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BHCR 2009 Vol 4 Issue 03
Brunswicks Health Care Review 2009 Volume 4 Issue 03

Editorial

Safeguarding issues have been much in the news in the

past few months, particularly Baby P and the scandal of

childrens services in Haringey, Doncaster has its own

dreadful failures.

Depressingly, there will be more, probably much more

where people are aware of wrongdoing and there is a

‘conspiracy of silence’ with everyone keeping their

respective heads down and hoping that the press will not

get to know about it.

There is less attention given to similar mis-treatment of

older people.

There is a discrimination which seems to operate in a

social care context. Already councils spend more per head

on care of disabled children and young people than they

do on older people. I am sure that there are scandals of

abuse which are, or have been, quietly covered up.

However, with the Government’s consultation on the

Department of Health’s ‘No Secrets’ guidance on the

safeguarding of vulnerable adults time has come for a

change. Action on Elder Abuse and a consortium of other

bodies interested in the care of older people have come

together to form the ‘Safeguarding Adults Alliance’ (see

item 2) in this issue.

The Alliance has set its stall out clearly. It believes that the

time for DH Guidance is long past and that legislation is

long overdue.

Currently, there seems to be little appetite in Government

to legislate.

However, as a lawyer who is regularly instructed by

operators who are badly served by the current processes,

including Strategy Meetings from which they are routinely

excluded, through to Local Authorities that think it

acceptable to have minutes of such meetings which are

‘approximately’ correct rather than an accurate reflection of

events, matters discussed and actions agreed.

The time for the amateur approach is long past.

Our most vulnerable people, including older citizens, are

deserving of much better than this.

The answer, it seems to me, is to legislate.

This week’s article

This week we consider the move of the Nursing and Midwifery Council to its now premises towards the end of 2008.

We at Brunswicks hoped that the move to new premises would mark a change in approach by the staff team we commonly come into contact with, namely, those connected with the Conduct and Competence or Health Committees. We have been disappointed. Chaos seems to reign supreme. As a nurse, if you are brought to account for your conduct you should actively seek the support of a lawyer – to read why ... click here

.

Parliament

20.01.09 – HoC – Westminster Hall, Grooming of

children for prostitution

21.01.09 – HoC - Adjournment Debate: Coronary

heart disease in East Lancashire (Janet Anderson)

Next

Abuse

1. Father’s murder of baby exposes fresh

protection failings

16 January 2009 - The Times

The jailing for life of Craig Goddard for the murder of

his baby son has placed Doncaster yet again in the

spotlight for failings in child protection.

2. Major organisations come together in a

‘Safeguarding Adults Alliance’ to seek Adult

Protection legislation

15 January 2009

Over 700 organisations and individuals have come

together in an Alliance to seek a statutory basis for

the work of adult protection in England, Wales and

Northern Ireland. Establishing the Alliance include

representatives from Mencap, Action on Elder

Abuse, Alzheimer’s Society, the United Kingdom

Home Care Association, Action for Advocacy, Irwin

Mitchell, the School of Social and Health Care at

Bournemouth University, Age Concern North Staffordshire,

and the Beth Johnson Foundation. Fifty

three other organisations are associated members of

the Alliance, together with a further six hundred and

twenty one individuals.

Gary FitzGerald, Chief Executive of Action on Elder

Abuse, said, “The organisations coming together in

the Alliance represent older people, people with

Learning Disabilities, people with dementia, the Advocacy

sector, the Care provider sector, the legal

profession and the academic profession. Other key

organisations are currently consulting their membership

and trustees and I anticipate that they will become

full members in due course, leading the Alliance

towards its goals. We collectively acknowledge

that the current systems are failing to provide the

necessary framework to ensure adequate protection

for adults at risk of abuse, and we are committed to

achieving a system that both protect the rights of

adults to live their lives in the manner of their choosing

while simultaneously having access to systems

that genuinely provide protection.”

David Congdon, Head of Campaigns and Policy at

Mencap, said, "The death of Steven Hoskin, the

abuses faced by the family with Learning Disabilities

in Hounslow, and the concerns we have raised in the

'Death by Indifference' report, are all evidence that

the current systems are failing to adequately consider

and respond to the needs of adults at risk of

abuse. We are supporting the Alliance because we

believe that a statutory basis for safeguarding adults

is the only way forward".

Mike Padgham, Chair of the United Kingdom Homecare

Association Ltd, said, “The United Kingdom

Homecare Association (UKHCA) supports the Alliance

to ensure that everyone, whether using a regulated

care service or employing a personal assistant,

is able to access suitable, vetted and accountable

care workers from safe and secure home based care,

and that where abuse is suspected or reported, there

are responsive statutory systems in place to investigate

appropriately and respond.”

3. Social services facing inquiry over deaths

of seven children

13 January 2009 - The Times

More concerns about the childrens services of Doncaster,

South Yorkshire.

4. Welfare chief sacked in Baby P scandal

fails to win back job

13 January 2009 - The Times

Sharon Shoesmith, 55, has failed in her appeal to

council chiefs to regain her job. She will no doubt

bring a claim before the Employment Tribunal.

