Care Careers & Training News

The Department of Health is set to take over from NICE on the decision-making and negotiations regarding access to and pricing of drugs from 2014.

Death and dying should be firmly on the agenda this week for health and social care providers as Dying Matters Awareness Week (14th – 20th May 2012) events are held around the country.

Council funded care has fallen in the last two years. This drop has coming eventhough there has been a rise in over 65's.

Mansfield District Council have been given the green light at last Tuesday's planning meeting. The planning committee members voted unanimously in favour of transforming the derelict factory site into a Care Home.

A leading national charity, Music in Hospitals (MiH), has been organising concerts to help improve the lives of those with long-term illnesses or in care.

Ministers have warned they are considering a full inquiry into the failings of state run children's homes after nine men were jailed for grooming girls for sex last week.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society's (RPS) recommendation that pharmacists and GPs are better integrated with other health professionals working in care homes is particularly welcome.

Some elderley residents in the Care Homes across Scotland, are being kept on powerful drugs for long periods of time, multiple and potentially harmful doses for up to twenty years without questioning if they are necessary.

NHS says homes must follow law on decisions to attempt resuscitation, after issuing apology to woman who stumbled on 'DNR' order in father's notes.

There must be no half-measures on the reform of social care in England, campaigners are warning, amid signs ministers are getting cold feet.

Eighty-five groups have written to David Cameron asking him to make urgent reform his "personal mission", and to host a summit to galvanise support.

The first Care Homes for people with Dementia have been awarded the badge of professional excellence, the first of their kind in the UK.

Common Lane in Kenilworth are a step closer to building a Care Home with a specialist dementia unit.

Anonymous tip-off from a member of the public has lead to the Healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), to fine a private clinic £40,000 for performing cosmetic surgery without being registered.

Namaste, "to honour the spirit within", was developed in the United States - soothes the senses, using touch, sound taste and smell. Residents with advanced dementia are gathered in a Namaste room, where they are able to experience different senses.

Residents of care homes in Tiverton have been encouraged to meet new people and pick up new or old interests and hobbies.

A recent report, commissioned by the National Skills Academy for Social Care, explores key issues in adult care provision – as understood by the people who work in the sector. The report raised several issues:

Only 5% believe that the care sector is a source of British pride; while a massive 83% believe it is represented negatively in the media.
Meaning that the care sector, which caters for the needs of more than half a million adults in the UK, is still far from reaching its potential.

After regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC) officially recognised CECOPs’ (the Community Equipment Code of Practice Scheme) Code of Practice as essential for Care providers to demonstrate their compliance to supply disability-related equipment.

Guy Hands' can't afford  any repeat of the EMI purchase that he experienced where he blew £1.7bn. After failing to pin the blame of the deal on his advisor, Citigroup banker David Wormsley.

As per our news article on the 16th of April 2012, Guy Hands' private equity vehicle Terra Firma Capital Partners have finally agreed £825m for the Four seasons Health Care after carrying out due diligence on the business.

Residents and vistors of Elstree Lawns and Hill House Care Centre enjoy their wildlife so much that they are taking part in the Save The Sparrows Campaign.

A Northamptonshire lady has been sacked from her position with the Care Quality Commission for gross misconduct. She allegedly pressured care home managers into paying fees for favourable reports.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has come under fire again this month following the high-profile exposure of abuse in a care home they had previously rated as ‘excellent’.  The abuse which has led to the conviction of one member of staff on the 13^th April 2012, and the dismissal of the other staff members involved, was uncovered by hidden camera footage recorded by a concerned relative.

The assumption that 'old men don't do caring' is mostly down to 36% more females being admitted to a care home however, this can be explained with the age difference of the two genders.

Live discussion round up with the top tips from the panel on tackling dementia.

As the Care Quality Commission launches an inspection programme of of home care services, Philip King explains what the regulator is hoping to learn.

All care home staff have a responsibility to contribute towards effective infection control in the care home setting.

A new stylish and state-of-the-art care home in Cheshire, The Westbourne, are inviting the members of the Cheshire community to visit.

A new provider to manage 16 care homes and 8 wellbeing centres will take over from Suffolk County Council, this could mean that some care homes could close.

Innovations in medication management, from Cheshire-based company Protomed, have attracted the attention of worldwide pharmacy group Alchem Healthcare

Some 800,000 vulnerable elderly people are struggling to live in their own homes without any state-provided home help, say campaigners who argue the most vulnerable in society are being "catastrophically let down" by social services.

