Parliament
09.03.09 – HoC – Questions of the Sec of State for Children, Schools and Families
09.03.09 – HoL - Baroness Seccombe to ask Her Majesty‘s Government what action they have taken to alleviate pensioner poverty arising from the fall in savings income and interest rates.
Lord Ashley of Stoke to ask Her Majesty‘s Government whether they will set up a state compensation scheme for victims of thalidomide.
10.03.09 – HoL - Baroness Boothroyd to ask Her Majesty‘s Government what progress they have made towards implementing their programme to withdraw provision of NHS residential accommodation for people with severe learning disabilities by 2010.
13.03.09 – HoC – Second Reading, Organ Donation (Presumed Consent) Bill
13.03.09 – HoL - Disabled Persons (Independent Living) Bill [HL] Second Reading [Lord Ashley of Stoke]
Editorial
The past week has seen a slew of stories about children and young people being placed in foster care where the foster carers and their families are, it would seem, callously kept ignorant about alarming facts known to social workers.
Why? What motive can there be for such behaviour?
Simple. If the social workers were open and candid, as we all have a right to expect of our public servants, the individual social worker is likely to experience greater difficulty in placing the individual in a suitable, or any, care setting.
Such conduct is outrageous.
It must stop. NOW.
In such situations social workers have duties not only to the child to be =placed‘ but to the family who will welcome the child. Especially children of the family. In Wales the story broke this week of young children of the family who were raped and sexually assaulted by a youth who was known,
by social services, to have a history of violence and sexual assault (see item 6).
Following the wide reporting of that case, other families have come forward with similar stories (see item 3).
Social workers must know that they have a responsibility not to knowingly place young children, or any children, at risk because of a placing made by them.
Sadly, in my work I also see evidence of social workers failing to properly inform potential care homes about all of the information which they know. Occasionally, I even come across circumstances where lies are told.
I recall acting several years ago for one care provider whose very registration was placed at risk of cancellation because, when asked to take a service user the provider, as part of the pre-placement assessment, asked whether the individual had any history of violence. He had. Not only was my client not told, but she was lied to.
This all came to light when female staff at the care home were taken hostage at knife-point. CSCI decided that was my client‘s fault!
More recently, I had to advise in relation to inappropriate sexual behaviour between two elderly service users. One was known to social services as being predisposed to such conduct, his previous two placements had broken down because of it. Those facts were concealed from my clients who found their good name and reputation traduced in the press.
This conduct by social workers must stop.
I recognise that they are under pressure; so are we all.
Abuse/Dignity
1. Sharon Shoesmith brings claim
We have learned that on 06.03.09 Ms Shoesmith, formerly director of Childrens‘ Services at Haringey and who was dismissed following the Baby P scandal, has brought a claim in the Watford Employment Tribunal. She is said to be claiming £175,000 – probably £65k for unfair dismissal and £110k representing a year‘s notice.
2. Register plan for domestic abuse
8 March 2009 – BBC
The government has said that creating a register of people who have attacked their partners could help prevent other potential victims of domestic abuse.
3. =Why weren‘t we told about our foster child‘s shocking history?‘
07 March 2009 The Times
Substantial article in which Marjory Lambert recalls her family‘s shocking experiences when she was not given the full facts about the known facts of a 13 yr old girl fostered by the family.
Ed. It is shocking that social workers fail to discharge what many will regard as their basic duties. See editorial in this issue on page 2.
4. 'Zero-tolerance' on abuse
06 March 2009 Scunthorpe Telegraph
Following an 8% increase in referrals, North Lincoln-shire council is set to be rolled out a zero-tolerance approach to the abuse of vulnerable adults is across.
133 investigations into reports of vulnerable adult abuse were undertaken by the North Lincolnshire Safeguarding Adults Board.
Councilor Pauline Carlisle, cabinet member for adult services, explained the increase in reports was mostly due to greater awareness, training and better understanding of what help is available.
5. Four held in care home abuse probe
06 March 2009 Liverpool Echo
Four members of staff of Windy Knowe Nursing Home, Oxton, Merseyside, were arrested by police last week on suspicion of ?willful neglect following allegations dementia sufferers were mistreated.
The four individuals were quizzed by officers from Merseyside Police‘s Vulnerable Adult Team and later released on bail to appear on 21.04.09.
The home has 49 residents, seven under the age of 65 and 42 over 65.
6. Council says sorry for foster sex abuse mistakes
05 March 2009 South Wales Echo
Gordon Kemp, leader of Vale of Glamorgan Council which placed a known sex offender with a family who had young children, offered his ?sincere and unreserved apologies in a public statement made at a meeting of the full council at Barry.
The 18 year old man went on to sexually assault two children in the family.
Growing demands for resignations, including that of Marijke Jenkins, manager of the council‘s adult placement service, in the wake of the ?serious error of judgments have been resisted although ?disciplinary procedures have been used.
Mr Kemp said: “Although the inquiry is still at an early stage, what has become clear is that there was a serious error of judgment in placing the young man in this family. Once this became known we responded immediately, including making use of the council?s disciplinary policy... it is anticipated that the inquiry will be concluded by the end of April. On behalf of the whole council, I wish to offer my sincere and unreserved apologies to the family.”
7. Dismal childcare record overall puts good work by 149 councils in shadow
05 March 2009 The Times
The reforms have been made, the leader-ship is still failing
05 March 2009 The Times
Articles across two pages looking across all councils with protection of children responsibilities including a table of all councils and their performance in terms of child protection.
The best councils: Bolton, Corporation of London, East Riding, Kensington & Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Sutton, Wandsworth, Westminster.
The worst: Doncaster, Haringey, Milton Keynes, Surrey.
8. Council knew of abuse teen‘s past
5 March 2009 – BBC
Vale of Glamorgan Council has admitted knowing that a 18-year-old man who raped and abused his carers' children had a history of inappropriate behaviour. The teenager admitted rape and sexual abuse at Cardiff Crown Court and was sentenced to a minimum term of six years before he can be con-sidered for release, he was placed on the sex offenders' register and banned from working with children for life.
9. City to review child protection
03 March 2009 news.bbc.co.uk
Following the conviction of Robert Cunningham, 23, of killing his girlfriend's 23-month-old son who had more than 40 injuries, including ruptured intestines, there will be an independent review of child protec-tion services in Dundee headed by Peter Wilson, the former Chief Constable of Fife Constabulary. His findings will be made public.
The Scottish Government has also asked Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education (HMIE) to bring for-ward the publication of an inspection report into child protection services in Dundee.
10. Inquiry calls into sex abuse teen
03 March 2009 news.bbc.co.uk
There have been demands for an independent inquiry into the placement of a teenager who raped and abused the children of the family he went to live with. The 19-year-old man admitted rape and sexual abuse at Cardiff Crown Court while on a placement scheme for adults run by Vale of Glamorgan council.
The family were not told that he had a record of sexual behaviour with children which the council has said was a "serious error of judgment".
The teenager was given an indeterminate sentence of imprisonment for public protection when he was sentenced on Friday.
Plaid Cymru councillor at the Vale of Glamorgan council, Steffan William, said he was "horrified from what happened and the case raises so many questions. The only thing that can be done is to set up an independent public inquiry into what happened”.
Stuart Greenwell, president of the Association of Di-rectors of Social Services Cymru said: people in this family's situation, "should be told the truth" about a person's background. "If a person... does have a background in presenting risks to other people, that needs to be conveyed to the family," he added.
11. Protection of vulnerable adults (POVA) scheme
03 March 2009 CSCI eNewsletter
The Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) has taken over the responsibility for POVA referrals. Find out what this means for you when you are recruiting staff.
Find out about the POVA scheme
Ed. There is a new referral form and the guidance and other notes have been updated and changed.
12. Revised POVA guide
March 2009 Care Management Matters
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has produced revised guidance to making referrals for inclusion in the POVA List.
The guide can be found at www/tinyurl.com/b37pfn
13. Do hard cases make bad law?
March 2009 Community Care Market News
A look at the House of Lords decision in Regina (Wright and others) v Secretary of State for Health and another and the clash between the POVA scheme and the Human Rights law. Comments and quotes from Keith Lewin.
Business News
14. Private partnerships and local coun-cil services
06 March 2009 The Times, Letters to the Editor
Richard March of Capita, Mark Hammond, Chief Executive, West Sussex County Council and Melvyn Caplan, Cabinet Member for Finance, Westminster City Council write separate letters about proposals to hand over the running of care and education to private companies. The ultimate commissioning model‘ is going to be difficult to achieve according to Mr March, Messrs Hammond and Caplan say that significant savings can be achieved.
Ed. I have reservations about the concept. Ministers in the past, have adopted this approach, most notably in recent times, Ruth Kelly who, when challenged about paedophiles and others working in school set-tings, rather than take the criticism and apologise for any mistakes she set up a new body, The Independent Safeguarding Authority – presumably, so that when things go wrong the head can be sacked and a Minister does not have to fall on his or her sword. It seems to have become a tradition, not falling on one‘s sword, in this Government!