5. Case for legal protection

January 2009 - Caring Business

A detailed look at the call made by Action on Elder

Abuse for legislation to protect vulnerable older people

rather than simply updating and replacing the DH

guidance ‘No Secrets’ issued in 2000.

Business News

6. Priory loses contract to treat shell shock

troops

18 January 2009 - The Mail on Sunday

The Priory had a contract with the MOD to treat

troops the estimated cost over three years was

£5million. In actuality the bill was £16m. The contract

has now been awarded to seven NHS Trusts.

7. Retirement housing company agrees to

change its lease agreements

14 January 2009

The OFT has secured an agreement from major

builder of UK retirement apartments to amend its

leases, especially in relation to the re-sale of properties.

McCarthy & Stone plc has agreed to remove from

future contracts, and not enforce in existing contracts,

a term in its leases that involved charging consumers

a 'transfer' fee of 1% of the sale price when

the property was subsequently sold. The OFT considered

this term was likely to be in breach of the

Unfair Terms in Consumer Contracts Regulations

1999 (the UTCCRs). The company said that it did

not agree with the OFT's view but co-operated with

discussions and agreed to the changes. The company

has also agreed to amend various other terms.

The OFT has raised the issue of 'transfer' fees with

the proposed body that will be responsible for delivering

a code of conduct and redress scheme in the

homebuilding industry, which has agreed to consider

the matter and facilitate discussions with the industry.

This body is being formed in response to the

OFT's Homebuilding market study.

Care Homes

8. Worries over high care home costs

17 January 2009 – BBC News

Counsel and Care has asked the Government to

overhaul its entire care system so that it is easier and

more transparent.

Out of 2,620 calls made to Counsel and Care’s advice

helpline in 2008, 30% were people who were

worried about how to pay for care homes.

The Department of Health said it would work closely

with local authorities to protect the welfare of residents,

currently, people with savings or a property

worth £22,250 or more do not qualify for local authority

aid with home fees.

The amount is to increase to £23,000 in April.

For full report click here

9. Councils demand care home top-up from

old people

17 January 2009 - The Times

Counsel and Care reports that almost 20% of its

helpline calls are from people concerned about third

party top up fees. Top ups should only be needed in

a small number of cases however, CSCI research

suggests that in some areas where choice of care

homes is limited 75% of residents were subject to

top-up payments.

10. Making sure the price is right for care

16 January 2009 - The Times

Last of the series on the elderly.

This item promotes FirstStop the independent advice

service from a consortium of Counsel and Care, Help

the Aged and NHFA Ltd.

When selecting a care home, dont rely on Star Ratings

of a service or how the home looks, ask to speak

to other families and residents.

Toilet odours and the personal appearance of residents

are matters to consider.

How will the care be funded?

11. The ideal home?

16 January 2009 - The Times

Memory boxes outside the rooms of all residents at

BUPA’s Thatcham Court, Berkshire, a home built

based on the latest thinking on dementia care.

12. My manifesto for change – sign up to play

a role in giving the elderly a fairer deal

16 January 2009 - The Times

Dame Joan Bakewell, recently appointed as an advisor

to government on older people, presents her own

ideas under the following headings:

Government commitment, both local and central

Financial security

Our own house

An increased range of housing choices

Information

Professionalism

Accessibility

Science

Respect

13. Funding a care system that is fit for purpose

16 January 2009 - The Times, Letters to the Editor

Councillor Ken Thornber, Sir George Young MP,

Stephen Burke, Prof. Jonathan Montgomery, Andrew

Lloyd write from Hampshire about the paper they put

to Government ‘Getting Personal’ on the future funding

of care – currently Hampshire is beginning to offer

free social care for up to eight weeks for people at

risk of hospital admission.

Letter from Mark Ellerby, MD of BUPA Care Services,

agreeing that older people’s services have not been

given the same level of attention as those for children

and young people. Correctly, he says that it is no

longer possible to provide five star service for one

star prices.

14. I don’t want to suffer what he’s going

through

15 January 2009 - The Times

Second part of The Times focus on care of older

people. Anna Young shares extracts from her journal

in which she records a moving account of her

husband’s life in a care home; the fact that having

savings has meant her husband had to pay for his

care, now she has to pay top-up and she is, in consequence,

now living on restricted means.

15. We need more money and more staff

15 January 2009 - The Times

Martin Green, Chief Executive of ECCA, discusses

the funding and workforce issues affecting the residential

care sector. He states that “[local authorities]

may claim to spend more on the old than any other

age group, but some are paying as little as £350 a

week to look after a person with dementia, whereas

a disabled child will get so much more.

Accordingly, there is a mismatch between the needs

and expectations of homes, largely because society

lacks respect for older people. One of the consequences

is an underfunded system where there is a

lack of adequate staff. By not being able to pay good

wages, care homes are not able to attract and retain

people to a role that requires emotional intelligence,

working unsocial hours, sometimes doing undignified

jobs, such as changing continence pads.

If Government wants a better or more consistent

workforce, it must put pressure on local authorities to

pay a reasonable price for care. The problems will

become worse because the Government has

changed the immigration rules…. Of course, no-one

should expect their care home to smell of stale urine

or have their jumpers boil-washed and we need to

take the issue of complaints seriously.

