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Dear Care Provider Colleagues,
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Welcome to this week's briefing.
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This week in the briefing: some requests from Proud to Care, an update about Flu, a survey about Optimal Handed Care, information about the Talking Therapies service, a research report about New Starters Experience from Skills for Care, and some guidance from the Royal College of Nursing about Older People in Care Homes' Relationships, and the usual events and reminders.
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Please find the latest news and updates from Adult Social Care below:
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Tell us your vacancies!
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Our exciting ad campaign will be having its soft launch in the coming weeks, and as part of the recruitment activity linked with it, we need your vacancies.
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Tell us your stories!
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Do you have any staff who have an interesting journey working in social care? Maybe they have changed careers, obtained some qualifications, or really stand out as a passionate carer. We are wanting to hear these stories for upcoming campaigns and for our website. If you are interested, email proudtocare@somerset.gov.uk and Tash will send over some questions or set up a short virtual meeting with the staff member to discuss.
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Flu
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Flu is now in circulation in Somerset. Antivirals may be offered for those in clinical ‘at risk’ groups, as well as anyone at risk of severe illness and/or complications from influenza. This will include care home residents.
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This is ahead of an expected challenging winter and ‘flu season’, in addition to ongoing activity to vaccinate care home residents and staff against flu and Covid-19.
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Optimal Handed Care Survey
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The survey will take approximately 5 minutes to complete. In doing so, you will be helping us to plan our free training offer in 2023. It will also allow us to consider ways in which we can support you to ensure that you have access to the necessary training facilities and equipment for your teams. Thank you!
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Talking Therapies – Somerset IAPT Service
- 20% of older people with a coexisting physical illness have undiagnosed depression and/or anxiety
- 40% of older people in hospital or a care home are similarly undiagnosed, often being overlooked as they may present as quiet and passive rather than disruptive
- Loneliness contributes significantly to mental ill health (and even premature death) in older adults. Early detection, emotional support and signposting can effectively reduce these unnecessary outcomes.
Depression and anxiety are treatable conditions which do not go hand in hand with ageing, mental deterioration and illness. Our older population is estimated to double in the next 30 years. They are also more likely to experience
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- reduced mobility
- declining socioeconomic status
- health problems
- bereavement
- frailty – and its knock-on effect on psychological and physical health
Poor mental health leads to poorer response to medical treatment. Encouraging the wellbeing of older people is paramount to optimizing both their good physical and mental health.
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Contrary to general opinion, the evidence from trials and studies shows that older people with anxiety and depression benefit from talking therapies and psychological support because they:
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- are more likely to attend appointments, complete a full treatment and report a positive experience
- are more likely to have an effective and lasting outcome from therapy
- have a recovery rate is 78% - younger age groups tend to have rates of 50-60%
The Talking Therapies Service offers a range of treatments online, face to face and via telephone - individually or in groups. We prioritise older adults for face-to-face treatments. We can offer support to carers too.
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NICE guidelines emphasize that talking therapies, not medication, should be the first intervention for mild to moderate depression and anxiety.
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Please call 0300 323 0033 for further information - or collect a self-referral form from local GP surgeries.
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New Starters Experience Research Report
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Skills for Care have shared with us the results of the first phase of their research into New Starters Experience. You can view the full report here.
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This study involved a rapid data and evidence review investigating the key research questions:
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- What does the evidence say about what works in supporting new starters, specifically, to stay in the adult social care sector?
- What role could Skills for Care (in partnership with employers and others) play in this support?
- What challenges are likely to be encountered?
- What will be the critical success factors?
- What opportunities should be built upon?
- How could success in supporting new starters be evaluated?
Here are the key suggestions:
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- avoid zero-hours contracts
- focus support particularly on young new starters
- support values-based recruitment and retention
- train new starters and aim to equip them with a social care qualification, to support their retention in adult social care - this should begin with the Care Certificate, as analysis also showed that new starters and other staff were more likely to leave if they had not begun the Care Certificate
- recruit from close to home, pay well and support staff wellbeing
- provide high-quality induction and buddy schemes, clearer career pathways and ongoing training opportunities.
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Older People in Nursing Homes guidance: Sex, sexuality and intimate relationships
This guidance has been developed by the Royal College of Nursing to help nurses and care staff work effectively with issues of sexuality, intimate relationships, sexual expression and sex, particularly people living in care homes. Its aim is to facilitate learning, support best practice and serve as a resource to help nurses and care staff address the needs of older service users in a professional, sensitive, legal and practical way.
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Latest Covid-19 Outbreak update
(Friday 25 November 2022)
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We are still experiencing high levels of system pressure.
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Events
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Learning Engagement Meeting
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Agenda - 6th December 2022 - 2pm to 4pm
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- Clinical skills Team
- Nicky Cooper – Update/feedback on Optimal handling Care event 8/9 November
- Lauren Dyer – Somerset Activity and Sports Partnerships (SASP) – love to pedal and exercise and activity
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Larch Team – good news story joined by Manager Molly from Arthurs Court
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- Mental Health – Orange button community awareness scheme
- Q&A
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Transference of Care Discussion:
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- Urgent Community Response
- Falls response and MANGA equipment funded offer
- Q&A
- Discharge summaries
- Discharge planning meetings
- Training for care providers to facilitate discharge
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Open floor discussion on Hospital Discharge
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Transference of care discussion for 3rd January 2023 suggestions
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Upcoming Event Reminders
- Care Provider Learning Engagement Meeting, Tuesday 6th December, 2-4pm. View details on website.
- Call to Action: Improving Dysphagia Management in the South West, Wednesday 7th Devember, 10am-1pm. Register online.
- 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
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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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