Care England Policy Insight (11.10.2023)

Flu and COVID-19 vaccination programme, Winter 2023/24: Briefing pack for UKHSA stakeholders

Today UKHSA published a new stakeholder communications toolkit which provides information on the flu and COVID-19 vaccination programme for 2023/24. It aims to support stakeholders to help communicate the importance of eligible people taking up the offer of a vaccine this autumn.

The briefing pack contains background information, data and statistics, key messages, suggested social media copy, social media assets and links to useful information.

The toolkit and assets will be added to the Campaign Resource Centre at this link.

Innovation in care homes: Removing stigma and embracing technology

SCIE is always looking for new and innovative ways of providing the best social care and support to people to enable them to live their best lives. With this in mind SCIE recently visited a dementia care home in Leeds, a part of Orchard Care Homes, where they are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support a new way of providing dementia care in a number of their new homes.

Here they have transformed the downstairs section of the care home into what they call a ‘reconnect community’. Housing between 18 and 20 residents who have typically been hard to place due to their so called ‘challenging behaviour’ – a term banned in Orchard Care Homes, along with many other terms they consider to be degrading, labelling or de-humanising, such as toileting. Crucially, the behaviours referred to are in general not presenting anymore. The residents are treated with dignity and respect both in the language being used and the care they are receiving.

One of the ways they are achieving success in reducing such behaviour and improved residents’ experience is by using an application supported by artificial intelligence to assess a persons level of pain (Paincheck).

Read the full SCIE article here.

Is rehabilitation a solution to hospital discharge delays?

Recent data from NHS England show that inadequate access to rehabilitation is delaying medically fit patients from being discharged from hospital. These patients continue to occupy much needed beds, putting more pressure on an already stretched health system. Access to high quality and timely multi-professional rehabilitation services can serve as a cost effective intervention that should be available to all, to support the efficiency of the hospital discharge system and help patient recovery.

The benefits of having access to high quality and timely rehabilitation services are widespread and cost efficient for patients, hospitals, and the wider health and social care system. Rehabilitation can reduce the time spent in hospital, optimise intervention outcomes, prevent hospital admissions and readmissions, and reduce the risks of further complications. Rehabilitation can also enhance quality of life by improving physical, mental, cognitive, and social functioning that may have become impaired by ageing or a health condition such as chronic disease, severe illness, or injury.

Read the full article from the BMJ here.

Can a legal charge be put in place over a resident’s property to protect against non-payment of care home fees?

We are often asked whether a care home can put a legal charge in place over a resident’s property where the property is on the market and the resident is accruing unpaid fees at the home.

The simple answer is yes; but in order to put something in place which is legally binding, you need to be mindful of various bits of law including consumer credit legislation and consumer protection law.