|
|
|
|
|
ASC Provider Briefing - 14 October 2022
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Care Provider Colleagues,
|
Welcome to this week's briefing.
|
This week in the briefing: information about the recent Learning and Engagement Meeting, an update on the Quality Improvement project to reduce UTIs, the findings from the Skills for Care annual workforce report, a recorded webinar about Winter Pressures, some Falls resources, a reminder about the Communications Strike, the usual Covid Update and some good news involving alpacas visiting a care home (with pictures), followed by some new events and event reminders.
|
|
Please find the latest news and updates from Adult Social Care below:
|
|
|
|
Somerset Care Provider Learning and Engagement Meeting
4th October 2022, that’s a wrap on another great Learning and engagement meeting.
|
Thank you to the Guest speakers; Lucy Dowland on Advanced Care planning, Nicky Cooper on Optimal Handling care event 8/9 November, and Nat Mogg on YDH discharge pathway. It really was great to have you attend and share your expertise and knowledge.
|
Thank you to all that joined the meeting, I look forward to seeing you all at the next LEM.
|
Guest speakers from the RCPA – Trusted Assessors and YDH Complex Care Team. Followed by the transference of care discussion; Hospital Discharge – to kick start this discussion a couple of topics for consideration:
|
- discharge planning meetings,
- night-time transfer from care homes to hospital,
- training timelines to facilitate discharge.
I look forward to seeing you very soon.
|
|
Rachel Caunce, Care Provider Support Officer
|
|
|
|
|
Somersets Quality Improvement Project – Reduction in Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
This is an update on our Somerset Quality Improvement project to reduce UTIs in Somerset. Somerset has the highest infection rate in the south west for a bug called E. Coli, 90% of which relates to UTIs. Somerset also an outlier nationally having the 5th highest infection rate across all other ICS’ in the country. As a Somerset system, we have over 600 emergency admissions into hospital each year for UTIs.
|
Earlier in 2022, the ICB was successful in its bid to the NHS Leadership Academy to take a system wide approach to reduce UTIs in Somerset. So far, we have had two great workshops with health and care staff attending from domiciliary care providers, care homes, continence advisors, general practice, Healthwatch, patient by experience, infection prevention and control and school nurses.
|
We spent the first workshop listening to the experiences of a patient in their 50s with recurrent UTIs and the impact this has on their life. We then spent time articulating our UTI problem by looking at the profile of our Somerset population with UTIs, the impact of menopause of the genitourinary tract, outcomes of a project in the emergency department to reduce ‘dip sticking’ urine samples to help reduce prescribing of antibiotics, rather than base the prescribing decision on symptoms.
|
In our second workshop in October 2022, we came up with a number of actions to raise awareness and prevent UTIs. Examples include:
|
- Support to our schools and parents to support children and young people with a UTI
- Posters on the back of public toilet doors to raise the importance of hydration, how to recognise the early signs of a UTI and when to seek professional help
- Work with our community transport and ambulance providers to make sure our older and clinically vulnerable population bring something to drink when being picked up for their outpatient appointment or attend the emergency department
- Spread some of the great work our GP practices are doing to screen patients remotely with a possible UTI before deciding on next steps, including prescribing of antibiotics
Our reason for including this article is also to create a social movement of change for the prevention of UTIs in Somerset by simply talking about it and signposting people to advice.
|
|
|
|
|
The state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England
Key findings from the annual ‘The state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England report’ include:
|
- There are 165,000 vacant posts - an increase of 52% and the highest rate on record.
- The number of filled posts (posts with a person working in them) has dropped by 50,000 – the first drop in the number of social care workers ever.
- Average vacancy rates across the sector are at nearly 11% which is twice the national average.
- Care workers with five years’ experience are paid 7p per hour more than a care worker with less than one year’s experience.
- The average care worker pay is £1 per hour less than healthcare assistants in the NHS that are new to their roles.
|
New recorded webinar: Preparing for the winter pressures ahead
Skills For Care's recent webinar, co-produced with The Outstanding Society, is now available to view. This webinar is complemented by a range of practical resources including:
|
|
|
|
Falls Resources
- Talk was for the NE & Yorkshire Falls Conference 2022
- Dawn Skelton discusses falls and their prevention in social care
- Covers statistics, evidence, challenges, ideas for action e.g. Promote breaks in long periods of sitting, move more action plans
- includes personal moving more improvement record templates
- series of videos, falls booklet
|
|
|
Reminder: Communication Workers Strike
The Communications Workers Union has called four days of industrial action which will see BT and Openreach workers on strike on the following days:
|
- Thursday 20 October
- Monday 24 October
The strike also includes BT 999 operators, with the Local Resilience Forum on stand-by to deal with any possible consequences.