15. OFT considers grocery and pharmacy
divestments in Lothian & Angus Co-op merger
06 March 2009
The OFT is considering an offer by the Co-operative Group Limited (Co-op) to divest grocery and pharmacy stores in 12 local areas following its completed acquisition of Lothian Borders & Angus Co-operative Societies Limited (LBA).
LBA is an independent co-operative society trading across many parts of Scotland. Its primary business is food retail-ing, although it also provides pharmacy, funeral and ser-vices such as petrol stations.
16. Failed hotel to become care home
4 March 2009 – BBC
A Tyneside hotel which went into receivership last October has been bought by Helen McArdle Care.
17. Councils poised to hand running of care and education to private firms
04 March 09 The Times
Local services face a new wave of privitisation across England as a Conservative Council leads moves to put contracts worth billions of pounds out to private tender. Essex County Council is one of a growing number of authorities that intend to out-source all or most of their services to save funds, including schools management, social care, roads and libraries.
18. UK [USA] Assisted Living Operator To File Bankruptcy?
25 February to 04 March 2009 Independent Healthcare
Sunrise Senior Living Inc. In the USA is said to be considering Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection which, if granted by the US courts, will allow the company to trade while protecting it from being put into liquidation by its creditors.
19. NCF appointment
March 2009 Care Management Matters
Sharron Blackburn, Managing Director of Heart of England Care, has been appointed as Director of
Policy at National Care Forum.
20. JRHT appointment
March 2009 Care Management Matters
John Hocking, currently Director of Housing at Hull County Council, has been appointed as Executive Director of the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust.
21. Devon contract collapse offers opportunity
March 2009 Community Care Market News
Following the collapse of the relationship between Devon and Shaw Healthcare – a contract which was valued at £100m over 30 years.
22. Recruitment to blame for Herts terminations?
March 2009 Community Care Market News
A seven year contract between Hertfordshire and Care UK to provide dom care has been terminated after just one year; a number of reasons are given, including a higher than expected number of missed care visits.
23. Home comforts
March 2009 HealthInvestor
Article considers Enara‘s activity in acquisition of a number of dom care providers, three in a short space of time. Enara is funded by private equity firm August Equity LLP. Those who have access to funding could =make a run‘ on the domiciliary care market.
Ed. In a business model where there are few, if any, real assets only financiers who think they have a deep understanding of the sector should venture forth. Aatif Hassan of August Equity may be one.
24. Boom and busts
March 2009 Community Care Market News
Cosmetic surgery had a bumper year in 2008, however, will the market sag as the recession becomes deeper? It may depend on the level of redundancy payments. Harley Medical Group has suggested that it may have detected a new trend – City severance surgery‘.
25. War of Independents
March 2009 Community Care Market News
Max Rashbrooke writes about the forthcoming con-tract renegotiations between the NHS and independ ent sector treatment centres. It is reckoned that ISTCs were paid £270m in 2007 and £360 in 2008. Laing & Buisson estimates the figure could rise to between £435m and £515m in coming years. The pressure will be on from the NHS to keep the in-crease as low as it can.
26. All‘s fair?
March 2009 Community Care Market News
Article by Vernon Baxter considering the potential impact of the NHS Co-operation & Competition Panel on the rivalry/co-operation between organisations operating in the health service.
Care Homes
27. Blackpool providers
04 March 2009 Lancashire Care Association newsletter
LCA met with Blackpool Borough Council re fees for 2009-2010. The offer is - take a seat before you read on - 1% for care homes (applied through the Fair Price model) and 0% for domiciliary care provider fees but with an unequivocal strategy for home care as the key future direction, in accord with government policy.
Blackpool says, that the allocation of funds formulae from central government have meant that Blackpool continues to lose out in comparison with other authorities. LCA has indicated that it considers that the proposed level of funding is unrelated to any strategy aimed at encouraging a viable, quality, market. Blackpool BC respond by saying that the performance indicators (LAMA – Local Authority Market Ana-lyser) show Blackpool as performing above the national average and that, broadly, there is no difficulty finding placements.
It is to be noted, that homes have responded to the Fair Price incentives and more homes than ever are in band 1. The increasing gap between fees for Blackpool and the LCC area is recognised.
LCA is to have an urgent meeting with councillors (09.03.09) to revisit the discussions we had with them last year about where social care, and older people‘s services particularly, fit in the wider council priorities. We will feed back to you after that. According to the result of that meeting we may need to have an honest dialogue with Blackpool providers about where we go next in terms of LCA developing an ef-fective fee strategy for the Blackpool area. Unfortunately, though, the level of funding allocated by BBC may not be that unusual nationally.
28. Supporting older people in care homes at night
03 March 2009 eNewsletter
CSCI has written prompts to help providers to think about whether they have the best arrangements in place for night time care.
Find out how to support older people in care homes at night
29. Reminder: Important change to the distribution of medical device and equipment alerts
03 March 2009 eNewsletter
The process for receiving medical device and equipment safety alerts has changed. You need to register your email address with the Department of Health by 31 March 2009.
Find out how to register for alerts
30. Activities: time to involve everyone
March 2009 Care Management Matters
Tony Duke says that activities‘ should not be the responsibility of one person. Rather, if everyone is in-volved it can provide esprit de corps and improve the experience of service users.
Case Reports
Law Reports
31. Regina (Incorporated Trustees of the National Council on Ageing, Age Con-cern England) v
Secretary of State for Business, Enter-prise and Regulatory Reform
This is the case that went before the Court of Justice of the European Communities in which Age Concern argued that the UK retirement age is discriminatory. The Court did not agree. It is open to Member States to derogate from the broad principle of equality and to justify age discrimination on the grounds of social policy.
Disciplinary cases
Nothing to report
Cases in the news
32. Man who took overdose wins £90,000 from hospital that hurt his arm saving his life
06 March 2009 Daily Mail
Michael Dexter, 58, from Oswaldtwistle received the compensation from East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust; he had taken 100 pills plus rum. He was given an excessive amount of the neutralising medication causing tissue damage to his arm.
Children
33. Cuts likely at children‘s hospice
5 March 2009 – BBC
Acorn Children‘s Hospice is having to make savings of about £1.5m. The charity, which has launched the Acorns Fragile Lives Appeal, currently helps 600 life-limited children and their families.
34. Council was warned children would die
4 March 2009 – BBC
Council bosses in Doncaster were warned four years ago that their actions were putting children‘s lives at risk. Last year the council had double the national average number of children on its protection register. The council is under investigation after seven children died in the area.
35. Children in care face court delay
3 March 2009 – BBC
The interests of children in care proceedings are represented by professional guardians. But a shortage is causing lengthy delays and affecting decisions about some children's future.
To read the full article go to this address
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7920832.stm
36. Council 'failing city children'
3 March 2009 – BBC
A review of children's social services in Swansea in March and April of 2007 by the Care and Social Ser-vices Inspectorate for Wales (CSSIW) found "serious concerns in core areas of service provision" and drew up an action plan with the council for improvements. Since then, there has been little improvement. Officials said that Deputy minister Gwenda Thomas may declare they were failing in their duty to protect children. It would be the first such order made against a council in Wales.
37. The children who live with drugs
3 March 2009 – BBC
Glasgow University has estimated that between 40,000 and 50,000 children live with at least one drug-addicted parent. The number of children re-moved from their own home because they are being neglected is rising.
To read the full article go to this address
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/7921655.stm
38. City to review child protection
3 March 2009 – BBC
Former chief constable, Peter Wilson is to chair an independent review of child protection services in
Dundee following the death of 23 month old Brandon Muir.
39. Children‘s hospice gets the go-ahead
2 March 2009 – BBC
Precious Lives Appeal has been given approval to build Children's Hospice South West in Cornwall.
Conferences & Courses
Keep up to Date‘
40. Lancashire Care Association
Monday 23rd March 2009
This is the 3rd in a series of joint workshops with Lancashire County Council through the Social Care Partnership . Programme includes SAFEGUARDING, Dave Wareing, LCC • Preferred place of safety • Provider experience/issues about "institutional" investigations • Safer Working Practices for staff • Development of SU information/training about how to keep safe • Feedback on current training
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, Cate Short, LCC
Make Sure you know the Procedures Susanne Moffat, LCC, Sue Neal, NHS Book early, places are limited! The deadline to book your place is Thursday 19.03.09 Should you wish to attend this event, please complete the form below and return it to Sarah Luton at: Lancashire Care Association, Freepost NWW5642A, Leyland,R256BR,or email sarah.luton@lancashirecare.org.uk; visit www.lancashirecare.org.uk; fax: 01772 458885; tel: 01772455574 To download the booking form please follow the link below http://www.lancashirecare.org.uk/spring_seminar_2009.asp
41. Action on Elder Abuse Conference for 2009 will be on 23 March 2009 and 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
Contact natalie@elderabuse.org.uk for more informa-tion or the website, details below.
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 in-formation.
42. Investing In Health and Medical Tourism: Opportunities, Risks and Devel-opments
24 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.
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?
