Editorial
The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has
announced details of its governing board (see item 2 in
this issue). The first tranche of staff have been
transferred to the ISA (see item 3 in this issue), so, the
new body is now functioning as a ‘shadow body’.
The ISA was established in a bit of a hurry; it was the
response of Ruth Kelly when, as Home Secretary she
came under attack. Rather than say ‘sorry’, and confirm
that no system is, or can be ,perfect and when taking
decisions did her level best to balance what are
sometimes irreconcilable positions, and with the benefit
of hindsight, occasionally got decisions wrong; rather
than that, she decided to form a new body – the ISA.
It must be clear that there is no way of creating a
completely safe place for vulnerable people to live; we
can’t exclude every pervert or sadist from the caring
workforce.
The best defence, as it has always been, is to be
vigilant in recruiting and monitoring the
workforce. There is a new guidance note from
Government in relation to Criminal Records Bureau
Disclosures for volunteers (see item 8 in this issue).
However, what is not really needed is a huge and very
expensive apparatus like the ISA to protect children and
vulnerable adults from workers and volunteers who
might mistreat or abuse them. Especially one which
has fundamental flaws. I refer, of course, to the far from
surprising announcement by Chief Constables that the
CRB system simply does not work for most of those
workers recruited from overseas (see item 11 this
issue).
Of course, sadly, that misses the point. The chief
constables have forgotten that the ISA was established
to save a ministerial career!
ELDER ABUSE AWARENESS DAY 15 June 2008
If you would like to engage in raising awareness of elder abuse or funds for Action on Elder
Abuse the charity focusing solely on abuse of older people, contact
maggieevans@elderabuse.org.uk
Action on Elder Abuse is one of the Government’s Dignity Guardians
Volume 3
Abuse
1. In seconds my world came tumbling down
8 June 2008 - The Mail on Sunday, ‘You’
Extract from ‘How Could He Do It? By Emma
Charles about the sexual abuse by her husband of
18 yrs on their daughter.
2. Independent Safeguarding Authority announces
newly appointed board members
6 June 2008 - ISA
The new ISA Board members are Dr Valerie Brasse,
Dr John Belcher C.B.E, Richard Black O.B.E, Donald
Findlater, Tom Davies, Mehmuda Mian
Pritchard, Professor Don Grubin, Debbie Ariyo,
Moira Murray and Peter Withers. To find out more
about the members and their backgrounds please
visit
http://www.isa-gov.org/Default.aspx?page=9
3. Staff transfer to ISA
6 June 2008
On 31 March 63 key staff from the Department for
Children Schools and Families (DCSF) transferred
out of the civil service to become public servants at
the ISA bringing with them their experience of protection
issues concerning children and adults.
4. Decision making responsibility
6 June 2008
A second important milestone on the road towards
the full implementation of the ISA Scheme will be
reached this November when the ISA takes full responsibility
from Government Ministers for placing
individuals who pose a risk to children or vulnerable
adults onto the PoVA, PoCA and List 99 lists.
5. Climbie worker wins
5 June 2008 - The Times
Lisa Arthurworrey won her appeal against the General
Social Care Council’s refusal to allow her onto
the GSCC register.
The GSCC may appeal (see item below).
6. GSCC statement: CST judgement regarding
Lisa Arthurworrey’s application to be a
registered social worker
4 June 2008 – GSCC
The General Social Care Council issued the following
statement:
“We are disappointed at today’s decision of the Care
Standards Tribunal 'CST' to uphold Lisa Arthurworrey’s
appeal against the decision of the General Social
Care Council 'GSCC' to refuse her registration.”
“As the social care workforce regulator, the GSCC’s
judgements about the suitability of applicants to practise
as social workers, which are guided by rules approved
by government, aim to improve standards of
social care and to protect the many vulnerable people
who receive services from the workforce. Our position
on this case is set out in our submission to the Care
Standards Tribunal.”
“We are now studying the judgement to consider the
grounds on which the CST has reached its decision.”
To read the judgement go to http://
www.carestandardstribunal.gov.uk/Public/View.aspx?ID=890
7. Minister in Moray to launch centre for child
abuse probes
4 June 2008 - The Press and Journal
A new unit has been launched in Elgin, Scotland
based in the local police station after more than a
doubling of child protection referrals to social workers
in four years.
8. New guidance on CRB checks for volunteers
4 June 2008 - COI
The Cabinet Office has published guidance to help
organisations that use volunteers to be clear about
when they do and don't need to carry out Criminal
Records Bureau (CRB) checks on volunteers. It is
said that this guidance will help cut unnecessary red
tape and responds to concerns voiced by the voluntary
sector that potential volunteers can be put off if
they are asked to undergo a CRB check without good
reason.
People volunteering or working with children or vulnerable
adults are sometimes legally required to have
a CRB check. Where contact with vulnerable people
will be limited or perhaps the person has been recently
CRB checked for a different role, a decision
about clearance must be made. The guidance clearly
explains how the check works as part of a proper risk
management process. Other safeguards such as
interviewing, training and taking references from potential
volunteers can also be employed.
Phil Hope, Minister for the Third Sector, said:
“The Government has a duty to protect vulnerable
people and CRB checks play an important part in
this. However, it is a real waste if volunteers are being
put off doing their hugely valuable work because
checks are being carried out unnecessarily. Risk
has to be managed properly and proportionately and
I hope that this guidance will help organisations by
giving them a clear step by step process to follow.
'The Government has made sure that CRB checks
are free for volunteers, saving volunteer involving
organisations £26.6 million in 2007/08. I want to encourage
more people to volunteer and will continue
to tackle the barriers that prevent them.”
The guidance responds to recommendations put to
the Government by Baroness Neuberger, the Government's
Independent Volunteering Champion. Baroness
Neuberger said:
"I welcome this guidance and the Government's
overall positive response to the recommendations of
the Commission on the Future of Volunteering. I believe
that the guidance will address some of the issues
raised in our consultation and I hope that it will
promote a proportionate approach to CRB checks.
The guidance is particularly important in public service
organisations and I hope that the Government
will push the use of the guidance in health and education
strongly.
