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ASC Provider briefing - 10 June 2022
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Dear Care Provider Colleagues,
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Welcome to this week's briefing.
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This week's briefing includes: information about heat-health watch and data protection, a lot of information about the Fair Cost of Care exercises, photos of Jubilee celebrations and a pilot recruitment program called Passport to Care, as well as the usual Covid update and new events. Please fill out our very short Feedback Form to tell us what you want from this briefing going forward.
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Please find the latest news and updates from Adult Social Care below:
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Heat-Health Watch
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The annual Heat-Health Watch period runs nationally between 1 June and 15 September and aims to reduce the number of deaths and illness due to heatwaves. It also triggers actions in the NHS, public health, social care and other community and voluntary organisations to support people who have health needs that increase their vulnerability to heat. Please can you make sure that you are familiar with the Heatwave Plan and have the necessary plans in place should the alert come through. For more information visit www.somerset.gov.uk/heatwave.
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Providers urged to check data protection
Adult social care providers in England are being urged to check their data protection policies by 30 June 2022.
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All care services across England should check how they store and share information as part of a national and local programme – Better Security, Better Care – to improve data protection and cyber security within the adult social care sector, according to Digital Social Care, who manage the programme.
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The Better Security, Better Care programme supports providers to use Digital Social Care's Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) to assess their current policies, procedures and practices on data management and cyber security, and to share the level they reach on the Toolkit with others.
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The programme is also reminding services that the DSPT needs to be completed every year. The deadline for 2021/22 is 30 June 2022.
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Somerset Health and Wellbeing Advisory Group
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Fair Cost of Care
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Workshop & Discussion for Care Providers & Managers: The Fair Cost of Care
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Announcement for Older Person Care Homes only
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The CPA are pleased to announce that an Older Person Care Home Cost of Care Tool (CHIP Tool) has been launched on Wednesday 25th May 2022. This Tool was commissioned by the Care and Heath Improvement Programme (CHIP, jointly delivered through ADASS and LGA) and its development supported by CPA and a wide range of providers and commissioners. The Tool has been developed by iESE, who have previously developed the Care Cubed Tool that many of you may be familiar with.
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The Department of Health and Social Care have asked the CPA to support provider engagement in this crucial Fair Cost of Care exercise. The CHIP Tool developed in conjunction with providers is available to all councils and older persons care homes and mirrors the information requirements set out by DHSC. CPA encourages all homes to participate in this one-time opportunity and to work in partnership with councils to evidence the cost of provision, consistently and transparently, which has never been more important to create the evidence necessary to secure the desperately needed funding for Older Persons Adult Social Care from Government ahead of the wider reform agenda being implemented.
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We understand some providers are either nervous or uncomfortable participating in these exercises however, providers must share cost of care data with their councils if they wish to see changes in funding allocations to councils and provider fees, in support of the social care reform agenda being imposed upon our sector. If providers fail to engage in this process, funding is less likely to be provided.
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Support is outlined below and will continue to be updated to offer as much information as possible to promote participation, vital for councils and Provider Associations ability to lobby for the funding they deserve.
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The CPA are now guiding providers to helpful information and support materials and how to register and use the CHIP Care Home Tool. A presentation overview can be found here with all the key initial information, along with detailed guidance document in the registration section below.
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Our understanding is that the majority of councils will use the CHIP Tool as part of their cost of care process. We are aware that some councils may use third parties to support their process and data collection, and even where this is the case, we are still encouraging them to use the CHIP Tool as the vehicle to receive information from providers. We are also aware that some councils may use other Tools, and whilst CPA encourages all providers to engage in these exercises as fully as they can, any organisation being asked to use different tools should determine for themselves if, and how, they are able to do this in the time permitted. All councils should confirm to their providers their planned approach to the exercise, especially which Tool they will use, and the role of any third party, which the LGA/ADASS are encouraging them to do.
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All data input in the CHIP Tool is retained securely and is only available to the provider and council or their nominated third party, who may be supporting their data collection, validation, verification, and provider engagement locally. Where other tools are used, we encourage you to understand how your data will be securely managed.
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To register for the CHIP Tool for Care Homes, you will need to first identify a Primary User within your organisation, this person is responsible for registering your organisation, which may be a single care home, or a group of care homes. If you are part of a group of care homes, then this will likely be a person at the head office.
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The Primary user can set up multiple users for your organisation but will take overall responsibility for the response.
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To register on the CHIP Tool, click here. There is a helpful Video here, and walk through PDF here to support with registration. If you have any technical support requirements, please email carecubed@iese.org.uk.
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Note that providers need to register as an organisation using their CQC provider ID, NOT as an individual care home location ID. Your CQC provider ID can be found here (in column AL).
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If you are not ready to register to use the Tool yet but would like to remain up to date on the process, you can register your interest here and you will be sent an awareness pack and a link to a pre-recorded awareness video to help you decide how you can participate.
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If you would like to receive Guidance and FAQs relating to the Fair Cost of Care process or have any questions or concerns relating to the Fair Cost of Care process, or require support on how to engage or participate, please email FCC@CareProviderAlliance.org.uk.
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Providers are encouraged to register on the Tool, set up their primary user and to familiarise themselves with the data required. We have provided a guidance document and a list of data items to help providers establish the information they will need to prepare ahead of populating the Tool. By Friday 27th May, once councils have registered on the Tool, providers can choose to either populate each care homes data into the Tool, or to do so via an export excel template they can re-upload into the Tool. This is particularly helpful where you work with multiple councils or have multiple homes.