Contributors include:
Ken Anderson, Managing Director, UBS
Keith Pollard, Managing Director, Treatment Abroad
Dipa Jethwa, Founder, The Taj Medical Group
43. Westminster Health Forum keynote
seminar
The Future of Dentistry
31 March 2009
Westminster, London SW1
With
Dr Barry Cockcroft
Chief Dental Officer for England, Department of Health
Live Agenda| Our Website | Book Online
This seminar will examine issues around the future of
dentistry, the right to NHS dental treatment and dental contracts. It is timed to take place as the gross income protection scheme ends for dentists in England.
Bringing together policy makers from Government and Parliament with key stakeholders to discuss how current strategies may change dental care in the UK and how they can be implemented across the PCT network.
Sessions will look at:
· Recommendations for improving the dental con-tracts and funding allocation;
· Addressing regional differences in oral health and barriers to participation;
· The changing role of dental practitioners;
· The role of the private sector; and
· Dental practice in Scotland in comparison with the UK.
Booking arrangements
To book places, please use online booking form.
44. Developing the Adult Social Care Workforce
Meeting the Needs of a Modern Care and Support System
31 March 2009 – Central London
Chaired by Jeff Jerome, National Director for Social Care Transformation, ADASS, our expert speakers include:
? Glen Mason, Director of Social Care Leadership and Performance, Department of Health
? Barbara Pointon, Ambassador for the Alzheimer‘s Society & Member, Standing Commission on Carers
• Jennifer Bernard, Interim Programme Director, National Skills Academy for Social Care
? Geoff Hadaway, Workforce Development Manager, Gateshead Council
? Terry Mears, Head of Commissioning – Central Lancashire, Lancashire County Council
? Stephen Goulder, Director of Corporate Services and Workforce Development, Social Care Institute for Excellence
? Amanda Hatton, Director of Social Work Policy, Skills for Care
Debbie Gillham, Project Manager, Time for Change
Spaces can be booked on these events either by filling in and faxing the booking form on the final page of the brochure (For agenda and booking form please click here) to 0870 165 8989, or by e-mailing me di-rectly with the delegate details at
45. Shaping PCT provider services: the future of primary and community care 31 March 2009, 9.30am–4.45pm, The King's Fund, London
The NHS Next Stage Review and Department of Health guidance has placed the separation of primary care trust (PCT) commissioning and provider services high on the agenda, with PCTs required to signal how they will take change forward by October.
To download the full programme please visit the website. Places are limited at this event, so book early to secure your place. Book online now.
46. Tayside seminar aims to reduce accidents in the cleaning industry
01 April 2009
A free seminar being held in Perth, Scotland, aims to reduce the toll of injury and ill health to cleaning workers by providing practical information to the cleaning industry in Scotland.
Being held on April 1st, the event is being organised by the Cleaning Industry Liaison Forum and Tayside Contracts, working in partnership. The Forum is the working group where HSE and the industry work to-gether to improve the health and safety performance of the industry.
Places for the event are limited, and can be obtained by emailing melanie.brown@tayside-contracts.co.uk or calling 01382 834 111.
More information on HSE's work with the cleaning industry can be found at http://www.hse.gov.uk/cleaning/index.htm
47. 2nd April 2009 - the Wakefield & District Annual
Safeguarding Conference at Fieldhead Education Centre
Keynote speaker - LEO QUIGLEY is Service Man-ager for Safeguarding Adults with Sheffield City Council, a position he has held since January 2004, and is currently advising the Department of Health on the review of No Secrets. Leo was previously Joint Lead Officer for Older People at Gateshead Primary Care Trust, where he was responsible for co-ordinating the joint response to the National Service Framework for Older People.
Leo has published several articles on adult safe-guarding in Community Care and in the Journal of Adult Protection, and is a member of the Journal of Adult Protection‘s Editorial Board. He was a member the Department of Health Steering Group which produced the No secrets section 7 guidance document in 2000, and was also a member of the ADSS Editorial Board which wrote the Safeguarding Adults document launched in 2005. Leo qualified as a social worker in 1976. He was awarded the degree of M.Sc. in Public Sector Management from Aston University Business School in 1996.
For the full programme and to register, please email hgardner@fpld.org.uk or visit our website
http://www.learningdisabilities.org.uk/our-work/community-and-inclusion/life-in-the-community/building-community-networks/
48. Westminster Health Forum Keynote Seminar
Primary Care, Polyclinics and
the Future of the General Practitioner
21 April 2009 in Central London
With Ben Dyson, Director of Primary Care, Commissioning and System Management Directorate, De-partment of Health
Live Agenda| Our Website | Book Online
Seminar
Timed to coincide with the launch of the first Polyclinics in London, this seminar will focus on the changing face of primary care delivery, and the future of the GP.
Bringing together policy makers from Government and Parliament with key stakeholders, discussion is expected to focus on the future of primary care, GP led health centres, Polyclinics and the role of the in-dependent and third sectors.
Planned sessions will examine:
· The Department of Health‘s policies to improve access to GP services, the role of new GP health centres, and the conclusions of and impact of Lord Darzi‘s NHS Next Stage Review in relation to primary care;
· What will be done to ensure that new services improve the standard of primary care while maintaining the relationship between a patient and their GP practice?
· How far should GP services be integrated with other community-based health services (e.g. diagnostic services)?
· The role of the independent sector and third sector in providing primary care; and
· The next steps for improving primary care.
Booking arrangements
To book places, please use the online booking form.
49. Third Annual Partnership Conference 28 April 2009, 9.30am–4.45pm, The King's Fund, London This conference will look at the best ways of collecting and using data in order to improve the quality of ser-vices and care.
To download the full programme, please visit the website. Places are limited at this event, so book early to secure your place. Book online now. Discounted places available – 50% off for RCP and RCGP members.
50. Learning Disabilities Conference
Implementing Valuing People Now
30 April 2009 – Central London
Please click here to download a copy of the conference brochure in pdf format. If you have any problems with the hyperlink, please e-mail dave.eastman@capita.co.uk who will send the brochure as an attachment.
THE BOOKING REFERENCE CODE IS TSDE. YOU MUST QUOTE THIS WHEN BOOKING.
Chaired by Keith Smith, Chief Executive, British Institute for Learning Disabilities, expert speakers include:
? Anne Williams, National Director for Learning Disabilities, Department of Health
? Alison Giraud Saunders, Co-Director, Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
? Dr. Philippa Russell, Chair, Standing Commission on Carers
? Mark Goldring, Chief Executive, Mencap
? Carmel McKeogh, Head of Human Resources, Stockport Council
? Raj Mungur, Associate Director – Care and Sup-port, Yarrow Housing
? Stephan Brusch, Project Lead for Promoting Equality, Department of Health
? Brian Parfett, PSA 16 (Learning Disabilities) Policy Lead, Department for Work and Pensions
Wendy Hicks, Housing Project Worker, Housing and Learning Difficulties, Norfolk Learning Difficulties Service
Please read Terms and Conditions
51. Patient Safety Congress 2009 - Full
programme
30 April - 1 May 2009, ICC Birmingham
Last year's Congress was about making the case for patient safety. The programme this year has been developed to help you get down to work. It provides the information you need to be able to deliver improvement. The Congress is a rich opportunity to share the experiences of those that are successfully tackling patient safety across the globe. Whatever your role, or area of interest within patient safety, you will find content designed specifically for you.
Keep up to date with the latest programme developments by signing up for the Patient Safety Congress E-Bulletin.
52. The Care Quality Commission and the Future of Regulation
7 May 2009
Central London
Planned sessions will examine:
? The role of the Care Quality Commission;
? What will the CQC mean for service users and service providers?;
? Learning from regulation of other sectors;
? Co-ordination between agencies;
How the CQC will deal with taking on the work of the previous three agencies and service provision is
? maintained; and
Using regulation to drive quality improvements.
Speakers include Baroness Young, Chair of CQC.
To book places, please use our online booking form.
Options and charges are as follows:
? Places at The Care Quality Commission and the Future of Regulation (including refreshments and PDF copy of the transcripts) are £190 plus VAT (£218.50);
Concessionary rate places for small charities, un-funded individuals and those in similar circumstances are £80 plus VAT (£92.00). Please be sure to apply for this at the time of booking.
53. Dignity is More Than Just a Word
Perceptive professionals embedding dig-nity and respect in a care environment
11 May 2009, Cardiff
The workshop is focused on fine tuning communication and listening skills to enrich relationships be-tween patients/clients, relatives and carers and colleagues. Email for further information
We welcome your comments and suggestions. If you have any information that you would like to share with others please let us know and we will be happy to circulate it in the next newsletter.
A Dignified Revolution, Britannia House, High Street, Cowbridge, CF71 7AD
A straightforward way to implement the End of Life Care strategy in your care home.
Over 500,000 people die each year in England. On 16 July 2008 the Government launched its End of Life Care strategy to improve the quality of care for people at the end of their life. As a Care Home Manager, you are required under the National Minimum Standards to have policies and procedures in place for palliative care.