16. Help for middle class in care home hunt

14 January 2009 - The Times

Phil Hope MP and Minister for Social Care has said

to The Times that he wants to scrap the split between

older people who qualify for help from local authorities

and those who are self-funders – who generally

get no help trying to find a suitable care home.

17. Who Cares?

14 January 2009 - The Times, Leading Article

At the launch of The Times three day focus on care of

older people the newspaper says Britain miserably

fails many of our older people. There are, it says,

three challenges:

Quality of care

The apartheid of those who can pay (largely outside

the system) vs those who cant

How to pay for it

18. Nursing homes are not set up to help to

improve patients’ lives’

14 January 2009 - The Times

The first of three days focusing on care for the elderly.

A long article looking at the lack of mental or

other stimulation for a man in his 90’s confined to bed

in a care home seven hours drive away from his family,

at a cost of £775 a week.

19. LEEDS CARE HOME CELEBRATES

ACHIEVING NATIONAL 'GOLD STANDARD'

CARE ACCREDITATION

14 January 2009

Residents, staff and managers at Pennington Court

Care Home celebrated the announcement that the

home has been awarded the highest level of accreditation

for the Gold Standards Framework for End of

Life Care.

Pennington Court, in Beeston, has been awarded

'Beacon Status', which identifies the home as one of

a very select group to have achieved the very highest

level of care provision for people approaching the end

of life. Pennington Court was one of only seven

homes across the country to gain the Beacon rating

in this round of awards.

Westward Care's Managing Director, Peter Hodkinson,

said:

"We are all immensely proud of the fantastic

work done by all the staff at Pennington

Court. Westward Care believes that all of our

residents deserve the highest levels of care

and it is a great honour to see this commitment

to care rewarded by the Gold Standards

Framework initiative.

"The provision of high quality care for our

older population is one of the most important

challenges we as a society face. Initiatives

like the Gold Standards Framework help to

raise the bar for providers of care and Westward

Care is absolutely committed to reaching

and exceeding these standards across

the board."

20. Protest against care home closure

13 January 2009 – BBC News

Protesters demonstrated to try and save a care home

which families say offers a "fabulous" service.

Troed y Ton in Kenfig Hill near Bridgend could shut

by September but opponents gathered at a council

meeting on Tuesday to voice their concern.

For full report click here

21. Everyone knows their onions – even the

chef

January 2009 - Caring Business

A look at the running of a care home in Glasgow and

the roles played by some of the individuals key to its

smooth running.

22. Shaw Healthcare tendering storm

January 2009 - Caring Business

Smaller independent care operators are crying ‘foul’

over the tendering process being undertaken by

Devon County Council and which is reported as having

agreed a care fee with Shaw Healthcare greater

than the fee provided to others.

Case Reports

Law Reports

Nothing to report

Disciplinary cases

Nothing to report

Cases in the news

23. Child deaths probe in Birmingham

18 January 2009 – BBC News

An Ofsted report has deemed Birmingham’s social

services as “inadequate” in its ability to safeguard

vulnerable children.

As a result, a Government intervention team will

work with the department after eight children known

to it died within three years.

For full report click here

24. Baby P official loses sack appeal

12 January 2009 – BBC News

Sharon Shoesmith, the former head of children's services

at the centre of the Baby P case has lost her appeal

against dismissal.

She was sacked by Haringey Council last month after a

damning initial report into her department's role into the

17-month-old's death.

For full report click here

25. Doncaster children: Who are they?

12 January 2009 – BBC News

An independent inquiry has been launched into Doncaster

Council's children's services department after

serious case reviews were ordered into the deaths of

seven children in the area.

Five children were under 16 months old - of whom

some details are known - including the cases of Amy

Howson and Alfie Goddard, which have been brought to

court but the other three are identified only by the codes

they were given in the serious case review reports.

For full report click here

Children

26. Child protection changes adopted

14 January 2009 – BBC News

Jersey’s Health and Social Services department has

announced that all changes recommended by a review

into Jersey's child protection system will be implemented.

The Williamson Report made 11 recommendations

which included creating a minister for children and

developing a staff whistle-blowing policy.

For full report click here

27. Child safety services criticised

13 January 2009 – BBC News

An Ofsted report has rated the safeguarding of vulnerable

children in Reading as “inadequate”. Its criticisms

included assessments not being completed on

time, over-burdened social workers and inadequate

filing of personal data.

For full report click here

28. More than 300 children 'at risk'

13 January 2009 – BBC News

A crisis meeting on Doncaster has heard that over

300 youngsters in the district are at risk of abuse.

An emergency meeting was told 317 children were on

child protection plans, which replaced the child protection

register last year.

For full report click here

Conferences & Courses

29. Leading the way in social care

Social Care Leadership Development Programme—

by SCIE

November 2008 and January 2009

SCIE is running a third year of the highly successful

Social Care Leadership Development Programme,

which will be run by the King’s Fund, Birmingham

University and the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust.