Ed. The Guidance on CRB checks and volunt
e e rs is ava i l a b le at : h t t p : / /
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/~/media/assets/
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/OTS_CRB%
20pdf.ashx
Baroness Neuberger's review of volunteering in
health and social care is available at: http://
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/news/
n e w s _ s t o r i e s / ~ / m e d i a / a s s e t s /
www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/neuberger%
20pdf.ashx
9. Thunderer – Nick Hume on vetting volunteers
3 June 2008 - The Times
Mr Hume persuasively argues that this Government
is now beginning to realise that vetting of everyone
who comes into contact with vulnerable groups is
useless, but, nevertheless wants nothing less than
the vetting of everyone!
10. Jersey abuse case: Jack Straw urged to
step in
2 June 2008 - The Telegraph
Stuart Syvret, a former minister in Jersey's parliament
who lost his job after drawing attention to allegations
of abuse, has written to Jack Straw, Justice Secretary,
asking him to ensure justice is done and that the
scandal is not swept under the carpet.
Mr Syvret, who remains a member of the States –
Jersey’s Parliament – asserts that there is a very real
danger of political interference in the judicial process,
because of significant overlaps in Jersey between the
legislature and the judiciary. Mr Straw has the power
to impose his will on the otherwise autonomous
Channel Islands because the Privy Council, which
comes under his jurisdiction, must ensure 'good governance
and the proper administration of justice' on
the islands.
11. Care home workers go unchecked, police
warn
2 June 2008 - The Times
Tens of thousands of migrants are working with vulnerable
elderly people in care homes without undergoing
full criminal record checks, The Times has
learnt. Senior police officers have alerted Jacqui
Smith, the Home Secretary, to the scale of the problem
in a report detailing the impact on the UK of migration
from Eastern Europe.
The introduction of the new watchdog, the Independent
Safeguarding Authority, next year to vet care
workers will not address the problem, they add.
Ms Smith has been told that tens of thousands of migrants
are being employed in care homes and the
NHS without being fully checked because the authorities
cannot access criminal records in foreign countries.
It is privately admitted that many people are
working without full checks.
A spokesman for the Independent Safeguarding Authority
said that work was under way to get access to
overseas criminal convictions.
“The ISA’s partners in the Criminal Records Bureau
remain committed to improving access to overseas
criminal convictions data and last year began working
towards exchanging information for employment vetting
purposes across borders.
Pilot projects are being planned with the Republic of
Ireland, France, Poland and Australia.”
11. Care home workers go unchecked, police
warn (continued…)
He added: “The UK already has one of the most advanced
systems in the world for carrying out preemployment
checks. The introduction of the ISA from
October 2009 will be a crucial step forward, creating
a constantly updated single central record of more
than 11 million people who work with children and
vulnerable adults. It will also contain information from
employers about workers’ behaviour or suitability.
We have always said that further job-specific checks
may still be needed and employers should always
follow good practice when recruiting.”
12. Jersey to bring in tougher register for
sex offenders
2 June 2008 - The Times
Jersey’s Attorney-General, William Bailhache QC,
says that a sex offenders register much wider in
scope than that in England & Wales will be introduced
on Jersey.
13. Crown Prosecution Service Policy on
Crimes against the older person
Issue 34, Action Points, AEA
Dru Sharpling, Chief Crown Prosecutor of London,
sets out a robust view to the approach which should
be taken to offences against older people.
Business News
14. Qataris pay off Taylor over split
8 June 2008 - The Sunday Times
Three Delta no longer Qataris' alpha investor
8 June 2008 - Sunday Telegraph
When Qatari Investment Authority bought Four Seasons
Healthcare for £1.4bn the Qataris, then represented
by Three Delta is thought to have contributed
just £50m from its own resources the rest was
funded with debt, of which £130m was a very high
interest loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland.
The financing deal had a two-year lifespan, maturing
now and refinancing in a post credit crisis is much
tougher. To make things worse, the care homes business
either has breached or is close to breaching its
banking covenants. Back in April 2008 RBS started
demanding that Three Delta must put in much more
equity into the business. This has caused a battle
between Four Seasons and its many bankers..
Sensing blood, hedge funds specialising in distressed
credit have been buying into the debt - which is trading
way below face value - in the hope of making a
quick buck. Some of the funds have banded together
with financial institutions represented by restructuring
specialist Houlihan Lokey - a boutique which has a
fearsome reputation for playing hardball in debt negotiations.
Paul Taylor who founded Three Delta has lost the
confidence of the Qataris and he is off the job – his
interest in Three Delta has been bought by QIA and a
joint statement has issued.
15. Qatar fund's rift with adviser
4 June 2008 - Financial Times
The relationship between the Qatar Investment Authority
and Three Delta, its UK investment adviser run
by Paul Taylor, has broken down and the sovereign
wealth fund is working on buying out his interest in
Four Seasons, the care home operator.
Four Seasons is the UK's third-largest nursing home
operator behind Southern Cross and BUPA, with 333
care homes running nearly 17,000 beds. It is facing a
massive refinancing in three months of £1.2bn
($2.35bn) of its £1.5bn debt load.
A person close to the QIA said: "As a limited partner,
QIA has had no management input into the running of
this investment. It is too early to say what the QIA will
do although efforts are being made to find a solution.
"It is important to understand that the lenders are now
in the driving seat and no decision about the future of
Four Seasons can be taken without their contribution.
The QIA is making every possible effort, in association
with Credit Suisse and other advisers, to get
comfortable with valuations and to open up discussions
with the lenders."
It is thought that QIA is examining the possibility of
buying out the 50% interest of Mr Taylor's in the
Three Delta Fund which spent about £3bn on four UK
care businesses: Care Principles, NHP, Senad and
Four Seasons.
16. Mears Group PLC
4 June 2008 - AGM Statement
At the Company's AGM, Bob Holt, Chairman,
said: “We are pleased to report a satisfactory performance
for the first four months of 2008 and are
confident that the Company will again produce results
to meet the Board's expectations.”
There has been £80m of further social housing contract
wins.