Yet Care Home Managers tell us that many staff feel ill-equipped to handle end of life care and can panic, resulting in a patient avoidably dying alone in a hospital, against their wishes. In order to help Care Home Managers implement the End of Life Care strategy, we have now developed:
Tools and Support for Assessing Palliative Care Needs:
Practical checklists, policies, information sheets and training on CD-ROM
With this practical CD-ROM and accompanying handbook, you will be able to:
Develop a Resident Plan using our assessment checklists for: care planning review; physical, learn-ing disabilities assessment; religious or spiritual needs assessment.
Save money on training with our PowerPoint presentations covering key issues such as: the Mental Capacity Act; advance care planning and recognising the end of life phase.
Provide dignity and privacy to residents and en-sure that residents are treated with respect with our worked example policy on dignity and privacy in end of life care.
Understand the law regarding end of life care with our easy-to-use guidance on key issues such as the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and 'do not attempt to resuscitate' orders.
Reduce the number of emergency hospital admissions with our needs assessment checklist, ad-vance care planning record and statement of wishes and preferences.
Provide the best service for dying residents and good care after death and ensure that residents and their families are treated with sensitivity and respect with our worked example policies on: resuscitation; equality in end of life care; palliative care; and our handout on making choices about palliative care.
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Westminster Briefing entitled ?Keeping Children Safe: Working In Partnership to Improve the Sys-tem which will be hosted by The House Magazine on Thursday, 21st May 2009 in Westminster.
As a result of the events in Haringey, which lead to direct government intervention, and subsequent in-vestigations in Doncaster and Birmingham, keeping children safe is now the government's top priority. Consequently Lord Laming is conducting a new re-view to determine how safeguarding is working and Ed Balls has set up a task-force to undertake a full-scale review of how social workers are trained, recruited and supported in their work. Delegates at this Westminster Briefing will have the opportunity to consider the impact on the future of children‘s social services following recent events, bringing together all of the key agencies involved in child protection. Participants will engage with the panel throughout the course of the day in a number of sessions which will look at issues including:
· The role of central government in setting standards for child protection
· Inspecting child protection services
· Intervention: when, why and how?
· Establishing common understanding between different professional disciplines
· The role of the inspectorates in monitoring child protection
· The future of Local Children‘s Safeguarding Boards
· How the serious case review procedure is working
For full details please see the attached agenda, for an event synopsis please click here.
54. Healthcare Associated Infections 2009: Hospitals to Beyond an Acute Care Setting
2 June 2009—Central London
With Janice Stevens, Associate Director, HCAI Programme, Department of Health and
Karen Taylor, Director of Health Value for Money Audit Office and
Professor Barry Cookson, Director of the Laboratory of Health Care Associated Infection, Health Protec-tion Agency.
This meeting will bring together policy makers with key stakeholders from Government and Parliament to discuss the next steps for improving cleanliness, competence and confidence. Discussion will focus on progress in tackling HCAIs, the role of the Care Quality Commission, and the way forward in terms of reducing HCAI rates and improving public confidence. It is timed to coincide with the launch of the National Audit Office report into tackling Healthcare Associ-ated Infections (HCAIs) in hospitals and with the launch of the Care Quality Commission.
To book places please use the online booking form.
The cost is £190 plus VAT, concessionary rate is £80 plus VAT for small charities and unfunded individuals.
55. National Care Homes Congress 2009
23 to 25 June 2009, Clarendon Suites, Birmingham
Speakers include:
Dr Richard Hawkins
Frank Ursell
Deborah Sturdy
Prof. Dawn Brooker
David Francis
David Sheard
Karen Harrison-Dening
Sharon Blackburn
Cheryl Wanklyn
Jude Sweeting
David Perry
Jackie Pool
Prof. Jill Manthorpe
Martin Green
Kamma Foulkes and others
56. 1st July 2009 - Third Yorkshire and Humberside ADASS Safeguarding Conference - Barnsley
A huge success in previous years with nationally re-nowned speakers and stimulating workshops. Book early to avoid disappointment!
57. Accessible Wales training
Accessible Wales training provides an introduction to Disability Awareness. It is aimed at addressing day to day issues relating to disability within the work-place. The course covers an introduction and over-view of disability, hands on experience of issues facing people with disabilities in the workplace, good and poor communication, appropriate language and signage, and an overview of legislation relating to people with disabilities. For more information email info@accessible-wales.co.uk or tel: 01685 814252 Carers Wales
Carers Wales offer a range of in-house, tailored training workshops
On carers rights and legislation; carers assessments best practice and carers and employment issues. For further information, contact Carers Wales on 029 2081 1370 or info@carerswales.org
Consultations
58. Joseph Rowntree Foundation recommendations
The English Community Care Association has offered its support for the recommendations laid out by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation in its blueprint for a fairer long-term care system.
Martin Green, Chief Executive of ECCA, said:
“The Rowntree report highlights the need to do something for current service users. Inevitably, a lot of our time is focused on delivering a system of care and support for the future, but the Rowntree Foundation has reminded us that there are some big issues that need to be addressed immediately and that have an impact on today?s older people.
“We particularly welcome the proposals to increase the personal allowance for care home residents, which is currently unacceptably low.”
59. UK care system could immediately be made fairer by implementing reforms pro-posed by JRF
4 March 2009
Options for care funding: What could be done now? A new Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) publication sets out four potential interim measures that could make the care system much fairer now, ahead of the govern-
ment‘s green paper on its long-term plans to reform the care funding system due out later this year.
In a number of public consultations carried out by JRF and others, people repeatedly described the current sys-tem as unfair, unclear and unsustainable‘. In addition, JRF evidence shows that if current conditions were to be maintained, funding would need to treble (Hirsch 2006).
Information was used from Caring Choices, a 2007 public consultation carried out across England and Scotland through a wide partnership of voluntary and private sec-tor organisations including the JRF and King‘s Fund. This indicates that 90% of older people and their carers want clarity on what the state can offer in terms of funding the costs of care. The evidence shows that people would be able to better plan for their futures and would be more willing to contribute to care costs if the system was more transparent and easier to under-stand. The paper also outlines what each reform would cost.
Sue Collins, report author and JRF lead on its long-term care programme, said: “Everyone, including the govern-ment, agrees that the UK needs a new long-term care funding system. But it may be a decade before a new system is in place. These reforms could quickly make a difference to older people and their carers struggling to cope under the present system.”
The four proposed interim solutions are:
• Equity release, allowing older homeowners to pay for home-based care by deferring the costs until their home is sold. Cost: estimated £33 million a year
• Higher capital limits for care home fees to help those with modest assets by raising the ceiling that dictates whether an individual in a care home receives support from a local authority (from £22,250 to £42,500). Cost: £280 million a year
• Doubling the personal expenses allowance to give more dignity to people in care homes supported by local authorities who currently have just £21.90 per week to cover personal items such as clothes and shoes. Cost: £250 million a year
• Free personal care for all people requiring nursing care to remove inconsistencies between whether or not nursing care is funded by the NHS or the individual. Cost: £212 million a year
CSCI/Care Quality Commission, CSSIW, Healthcare Commission & Scottish Care Commission
60. Serious Flaws
25 February to 04 March 2009 Independent Healthcare
Gloucestershire & Lincolnshire County Councils are reported to be seeking High Court permission to launch judicial review proceedings in relation to CSCI star rating, which they see as being seriously flawed‘. Smaller providers have been saying this for a long time. The current procedure could not give them a fair chance to challenge it. Now, these test cases can make a difference to the sector.
Ed. I have no further information at this point. However, the star ratings of council social services departments is not the same as that for care services. However, it all comes a bit late as CSCI is due to come to the end of its life at the end of this month.
Key issues in social care regulation and inspection
03 March 2009 CSCI eNewsletter
This booklet looks at what CSCI achieved over the past five years. It explains how CSCI has regulated and inspected social care.
Read our booklet about key issues in social care regulation and inspection
Ed. I confess, I haven‘t yet had time to read this report.
61. How we manage dormant services 03 March 2009 CSCI eNewsletter
This guidance explains how CSCI regulates a registered service when nobody is using it.
Read our guidance on how we manage dormant services
Ed. I am aware of more and more care homes being mothballed‘ by owners – this note will be of interest to all of those who have, or who are thinking about mothballing.
62. The Principles of Good Business Conduct Between CSCI and Regulated Services
February 2009
CSCI together with:
Association for Real Change;
Registered Nursing Homes Association;
English Community Care Association;
National Care Forum and others
have signed up to a set of principles of good business to underpin the working relationship between regulated ser-vices and CSCI; the principles are set out below:
Social care services that deliver positive outcomes for people are a shared aspiration for both CSCI and regulated care providers. Inspection should be seen as an opportunity for providers to demonstrate their compliance and con-tinuing improvement. The promotion of a working partnership founded on respect and a shared understanding of our
separate roles and responsibilities is essential to delivering a positive business relationship
These principles can help us to achieve this common goal. By applying them in our daily practice we can make real our commitment to a way of working together that creates an environment where innovation and excellence can flourish, and where our respective obligations are clearly under-stood.
