementing Measures to Improve Mental
Health Provision in Community Safety Services”
The briefing will be hosted by The House Magazine
on Wednesday, 3 December 2008 in Westminster
The event will be chaired by Professor Jan Keene
(Director of Research and Lecturer in Social Work, University
of Reading) with speakers including:
Ian Bynoe (Commissioner for Mental Health, Independent
Police Complaints Commission)
Dr Michele Hampson (Chair, Multi-agency Working
Group, Royal College of Psychiatrists)
Inspector Michael Partridge (Mental Health Project
Team, Metropolitan Police Service)
Laura Thorne (Criminal Justice Programme, Sainsbury
Centre for Mental Health)
Participants at this Westminster Briefing will discuss the
latest government measures to improve mental health
services in community safety provision. Delegates will
consider the recently released RCP standards on section
136 and best practice solutions in improving cooperative
working. Particular focus will be placed on the
importance of forming strong partnerships between primary
care trusts police forces and other service partners.
27. Westminster Health Forum keynote seminar
Palliative and End of Life Care
Morning, 9th December 2008
Westminster, SW1
With Professor Mike Richards - Chair, End of Life
Care Strategy Advisory Board and National Cancer
Director, Department of Health
and
Thomas Hughes-Hallett - Chief Executive, Marie
Curie Cancer Care
and
Professor the Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
Live Agenda| Our Website | Book Online
This seminar will examine issues around the provision
and quality of palliative and end of life care, and
what more can be done to provide a better service to
patients and their families. It follows the publication of
the Government’s End of Life Care Strategy and the
recently released Darzi review of the NHS, which
looked in part at end of life care.
Sessions will look at:
Palliative and end of life care in the UK and the end of
life care programme;
The impact of the strategy so far and the next steps
for implementing the reforms;
Delivering frontline palliative and end of life care and
preferred place of care;
Innovative approaches and ethical issues in end of
life care; and
The end of life care strategy and the way forward for
palliative and end of life care.
Booking arrangements
To book places, please use our online booking form.
Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed
booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions
below.
Please pay in advance by credit card on 01276
489144. If advance credit card payment is not possible,
please let me know and we may be able make
other arrangements.
Options and charges are as follows:
Places at Palliative and End of Life Care (including
refreshments and PDF copy of the transcripts) are
£190 plus VAT (£223.25);
Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded
individuals and those in similar circumstances
are £80 plus VAT (£94). Please be sure to apply for
this at the time of booking.
For those who cannot attend:
Copies of the briefing document, including full transcripts
of all speeches and the question and comment
sessions and further articles from interested
parties, will be available approximately 7 days after
the event for £95 plus VAT (£111.63);
Concessionary rate: £50 plus VAT (£58.75).
If you find the charge for tickets a barrier to attending,
please let me know and we will do our best to
see you are not excluded. Please note terms and
conditions below (including cancellation charges) will
still apply.
28. Commissioning for change: Health investor
primary series
IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NHS ALLIANCE
21st January 2009 – Central London
The introduction of world class commissioning is designed
to raise procurement standards across the
UK. This event explores the efficacy of these commissioning
mechanisms and the outcome these
changes have in terms of enabling patient choice and
individualised healthcare. The programme also examines
the successes and the lessons which can be
learned for both commissioners and providers.
The agenda will address the following issues:
How will commissioning meet the healthcare challenges
posed by future demand?
Towards a level playing field for the independent sector
Presenting a good business case: The view of an
independent provider
Why are some organisations successful why others
fail?
Improving patient and public involvement in commissioning
Understanding the information requirements for improved
commissioning
Lessons from overseas commissioning
Revisited: Will NHS commissioning be the envy of the
world?