Care - new contract wins amount to over 6,500 hours
per week or over £4m of annualised revenues.
Move to the Official List of the UK Listing Authority
and to its shares being traded on the London |Stock
Exchange is on track and the Board expects to be
listed on 23.06.08.
17. Care UK Plc
3 June 2008
Annual Report & Accounts for the year ended 30
September 2007.
The Annual Report & Accounts are available for
viewing at the Company's website: www.careuk.com
18. £22.5m sale of Beacon Care to CareTech
2 June 2008
AIM listed CareTech Holdings PLC completed
the purchase of the entire issued share capital of
Beacon Care Holdings Ltd and Beacon Care Investments
Ltd together with 16 freehold properties.
The transaction was completed by the payment of
£18.6million, payable on completion and was satisfied
by a cash payment of £15.95million and by the
issue of 600,000 ordinary shares in CareTech. Deferred
consideration of up to £3.9 million in cash will
become payable to the vendors following the
achievement of certain performance targets.
Beacon Care provides a focused range of specialist
services for adults with learning difficulties including
residential care and supported living schemes and
has 16 freehold care homes located in the SE of
England, with a total capacity of 111 beds.
CareTech Holdings PLC funded the deal from partial
utilisation of the Group's new £120m bank facility
provided by the Royal Bank of Scotland and Allied
Irish Bank.
19. Care home investors join battle over
debts
2 June 2008 - The Telegraph
Bondholders in £1.4bn Four Seasons have waded
into the battle between the care home chain's Qatari
owners and its lender Royal Bank of Scotland.
Houlihan Lokey a venture capitalist with a reputation
for hard-headed negotiation,, declined to comment on
what the bondholders will demand, but a spokesman
for the adviser said: "We are interested in supporting
the company work through its refinancing."
20. Financial Close for Manchester and
Southampton Wave 2 ISTC contracts
2 June 2008
Care UK Plc announced that it reached financial
close for the two Phase 2 Independent Sector Treatment
Centre contracts, the Clinical Assessment and
Treatment Services (CATS) in Manchester and the
Southampton centre under Partnership Health
Group’s Hampshire/Isle of Wight contract. Both contracts
will run for seven years.
The Manchester CATS service is due to commence
in Winter 2008 and is intended to provide extended
primary care services in a number of key specialties
for patients in Greater Manchester. The contract is
expected to require total capital investment of around
£13m.
The PHG contract is to provide a range of elective
surgical procedures at a newly refurbished treatment
centre to be located within the Royal South Hants
Hospital in Southampton. The facilities will be leased
from Southampton City PCT. The contract will require
investment of approximately £5m, all of which will be
funded by PHG from internally generated cash flows.
Mike Parish, Chief Executive of Care UK said: "We
are delighted to continue working in partnership with
the NHS, and particularly with the Primary Care
Trusts with whom we have developed close working
relationships. Both the Manchester and Southampton
services will provide convenient, high quality services
for NHS patients, building on our existing experience
as members of the NHS family.”
Care Homes
21. New best practice guidelines for care
homes
5 June 2008 – NCF
Help the Aged has published a report through their
ground-breaking project My Home Life, called 'Best
practice in care homes - what is the evidence?'
The publication coincides with National Care Homes
Week, running from 2-6 June.
The special bulletin summarises best practice guidance
for achieving quality of life for people living, dying,
visiting and working in care homes for older people.
For full report click here
22. OAPs moved out of Aberdeen care home
over concerns
5 June 2008 – Evening Express
Pensioners are going to be moved from an
Kingsmead Nursing Home in Kingswells, Aberdeen
because council bosses are worried that they are not
getting the care they deserve.
For full report go to http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/
Article.aspx/674446?UserKey=0
23. Care home life is 'slow death'
4 June 2008 – BBC News
A report by Deddie Davies, a sprightly 70-year-old
who agreed to spend five days in a care home as part
of an investigation into care of the elderly for Radio
4’s Today programme.
For full report click here
24. Care home 'failings' report to be published
this month
3 June 2008 – Scotsman
An investigation into alleged failings at the Ashley
Court Nursing Home in Morningside has reached its
conclusion and the findings will be published later
this month.
For full report go to http://news.scotsman.com/health/Carehome-
39failings39-report-to.4144368.jp
25. Aberdeen care home resident fell ill while
staff had party
3 June 2008 – Evening Express
A complaint against Kingsmead Nursing Home in
Kingswells was upheld by the Care Commission after
a resident was left to fall ill as staff attended a Christmas
party.
For full report go to http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/
Article.aspx/669327?UserKey=0
Case Reports
Law Reports
26. Scammell and Scammell v Farmer
A testatrix suffering from early onset Alzheimer's disease
did have testamentary capacity at the time her
final will was executed, had known and approved of
the will, and had not been subjected to undue influence.
Disciplinary cases
Nothing to report
Cases in the news
27. Climbie social worker wins appeal
4 June 2008 – BBC News
Lisa Arthurworry has won her appeal to continue
working in her role as social worker after being
sacked by Haringey Council in 2002 for misconduct.
She was also banned from working with children in
the wake of Victoria Climbie’s death.
The Care Standards Tribunal (CST) upheld Lisa Arthurworrey's
appeal against the decision not to register
her as a social worker.
For full report click here
Ed. See also item 6, this issue - press release
from GSCC.
Children
Nothing to report
Conferences & Courses
To follow next week
Consultations
28. The Future Regulation of Health and
Adult Social Care in England: A consultation
on the framework for the registration of
health and adult social care providers
Closing Date: 17 June 2008
A consultation seeking views on the future regulation
of health and adult social care. It seeks to consider
which health and adult social care services should
require registration with the Care Quality Commission
and what the requirements for registration should be.
It also considers when providers of regulated services
should be required to have a registered manager and
how primary care services should be included in the
new registration system.
For full consultation click here
29. Children and Adoption Act 2006: Court
rules – Consultation
Closing Date: 20 June 2008
A consultation seeking views on draft court rules and
forms to support the implementation of the remaining
provisions of the Children and Adoption Act 2006.