Acknowledge our respective duties and responsibilities
Providers recognise that regulation is a legal requirement requiring their cooperation and support, and CSCI dis-charges its statutory functions in a proportionate and consistent manner.
Promote a culture of professionalism
We will recognise our different skills and work together to share and develop expertise in the interests of people who rely upon quality care and support.
Treat each other with dignity and respect
We will apply high standards of conduct and behaviour in our dealings with each other that recognise the importance of observing common courtesies.
Embrace our shared diversity
We will acknowledge the diversity of people delivering and receiving social care services and challenge personal be-haviours that discriminate or cause offence.
Encourage transparency and good communication
We will promote openness in our dealings with each other, and we will talk clearly in a frank but fair way.
Ensure accountability and ownership
We will take responsibility for our actions, and honour commitments and undertakings.
Build confidence and trust
We will act with integrity and honesty, learn from our mistakes, and seek consistency and continuous im-provement in all that we do.
Dementia
63. Study that proves folly of NHS Alzheimer‘s drug ban
07 March 2009 Daily Mail
Test conducted by Prof. Annalena Venneri and two colleagues at the Clinical Neuroscience Centre have reinforced the case for treating sufferers early; patients ?may have an excellent response to treatment after just five months”.
64. New system for dementia sufferers
6 March 2009 – BBC
A new sensing system which monitors the actions and movements of dementia sufferers, developed at the University of Bath, could help 700,000 sufferers live independently at home.
65. Turning dementia inside out
March 2009 Care Management Matters
Hannah Clack reviews the newly published National Dementia Strategy for England – an ambitious five year plan, and considers its implications – she welcomes the £150m to be invested in the strategy, and observes more will be needed to fund the strategy over five years.
Ms Clack also comments that many local authorities and NHS services are already implementing the strategy.
66. Homecare to take lead in DH‘s dementia solution
March 2009 Community Care Market News
A thoughtful look at the Living Well with dementia: a National Dementia Strategy‘ and the potential for domiciliary care providers if they can get the balance between support and price correct – by which one means affordable. However, there is an extra £150m.
67. Australian dementia innovation
March 2009 Care Management Matters
Three experts comment on the approach to dementia care being taken by St Monica Trust at The Russets, North Somerset, in five large bungalows, each split into two units with seven or eight people living in each. The whole of the physical environment being designed to appear as a domestic setting. Many of the ideas have been imported‘ from an award-winning facility in Perth, Australia.
Ireland, Scotland & Wales
Ireland
Nothing to report
Scotland
Nothing to report
Wales
Council knew of abuse teen‘s past
See item 6 under Abuse
Council 'failing city children'
See item 36 under Children
Learning Disabilities
68. Valuing People Now
March 2009 Care Management Matters
Ian A McMillan reviews the strategy for people with learning disabilities and the response from the provid-ers. The main thrust of the policy according to Care Minister, Phil Hope, is to provide ?more choice, more control and more independent living. Mr Hope said that people running residential care should consider switching to other areas of provision.
Currently 55% of people with learning disabilities live in care homes and 35% in their family home – this is said to be too many. Whilst it suits some, many are said to be denied.
Legislation Update
69. Legally speaking
When regulators change – are you ready?
March 2009 Community Care Market News
Anselm Eldergill has produced a helpful three page overview of the changes coming along to the social care sector with a change of regulator from CSCI to the Care Quality Commission.
Mental Capacity
70. Mental Capacity Act 2005: Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS)
It is now merely a matter of a few weeks before the DoLS come into force – the crucial date is 01.04.09. Documents and forms published on 27.02.09 are the final version of the complete suite of forms for both supervisory bodies and for managing authorities. There is also a form for IMCAs to make reports/submissions to supervisory bodies.
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_089772
Mental Health
71. Alan Johnson and James Purnell announce further action to target credit crunch stress
08 March 2009
A package of measures to help unemployed people who are experiencing depression or anxiety to get back to work were announced by Health Secretary Alan Johnson and Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell, including greater provision of talking therapies and a new network of employment support workers.
Speeding up the roll out of talking therapies will provide better access to the services. A greater number of people who are on long-term sick leave or unable to seek employment due to depression will be helped to recover so that they are ready to go back to work.
Around six million adults in the UK have depression or anxiety and many of these remain on incapacity benefits as they are unable to seek work. In past recessions, we have seen the number of out-of-work people on inactive benefits rise, so this is one element of action being taken to prevent this happening again.
The Department of Health is improving access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT), with annual funding rising to £173 million by 2010-11. This money will be used to train 3,600 extra therapists and treat 900,000 more people over three
years.
72. Call for East Yorkshire mental health hospital to improve the safety of patients
03 March 2009 Healthcare Commission eNewsletter
We have warned Linden House, a 97-bed independent mental health hospital in East Yorkshire, that we expect significant improvements in the safety and quality of services provided.
We recently published two reports following inspections at the hospital. The inspections led to enforce-ment notices requiring action to comply with the Private and Voluntary Health Care Regulations (2001).
The notices make clear requirements for action and we will carry out further spot checks to assess pro-gress, stressing that we will take stronger enforcement action if necessary.
More information on Linden House
Miscellaneous
73. Terminally ill opt for suicide by starvation
08 March 2009 The Sunday Times
Retired GPs in order to avoid the criminal act, in this country, of assisting suicide are helping people starve and dehydrate themselves to death. The group has distributed copies of a book called A Hastened Death by Self-Denial of Food and Drink‘.
Ed. It can be a long and agonising death.
74. Doctors who ignore last wishes may be struck off
07 March 2009 The Times
Some decisions are too important to be left to medics
07 March 2009 The Times
A deathstyle choice for a lifestyle age
05 March 2009 The Times
Doctors face the axe for saving living will patients
07 March 2009 Daily Mail
The announcement by the General Medical Council that it will consult on draft guidelines on the practice of medicine following the ability for people to make advance directives as to circumstances in which they do not wish to receive treatment or wish for treatment to be discontinued have caused alarm.
Plus an analysis by Andrew Hartle, chairman of the clinical ethics committee at Imperial College Health-care NHS Trust and a commentary from Libby Purves.
Ed. This story is something of a non-issue. All those who have followed the passage and then enactment of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 will be well aware of the issues. It is well known that in order to treat a patient the patient must give informed consent. The only exception is where there is an urgent need to intervene and the patient can‘t give consent – for ex-ample because he is unconscious. Without informed consent treatment is a criminal offence. An advance directive is a document to be followed in the circum-stances which are specified.
75. The guests thought it was just a Christmas bash – but Dignitas couple‘s party was their final farewell
07 March 2007 The Times
Couple die together in Swiss clinic suicide pact
06 March 2007 The Times
They told their friends they were retiring to a second home. Instead this million-aire and his wife died together in a Swiss suicide clinic
06 March 2009 Daily Mail
Peter Duff, 80, and Penelope Duff, 70, were each suffering from advanced stage terminal cancers, they held a party for family and friends before Christmas then they travelled together to a Dignitas clinic in Switzerland where they were helped to die.
76. Wronged parents need the oxygen of publicity
06 march 2009 The Times
Article by Camilla Cavendish about permitting parents, deprived of their children unjustly, to be allowed to protest the fact – from 01.04.09, the family courts will no longer automatically sit in secret – the onus will be on judges to restrict public access only if absolutely necessary. However, oddly, the Lord Chancellor is proposing to ban reporting of cases once they have concluded. His would prevent parents and children from telling their stories.
Ed. Such proposals are preposterous and Jack Straw should be told so. Miscarriages of justice are legion. To ensure some are redressed requires openness and the right to report.
77. Recruiting drive for social care workers hits the North East
06 March 2009
If you are looking for job satisfaction and a chance to make a real difference, you might be looking for work in social care, says the Department of Health, which will be running a series of recruitment events across England.
Social care workers provide the practical support necessary to help people cope with every day living. Jobs range from home care assistants, to work within residential care homes and there are a wide range of positions working with older people, children, families and people with disabilities.
Care Services Minister, Phil Hope said:
"The people who work in social care now tell me their jobs are demanding but incredibly rewarding. If you are a passionate people person and get a kick out of helping others, a job in social care could be just the thing you are looking for. There are lots of different ways you can get in to social care. If you've had ex-perience of caring for a family member or a friend, and might be interested in getting paid to care for others, take a few minutes out of your day to visit the recruitment event and find out more. It could put you on the path to a really satisfying job."
The national social care recruitment campaign started on national TV on 23 February 2009 and will continue until the end of March.
The campaign features real-life users of social care and their care workers, in their everyday settings. Tunde, a young man with autism, is accompanied on the journey to work by Peter, his support worker. Helen helps Joyce, who is recovering from a stroke, get dressed for a special occasion after their
shopping trip to buy a new frock.
78. Beckett cuts planned council rent
increases in half
06 March 2009
Housing Minister Margaret Beckett has announced new support to help councils cut their planned rent increases for tenants in the current economic climate.