The programme welcomes applications from:

Potential directors of adult social services and potential

directors or chief executives in provider organisations

Black and minority ethnic applications

Private sector provider applicants

The programme is designed to provide a developmental

and outcomes-focused framework that draws

on participants’ experiences and relates to their current

work environment. Core content themes are:

Leadership for social care outcomes

Personal and organisational leadership

Community leadership

The programme is funded by the Department of

Health with a maximum of 24 participants in each

group.

For more information and an application form please

contact Elizabeth Scott, Programme Administrator,

SCIE, Goldings House, 2 Hay’s Lane, LONDON,

SE1 2HB on 020 7089 6920 or elizabeth.

scott@scie.og.uk

30. The New NHS Standard Contract: Mental

Health and Community Contracts Implementation

Workshops

PCTs across England will be introducing a new

form of standard contract with effect from

01.04.09. So far as we are aware there has not

been wide consultation of the sector – in fact, we

are not aware of any ! Whilst it makes sense to

have a common form of contract across the country

(wouldn’t it save time, energy and resources if

there was a single form of contract with all local

authorities?) the lack of consultation gives genuine

cause for concern.

However, there will be implementation workshops;

dates below:

26th January - The New NHS Standard Contract:

Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation

Workshops

The Cleve Hotel & Country Club,

Wellington TA21 8SN

3rd February - The New NHS Standard Contract:

Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation

Workshops

Holiday Inn Regents Park, London

W1W 5EE

5th February - The New NHS Standard Contract:

Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation

Workshops

Reebok Stadium: Bolton Wanderers

FC / Devere Whites Hotel, Bolton

BL6 6JW

6th February - The New NHS Standard Contract:

Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation

Workshops

Radisson SAS Durham

10th February - The New NHS Standard Contract:

Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation

Workshops

Mercure London Gatwick Hotel, Gatwick

RH6 0BE

12th February - The New NHS Standard Contract:

Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation

Workshops

Hilton London Metropole, London W2

1JU

18th February - The New NHS Standard Contract:

Mental Health and Community Contracts Implementation

Workshops

Birmingham City Football Club

31. Westminster Health Forum keynote seminar

Dementia and Elderly Care

Morning, 27th January 2009

Westminster, London SW1

with

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Care Services,

Department of Health

and

Professor Sube Banerjee

Senior Professional Advisor, Older People's Mental

Health, Department of Health

and

Neil Hunt

Chief Executive, Alzheimer's Society

Live Agenda| Our Website | Book Online

This seminar will examine issues around the reform

of dementia services, and what more can be done to

provide a better service to patients and families. It is

timed to reflect issues raised in the National Dementia

Strategy which is due to be published later this

year.

Speakers and Delegates

To book places, please use our online booking form.

Please pay in advance by credit card on 01276

489144. If advance credit card payment is not possible,

please let me know and we may be able make

other arrangements.

Options and charges are as follows:

Places at Dementia and Elderly Care (including refreshments

and PDF copy of the transcripts) are £190

plus VAT (£223.25);

Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded

individuals and those in similar circumstances

are £80 plus VAT (£94). Please be sure to apply for

this at the time of booking.

32. Improving Nutritional within Primary Care

The National Reporting and Learning Service, a division

of the National Patient Safety Agency, will be holding

a series of workshops to raise awareness of nutrition

as a safety issue within Primary Care.

The workshops will be run in partnership with the Royal

College of Nursing and the WRVS and will aim to identify

the barriers to providing nutritional care within Primary

Care environments and will highlight the key

safety issues related to the provisional of nutritional

care.

Delegates will have opportunity to explore the current

provision of food services to their client group and to

learn about areas of good practice and innovation in

improving the health and well-being of service users

and individuals.

There will be five workshops which will take place

across England and Wales on the following dates:

28 January 2009 – Burlington Hotel - Birmingham

03 February 2009 – Novotel - Cardiff

11 February 2009 – The Wellcome Collection Centre –

London

19 February 2009 – De Vere Heritage University Arms

– Cambridge

05 March 2009 – The Ramside Hall Hotel – Durham

Who should attend?

The workshops are intended for all members of the

healthcare team that are responsible for the delivery

food services and nutritional care to people across a

wide variety of settings, from care homes to an individuals

own home.

This could include care home managers, community

matrons, caterers, dieticians, speech and language

therapists, district nurses and commissioners.

Spaces are limited to 30 delegates at each venue.

To find out more or to register to attend please contact

Gloria Taplin on 020 7927 9564 or via e-mail at gloria.

taplin@npsa.nhs.uk.

33. Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum keynote

seminar

Nutrition and the Elderly

Morning, 3rd February 2009

Westminster, London SW1

with

Dr Rekha Elaswarapu

Healthcare Commission Lead on Older People and

Joint Chair, Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board in

charge of Regulation and Inspection

&

Gordon Lishman

Director General, Age Concern and Chair, Nutrition

Action Plan Delivery Board

Live Agenda | Our Website | Book Online

Seminar

Has elderly nutritional care been improved significantly

in line with Government aims? What more still

needs to be done?