These provisions would then enable courts to use
contact activities to help resolve child contact disputes
and give them more flexible powers to enforce
contact orders.
For full consultation go to http://www.justice.gov.uk/
publications/cp0708.htm
30. Consultation: Human rights inquiry
Closing Date: 21 June 2008
Consultation seeking views on how public authorities,
such as hospitals, schools or local and national government
offices, make sure they treat people well and
in line with legal requirements under the Human
Rights Act.
For consultation go to http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/
e n / p r o j e c t s / h u m a n r i g h t s i n q u i r y / P a g e s /
Gatheringevidence.aspx
31. Consultation: Statutory guidance for children's
trusts on the duty to cooperate
Closing Date: 26 June 2008
This consultation seeks views on draft statutory guidance
for children's trusts on inter-agency cooperation
to improve the well-being of children, young people
and their families.
For full report go to http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/consultations/
conDetails.cfm?consultationId=1544
32. NICE Consultation: The 2008 update to
the guidelines manual
Closing Date: 1 July 2008
Consultation seeking views on a draft update of a
manual that describes the detailed process and
methodology used to produce NICE clinical guidelines.
For full report go to http://www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/
howwework/developingniceclinicalguidelines/
clinicalguidelinedevelopmentmethods/
guidelinesmanualconsultation2008update.jsp
33. Proposals to change NHS structure in
Wales
Closing Date: 2 July 2008
The Welsh Assembly has announced proposals to
change the NHS's structure in Wales.
The proposals are part of a three-month consultation,
include plans to abolish the internal market by providing
funding from the Welsh Assembly or an NHS
Board for Wales directly to trusts and local health
boards.
For full report go to new.wales.gov.uk
34. Call for Evidence: The Child and Adolescent
Mental Health Services review - Next
steps to improving the emotional well-being
and mental health of children and young
people
Closing date: 7 July 2008
This consultation calls for evidence on how universal,
targeted and specialist services can be improved to
meet the needs of children and young people who
are experiencing, or are at risk of, mental health
problems.
For consultation click here
35. NICE: Current consultations
To browse through consultations go to http://
www.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=consultations.current
36. The General Medical Council
(Constitution) Order 2008: A paper for consultation
Closing Date: 11 July 2008
A draft order setting out a proposed constitution for
the GMC, providing details of the composition of the
council, the terms of office of council members, and
criteria for the disqualification, suspension or removal
of members from office.
For consultation click here
37. Saving Carbon, Improving Health: A Carbon
Reduction Strategy for the NHS in England
Closing Date: 21 August 2008
The consultation document can be found at http://
www.sdu.nhs.uk
38. Towards a Strategy to Support Volunteering
in Health and Social Care: Consultation
Closing Date: 30 September 2008
A consultation seeking views on a proposed volunteering
strategy for health and social care that will
articulate the key actions needed to address the perceived
obstacles to volunteering.
For full consultation click here
CSCI, CSSIW, Healthcare
Commission &
Scottish Care Commission
39. Care inspections 'raise concerns'
6 June 2008 – BBC News
A questionnaire of care home staff by the Commission
for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) has revealed
that there are concerns that inspections are not carried
out often enough. The questionnaire was organised
by BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
For full report click here
40. Nursing home in Care Commission probe
‘to close’
5 June 2008 – PressandJournal.co.uk
Relatives of residents at Kingsmead Nursing Home in
Kingswells say they were told it is to close.
Care Commission Scotland took action against the
home after an inspection uncovered “significant failings”
in provision of care. The home, which accommodates
65 disabled and elderly residents, was
forced to halt its intake.
For full report go to http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/
Article.aspx/674907?UserKey=0
41. Care body 'worse than useless'
5 June 2008 - BBC Radio 4 ‘Today’
In the latest radio series looking at care of the elderly
in the UK, the Today programme examined the role of
the watchdog< Commission for Social Care Inspection,
which inspects care homes in England.
"It is a watchdog without any teeth or even a will to
act." according to HM Coroner for Isle of Wight, John
Matthews', whose condemnation of CSCI, which
oversees about 18,500 care homes in England. Last
year, he recorded a verdict of accidental death contributed
by neglect after a 93-year-old man died following
a fall.
The deceased man was found in a road, half-a-mile
away from the care home where he lived. He had a
tendency to wander off and on this occasion, he had
wandered off unnoticed.
For BBC report click here
42. Healthcare Commission response to Department
of Health plans to tackle underperformance
4 June 2008 – Healthcare Commission
Anna Walker, chief executive of the Healthcare Commission
has stated:
“We strongly welcome the government’s commitment
to driving up standards of care on behalf of patients,
and tackling poor performance before it becomes a
crisis.”
“As the regulator, the Healthcare Commission already
identifies both good and bad performance. We
see significant variations in standards of care, much
of which relates to the quality of leadership and management.”
For full report go to http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/
newsandevents/pressreleases.cfm?
cit_id=6469&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&usec
ache=false
43. Healthcare watchdog review finds progress
in standards of services for people
with learning disabilities at Sutton and Merton
Primary Care Trust
4 June 2008 – Healthcare Commission
Healthcare Commission praise for Sutton
and Merton
5 June 2008 – Community Care
The Healthcare Commission has declared that Sutton
& Merton Primary Care Trust has made good
progress in its bid to improve the standard of services
aimed at those with learning disabilities.
The trust is now starting to focus on delivering a new
model of care that puts choice and control for the
users of services at the heart of what the trust does.
For full report go to http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/
newsandevents/pressreleases.cfm?
cit_id=6468&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&useca
che=false
For CC report click here
To access the report go to http://
www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/newsandevents/
pressreleases.cfm?
cit_id=6468&widCall1=customWidgets.content_view_1&useca
che=false
44. King’s Fund response to Commission for
Social Care Inspection report on dementia
care
3 June 2008 – King’s Fund
King’s Fund Chief Executive, Niall Dickson has commented
on the Commission for Social Care Inspection’s
report /See me, not just the dementia’:
“Over the next 20 years we are going to witness a
dramatic increase in the number of people suffering
from dementia. Unless there is a major breakthrough
in drugs to arrest the course of this illness, there will
be a great need for extra care and support, some of it
quite intense.”