The average guideline rent increase for 2009/10 will be halved from 6.2% to 3.1% for local authority ten-ants, to encourage councils to reduce the amount tenants would have to pay for the coming year. Mrs Beckett announced that the Government would make funding available to support local authorities to make the changes, and revise their rents for 2009/10 accordingly.
79. PCTs exceed expectations in year one
5 March 2009 HSJ
As predicted, no PCT achieved level 4 – the best score – for any of the 10 competencies, but level 3 was awarded 37 times, surpassing expectations that PCTs would remain stuck at levels 1 and 2.
NHS director general for commissioning and system management Mark Britnell said this week the first round of world class commissioning had gone "very well indeed".
80. Boost for health and social care re-search
04 March 2009
Top health and social care researchers were recognised for their outstanding contribution to research and research leadership by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). 63 of the country's leading researchers who work on significant health challenges, including cancer, obesity and diabetes, have been appointed as Senior Investigators. Senior Investigators provide leader-ship and expert advice to the NIHR research faculty, and act as ambassadors to promote clinical and applied people-focused research.
The scheme was launched in April 2008 when the first 100 researchers were selected from those leading NIHR applied health and social care research.
Department of Health Director General of Research and Development Professor Dame Sally C Davies announced the appointments in a keynote address to the first NIHR health research conference in Notting-ham.
The announcement of this year's Senior Investigators brings the total to 163 researchers. Over the next two years, the scheme will expand to over 200 researchers.
A full list of the Senior Investigator appointments can be viewed at: http://www.nihr.ac.uk/faculty_senior_investigators.aspx
81. New Chair of the Health Protection Agency appointed
04 March 2009 The appointment of a new Chair for the board of the Health Protection Agency was announced by Public Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo.
Dr. David L Heymann will replace Sir William Stewart who retires in April 2009. Dr Heymann is currently the Assistant Director General for Health Security and Environment for the World Health Organisation
(WHO) in Geneva. He is also the Representative of the Director General for Polio Eradication. He previ-ously worked with the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention for 24 years.
The Health Protection Agency is a UK-wide body established by the Health Protection Agency Act 2004. It has a remit to protect the health of the general public from infectious disease, radiation, chemicals and environmental hazards. Its activities span laboratory research through to front-line service delivery, and from local services to global partner-ships. Its ambition is to lead the way in health protection by identifying, preparing for and responding to health threats, and setting standards for health protection. It provides support and advice to the NHS, local authorities, emergency services, other Quangos, the Department of Health and the Devolved Ad-ministrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ire-land.
From 01.04.09, the HPAs functions will widen when it takes over responsibility for functions in relation to biological substances when the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control merges with the HPA. At that time, the Biological Standards Board will be wound up.
82. 'You have the right not to remain silent'
04 March 2009
Too many people do not know about the service standards they get from the police according to new re-search published by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and the Government's Crime and Justice Adviser Louise Casey, as they unveiled a new public information campaign to raise awareness.
The research shows that 47% of people know about the service provided by their local police - compared
to 74% from their GP and 62% from their local council.
The Policing Pledge, which was rolled out nationally in December 2008, is a new and clear deal for what the public can expect from the police. It gives local people an unprecedented say over how their commu-nities are policed and the opportunity to hold the police to account - to ensure they are getting the service they want. It also means people can be confident that the police are delivering the same set of national service standards throughout the country while still delivering action on their local priorities.
The adverts promote the http://www.direct.gov.uk/policingpledge site as a key way for people to access information about policing, including the details of their local policing team, a copy of the pledge itself and local crime information. There is also a new number people can text to get the phone number for their local neighbourhood policing team and their police force non-emergency number. Text 'PLEDGE' fol-lowed by your POSTCODE to 66101 in order to get details of your local team.
83. New £30 fine for illegal parking in disabled space
02 March 2009 Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities
Drivers who abuse disabled parking bays will be fined £30 under a law passed by MSPs today. 26/03/2009
More information at: http://www.learningdisabilities.org.uk/information/news/?EntryId17=32211
84. Healthcare Business
The publication of monthly trade magazine Health-care Business can now be seen on-line at
http://publishing.yudu.com/A14vmv/Healthcarebusmar09/
85. CRB - GOOD NEWS!
05 march 2009 West Midlands Care Assn Newsletter
After having over 100 CRBs outstanding for over the 60 days, we now have only one or two. The West Midlands Police had special help from the CRB to catch up and ensure that they met their commitments to complete them.
86. New UKHCA initiative contributes to care worker recruitment
3 March 2009
United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) has helped 345 prospective recruits make contact with 1,134 local employers in its first week of operation. The initiative comes at the start of the Department of Health's annual social care recruitment campaign and is a pilot project in partnership with the Department and Skills for Care to test whether the concept could be expanded in future years.
Candidates responding to the Department‘s television, radio and newspaper advertising are offered a link to the UKHCA website (www.ukhca.co.uk/jobs) and can submit their contact details and their work preferences on-line. UKHCA then sends the candidate‘s details to local employers who can begin their recruitment procedures.
UKHCA's Head of Policy, Colin Angel, said:
"Initial results are extremely encouraging. We hope that everyone interested in homecare is considered by at least one employer, and that every suitable applicant is able to join the homecare sector.”
The initiative follows research undertaken by UKHCA last October which confirmed that care worker turn-over in the sector was running at 24%, creating a considerable burden on employers.
UKHCA‘s Chief Executive, Mike Padgham, said:
?We are delighted that the Department of Health and Skills for Care were willing to capitalise on this initiative. It is evidence of how good collaborative working can maximise the impact of the campaign for independent and voluntary sector providers.”
87. Social Care Constitution
March 2009 Care Management Matters
Demos has produced a report A Constitution for Social Care‘ and says that unless there is a constitutional‘ document similar to that of the NHS which sets out rights and responsibilities of service users and the State millions of people reliant on social services will become second class citizens‘.
88. Planning ahead... Remember, it‘s good to talk
March 2009 Community Care Market News
Extensive article over two pages by David Madden of communications and lobbying firm PLMR (our partner organisation – see =PARLIAMENT‘) about the value of proactive communication with key opinion formers as part of the planning process.
NHS
89. Wheelchairs wanted in NHS amnesty
8 March 2009 – BBC
Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Trust is appealing for the return of medical aids such as wheelchairs and walkers.
90. Hospitals can make you sick – find out which are worst for errors and accidents
07 March 2009 The Times
1m a year are victims of NHS blunders or accidents
07 March 2009 Daily Mail
The National Patient Safety Agency revealed the figures. 439,612 patient safety alerts were reported be-tween April and September 2008, of which 1% caused severe harm or death.
91. Flaws exposed in NHS winter planning
06 March 2009 Health Service Journal
According to David Flory, director general of NHS finance, performance and operations, said that the NHS must improve the way it deals with the increased demand for hospital care in winter months.
Mr Flory said in the quarterly update on performance that he was "disappointed" that the NHS as a whole had missed its target to see 98% of patients in accident and emergency departments within four hours. 92. SHA chief Margaret Edwards to lead productivity unit
06 March 2009 Health Service Journal
Margaret Edwards, the chief executive of Yorkshire and the Humber strategic health authority, is to lead the new national NHS productivity unit. She will take up the role when she returns from holiday.
93. Better NHS safety reporting call
6 March 2009 – BBC
After data on patient safety "incidents" in individual NHS trusts showed wide variation an NHS watchdog has warned that trusts in England and Wales need to improve their reporting of patient errors.
94. CfH stripped of key roles and reorganised
05 March 2009 e-HealthInsider
In a major shake-up of health service IT, key leader-ship roles are to be moved directly to the Department of Health, with NHS Connecting for Health playing a strictly supporting role.
95. Changes to prescription and dental charges and optical vouchers
05 March 2009
From 01.04.09 changes will be made to prescription charges and some dental treatments in Eng-land. Prescriptions will increase by 10 pence. The value of optical vouchers will also increase by an overall 2%. The cost of a dental check-up on the NHS in England will also increase by 30p to £16.50.
The prescription charge exemption for people being treated for cancer, the effects of cancer, or the ef-fects of cancer treatment also comes into force from 1st April. This new scheme will benefit up to 150,000 people already diagnosed with cancer, who might otherwise pay around £100 a year in prescription charges.
96. NHS is a 'brutal' place for its leaders
05 March 2009 Acute Care Newsletter
NHS is a 'brutal' place for its leaders
05 March 2009 Health Service Journal
The NHS is a ?brutal and ?arbitrary system in which to be a chief executive, according to leaders inter-viewed by the NHS Confederation.
Its report, Reforming Leadership Development… Again, examines why this area is reformed so often. Health minister Lord Darzi‘s leadership propos-als in his next stage review are the fourth reorganisation of leadership development in 10 years.
97. NHS continues to deliver key priorities
04 March 2009
The NHS met a number of key commitments on healthcare priorities at the end of last year and con-tinues to show strong financial management, the Department of Health announced.