It is almost a year since the Department of Health

introduced the Nutrition Action Plan, Improving Nutritional

Care, and set up an associated stakeholder

board to oversee its implementation. These initiatives

came in response to statistics revealing unprecedented

levels of malnourishment amongst elderly

people taken into professional care.

With the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board due to

wind up its role, this timely seminar will examine how

effective the board and plan have been.

Planned sessions look at:

How well nourished are the nation’s elderly?;

The latest thinking on the causes of malnutrition in

elderly people;

Assessing the progress from the users’ perspective;

and

The way ahead: implementing the policies for the future.

I have copied the current draft agenda below my signature

here to give you a feel for the morning. You

can follow the updated, live agenda here.

This important meeting is organised on the basis of

strict impartiality by the Westminster Food & Nutrition

Forum.

Speakers

We are delighted that Dr Rekha Elaswarapu, Healthcare

Commission Lead on Older People and Joint

Chair of the Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board in

charge of Regulation and Inspection, and Gordon

Lishman, Director General, Age Concern and Chair,

Nutrition Action Plan Delivery Board, will be delivering

keynote addresses at this seminar.

Other confirmed speakers include: Lynne Berry

OBE, Chief Executive, WRVS; Debbie Dzik-Jurasz,

Lead on Elderly Nutrition, Royal College of Nursing;

Professor Marinos Elia, Chair, BAPEN; Paul Kirwan,

Chief Executive, Carers Network Westminster;

Dr Joanne Lunn, Senior Nutrition Scientist, British

Nutrition Foundation; Sue Ullmann, National Chair,

National Association of Care Catering; Professor

Christina Victor, University of Reading and the British

Society of Gerontology; and Dr Lisa Wilson, Science

Director of the Caroline Walker Trust.

Terry Rooney MP, Chair, Work and Pensions Select

Committee, and Baroness Greengross, Member,

All- Party Parliamentary Group on Ageing and Older

People, have kindly agreed to chair this seminar.

We expect attendees and speakers to be a senior

and informed group numbering around 100, including

Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government

officials involved in this area of public policy,

businesses involved in nutrition, and other related

sectors, including social care, medicine and voluntary

organisations, together with representatives of

the trade and national press.

Booking arrangements

To book places, please use our online booking form

here.

Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed

booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions

below.

Please pay in advance by credit card on 01276

489144. If advance credit card payment is not possible

please let me know and we may be able make

other arrangements.

Options and charges are as follows:

Places at Nutrition and the Elderly (including refreshments

and PDF copy of the transcripts) are £190 plus

VAT (£223.25);

Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded

individuals and those in similar circumstances

are £80 plus VAT (£94). Please be sure to apply for

this at the time of booking.

34. INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF URGENT

AND EMERGENCY CARE

17th February 2009 – Central London

Primary care commissioners are now tasked with

ensuring a successful strategy to enable the new vision

for a single point of access for 24/7 urgent care.

Opportunities for independent providers to provide

services are booming with an estimated 40 new contracts

emerging in this financial year.

As the urgent and emergency care sector rapidly develops,

requirements for new services, new systems

and new providers are increasing. This conference

examines the raft of new primary initiatives and

aimed at reducing inequality, accelerating access and

promoting innovation in urgent care. The programme

addresses how providers and investors can to

achieve these new requirements and adapt quickly in

order to benefit from the expanding market.

Expert guidance will be offered on developing a

strong business case for your urgent care investment

and improving your commercial acumen within the

NHS. The programme will address the following key

concerns for investors:

The Department of Health vision for urgent care

Reasons for private sector investment in urgent care

Commissioning world class urgent and emergency

care

Driving improvements in urgent care in primary care

Building a business case for out-of-hours care provision

Towards world-class services in ambulatory care

Collaborating within urgent care and across external

care services

Working creatively with relevant agencies to improve

care outcomes

Improving public access to urgent and emergency

care

Contributors include:

Professor Sir George Alberti, National Clinical Director,

Emergency Care Access, Department of Health

Rick Stern, Primary Care Foundation and special advisor

in primary care management to the NHS Alliance

James Vallance, Urgent Care Policy Manager, Service

Design Division, Directorate of Commissioning

and System Management, Department of Health

Eric Peacock, Retired Chief Executive, Northern Doctors

Urgent Care

If you would like further details or to book a place at

these events, please visit www.healthinvestor.co.uk

or contact our Events Team on 020 7104 2000, or

email kate.atkins@healthinvestor.co.uk

35. Meeting the challenges of practice-based

commissioning

Thursday 19 February 2009, 10.00am–4.15pm,

London

Practice-based commissioning is a major strand of

recent NHS reform policy in England, offering an opportunity

to shape clinical outcomes and drive innovation

through service provision. This conference

will examine the next stage in the evolution of practice-

based commissioning, engaging general practitioners

and primary care trusts to look at devolving

budgets, accountability and the challenges of making

this work in practice.

We are pleased to confirm our keynote panel

speaker will be Gary Belfield, Director of Commissioning,

Department of Health.

What works?

The conference will include case studies, giving examples

of how practice-based commissioning is currently

working. Experiences will be shared from a

clinician/GP holding model, a community/social

enterprise model and also a private-sector facilitated

model of practice-based commissioning.