“Specifically the increase in very old people in the
next 20 years re-enforces the need for affordable and
good quality social care as the very old – those over
85 – are more likely to have outlived friends and family
and won’t have that informal network of support to
turn to for help.”
For full report click here
45. CSCI national conference
June 2008 - Commission for Social Care Inspection
Newsletter
Being excellent - celebrating good practice and
innovation in social care
CSCI is holding its third national conference on
Wednesday 25 June 2008 at the QEII Conference
Centre, London.
More information about national conference
46. Changes in how we interpret the National
Minimum Standards (NMS)
June 2008 - Commission for Social Care Inspection
Newsletter
CSCI has agreed with the Department of Health two
changes in how it interprets the NMS with regards to
the delivery of personal care and care plans.
Until we update our guidance logs, these changes
can be found on our website:
16 -18 year olds providing personal care
Personal Budget Support Plan and Domiciliary Care
Agencies Regulations
Dementia
47. Lord of Discworld flights to save his powers
8 June 2008 - The Sunday Times
Author Terry Pratchett, 60, who has donated
£500,000 to Alzheimer’s research speaks of his approach
to controlling the grip which the disease seeks
to exert on his life as a sufferer of early onset dementia.
48. All care homes must look after the emotional
needs of people with dementia
4 June 2008 - Mental Health Foundation
Responding to the new Commission for Social Care
Inspection report See me, not just the dementia, Toby
Williamson, Associate Head of Service Improvement
at the Mental Health Foundation, said:
“It is worrying to learn that in some care homes in the
UK, little attention is being paid to the mental and
emotional needs of people with dementia. The Commission
for Social Care Inspection report reveals that
the way in which staff communicate can have a huge
impact on how with people with dementia living in
care homes feel. Social interaction is as basic a need
as food or sleep. It is incredibly sad that people with
dementia in some care homes are not given the opportunity
to engage in conversation, even at a very
simple level, and are being failed in this way.”
“We know that up to 50% of people with dementia
experience depression, half of whom suffer with the
condition in its severe form. It is therefore vital that
staff in care homes are encouraged to reach out to
those who may be more withdrawn and vulnerable
as a consequence - to improve their quality of life.”
“Dementia is set to affect more than 900,000 individuals
by 2026 and the UK has relatively high levels
of residential care for people with the disease in
comparison to some other European countries. The
quality of care provided in care homes is set to be an
issue of concern for increasing numbers of individuals
with dementia and their families in the future
unless improvements are made.”
49. See me, not just the dementia
June 2008 - Commission for Social Care Inspection
Newsletter
Understanding people's experiences of living in a
care home
The big news this month is the launch of the CSCI
report which focuses on people with dementia living
in care homes. The new format for this report includes
filmed interviews and good practice discussions.
You can download this report and watch some of the
video clips on CSCI’s website:
Find out more about the 'See me, not just the dementia'
report
For full report click here
For 2nd CSCI report click here
Education
Nothing to report
Ireland, Scotland & Wales
Ireland
50. Family angry over bug treatment
4 June 2008 – BBC News
The family of a woman who caught C.diff at Mid-
Ulster Hospital has claimed that medical staff failed to
treat their mother properly. The 79-year-old was
transferred to Antrim Area hospital and her condition
deteriorated.
The family said it seemed she would be written off,
but then persuaded one doctor to reinstate their
mother’s medication, after which she made an overnight
recovery.
For full report click here
Scotland
51. NHS website to mark 60th birthday
6 June 2008 – BBC News
The Scottish NHS is set to launch an archive of material
charting the history of the NHS to mark its 60th
anniversary.
The website charts Scottish contributions to the
health service through a timeline, and features the
recollections of staff and patients, as the NHS
reaches its 60th birthday on 5 July.
For full report click here
52. Nursing home in Care Commission probe
‘to close’
5 June 2008 – PressandJournal.co.uk
For full report go to CSCI etc…. – item 40
53. Single-staffed ambulances to end
4 June 2008 – BBC News
Health Secretary, Nicola Sturgeon has ordered the
Scottish Ambulance Service to bring forward plans to
end single-staffing of its emergency ambulances
within a month.
An independent probe has been ordered into allegations
of bullying and harassment at the organisation.
For full report click here
54. Public To Elect Health Boards
3 June 2008 – The Herald
Health Secretary, Nicola Sturgeon has announced
that she intends to pilot polls which will enable the
public to elect members to Scotland’s health boards.
She said she expects the first ballots to take place in
2010.
For full report go to http://www.theherald.co.uk/
display.var.2313889.0.0.php?utag=28804
55. Care home 'failings' report to be published
this month
3 June Edinburgh Evening News
An investigation into apparent shortcomings at a care
home in Edinburgh has concluded the findings will be
published later this month. Officials from the Care
Commission interviewed staff, residents and relatives
about alleged failings at the Ashley Court Nursing
Home, Morningside after the newspaper’s reporter,
Charlotte Bailey, spent a week working as a care
assistant at the home.
For full report go to http://news.scotsman.com/health/Carehome-
39failings39-report-to.4144368.jp
56. Nurse crisis cuts children's unit
2 June 2008 – BBC News
Aberdeen Children’s Hospital has had to close a high
dependency unit for 2 months due to a shortage of
nurses.
A recruitment drive has started to try to persuade
suitably-qualified staff to return to work to plug the
gap in paediatric nurses in the region.
For full report click here
Wales
57. Welsh government considers case for
single mental health body
6 June 2008 – Community Care
A report commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government
reveals that Edwina Hart, Health and Social
Services Minister, is considering making mental
health services in Wales the responsibility of a single
statutory body.
For full report click here
58. Hospitals extend C. diff testing
5 June 2008 – BBC News
The Welsh Assembly Government has said it will
extend C.diff routine tests to hospital patients aged
between 2 and 65 years old.
Health Minister, Edwina Hart has also ordered a review
of the number of C. difficile cases at Prince
Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, because at least
33 patients were infected at the hospital earlier this
year.