Cults, Aberdeenshire will have a new 53-apartment Assisted Living development built by McCarthy & Stone, the UK's leading leading retirement developer.

Arts can play a crucial role with reminiscence and can encourage people with early stages of dementia to find points of connection.

Many people with dementia are given a new lease of life with the power of song used to trigger memories.

Nearly 20 animals have arrived at Aden House Care Home, Clayton West.

44,000 former Southern Cross workers, claiming there was a "failure to consult" when the car home opperator collapsed, represented by GMB union are fighting to win compensation.

Terra Firma Capital Partners are currently carrying out due diligence on the Four Seasons business, they have entered the final stages of the aution.

These are turbulent times for the long-term care sector. Amid uncertainty about what the impact of the Health and Social Care Act will be and with the launch of the social reform white paper slipping to late spring, the debate on social care for older people continues..

Care Quality Commission proposed changes as a response to the consultation is now available. The list of changes to be made are clear for all to see.

Sponsored walk to raise money for the home's amenities fund has been organised by staff members at a Leamington Care Home.

The "Live Eggs" programme was a cracking success for residents at Mockley Manor Care Home.

The Prime Minister has this week described dementia as a national crisis. Attending a meeting organised by The Alzheimer's Society on Monday, 26^th of March, David Cameron stressed the importance of a national response to the disease and of taking action to fight the stigma and misconceptions attached to the condition.

Celebrations are in order after residents and staff at Care Homes in Lee-On-the-Solent have successfully raised £10,000 needed for a new people carrier.

Four chefs from Care Homes in Trowbridge were invited to come up with a tasty and nutritionally balanced meal that they would normally serve their residents.

Dementia cafe launched by staff and residents of Lewes care homes, in Sussex, will feature guest speakers and themed performances to improve ongoing efforts of dementia awareness and to give local people the chance to find out more about living with dementia.

Last week we looked at the easiest and most effective way to pass your reflective accounts first time. This week we’re taking it a step further and looking at how we can make those accounts holistic; by making one reflective account suitable for several units at once.

What care home residents expect from their home is changing as life expectancies continue to increase.

Concerns over the inadequate number of nurses has been matter of concern recently for the members of the Royal College of Nurses.

Making a case for a free National Care Service, the Fair Care Campaign has been launched this week by the National Pensioners Convention (NPC).

MID Devon care homes could scoop a share of a £11.2million investment which aims to develop up to ten centres of excellence for people with dementia.

Care homes in England are increasingly struggling to meet the medical needs of their residents, research by the Royal College of Nursing suggests.

Ministers promise to revamp the social care due to the lack of equipment, staff and training.

A campaign group fighting to save a care home will today  present their vision of a “village for the elderly” built on nearby allotments.

Released on the 29-02-2012, the Commission on Dignity in Care for Older People’s draft report, Delivering Dignity, has identified several causes of poor care and has made firm recommendations for change.

WE ARE OFFERING KEY TRAINING IN DEMENTIA AWARENESS AT A REDUCED PRICE FOR LEARNERS
IN YOUR AREA.

Profit-chasing care homes are condemning elderly residents to spend their final months or years having ‘value’ food and squash, a report warns.

Severe funding problems are putting at risk the dignity and safety of those in privately run care homes, according to the
Royal College of Nursing.

Royal College of Nursing survey blames years of under-investment for worsening of conditions.

Care homes are struggling to provide high quality care for residents with complex medical conditions, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned, blaming "severe" funding, equipment and staff shortages.

The Care Quality Commision into the healthcare of care home residents 'completely misses the point', according to the English Community Care Association.

Care providers and associations have come out in favour of a new star ratings system for care homes in England, after the Commission on Improving Dignity in Care last week published a number of key recommendations for the care sector that included the proposal.

A few decades from now, we will look back on the start of the 21st century with shame and horror at our chronic national failure to care for the elderly.

When society doesn’t respect wisdom and experience, is it any wonder carers don't respect the elderly?

Draft report into treatment of elderly people in hospitals and care homes says 'fundamental changes' needed across the board

A renewed focus on medicines management in care homes is needed, says the NPSA’s Bruce Warner

A team of inspectors is to be sent into hundreds of care homes within to check whether elderly people are being treated with dignity.

THE Burnham Nursing and Residential Centre has been rated as one of the top Bupa care homes in the UK its residents.

Concerns have been raised about a new website that lets people post their thoughts on care providers in England.

LANCASTER -- When Tolema Boblitt was looking for an assisted living center for herself and her husband, she had one important condition.

A COOKLEY care home has won a national award for its standard of care and support for residents in their final days.