Key factors for success

Discussion groups at the conference will give delegates

the opportunity to question how the following

factors are important in making practice-based commissioning

work successfully:

use of data and creating reliable data

engagement of GPs and clinicians

governance and accountability, specifically roles and

responsibilities in the commissioning process.

Find out more

To download the full programme please visit our

website. Places are limited at this event, so book

early to secure your place. Book online now.

36. NAPA City Centre Training Days

1. Course Title: Activities for Mixed Abilities

This course will cover how to adapt activities to cater

for residents with poor memory/confusion or those

living with a dementia. 50 students per course.

Students will learn:

1. How to recognise different cognitive ability levels.

2. How to match activities to participants.

3. How to adapt ‘activities’ to meet individual needs.

COURSE DATES LOCATION

19th February 2009 Cambridge, Romsey Mill,

CB13BZ

22nd April 2009 Newcastle, Civic Centre

11th June 2009 Aberdeen, Arts Centre, King Street

16th July 2009 Cardiff, Star Centre, Splott, Cardiff

23rd September 2009 Leeds, Venue to be confirmed

7th October 2009 London, St Brides Institute, Off

Fleet Street

For further details and information about a range of

other training contact Sue Trischitta, NAPA, Bondway

Commercial Centre, 5th Floor Unit 5.12, 71 Bondway,

London SW8 1SQ (Please mark the envelope Training

Days 2009).

Tel. 020 7078 9375 Fax: 020 7735 9634

Email: sue@napa-activities.co.uk

37. Capita’s Annual Disability Forum

Improving Services and Embedding Equality

Monday 23 February 2009 - Central London

Please note that we are now taking bookings on this

event, which is CPD certified and supported by RADAR

and Action for Children. I would be grateful if

you could forward these details on to anyone you feel

would benefit from attending, especially those involved

with Disability Services and Disability Equality.

For conference agenda and booking form please

click here or if the link doesn’t work please ask for a

brochure via email at dave.eastman@capita.co.uk

THE BOOKING REFERENCE CODE IS TSDE. YOU

MUST QUOTE THIS WHEN BOOKING.

Chair: Dr Philippa Russell CBE, Chair, The Prime

Minister's Standing Commission on Carers and former

Disability Rights Commissioner

Our speakers include:

Paul Zickel, Chair, Civil Service Disability Network

Caroline Ellis, Deputy Chief Executive, Radar

Caroline Tomlinson, Consumer Support Director, In

Control

Barbara Waters, Chief Executive, Skill

Greer Nicholson, Commissioning Manager Transport

and Concessionary Travel, London Borough of

Newham

Tasman Oxlade, Programme Director – Self Directed

Support, Essex County Council

Belinda Milrod, Housing Manager, Aspire

Capita’s Disability Forum brings together disabled

service providers and equality and diversity professionals

from across the public sector, to address how

to successfully improve service delivery for disabled

children and adults as well as fulfil your equality duty.

Designed and delivered around feedback from key

disability stakeholders and practitioners, this conference

explores key areas including:

Sustaining a disability equality culture in service

provision and fulfilling your equality duty

Meaningful involvement of disabled people in

service design and delivery

Making the most of personalised support services

Housing and associated support needs

Self directed support and managing individual

budgets

Managing transitions between services, and from

childhood to adulthood

Support for disabled people to lead fulfilling and

independent lives

This conference will benefit delegates responsible for

delivering better services for disabled people as well

as those with responsibility for ensuring that your

organisation is continuing to meet the equality duty.

Take advantage of the opportunity to engage with a

wide range of experts, practitioners and colleagues

and take away ideas on improving standards for disabled

service users and employees.

Benefits of attending

Find out more about how you can improve services

for disabled young people and adults

through good practice examples

Identify how to take the next step to embed disability

equality throughout your organisation

through a practical interactive workshop

Enhance your ability to involve and include disabled

users in shaping and delivering your services

Hear innovative ideas to enhance personalised

support services

Take part in focused sessions to learn more about

how to help disabled people lead independent

lives

Learn more about how you can ensure a smooth

transition from young peoples’ services to adult services

and maximise opportunities for young disabled

people

Find out the latest developments in self directed

support and individual budgets

Get to grips with tools to mainstream disability

equality and enhance service provision across

key areas of need

You are strongly advised to book now as places are

limited.

Spaces can be booked on this event 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

directly with the delegate details.

Alternatively you can book online by clicking here

and use booking ref code: TSDE. If you have any

questions or difficulties please call Dave Eastman on

0207 202 0597 or email dave.eastman@capita.co.uk

Please read Terms and Conditions

THE BOOKING REFERENCE CODE IS TSDE. YOU

MUST QUOTE THIS WHEN BOOKING.

38. The impact of personal health budgets on

managing long-term conditions

Wednesday 4 March 2009, 9.30am–1.00pm

The King's Fund, London

The personalisation of health and social care has

been a key theme in recent government health policy.