Contributors will include:
Mike Sobanja – Chief Officer, NHS Alliance
Ken Anderson – Managing Director, UBS
Gary Belfield – Director of Commissioning, Department
of Health
Hilary Heywood – Assistant Director, Ashton, Leigh
& W i g a n P r i m a r y C a r e T r u s t
Derek Felton – Director of Commissioning Services,
Tribal
Conal Timoney, Head of Communications Development,
NHS London
Paul Mainwaring, Chair, Patients Council
Nick Gordon, Commercial Director, Harmoni
If you would like further details or to book a place at
these events, please visit www.healthinvestor.co.uk
or contact our Events Team on 020 7104 2000, or
email kate.atkins@healthinvestor.co.uk
29. Westminster Health Forum keynote seminar
Dementia and Elderly Care
Morning, 27th January 2009
Westminster, London SW1
with
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Care Services,
Department of Health
and
Professor Sube Banerjee
Senior Professional Advisor, Older People's Mental
Health, Department of Health
and
Neil Hunt
Chief Executive, Alzheimer's Society
Live Agenda| Our Website | Book Online
This seminar will examine issues around the reform
of dementia services, and what more can be done to
provide a better service to patients and families. It is
timed to reflect issues raised in the National Dementia
Strategy which is due to be published later this
year.
To book places, please use our online booking form.
Please pay in advance by credit card on 01276
489144. If advance credit card payment is not possible,
please let me know and we may be able make
other arrangements.
Options and charges are as follows:
Places at Dementia and Elderly Care (including refreshments
and PDF copy of the transcripts) are
£190 plus VAT (£223.25);
Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded
individuals and those in similar circumstances
are £80 plus VAT (£94). Please be sure to apply for
this at the time of booking.
30. INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF URGENT
AND EMERGENCY CARE
17th February 2009 – Central London
Primary care commissioners are now tasked with
ensuring a successful strategy to enable the new
vision for a single point of access for 24/7 urgent
care. Opportunities for independent providers to
provide services are booming with an estimated 40
new contracts emerging in this financial year.
As the urgent and emergency care sector rapidly
develops, requirements for new services, new systems
and new providers are increasing. This conference
examines the raft of new primary initiatives and
aimed at reducing inequality, accelerating access
and promoting innovation in urgent care. The programme
addresses how providers and investors can
to achieve these new requirements and adapt quickly
in order to benefit from the expanding market.
Expert guidance will be offered on developing a
strong business case for your urgent care investment
and improving your commercial acumen within the
NHS. The programme will address the following key
concerns for investors:
The Department of Health vision for urgent care
Reasons for private sector investment in urgent care
Commissioning world class urgent and emergency
care
Driving improvements in urgent care in primary care
Building a business case for out-of-hours care provision
Towards world-class services in ambulatory care
Collaborating within urgent care and across external
care services
Working creatively with relevant agencies to improve
care outcomes
Improving public access to urgent and emergency
care
Contributors include:
Professor Sir George Alberti, National Clinical Director,
Emergency Care Access, Department of Health
Rick Stern, Primary Care Foundation and special advisor
in primary care management to the NHS Alliance
James Vallance, Urgent Care Policy Manager, Service
Design Division, Directorate of Commissioning
and System Management, Department of Health
Eric Peacock, Retired Chief Executive, Northern Doctors
Urgent Care
If you would like further details or to book a place at
these events, please visit www.healthinvestor.co.uk
or contact our Events Team on 020 7104 2000, or
email kate.atkins@healthinvestor.co.uk
31. INVESTING IN HEALTH AND MEDICAL
TOURISM: OPPORTUNITIES, RISKS AND DEVELOPMENTS
24th March 2009 – Central London
By 2010 medical travel is expected to be a £23 billion
business, with over 780 million patients seeking care
outside their principal country of residence. Many
countries tourism income increasingly depends on it
and its impact on the organisation of national and international
healthcare is increasing.
It is a huge worldwide business, but until now, information
has been aimed at patients. This groundbreaking
conference will investigate from a business
perspective what is happening now and what is likely
to happen worldwide in different types of medical and
health tourism.