|
|
During the strike period, if there were any problems with phone lines or internet services at individual locations or bigger geographical areas, there may be delays in resolving any problems and it could take longer than usual.
|
We encourage providers to familiarise themselves with their alternative plans in the event of network outages which could be implemented at short notice
|
We know that individuals with a careline are classed as Vulnerable so that would mean that they are prioritised.
|
|
We do not believe this will impact 999 operations, but would ask providers to be aware and consider alternative plans where this is required.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Latest Covid-19 Outbreak update
(Friday 14 October 2022)
|
Although for many the pandemic has passed, we are seeing increased cases across Somerset. Coupled with the flu we will need all of you to continue your focus on infection prevention and control and to continue to work with us to reduce the opportunities for disease transmission. We are still experiencing high levels of system pressure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alpacas visit Catherine House Care Home in Frome
Catherine House Care Home in Frome had a knock on the door by some very unusual visitors this week – three furry alpacas from Sienna’s Valley Farm! Mopper, Bruiser and Vinnie made themselves at home during their visit to the Somerset home and residents, who are lovingly referred to as family members, enjoyed every cuddly moment.
|
The alpacas enjoyed a bite to eat whilst introducing themselves, family members took the opportunity to treat them to some willow branches which sure went down a treat.
|
|
House Lead, Catrina, who arranged the event for the home said that “It’s quite difficult to put into words how delighted and happy our family members were. Mostly evidenced by smiling faces and some tears of joy. This brought back a lot of memories for former farmers and pet owners living with us, specifically the feeling of wool and the aroma of hay through the home. One family member who isn’t able to show much emotion due to their Dementia journey, held my hand and guided me to touch the Alpacas and that was an amazing connection for us both. It was an overall really enjoyable day for all.”
|
|
|
|
|
In The News: Care Home Investment
|
You may remember a few months ago we had an offer of some free lifting equipment as part of a collaboration with the NHS to ease pressure on ambulance services this winter.
|
That pilot project is now coming to fruition, and BBC news has reported on the first pieces of equipment arriving.
|
|
|
|
Events
|
|
Somerset Winter Readiness Briefing
Support your local communities to stay well and cope with rising living costs this winter. This online event on Thursday 10 November between 11am and 12.30pm will give you an overview of who is more vulnerable in winter and how to signpost to the range of support available in Somerset.
|
👉 Keeping warm – places and help available to keep warm this winter
|
👉 Keeping well – immunisations and emotional wellbeing and support
|
👉 Financial wellness – how to manage finances when costs are rising
|
👉 Essentials – support with food and other essentials
|
👉 Planning for cold and extreme weather
|
This online briefing is for health and care professionals, paid and unpaid carers and volunteers working with people and communities who may be more vulnerable this winter.
|
|
|
Edit this to insert text.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Safe and fair recruitment workshop: gathering information to make informed decisions
|
This workshop will help employers understand their rights and responsibilities when dealing with applicants or existing staff and volunteers who have criminal records (or have been subject to allegations). Delivered by safeguarding and recruitment expert Dominic Headley, it will help you understand key regulations and how to gather references and conduct information safely, fairly and effectively.
|
|
Becoming a disability confident employer
|
Are you looking to discover an untapped talent pool full of people with amazing skills, talents and experience? Join our free virtual webinar to hear from Skills for Care and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about being a disability confident employer.
|
|
Being disability confident is a great opportunity to lead the way in your community, and you might just discover someone that your business can’t do without.
|
|
|
|
Upcoming Event Reminders
-
Homecare Re-design - Come and tell us your views
|
- Sedgemoor, 17th October, 10am to 12.30pm. Book on Eventbrite.
- South Somerset, 18th October, 10am to 12.30pm. Book on Eventbrite.
- Age UK Somerset Flexercise Workshop Bridgwater, Wednesday 19th October. More details on website.
- QNI Webinar for Community Nurses and Queens Nurses working with people with diabetes and frailty in the community, Wednesday 19th October, 6pm to 7.30pm. View the flyer.
- Optimal Handed Care, 4 sessions on 8th and 9th of November. Book on Eventbrite.
- Mouth Care Matters: Looking After People's Oral Health; A Training Session for Health & Social Care Professionals, Tuesday 6th December 9.30am to 11.30am. More details on Maxcourse
|
|
|
Please continue to share or promote these briefings and our webpage to others in your organisations.
|
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.
|
Somerset’s Provider Engagement Team
|
|
Adult Social Care (ASC) COVID19 Response Team
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