The Quarter 3 (October-December 2008) performance report published on 04.03.09 shows that:
* The NHS met its target to have half of GP practices offering extended opening hours by the end of 2008. In January, over 71% of surgeries were opening at evenings and weekends, providing patients with greater flexibility and choice.
* Smokefree legislation has helped reduce rates of smoking to their lowest ever on record, with only 21% of adults smoking. We continue to see a steady de-cline in smoking among all groups, especially routine and manual workers.
* Progress has been made in tackling the decade long rising trend in childhood obesity. Latest data published in December showed that in 2007, there were 65,000 fewer obese children and 105,000 fewer overweight children than would be the case if the trend had continued.
* Good progress continued to be made on tackling Healthcare Associated Infections and meeting the 18 Weeks waits target.
Latest data on NHS financial performance forecasts the gross operating deficit to be £57 million at year-end, down from £125 million at the end of 07/08. The predicted surplus of £1.735 billion will stay within the NHS and will be used to improve patient care.
'The Quarter' report updates the NHS on progress towards key priorities, including financial health and can be found at: http://www.dh.gov.uk
98. NHS calls change after criticism
4 March 2009 - BBC
Changes are being made to the way the NHS handles out of hours calls after a coroner accused the service of systemic failure following a woman's death.
99. New vision for Practice Based Commissioning
04 March 2009
A renewed vision for Practice Based Commissioning (PBC), and how it relates to World Class Commis-sioning, was unveiled at an event hosted by the King's Fund and the Department of Health.
'Clinical commissioning: our vision for practice-based commissioning' describes how clinicians and health service managers can combine their expertise to bring about improvements in local health by investing
in better quality, better value, and better-designed health services. It outlines the principles to achieve this and introduces a greater level of rigour into the system through a series of clear entitlements under-lining the support practice-based commissioners can expect to receive.
The NHS Next Stage Review published last summer committed to reinvigorating PBC. The new vision confirms the direction of practice-based commissioning as providing a pivotal role in empowering health-care professionals to drive world class commissioning by having a stronger say in shaping the health and healthcare of local populations in partnership with Primary Care Trusts.
The vision has been developed in collaboration with a broad range of clinicians, Primary Care Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities.
The vision can be found at: http://www.dh.gsi.gov.uk/pbc
The latest PBC GP survey results can be viewed at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsStatistics/DH_091372
100. £21m NHS unit officially opened
4 March 2009 - BBC
A £21.3m Critical Care unit for people with life-threatening injuries has been officially opened at the Northern General Hospital, Sheffield.
101. FT chief resigns ahead of watchdog report
04 March 2009 Health Service Journal Mid Staffordshire Foundation Trust has seen Chair Toni Brisby and chief executive Martin Yeates have
both resign following a "crisis of public confidence" ahead of a Healthcare Commission report.
Monitor, the regulator, has intervened and appointed replacements. The findings are believed to relate to "inadequacies in aspects of the quality of clinical and nursing care at the trust, alongside broader govern-ance and senior management failings".
102. =Super-flu‘ puts hospital patients at risk
03 March 2009 The Times
Two research papers have shown that a drug resistant mutation of H1N1 influenza A virus have spread through populations around the globe.
The out break in December 2008 of flu in the Royal Liverpool University Hospital which infected more than 100 patients was Tamiflu resistant. Liverpool was commended by the Health Protection Agency for its speedy and effective response.
103. NHS chiefs forced to defend Agenda for Change
03 March 2009 Health Service Journal MPs have attacked health chiefs for failing to ensure Agenda for Change delivered promised gains in staff productivity.
NHS chief executive David Nicholson and Department of Health workforce director Clare Chapman appeared in front of the public accounts committee yesterday afternoon for its inquiry into NHS pay mod-ernisation.
Committee member Richard Bacon, a Conservative MP, said he was "puzzled" as to why the DH did not know whether the pay system, introduced in 2004,
had resulted in planned yearly productivity rises of between 1.1% and 1.5%.
He said: "You went to great efforts to set up an all singing, all dancing pay system and yet you can't tell us specifically what it has done."
104. NHS patients to benefit from new measures to improve access to drugs
03 March 2009
A package of measures designed to speed up access to new drugs and treatments for NHS patients, has been announced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and Health Minister Lord Darzi.
The four proposed changes will, it is said, ensure that more NHS patients receive the life-saving, clinically and cost effective drugs and treatments they need faster. It will also ensure that where NICE guidance has not yet been issued for a new drug or treatment the local NHS makes more robust and transparent decisions about what treatments it will fund.
The measures announced by Lord Darzi and NICE are:
* A consultation on a new and faster system for refer-ring drugs to NICE for appraisal - proposals will en-able NICE to issue more timely guidance, in turn giving patients faster access to drugs and treatments.
* An additional new appraisal committee - to ensure that NICE has the capacity it needs to appraise new drugs and treatments as promptly as possible;
* Increased investment in "horizon scanning" to en-sure that new drugs are identified early on for ap-praisal; and * A guidance document for the NHS - detailing good practice on how decisions on new drugs should be made by Primary Care Trusts where there is no existing NICE guidance . This will be supported by a programme of training and support to assist the NHS to implement the guidance.
The consultation document can be downloaded from http://www.nice.org.uk/getinvolved
105. Calls for NHS to get responses to complaints 'right first time' and learn les-sons from them
02 March 2009 Healthcare Commission eNewsletter
Some NHS trusts are still not responding to complaints effectively or learning lessons from them, this is the finding of our recent report on complaints in the NHS. The Healthcare Commission made 12 key recommendations to all NHS trusts to improve the way they resolve complaints.
The way trusts handle complaints is still the number one issue raised by complainants. Patients and the public also continue to raise issues about the same basic aspects of healthcare.
Each year the NHS delivers 380 million treatments and receives around 135,000 complaints.
From 01.04.09, a new two-tier complaints handling system will replace the current three-tier procedure. If a person complains to a trust and they are un-happy with the trust's response they will be able to request a review from the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
More on Spotlight on complaints 2009
Nursing
106. Warning over superbug plan
6 March 2009 - BBC
Nurses have warned a raft of measures to tackle hospital infections could lead to staff becoming over-stretched.
Older People
107. Older workers hope dashed as judges support compulsory retirement at 65
06 March 2009 The Times
Article about the decision by European judges backing the UK decision to have a compulsory retirement age.
See CASES item 31 above.
108. Retirement age ruling
05 March 2009 The Times
Short item on the challenge to the Government decision to permit employers to force workers to retire at age 65.
See CASES item 31 above.
Parliament
109. Parliamentary Questions and Debate from the Past Week
The following section is produced in conjunction with PLMR – Political Lobbying & Media Relations – health and social care specialists www.plmr.co.uk
05 March 2009 – House of Commons – Westminster Hall Debate on the subject of adults with learning disabilities. The debate discussed the 7th Report from the Joint Committee on Human Rights on human rights, entitled =A life like any other? Human Rights of adults with learning disabilities‘, and the Govern-ment‘s response. The debate was requested by the Labour MP for Hendon, Andrew Dismore, and the Minister of State for Care Services, Phil Hope, spoke on behalf of the Government.
Other MPs who spoke during this debate included the Conservative MP for West Dorset, Oliver Letwin; the Labour MP for South Thanet, Dr. Stephen Ladyman; the Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, John Barrett; and the Shadow Minister for Health and MP for Eddisbury, Stephen O'Brien. To read the debate transcript online click on the following link: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/
05 March 2009 – House of Commons – Written Parliamentary Question and Answer concerning the level of expense allowances for people in social care. The Written Question was tabled by the Labour MP for Walsall North, David Winnick, and was answered by the Minister for Care Services, Phil Hope MP, on be-half of the Secretary of State. To read the questions and answers online click on the following link: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/
05 March 2009 – House of Commons – Written Parliamentary Questions and Answers relating to de-mentia treatment and the National Dementia Strat-egy. The Written Questions were tabled by the Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Conservative MP for South Cambridgeshire, Andrew Lansley, and were answered by the Minister for Care Ser-vices, Phil Hope MP, on behalf of the Secretary of State. To read the Written Questions and Answers online click on the following link: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/
05 March 2009 – House of Commons – Written Parliamentary Questions and Answers which asked the Secretary of State for Health about the Department of Health‘s funding allocation for social care. The Written Questions were tabled by the Liberal Democrat MP for Portsmouth South, Mike Hancock, and were answered by the Minister for Care Services, Phil Hope MP, on behalf of the Secretary of State. To read the Written Questions and Answers online click on the following link: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/
09 March 2009 – House of Commons – Written Par-liamentary Question and Answer regarding the im-plementation of the National Dementia Strategy. The Written Question was tabled by the Liberal Democrat MP for Sutton & Cheam, Paul Burstow, and was answered by the Minister for Care Services, Phil Hope MP, on behalf of the Secretary of State. To read the Written Question and Answer online click on the following link: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/
Social Care
110. Assets loophole snares service-user attention
March 2009 Community Care Market News
A look at the report from the Conservative Party drawing on statistics from 150 local authorities which suggests that 50,000 self-funders of care have been forced, unnecessarily to sell their homes to fund the cost. Extensive quotes from Keith Lewin on the is-sue.