Lord Darzi's NHS Next Stage Review highlighted the

importance for patients to have the power to decide

the nature of their own support including moves towards

personal health budgets. The Queen's speech

also made reference to the Health Bill, and within this

Bill there is a focus on developing ways to give patients

greater personalisation over the health services

they receive. Following the pilots of individual budgets

in social care, in 2009 the Department of Health will

pilot personal health budgets that will enable patients

to have greater control over the service they receive.

We are delighted to welcome our keynote speaker

Stephen Johnson, Head of Long Term Conditions

Team, Department of Health, who will focus on delivering

services for people with long-term conditions.

Our event will give health professionals and managers

in both primary care and local authorities the

chance to:

hear the latest evidence around personal health

budgets and the potential impact this will have on

managing long-term conditions

access case studies looking at how professional

relationships will need to be developed to ensure

personal health budgets are implemented effectively

discuss the practical challenges involved in developing

personal health budgets.

Places at this event are limited so we recommend

that you reserve a place as soon as possible by

downloading a booking form from our website or

booking online. For further information please visit

our website or email us and we will be happy to provide

you with more details.

39. INVESTING IN HEALTH AND MEDICAL

TOURISM: OPPORTUNITIES, RISKS AND DEVELOPMENTS

24th March 2009 – Central London

By 2010 medical travel is expected to be a £23 billion

business, with over 780 million patients seeking care

outside their principal country of residence. Many

countries tourism income increasingly depends on it

and its impact on the organisation of national and

international healthcare is increasing.

It is a huge worldwide business, but until now, information

has been aimed at patients. This groundbreaking

conference will investigate from a business

perspective what is happening now and what is likely

to happen worldwide in different types of medical and

health tourism.

This event addresses the key questions:

Why is it happening? Where is demand coming from?

Where are people going? Who is offering or planning

to offer services? What is the relationship to insurance?

& What are the risks and problems?

It could help you:

Access this market

Stay ahead of the opposition

Identify new income areas

Understand the regulations and avoid the associated

risks

Gain from this developing sector

Promote your business

It could stop you:

Missing out on a growing market

Providing the wrong type of service

Missing out on deals

Losing market share and existing customers

Making assumptions based on inaccurate information

Using unregulated intermediaries

Contributors include:

Ken Anderson, Managing Director, UBS

Keith Pollard, Managing Director, TreatmentAbroad

Dipa Jethwa, Founder, The Taj Medical Group

If you would like further details or to book a place at

these events, please visit www.healthinvestor.co.uk

or contact our Events Team on 020 7104 2000, or

email kate.atkins@healthinvestor.co.uk

40. Action on Elder Abuse is pleased to announce

its National Conference for 2009 will

be on Monday 23 March 2009 and Tuesday 24

March 2009

Next year it will be held at East Midlands Conference

Centre

Nottingham Conferences

University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RJ

T: 0115 951 5000

F: 0115 951 5009

nottinghamconferences.co.uk

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

worldelderabuseday@elderabuse.org.uk

or call 0208 765 7000.

Action on Elder Abuse has launched a

series of exciting challenge events, including

skydiving, trekking and running.

If you've ever wanted to trek the Inca

Trail, freefall from 10,000 feet or sledge

across Lapland with huskies (to name but

a few), visit www.elderabuse.org.uk for

more information.

41. Shaping PCT provider services: the future

of primary and community care

Tuesday 31 March 2009, 9.30am–4.45pm

The King's Fund, London

The NHS Next Stage Review has encouraged the

separation of PCT commissioning and provider functions.

The review also encourages PCTs to support

greater choice and contestability of provision within

primary and community health services and greater

service integration. A range of organisational and

governance models are now possible for community

health services, which include becoming a social enterprise

or creating an integrated care organisation.

With the Department of Health shortly publishing

guidance on future organisational forms and governance

for PCT provider services, we are delighted to

announce our keynote speaker, Bob Ricketts, Director

of System Management and New Enterprise,

Department of Health. He will share the Department

of Health's current policy direction on system

reform with a focus on the role of commissioners

and PCT providers.

For commissioners, managers and health professionals

working in primary care, this conference focuses

on moving towards implementation of changes

and will:

explore the strategic challenges facing community

health services

share the latest thinking on system reform and PCT

provider services

consider the issues posed by estates within community

health services who should own and manage

it?

look at the organisational options and the key factors

that need to be taken into account when deciding on

a preferred option.

Places at this event are limited so we recommend

that you reserve a place as soon as possible by

downloading a booking form from our website or

booking online. For further information please visit

our website or email us and we will be happy to provide

you with more details.

42. Westminster Health Forum keynote seminar

The Future of Dentistry

Morning, 31st 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 contracts

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.

Speakers and Delegates

We are delighted that Dr Barry Cockcroft, Chief

Dental Officer for England, Department of Health has

agreed to deliver a keynote address at this seminar.

Further speakers are expected to be confirmed

shortly.

Booking arrangements

To book places, please use our online booking form.

Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed

booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions

below.

Please pay in advance by credit card on 01276

489144. If advance credit card payment is not possible,

please let me know and we may be able make

other arrangements.

Options and charges are as follows:

Places at The Future of Dentistry (including refreshments

and PDF copy of the transcripts) are £190 plus

VAT (£218.50)

Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded

individuals and those in similar circumstances

are £80 plus VAT (£92.00). Please be sure to apply

for this at the time of booking.