This event addresses the key questions:
Why is it happening? Where is demand coming from?
Where are people going? Who is offering or planning
to offer services? What is the relationship to insurance?
& What are the risks and problems?
It could help you:
Access this market
Stay ahead of the opposition
Identify new income areas
Understand the regulations and avoid the associated
risks
Gain from this developing sector
Promote your business
It could stop you:
Missing out on a growing market
Providing the wrong type of service
Missing out on deals
Losing market share and existing customers
Making assumptions based on inaccurate information
Using unregulated intermediaries
Contributors include:
Ken Anderson, Managing Director, UBS
Keith Pollard, Managing Director, TreatmentAbroad
Dipa Jethwa, Founder, The Taj Medical Group
If you would like further details or to book a place at
these events, please visit www.healthinvestor.co.uk
or contact our Events Team on 020 7104 2000, or
email kate.atkins@healthinvestor.co.uk
32. INVESTING IN HEALTH AND MEDICAL
TOURISM: OPPORTUNITIES, RISKS AND DEVELOPMENTS
24th March 2009 – Central London
By 2010 medical travel is expected to be a £23 billion
business, with over 780 million patients seeking care
outside their principal country of residence. Many
countries tourism income increasingly depends on it
and its impact on the organisation of national and
international healthcare is increasing.
It is a huge worldwide business, but until now, information
has been aimed at patients. This groundbreaking
conference will investigate from a business
perspective what is happening now and what is likely
to happen worldwide in different types of medical and
health tourism.
This event addresses the key questions:
Why is it happening? Where is demand coming from?
Where are people going? Who is offering or planning
to offer services? What is the relationship to insurance?
& What are the risks and problems?
It could help you:
Access this market
Stay ahead of the opposition
Identify new income areas
Understand the regulations and avoid the associated
risks
Gain from this developing sector
Promote your business
It could stop you:
Missing out on a growing market
Providing the wrong type of service
Missing out on deals
Losing market share and existing customers
Making assumptions based on inaccurate information
Using unregulated intermediaries
Contributors include:
Ken Anderson, Managing Director, UBS
Keith Pollard, Managing Director, TreatmentAbroad
Dipa Jethwa, Founder, The Taj Medical Group
If you would like further details or to book a place
at these ev e n ts, please v i s i t
www.healthinvestor.co.uk or contact our Events
Team on 020 7104 2000, or email
kate.atkins@healthinvestor.co.uk
33. Action on Elder Abuse is pleased to announce
its National Conference for 2009 will
be on Monday 23 March 2009 and Tuesday 24
March 2009
Next year it will be held at East Midlands Conference
Centre
Nottingham Conferences
University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RJ
T: 0115 951 5000
F: 0115 951 5009
nottinghamconferences.co.uk
34. World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 15
June 2009, this is in its 4th Year now and we
want to make it an important date in everyone’s
diaries , please join with us in doing an
event on the day and helping raise awareness
on Elder Abuse. For more information
email worldelderabuse-day@elderabuse.org.uk
or call 0208 765 7000.
Action on Elder Abuse has launched a series
of exciting challenge events, including skydiving,
trekking and running. If you've ever
wanted to trek the Inca Trail, freefall from
10,000 feet or sledge across Lapland with
huskies (to name but a few), visit
www.elderabuse.org.uk for more information.
Consultations
To follow next week
CSCI/Care Quality Commission
(w.e.f. 2009), CSSIW,
Healthcare Commission &
Scottish Care Commission
35. Commissioner joins the Care Quality
Commission
The Care Quality Commission (CQC), announced
the appointment of Olu Olasode as a Commissioner
at CQC, with effect from 01.11.08. Mr Olasode is
currently a Commissioner for Social Care Inspection
Commissioner, he Chairs the CSCI Audit and Risk
Committee.
36. Care Commission Welcomes Changes to
Structure
6 November 2008 – SCC
Frank Clark, Convener of the Care Commission, has
said that:
"The Care Commission welcomes the Scottish Government's
announcement about the new scrutiny
bodies in health and social care.”