For full report click here
59. Home sale to pay for care slammed
3 June 2008 – BBC News
Cardiff Local Health Board has been criticised after
an elderly woman was forced to sell her house to pay
for her nursing care.
Eileen Puc, 74, from Bridgend, paid more than
£60,000 in the three years she lived at a care home
in Cardiff after the Health Board said she was not
entitled to funding despite serious ill health.
The public services ombudsman Peter Tyndall disagreed
with the decision and said the health board
must look again at her case.
For full report click here
Learning Disabilities
Nothing to report
Legislation Update
60. No. 235 The Planning (Avian Influenza)
(Special Development) Order (Northern Ireland)
2008
6 June 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
61. No. 236 (C.12)The Disability Discrimination
Act 1995 (Commencement No. 10) Order
(Northern Ireland) 2008
6 June 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
62. No. 233 (C.11)The Safeguarding Vulnerable
Groups (2007 Order) (Commencement
No. 2) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008
5 June 2008 – OPSI
For full legislation click here
Mental Health
63. ADASS demands end to councils' 'retreat'
from mental health
6 June 2008 – Community Care
The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
has called for all local governments and social care
bodies to reassert their roles in mental health care.
The ADASS made its call in a published report setting
out proposals for the Government to replace the national
service framework for mental health which is
due to expire in 2009.
For full report click here
64. Mental Health Foundations responds to
the Society of Occupational Medicine's new
research
4 June 2008
In response to new research by The Society of Occupational
Medicine that returning to work can aid people
with depression, Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive
of the Mental Health Foundation, today said:
“The Society of Occupational Medicine’s research is
further evidence that being in employment is priceless
for a person who has experience of a mental illness.
Sadly, many employers don’t want to give a job to a
person with a history of mental ill health. Workplace
discrimination is often the real barrier that stops individuals
from being able to go back to work.”
“If people with experience of mental illness are to be
given the opportunity to get a job then employers
must be given clear guidance and information that
will make it easy for them to support a person with a
mental health problem in the workplace. Employers
cannot be expected to do it alone – many feel uncomfortable
when it comes to talking about mental
illness.”
“People with mental health problems benefit hugely
from getting back into employment but there is also a
strong economic argument as to why the government
should invest to support individuals back to work. A
recent report* revealed that the cost to the economy
due to earnings lost as a result of mental ill health
will be £41 billion by 2026. Spend would result in
savings in the long-term.”
*Paying the Price: The cost of mental health care in
England. The King’s Fund (May 2008) -
www.kingsfund.org.uk
65. The Mental Capacity Act: Local authority
circular
2 June 2008 – DoH
A circular setting out resources available for the
Mental Capacity Act 2005 for the year 2008-09 and
provisional figures for 2009-10 and 2010-11.
For full report click here
Miscellaneous
66. Reform of NHS dental service has left
nearly one million patients worse off
6 June 2008 - The Times
Following the Department of Health’s reorganisation
of dentistry in 2006 far fewer people see an NHS
dentist than before.
67. Adult care reform
5 June 2008 - The Times, Letters to the Editor
Dame Jo Williams of Mencap and 11 other CEOs of
equally high-profile charities from the health, social
care and older peoples sectors call on the Government
to carry out a review of the impact of care
charges on service users.
68. NHS dental access 'falls further'
5 June 2008 – BBC News
NHS Information Centre statistics reveal that nearly
900,000 fewer people now see an NHS dentist than
before the Government reforms.
In the two years up to December 2007, 53.7% of the
English population saw a dentist compared with
55.8% in the 24 months before the new dental contract.
For full report click here
69. Government pledges £900,000 towards
independent living and launches support
programme for councils
4 June 2008 - COI
Minister for Care Services Ivan Lewis announced an
extra £900,000 to help disabled people work towards
having more independent lives.
Speaking at an Office for Disability Issues consultation
event on delivery of the Independent Living Strategy
the Minister pledged new funding to help create
up to 14 user-led organisations become new Action
and Learning Sites. These organisations are led and
controlled by disabled people and aim to help disabled
people lead more independent lives.
Minister for Care Services Ivan Lewis said:
"I am delighted to announce this new funding for Action
and Learning sites, to support disabled people in
leading more independent lives. Last year over 100
User-Led Organisations applied to become action
and learning sites. We hope that there will be a similar
level of interest in the Second Wave. We are already
supporting 12 sites which we announced in
March this year.
"I am also pleased to support the Personalisation Programme
with the introduction of the Personalisation
guide. This guide will provide councils with the building
blocks to deliver a more personalised care service
where the individual themselves is in control of their
support. The Department of Health will also be working
with leaders in the adult social care sector to recruit
a National Director for Social Care Transformation,
and will be leading a series of workshops around
the country to help local authorities transform their
systems."
70. Criminal Records Bureau Checks: Guidance
for volunteering
4 June 2008 – Cabinet Office
Guidance has been issued to clarify when organisations
that use volunteers do and do not need to carry
out Criminal Records Bureau checks on volunteers.
The guidance aims to cut unnecessary red tape and
responds to concerns voiced by the voluntary sector
that potential volunteers can be put off if they are
asked to undergo a Criminal Record Bureau check
without good reason.
For full report go to http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/~/media/
assets/www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/third_sector/OTS_CRB%
20pdf.ashx
71. Appointments to GMC Council
3 June 2008 - The Times
12 medical members and 12 lay members
sought. Expect to give 3-4 days each month to GMC
business.
72. General Chiropractic Council
3 June 2008 - The Times
Seeks 8 investigating members and 18 Conduct
Committee members to hear cases against chiropractors.
All to be in post by Feb 2009. Remuneration
£275 per day plus travel and subsistence.
73. Hospital wipes 'spreading MRSA'
3 June 2008 – BBC News
The Welsh School of Pharmacy has said that some
types of anti-bacterial wipes used by hospital staff to
clean surfaces could in fact, be helping to spread
bacteria rather than prevent it.
The researchers found that MRSA survived on the
wipe and then started to contaminate everything else
it touched, and recommended that wipes should be
thrown away after cleaning one surface.