43. 2nd April 2009 - the Wakefield & District

Annual

Safeguarding Conference at Fieldhead Education

Centre

Keynote speaker - LEO QUIGLEY is Service Manager

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 coordinating

the joint response to the National Service

Framework for Older People.

Leo has published several articles on adult safeguarding

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

of 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-andinclusion/

life-in-the-community/building-communitynetworks/

44. Westminster Health Forum Keynote Seminar

Primary Care, Polyclinics and

the Future of the General Practitioner

Morning, 21st April 2009 in Central London

With Ben Dyson, Director of Primary Care, Commissioning

and System Management Directorate, Department

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 independent

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.

Speakers and Delegates

We are delighted that Ben Dyson, Director of Primary

Care, Commissioning and System Management

Directorate, Department of Health has agreed to deliver

a keynote address at this seminar. Further

speakers are expected to be confirmed shortly.

We expect attendees and speakers to be a senior

and informed group numbering around 140, including

Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government

officials involved in this area of public policy,

charities, interest groups, academia and other related

industries, together with representatives of the trade

and national press.

Booking arrangements

To book places, please use our online booking form.

Once submitted, this will be taken as a confirmed

booking and will be subject to our terms and conditions

below.

Please pay in advance by credit card on 01276

489144. If advance credit card payment is not possible,

please let me know and we may be able make

other arrangements.

Options and charges are as follows:

Places at Primary Care, Polyclinics and the Future of

the General Practitioner (including refreshments and

PDF copy of the transcripts) are £190 plus VAT

(£218.50)

Concessionary rate places for small charities, unfunded

individuals and those in similar circumstances

are £80 plus VAT (£92.00). Please be sure to apply

for this at the time of booking.

To order please follow the link here.

45. 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 EBulletin.

Speakers will be added over the next 2 months. To be

the first to receive speaker and programme updates

sign up to the Patient Safety Congress E-Bulletin.

Should you need any specific questions answered

please complete the call me form and one of the team

will contact you directly.

46. 1st July 2009 - Third Yorkshire and Humberside

ADASS Safeguarding Conference -

Barnsley

A huge success in previous years with nationally renowned

speakers and stimulating workshops. Book

early to avoid disappointment!

Consultations

To follow next week

CSCI/Care Quality Commission,

CSSIW, Healthcare

Commission &

Scottish Care Commission

47. Nutrition champions weigh in to help care

homes

16 January 2009 – SCRC

The Scottish Care Commission is spreading the Jamie

Oliver-effect into care homes with a group of ‘Nutrition

Champions’.

A programme called Promoting Nutrition in Care Homes

for Older People has been set up to provide an educational

programme to help staff improve nutritional care

for residents.

For full report click here

48. South West London and St George's Mental

Health Trust must improve cleanliness

and activities for patients

16 January 2009 – Healthcare Commission

The Healthcare Commission is calling on South West

London and St George's Mental Health Trust to improve

cleanliness and provide more activities for their patients.

For full report go to http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/

newsandevents/mediacentre/pressreleases/

pressreleasesarchive.cfm?

cit_id=1591&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&usecache

=false

49. Enforcement consultation highlights the

need for sector engagement

16 January 2009

The English Community Care Association has fully

responded to the consultation on enforcement policy

from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), now

closed.

Martin Green, Chief Executive of ECCA, said:

“We were disappointed with aspects of the approach

that CQC were taking and the document highlighted

the challenges for a regulator who has to regulate

three distinct sectors with different scale and size of

organization.

“It is important that these policies reflect the diversity

of services that will be monitored by CQC and ECCA

is committed to working with the Commission to ensure

that the regulatory framework protects serviceusers

and supports providers to develop flexible and

high-quality services.”

50. Healthcare watchdog commends NHS

progress as C.Difficile rates fall

15 January 2009 – Healthcare Commission

The Healthcare Commission has commended NHS

progress as rates of Clostridium difficile fell even further.

For full report go to http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/

newsandevents/mediacentre/pressreleases/

pressreleasesarchive.cfm?

cit_id=1590&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&usecach

e=false

51. Healthcare Commission: Emergency department

survey 2008

January 2009 – Healthcare Commission

A page showing the national and local results of a

survey that asked about the experiences of people

who have visited an emergency department

(sometimes known as accident and emergency, A&E

or casualty). The survey offers an insight into the

experiences of patients and is used in the assessment

of NHS trusts.

For full report go to http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/

guidanceforhealthcarestaff/nhsstaff/

nhsstaffandpatientsurveys/patientsurveys/hospitalcare/

emergencydepartmentsurvey2008.cfm

52. Patients praise quality of care at A&E

finds healthcare watchdog

14 January 2009 – Healthcare Commission

A survey by the Healthcare Commission shows improving

communication, but highlights concerns about pain

control and information given at discharge.

For full report go to http://www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/

newsandevents/mediacentre/pressreleases/

pressreleasesarchive.cfm?

cit_id=1587&FAArea1=customWidgets.content_view_1&usecach

e=false

53. Washing clothes at home