Staff from PJ Care’s Mallard House Nursing Home are celebrating after receiving a national award recognising their Gold Standard end of life care.

Anisha Grange care home in Billericay has been nominated for yet another award – the prestigious Pinders Healthcare Design Awards.

Being an Assessor is not as simple as just showing up once in a while, seeing how someone is working and telling them if they’re getting it right or wrong. Your Assessor is there to do much more than that - in fact, if they simply tell you ‘that’s wrong’ they’re not doing it right!

There’s an expectation, almost a mantra, that the future of caring for individuals with increasing support needs lies in their own homes. Tailored care packages will be delivered seamlessly and altered to meet changing individual need and preference. Care homes are redundant. Does it not sound a little utopian?

patients and their families could gain a vital insight into care homes with the launch of the first-ever online ratings.

Senior NHS manager Emma Challans, who works at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, has devised the Care Home Advisor website which will be available later this month.

Dignity in care is taking centre stage at Care UK this week as teams across the country run a series of events to celebrate Dignity Action Day (1St February).

Nurses are being asked for ideas on how to improve patient care and working conditions in care homes, as part of a new programme of work by the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.

The warning follows concerns that the system is failing to identify the extent   of poor treatment in care homes.

A group of experts, led by the head of the Care Quality Commission, has   written to ministers asking them to ensure that hospitals always note the   presence of bedsores, falls and infections when patients are admitted, and   add the information to their electronic records.

Care UK’s Forrester Court, Paddington, has been awarded the prestigious Gold Standard Framework (GSF) Care Homes Accreditation for its work with residents at the end of their life.

Everybody knows about the personal and professional benefits of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) - the expansion of existing skills; the increased potential for progression and promotion - but not everybody considers the value of CPD to an organisation.

Nurses and care assistants working in care homes must be protected from interruption during drug rounds to reduce the “serious safety issue” posed by high error rates, according to the authors of a UK study.

The NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement have announced that it is looking for experiences and stories from the public about changes, improvements and innovative new ways of working within care homes which will inform a new programme of work it is undertaking.

Care provision has been in the limelight this week with the start of cross-party talks around various proposals regarding elderly care reforms.

Published by Lucinda Maxwell

Statement from Sally Taber, Director of the Independent Healthcare Advisory Services (IHAS) in response to the Ministerial Statement by the Right Honourable Andrew Lansley MP, Secretary of State for Health

IHAS, which represents the majority of healthcare providers affected by the MHRA failure to detect the faulty PIP implants, welcomed much of the Secretary of State’s announcement.

As the country awaits word from the government on how it intends to revamp the way in which adult social care is funded, latest research from healthcare intelligence provider Laing & Buisson finds that despite public policy which favours non-residential solutions to support needs of the country’s ageing population, efforts to divert demand away from care homes appear to be running out of steam.

David Cameron has ordered health and social care services to be brought together in order to benefit patients in a move which government advisers are calling the NHS's most urgent overhaul.

The Care Quality Commission are in  Southport college on January 24 to host a free seminar on Essential Standards of Quality and Care.

Less than a third of Westcountry care homes inspected last year have fully satisfied the care watchdog, with 13 receiving warning notices, the Western Morning News has learned.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has revealed details of the inspection programme in Devon and Cornwall after 413 of the 923 facilities were assessed.

Government sets out strategy

`Building Engagement, Building Futures' sets out the Government's strategy to improve the opportunities for young people, so they can succeed in education and training and gain the skills they need to secure an apprenticeship or employment. It includes radical reforms to schools, vocational education, skills and welfare provision.

Care home operators and residents’ groups have welcomed plans to introduce a new ‘TripAdvisor’-style ratings system for social care – but have warned that reform of the sector must go much further.

Care services minister Paul Burstow this week unveiled plans to launch an online "good care guide" that will allow service users and family members to rate and review care homes and their operators.

Every day care home staff are putting themselves and their employers at risk by failing to keep proper records. And as it becomes increasingly common for care homes and individual staff to be taken to court, it has never been more important to have robust defensible documentation in place. In fact, according to Outcome Solutions, the company which helps care homes meet their CQC outcomes, many recent care home investigations and subsequent staff suspensions could have been avoided had proper records been in place.

I have heard that applying for European Funding can be quite difficult?

Follow the step by step recommended process:

Care home sector 'requires better monitoring'

MPs have called for the Department of Health to increase its scrutiny on the financial and operational status of the care home sector.