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Further awareness sessions and guidance will be made available to providers who set up a primary user or who register interest in the Tool on the above links.
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Local process and timeline:
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Councils have been encouraged to work with local providers to design the process that supports this work. This will include agreeing timescales for submission of information, which will differ across the country. We recommend that all providers engage in any partnership work.
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Providers are encouraged to start preparing the data that they will need to provide. We suggest providers DO NOT begin to populate the CHIP Tool until they are clear that their council will be using this Tool. Once providers are clear on this, they can begin populating this Tool and this data will be held in the system ready for the council to draw down when they register in the future. We also encourage providers to maintain dialogue with their councils, for instance, if they are unclear on the process or if they are planning to submit information but are struggling to meet the required timescales. We also encourage providers that have decided not to participate in this work to also be open about this with councils.
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Some councils may re-use information from recent costs of care exercises if this is approved by the DHSC, and they should communicate this to their providers so all parties are clear that no further work is required.
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Jubilee Celebrations
It’s been great to see photos of Jubilee celebrations in social care and social care staff participating in wider celebrations.
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Towans Care Home shared photos of their celebration, which involved local cadets and the British Royal Legion.
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One of the staff members at Towans was also involved in the Jubilee Pageant in London, as part of a local carnival club. Kelly has said it was a great honour to be invited to celebrate.
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Linden House also shared with us some photos of their celebrations.
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Reminder: Shared Lives Week:
15 - 22 June
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It's Shared Lives week from the 15 - 22 June, and we would love to celebrate the fantastic work of our Shared Lives providers via social media.
This is a great opportunity to promote the excellent work of our Shared Lives carers, and celebrate the wonderful relationships they have developed with the people they care for. It's also a great chance to promote your Shared Lives job opportunities.
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We'd love to share your pictures, videos, and comments on social media - use #SharedLives22
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Passport to Care – a new 18 month social care taster programme
Somerset County Council and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with 4 social care providers have launched a new 18 month care taster programme which will allow people to try out a range of roles in a wide variety of settings across health and social care. This is a pilot program aimed at investigating new ways of recruiting staff into health and social care and if successful could be replicated more broadly across the county.
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There are 6 spaces available on this pilot programme, which will see successful candidates spend a total of 18 months working in 6 different roles in 6 different care settings, with 3 months spent in each role. If successful, this scheme could help us attract new people into social care by giving them the opportunity to try out different roles.
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As part of this fixed term contract, applicants will receive:
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- Full training
- A buddy to guide them throughout their journey
- Support from the NHS and social care employers
- Care Certificate qualification
- A guaranteed job on successful completion of the programme
Visit: bit.ly/PassportToCare to apply and who to contact for enquiries
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Applications close 19 June – please help us spread the word by sharing our social media posts on Facebook and Twitter
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In The News
It's been great to see some positive news stories about working in care this week, both locally and nationally!
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New bus services added for disabled and/or rurally isolated people
New ‘Slinky’ bus services have been added for residents who don’t have access to a car or public transport, or have a disability which makes access to public transport difficult. Slinky buses offer a door to door service that can help people get around - from getting to local health appointments or exercise classes, visiting friends or family, going shopping or attending social events. You can even use the Slinky as a link to other forms of public transport.
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Planning a journey? Check out Think Travel - our new one-stop travel information covering public transport, community transport, and Slinky on demand services.
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Latest Covid-19 Outbreak update
(Friday 10 June 2022)
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Our 7 day rate per 100k this week remains low, today being reported at 68.8 (for the period 28th May to 3rd June). However, we are still experiencing substantial pressure in the system, which is currently OPEL level 4.
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New Upcoming Events
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Looking After People's Oral Health; A Training Session for Health & Social Care Professionals
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5th July – 9.30am to 12.30pm
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Poor oral health is largely preventable. There are steps we can all take to protect the oral health of ourselves and others to prevent poor outcomes in our oral cavity, which includes hard tissue (teeth and bone) as well as the soft tissue (gums, cheeks, tongue, floor of the mouth, lips, palate, and throat).
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Taking these steps help prevent the need for dental intervention and protect oral health between routine dental surveillance and check-ups.
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Poor oral health can lead to pain, dis-comfort and even tooth extraction.
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Improving dental health requires a whole systems approach. Whilst local authorities have a lead statutory role in improving the oral health of their local population, everyone has a part to play.
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Application of the Mental Capacity Act for 16 and 17 Year Olds
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Health Education England are running a virtual mental capacity act conference on Tuesday 11th October 2022, 09.00-13.00
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For full details see the flyer, and to book your place here.
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Upcoming Event Reminders
- Weekly meeting: Every Friday at 3pm the Health Protection Team host a meeting to answer any questions care providers have about updated Covid guidance. Teams meeting link.
- Somerset Wellbeing Conference from 20th to 24th June
- 'Roots and Boots' Memory Group Taster Session, Friday 24th June from 10.30am to 12.00pm. Poster
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Updated Guidance
- No new guidance this week
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Please continue to share or promote these briefings and our webpage to others in your organisations.
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Our incident room mailbox and contact details (see below) remains operational during core working hours so please get in touch if you have any urgent concerns or queries we can look to assist you with.
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Somerset’s Provider Engagement Team
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Adult Social Care (ASC) COVID19 Response Team
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