“We are fully committed to making this new arrangement
work in the best interests of the many children
and adults who receive the help of social work and
social care. A simplified structure for the scrutiny of
all aspects of social work and social care is to be
welcomed.”
“The Care Commission will continue, meantime, with
its current system of regulation, providing Scottish
people with protection and assurance about the quality
of care services.
We will target our attention to areas where there is
most risk and will continue to be tough on poor practice.
We aim to conduct our business to the highest
possible standard and will continue to develop our
new system of regulation, which is risk-based and
proportionate, and one which promotes a culture of
improvement amongst all providers of care.”
"We expect to contribute fully to planning the new
arrangements, which we hope will deliver even better
outcomes for the people of Scotland."
For full report click here
37. Scottish Public Services Ombudsman Report
5 November 2008 – SCC
If a complainant is unhappy with the Care Commission's
response to their complaint, they have the right
to approach the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
(SPSO) to request an inquiry into the matter.
For full report click here
38. CSCI: Safeguarding adults
4 November 2008
This study focuses on what arrangements are in
place across England to protect adults from
abuse. CSCI’s report finds that the current arrangements
for safeguarding adults are inconsistent.
Ed. I’ll say they are ‘ inconsistent’. There are a
few beacons of excellent practice carried out in a
few local authorities by people with experience
and a measure of common sense. But, oh how
rare.
My colleagues and I have spent a huge amount of
time this year dealing with adult protection matters
on behalf of care providers where councils
and others have not exactly covered themselves
in glory!
For press release click here
To access the report and download click here
39. Latest guidance from CSCI
4 November 2008
• Pharmacy tips on the safe handling of medicines
• Criminal Records Bureau checks (updated
17.10.08)
• Supporting older people in care homes at night
40. Star ratings 2008
November 2008 – CSCI
On the 27 November, CSCI will be publishing its annual
council star ratings. Visit the CSCI website to
find out how well your council is delivering social care
services.
Get your council’s star rating on 27 November 2008
Care Quality Commission
41. Care Quality Commission events
CQC has announced a series of consultation events
during November and December 2008.
Find out about the CQC events
42. Enforcement Powers Unveiled
4 November 2008 - Caring Business
Cancelling registration outright will be among the enforcement
powers enjoyed by the new Care Quality
Commission. Read more
Ireland, Scotland & Wales
Ireland
Nothing to report
Scotland
43. Scottish Government to create single social
care regulator
7 November 2008 – Community Care
The Scottish government has announced its intention
to create a single inspectorate for social care and
health.
Under the plans, a single body will inspect social
work services, including councils (currently the responsibility
of the Social Work Inspection
Agency) and regulate care providers, which is currently
under the Care Commission.
For full report click here
44. Reducing NHS waiting times
6 November 2008 – The Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is giving extra funding to
health boards to help bring down patient waiting
times. Each board will get its share of £260 million to
guarantee an 18 week GP referral to treatment maximum
waiting time for patients by 2011.
For full report click here
Wales
45. Social Care Accolades 2009
4 November 2008 – Children in Wales
The Care Council for Wales has launched its search
for the best-performing teams and organisations in
the Welsh social care sector as the 2009 Social Care
Accolades officially get underway.
The Accolades are being held for the third time and
aims to uncover, recognise and publicly reward
teams, partnerships and organisations, which have
helped transform social care services in their area by
investing in the learning and development of their
people.
There are eight categories in the 2009 Social Care
Accolades. They are:
• Leading on learning
• Offering opportunity, changing chances
• Learning about caring, caring about learning
• Community engagement
• Being a learning organisation
• Investing in the workforce
• Learning together
Language choice and dignity in care
For full report click here
46. Watchdog looks at 'confusing' NHS
6 November 2008 – BBC News
The Wales Audit Office is asking NHS patients in