For full report click here
74. Consultant doubt over polyclinics
3 June 2008 – BBC News
A survey by the British Medical Association suggests
that many NHS consultants doubt the merits of a
new generation of large scale polytechnics. The survey
received 1,587 responses to its poll canvassing
consultant opinion with 60% saying they either disagreed
or strongly disagreed it would improve patient
care, whilst 42% were not convinced that access to
treatment would be improved.
Over 70% said they would destabilise hospitals and
GP practices.
For full report click here
75. Millions must be on vetting list
2 June 2008 – BBC News
The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is
planning to expand its safeguarding scheme which
will require over one in four adults in England to register
with child protection authorities.
Anyone working or volunteering with young people
will have to register, and the Government said that
11.3 million people will be on a database, with registration
costing £64 per person.
The Government’s consultation response does state,
however, that employers giving work experience to
secondary school students will not be compelled to
register their staff.
For full report click here
76. Phone health checks for patients
2 June 2008 – BBC News
An Edinburgh University team is investigating on a
new way for patients with long-term illnesses to monitor
their health at home.
Lung disease, diabetes and high blood pressure
could soon be monitored using mobile phones.
The Chief Scientist's Office awarded £1m to the institution
for a pilot project in Scotland, and it is hoped
such technologies may lessen the burden on the
NHS.
For full report click here
77. GPs campaign against polyclinics
2 June 2008 – BBC News
A group of Lancashire doctors has started campaigning
against new health centres which they fear could
threaten or close their own practices.
Three "polyclinics", set to house doctors alongside
other medical staff, are planned on the Fylde in
Bispham, Fleetwood and Thornton Cleveleys.
The government said the centres would ease pressure
on hospitals, while giving patients more choice
but the GPs said the move could mean the end of
local, family doctors.
For full report click here
78. Government responds to second ISA consultation
30 May 2008 – CRB
The Government has published its formal response to
the recent consultation on the Independent Safeguarding
Authority scheme for vetting and barring
those who work with children or vulnerable adults.
The document has been produced by the Department
for Children, Schools and Families, Home Office and
Department of Health.
For full report click here
To access the full response click here
NHS
79. Doctors’ anger at cruelty to Patients
8 June 2008 - The Sunday Times
Front page item Baroness Ilora Finlay, president of
the Royal Society of Medicine, has slammed the Government
over its handling of the so called ‘copayments’
issue whereby if an NHS patient pays for
any part of his treatment he must pay for all of it including
the treatment usually provided by the NHS
free at point of delivery.
80. We paid into the system all our
lives. Why has the NHS turned on us?
8 June 2008 - The Sunday Times
Full page item looking in more detail at the copayments
issue and the plight of individual patients
directly affected by the stance.
81. Hospitals run by HSBC pay £200 to fit
wall socket
8 June 2008 - The Sunday Times
Item about Public Finance Initiative (PFI) projects
under which many hospitals we built in recent years
and the cost to the NHS and therefore to the taxpayer
of the long-term management costs.
82. Cuts leave NHS with a surplus of £2bn
8 June 2008 - The Mail on Sunday
About 2% of last year’s NHS budget went unspent
and how that has denied people medication and
care.
83. NHS offer accepted
7 June 2008 - The Times
Members of UNISON have, together with the RCN,
accepted the offer of 8% over three years – the highest
in the public sector.
84. Come on, chaps, this is serious
7 June 2008 - The Times
Item about whether the NHS is neglecting to provide
support to men to take better care of their health.
85. Hospital chaplains and the power of positive
thinking
7 June 2008 - The Times
Item about the fight-back over cuts in the religious
ministry to patients in the NHS.
86. NHS criticised over funding squabbles
6 June 2008 – Mental Health Foundation
The public services watchdog has criticised the NHS
again for bureaucratic squabbles over money that
deny patients treatment.
For full report go to http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
information/news/?EntryId17=60912
87. One in five NHS trusts still in deficit, say
MPs
6 June 2008 – HSJ
MPs on the public accounts committee have declared
that over one in five NHS organisations are still in
deficit despite "very commendable" efforts to turn the
NHS's finances around.
The Department of Health and NHS achieved a surplus
of £515m in 2006-07, but 82 out of 372 NHS
organisations are in the red, says the committee's
latest report.
88. NHS £1.7bn surplus spending row
6 June 2008 – BBC News
The government has come under fire as figures revealed
a £1.658bn surplus in the NHS last year.
Ministers say the surplus will be used to improve patient
care but opposition parties warned NHS services
were being "starved of cash".
For full report click here
89. Unison votes to back NHS pay deal
6 June 2008 – BBC News
Members of Unison, the biggest health union have
voted to accept the government's pay deal for the
NHS.
Unison has joined the Royal College of Nursing in
backing the offer of 8% over three years.
For full report click here
90. NHS in good financial health
6 June 2008 - COI
The new figures have been published in the 'Quarter
4' report which looks at the NHS financial performance
in January-March of this year, and looks back
over the year as a whole. The NHS will end the year
with an overall surplus of £1.658bn, that will stay
within the NHS to improve patient care. This compares
to a £515m surplus in 2006/07, and a £547m
deficit in 2005/06.
Commenting on the report David Flory, Department of
Health's Director General of NHS Finance, Performance
and Operations said;
"This healthy surplus is a further indication that the
NHS is now on a stable financial footing. Thanks to
the tremendous efforts of those in the NHS, organisations
now have the headroom and confidence to invest
in transforming patient services, whilst having
the flexibility to respond to fluctuations in demand.
This will be important for taking forward the
Next Stage Review and implementing the 'visions'
that clinicians have developed in Strategic Health Authority
regions."
'The Quarter' report updates the NHS on progress
towards key priorities, including financial health and
can be found at http://www.dh.gov.uk
One in five NHS trusts still in deficit, say MPs
6 June 2008 - Health Service Journal
More than one in five NHS organisations are still in
deficit despite "very commendable" efforts to turn the
NHS's finances around, MPs on the public accounts
committee has said.
The Department of Health and NHS achieved a surplus
of £515m in 2006-07, but 82 out of 372 NHS
organisations are in the red, says the committee's
latest report.