A new report from the Commons Public Accounts Committee has expressed concern that neither central nor local government bodies are taking a firm enough approach to guaranteeing the stability of this vital industry.

Action must be taken to prevent a repeat of the Southern Cross care home crisis, a powerful group of MPs has warned.

The Public Accounts Committee said that the Department of Health and local authorities do not know if one operator is becoming too dominant, nor if any is on the brink of collapse.

A new report has been developed by Skills for Care in consultation with employers.

The Care Quality Commision (CQC) has revealed they have found staff at a Cornish care agency to be insufficiently trained.

Redruth-based Polsloe Community Care has been given a formal warning following an inspection in October.

Officers said staff arrived late for care appointments and the training was insufficient and of poor quality.

The CQC said legal action would be taken if improvements were not made. The agency disputes the claims.

Whether an observation contributes towards your workplace review, is a regular part of your working life or towards your vocational qualification it will more than likely make you nervous. The knowledge that you are being watched and the feeling that you are being judged mean that observations can be intimidating.

Though we may have done the job a hundred times before being observed and graded can have a negative impact on our emotions and therefore our ability to do the most familiar task. Observations, though, don’t have to be nerve-wracking – there are some easy tips to follow below which should make the experience easier and more productive for both you and your assessor.

A special interview by Hillington Hospital director of nursining.

Hillington Hospital’s Director of Nursing says compassion is key to high-quality care, after a recent report showed shocking standards across UK hospitals.

Hillingdon was not inspected for the CQC (Care Quality Commission) report, and received good results after an inspection in winter 2010.

It is essential that the people entrusted with the care of vulnerable people are properly qualified.

To ensure that happens, in 2003 the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) began to register all staff approved to work with children or adults at all levels from managers of institutions to care assistants.

ITis essential that the people entrusted with the care of vulnerable people are properly qualified.

To ensure that happens, in 2003 the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) began to register all staff approved to work with children or adults at all levels from managers of institutions to care assistants.

Elderly people are being robbed, left hungry and unwashed and face unchecked "ageism" from council-funded care that is meant to let them live in their own homes, a report has found.

The CQC has announced it will report on 250 companies who help people in their own homes with tasks such as eating, washing, dressing or taking medication.

Minimum training standards and a code of conduct are to be developed as an atempt to bring "clarity" to the healthcare assistants role in England.

Skills for Care is backing Self Care Week 2011 to help adultsocial care sector organisations raise awareness of what's available locally to help people take care of themselves.

The annual awareness week which kicks off today has being organised by the Self Care forum - www.selfcareforum.org which was established in May 2011 by the Department of Health with the specific aim to further the reach of self care and embed it into everyday life.

Reflective accounts form a major part of the QCF Diploma. These vocational qualifications need you to be able to not only complete the work but to understand the reasoning behind your actions. Reflective accounts provide a lot of the evidence that you require to show that you have the knowledge and skills necessary to your qualification.

Have you started studying for your Level 2 Unit ‘Introduction to communication’ yet? Communication is one of the key themes at the heart of the new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) Diplomas.

‘Introduction to communication’ (Unit SHC 21) highlights the importance of effective communication in Health and Social Care. Developing strong communication skills is absolutely essential when you’re working on the frontline.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has today announced that the Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust has accidentally destroyed 10,000 archived records. The records, which should have been securely stored, were destroyed by mistake in December after a lack of storage space meant that they were kept in a disposal area.

The growing number of untrained and unregulated healthcare assistants in the UK could lead to a ‘ghastly national disaster’, according to Dickon Weir-Hughes, Chief Executive and Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

An estimated 300,000 healthcare assistants currently work in private and domestic care in the UK. They provide support for tasks such as washing, dressing and feeding clients. They are responsible for the well-being and care of many of our nation’s vulnerable. We place our trust and these lives in their — often untrained — hands.

One of the mandatory units at the heart of the QCF Diploma in Health and Social Care is HSC026. The latest edition of 'Nursing and Residential Care' looks at why person centred approaches to care are important for both clients and care providers:

Thousands of jobs could be created as Southern cross landlords pour in cash to turn around the business under new operators, said healthcare analyst Paul Saper.

The CQC (Care Quality Commission), the independent regulator with responsibility for inspecting all Health and Adult Social Care services in England, actively promotes the rights and interests of people who use the services.

Skills for care have replaced their 2006 guidance on Continuous Professional Development.

CommunityCare.co.uk the website of Community Care Magazine (from RBI) has been a leading publisher in the Social Care space for several years. They have now launched a section of their website dedicated to Residential and Domiciliary care services, including news on regulation and personalisation.