111. DH uprates capital allowance limits
March 2009 Community Care Market News
The capital limits for eligibility for state supported residential care are to increase w.e.f. 06.04.09.
The lower limit will rise from £13,500 to £14,000.
The Upper limit will rise from £22,500 to £23,000.
Workforce
Retirement age ruling
05 March 2009 The Times
See OLDER PEOPLE item 107 above.
See also CASES item 31 above.
112. Healey: councils must right the wrong of unequal pay
03 March 2009
Local Government Minister John Healey has announced more support for councils to deliver equal pay for thousands of workers, and end years of un-fairness.
Councils have made real progress over the past few years to make equal pay back payments to thou-sands of employees - mainly women.
To maintain that momentum, Mr Healey has confirmed that councils will next year be given additional financial flexibility to meet and manage their one-off costs of implementing equal pay by enabling them to borrow against or sell assets.
This has been widely welcomed by local government and trades unions as practical support that enabled them to meet their own commitments.
Chair of the Local Government Employers, Sir Steve Bullock, said:
"Councils want equal pay within their workforce and are working hard to achieve it. This announcement is a major step along the road of achieving equal pay for the local government workforce.
"Providing a fair settlement on equal pay remains an urgent issue for local councils who must act in the best interests of local tax payers as well as all staff and is a clear indication that Government shares our determination to resolve the issue and understands the size of the challenge involved."
Ed. Once equal pay claims within councils are re-solved this is likely to result in a switch of tack by a number of lawyers who are pursuing equal pay claims – they are likely to then target those who bid for council work and took staff under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (SI 2006/246); better known as TUPE‘.
113. NHS trust enquiry chiefs resign
3 March 2009 – BBC
The chief executive, Martin Yeates and chairman,Toni Brisby of a Staffordshire NHS trust being investigated over higher than normal death rates have resigned with immediate effect. The independent regulator Monitor has appointed David Stone, the chairman of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, as the new chairman of Mid Staffordshire. A new chief executive for the trust, which runs Staffordshire General Hospital, in Stafford, and Cannock Chase Hospital, has not yet been appointed.
114. South Essex Partnership named top employer for managers
2 March 2009 – HSJ
The HSJ and Nursing Times Healthcare 100 has revealed the best overall healthcare employer in the UK to be Kent independent provider Benenden Hospital trust.
115. Compromise Agreements
March 2008 Extract from the Ministry of Justices‘
Claims Management Regulation Monitoring and Compliance Unit (MCU) report No. 5
“We have received enquiries about whom, and more importantly, who cannot represent clients in Compromise Agreements. An „Acceptable Compromise Agreement? is a legally binding agreement to accept compensation from an employer instead of pursuing a tribunal case. Only a solicitor, a designated trade union officer or a designated advice bureau worker, can sign such agreements. The conditions regulating compromise agreements are set out in section 203 of the Employment Rights Act 1996.”
116. Could the recession rob care of staff
March 2009 Community Care Market News
The item posits the view that migrant workers may return to their home countries. The impact of the recession on migrant labour‘ available on www.lga.gov.uk
Ed. Of course, the opposite view may be correct; namely, that with all of the redundancies, there will be a growing pool of locals looking for work.
117. The need for leadership and management development
March 2009 Care Management Matters
Ian McClintock, CEO AgeCare and Chair of National Care Forum Training and Development Committee, considers the need for leadership and management development in social care following publication of =Employer-led Leadership and Management Development in the Social Care Sector‘ which was informed and contributed to by a number of national care associations.
The conclusion is that leadership and management development will be pivotal in driving improving care standards. This presents huge opportunities and, of course, there will be a cost.
118. Finding funding for training
March 2009 Care Management Matters
Linda Tarpey considers resources and funding avail-able for providers following the launch by Skills for Care of its comprehensive online guide which identifies 46 sources of help!
The guide is at www.skillsforcare.org.uk/funding/other_funding_sources/other_funding_sources.aspx
119. Gold Standards Framework in Care Homes training
March 2009 Care Management Matters
Tom Tanner looks at a training programme to deliver gold standard end of life care, a key Government priority.
120. Keeping hold of good staff
March 2009 Care Management Matters
A look by Emma Sterland at the half dozen key is-sues that can improve staff retention.
Management of Legionella risk in Care Homes
Health & Safety Executive recently carried out 28 inspections of nursing homes across Wales. Several of the nursing homes visited did not have adequate arrangements for controlling the risk of Legionella. In 9 of the homes, the risk management systems were so poor that Improvement Notices were issued.
Legionnaires disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia which can affect anybody, but which prin-cipally affects those who are susceptible because of age, illness, immunosuppression, smoking etc. In the UK Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 is the most common cause of Legionnaires‘ disease. Infection occurs by inhalation of water droplets (or aerosols) infected with the bacteria. There are no recorded instances of person to person transmission of the disease.
Legionella bacteria can be found naturally occurring in environmental water sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, usually in low numbers. Where conditions allow, they can infect the water in cooling tow-ers, whirlpool spas and purpose built hot and cold water systems, as found in care settings. Where con-ditions are suitable for the growth of Legionella the risk is increased. There is a risk of disease when droplets of water, infected with the bacteria, are in-haled. Whilst showers may present a particular prob-lem in care homes, water droplets created from taps is also a potential source. Any equipment that can generate water droplets that could be inhaled should be assessed for potential risk.
People who are immunosuppressed, have an underlying disease, elderly or smokers etc. who are ex-posed to aerosols containing the bacteria are at higher risk of contracting the disease. People suffering with Legionnaires' disease usually have fever, chills, and a cough, which may be dry or may produce sputum. Some people also have muscle aches, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, loss of coordination, and occasionally diarrhea and vomiting. Laboratory tests may show that a persons‘ renal functions, liver functions and electrolytes are affected. It is difficult to distinguish legionnaires' disease from other types of pneumonia by symptoms or radiologic findings alone; other tests are required for diagnosis. It is estimated that between 10-12% of those who contract the disease may die as a result. This is likely to be far higher in care settings where the exposed live in close proximity and share the same facilities.
If an otherwise healthy person becomes infected by Legionella bacteria, they are more likely to contract the milder Pontiac fever‘. This is similar to influenza, and sufferers will probably experience fever and muscle aches without pneumonia. They generally recover in 2 to 5 days without treatment.
The time between the person's exposure to the bacterium and the onset of illness for Legionnaires' dis-ease is 2 to 10 days; for Pontiac fever, it is shorter, generally a few hours to 2 days.
The recent inspections of nursing homes showed that
the management of Legionella risk was inadequate in a number of homes. Nursing homes cater for people
who have a higher level of dependency than other care homes.
Managing the risk
There is a duty on nursing homes under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 to consider the risks from Legionella that may affect their employees, and the people in their care.
Homes should carry out a full assessment of their hot and cold water systems and ensure adequate con-trols are in place to ensure that the conditions are not suitable for Legionella growth. A schematic drawing of the water system is essential in the vast majority of premises to help manage the risks. The most com-monly used method of managing the risk is through temperature control. Other systems include copper and silver ionisation or ozone and UV treatment. However, these do require regular maintenance, ser-vicing and inspection to ensure they remain effective.
Where temperature control is to be used it is vital that the controls detailed in HSE publication =Legionnaires Disease – The control of Legionella bacteria in water systems‘ (L8) are in place. These include the following:
• hot water storage should be kept above 60 degrees celsius
• hot water distribution should be kept above 50 degrees Celsius (prior to thermostatic mixe where they are found)
• hot and cold water systems should remain separate until point of use
• cold water storage and distribution should be kept below 20 degrees Celsius all year round
• cold water storage tanks should be appropriately sized (normally sufficient for a day‘s use to avoid stagnation), have lids, be insulated and be kept clean and free from debris
• infrequently used outlets should be flushed out on a regular basis
• there should be no dead legs in the pipe work
• monitoring of temperatures should be carried out on regular basis
• analysis of water samples for Legionella should be carried out periodically (frequency to be determined by level of risk)
• responsible persons should be adequately trained and monitored
Whilst the inspection found that many premises were failing to manage the risks from Legionella, the risks can be easily managed. There is no excuse not to assess hot and cold water systems in such premises and implement adequate controls where there are vulnerable people with increased risk from exposure to such bacteria.
It should be noted that where temperature control is to be used to manage the risk from Legionella bacte
ria, thermostatic mixer valves will be required close to outlets accessible to service users. This is especially the case on showers and baths. Temperatures will have to be monitored to ensure that outlets do not achieve temperatures greater than 43 degrees Celsius. Temperatures for management of Legionella will, therefore, need to be taken prior to the mixer valve. Further information on the risks from scalding can be found in HSE Sector Information Minute (SIM) 7/2207/08 available from the HSE website.
Further information on this important topic can be found on HSE‘s website at http://www.hse.gov.uk/legionnaires, or call the HSE helpline on 0845 345 0055.
This article has been prepared by the Health and Safety Executive in Wales