91. Matron numbers doubled to 5,000
6 June 2008 - COI
There are now more than 5,000 modern matrons
working in the NHS to drive up standards of cleanliness
and care, Health Secretary Alan Johnson announced.
This follows a commitment the Prime Minister
made in September 2007 to double the number
of modern matrons to more than 5,000 by the end of
May 2008.
Matrons are responsible for improving standards of
care, ensuring wards are clean and patients properly
fed. They help set and monitor standards for cleaning
and catering and have authority to take action
where these are not met.
92. King’s Fund publishes major analysis on
polyclinics
5 June 2008 – King’s Fund
Polyclinics 'may not boost care'
5 June 2008 – BBC News
The King’s fund has published a major analysis of
the opportunities and risks of developing polyclinics.
The proposals, which have been discussed as part of
Lord Darzi’s NHS Next Stage Review, could bring
together family doctors and specialists alongside
other services, such as diagnostic testing, minor surgery,
blood tests and X-rays.
For full report click here
For BBC report click here
93. Royal Berkshire ‘may walk’ from NHD IT
programme
5 June 2008 - E-HealthInsider
The chairman of the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation
Trust has said the trust "may walk" from the NHS
IT Programme, to ensure it gets the IT systems required.
94. Anger over ‘backdoor privatisation’ of the
NHS
5 June 2008 - The Times
Item about the hostility to the Government’s latest
idea of allowing private companies to take over the
management of failing NHS trusts.
However, the first takeover of an insolvent NHS trust,
Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield, was a failure,
remedied only after the NHS retook control.
95. Developing the NHS Performance Regime
4 June 2008 – DoH
Document providing guidelines for greater transparency
and consistency across the NHS on identifying
underperformance, addressing financial problems
and managing failure.
For full report click here
96. Firms 'to run failing NHS trusts'
4 June 2008 – BBC News
Private healthcare managers could be sent to
turn around failing NHS hospitals
4 June 2008 - The Times
Ministers have announced new plans to draft in private
firms to help run struggling NHS hospitals and
primary care trusts in England.
Executives from companies or from better-performing
NHS trusts could be used to replace existing bosses.
For full report click here
97. Tough action against underperforming
hospitals and trusts
4 June 2008 - COI
Health Minister Ben Bradshaw set out new plans to
drive up standards of care and tackle underperformance
in our hospitals and primary care trusts.
New measures set out in the vision document
'Developing the NHS Performance Regime' will identify
failing trusts, remove poor managers and bring in
new management, including from other hospitals or
from the private sector.
Mr Bradshaw said:
"The NHS has come a long way in the last ten years,
with record investment, more clinical staff, shorter
waiting times and better cancer and heart disease
survival rates. But there are still unacceptable variations
in performance and a small number of NHS organisations
where performance is not meeting the
standards which the public and patients expect. "
"As the Prime Minister made clear in his speech in
January, we will not tolerate underperformance in the
NHS and for the first time, we will publicly identify
those trusts with poor safety and clinical records. This
new guidance sets out how we will tackle poor performance
and the turn-around regime which we are
establishing for those hospitals and Primary Care
Trusts identified as falling below minimum standards."
The new system means that:
* New minimum standards of quality, safety and financial
management will be established and trusts
failing to meet these criteria will be identified as
'challenged'
* The Chief Executive of the NHS will have responsibility
for ensuring that all challenged trusts have
agreed performance improvement plans with Strategic
Health Authorities. These will have defined time
periods and milestones against which improvement
will be assessed
* Trusts unable to turn around their performance
within the expected time period will be determined to
have failed on quality, safety or financial grounds and
the NHS Chief Executive will then have responsibility
for over-seeing changes which can involve removing
local management and bringing in a new management
team from either other parts of the NHS, NHS
Foundation Trusts or the private sector.
At the same time the Department of Health has set
out insolvency principles for Foundation hospitals
and non-Foundation Trusts designed to ensure that
borrowing does not put NHS assets or the continuity
of services at risk.
98. Wards slur hospital passes check
3 June 2008 – BBC News
The Royal United Hospital in Bath has passed a surprise
inspection on hygiene standards.
This is the same hospital whose nurses were described
by Lord Mancroft as “grubby and promiscuous”.
For full report click here
99. NHS in hospital superbug pledge
2 June 2008 – BBC News
South East health chiefs have pledged to end avoidable
hospital-acquired infections by 2018.
The targets for 2011 state that there will be no avoidable
cases of hospital-acquired MRSA, and fewer
than 2,000 cases of c.Diff.
For full report click here
100. 'Serious Problems' With NHS Funding
2 June 2008 – The Herald
Health boards have voiced "major concerns" about a
new system for dividing NHS cash across the country
which may see services in rural areas and some deprived
communities losing out.
A letter leaked to The Herald, shows that NHS Highland
says the new method of setting health board
budgets will widen the gap between the rich and the
poor - both in terms of their access to NHS services
and potentially their actual health.
For full report go to http://www.theherald.co.uk/
display.var.2311178.0.0.php?utag=28804
Nursing
101. Nurses call for petrol cost help
4 June 2008 – BBC News
The Royal College of Nursing has written to Chancellor
Alastair Darling to ask for compensation for the
soaring cost of petrol to be passed to community
nurses.
Petrol costs 32% more than it did when nurses' mileage
allowances last rose in 2000. NHS Employers
said it was currently reviewing mileage allowances
after unions asked for a 10% interim rise.
For full report click here
102. International Confederation of Midwives
01-05 June 08
Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) spent time promoting
the new Code, which came into effect on 1
May 2008 and which was featured in BHCR Vol 3,
Issue 13. Click here to see item.
Older People
103. 'Happy in a foreign world'
2 June 2008 – BBC News
Article examining the care of the elderly in the UK,
speaking to Janet whose mother, Joan Davey is a
resident in a care home.
For full report click here
Parliament
104. Report on the NHS Summarised Accounts,
2006–07: Achieving Financial Balance
5 June 2008
Parliament received a report on the NHS accounts for
2006/07.
105. Parliament to have greater role in appointments
process for key public sector
posts