Adult Social Care Update November 22
Autumn COVID-19 booster and flu campaign:
The country-wide marketing campaign, urging millions of eligible people, including frontline care and health colleagues, to get their flu and COVID-19 booster vaccines continues to run across television, radio and social media. You can watch the TV advert here.
To learn more, and promote the benefits of vaccination to care colleagues, visit the Campaign Resource Centre for Q&A leaflets, posters, social media content and stickers, all free to download and share.
Meanwhile, this week's blog from Vida Healthcare stresses the importance of care home staff and residents having both COVID-19 and flu vaccinations. It's a positive piece, which also emphasises care providers' duty to protect the wellbeing of colleagues and support them to enjoy rewarding careers.
Minister for Social Care pledges support for care home visiting and care sector recruitment
Newly appointed Minister of State for Social Care, Helen Whately MP, wasted no time meeting care colleagues and residents, with a visit to HC-One’s Alexander Care Home in Lewisham, earlier this week. She was joined by Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, for a tour of the home, which offers residential, nursing and dementia care.
“It was great to... spend time with staff and residents and witness the kindness and patience embodied by our valuable care colleagues.
“While HC-One’s homes are open to visitors, I am still hearing about families being stopped from visiting loved ones in care homes. This is something I’m determined to fix, along with boosting the care workforce and making sure people who need social care can get it.”
Interested in a social care career? Click here to find out more
Shared decision-making councils: could you be the chair?
To provide a better understanding of the role of adult social care nurses, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy, is working with NHS England to establish shared decision- making councils. Expressions of interest are sought from registered individuals with relevant nursing qualifications.
This is an exciting opportunity to inform local understanding and recognition of the profession and the wider sector. Prior to taking on the role, individuals will join a five-day bespoke learning programme, delivered by the Florence Nightingale Foundation.
Contact academy@florence-nightingale-foundation.org.uk or click below to find out more.
Visit the Florence Nightingale Foundation
Nursing Time Awards 2022 with added social care!
Earlier this year, the prestigious Nursing Times Awards announced the introduction of a dedicated category for social care nursing. Colleagues from Oakleaf Care made history as first recipients of the award, which recognised their innovation and person-centred problem solving during the height of the pandemic.
Experts in delivering neuro-rehabilitation for over 15 years, Oakleaf colleagues developed a new weight control programme for residents, at a time when restrictions on movement made it especially important to remain active and eat healthily.
Visit the DHSC Social Care blog to find out more
Free DBS check service to continue until March 2023
Fast-track DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks, established at the start of the pandemic to help employers recruit safely and efficiently, will continue until the end of March 2023. Use of this service must be limited to recruiting roles which meet legal eligibility criteria.
This applies to healthcare and social care workers in England and Wales, being recruited in connection with the provision of care and treatment of coronavirus, or those being recruited to backfill roles because of the impact of the pandemic.
See further information and supplementary guidance on GOV.UK
Become a digital transformer in social care
The Topol Digital Fellowship programme, run by Health Education England, gives successful candidates the skills and financial support to focus on digital transformation or innovation projects which will benefit their organisations. The scheme is now open to clinical and non-clinical staff working in the social care sector.
A bursary of up to £15,000 will be available to each Topol Fellow. If you have a great idea for a digital transformation project in social care and would like to find out more, sign up for this special webinar on 21 November.