Care England Policy Insight (29.09.2023)
Health and social care organisations call on government to overhaul end of life care
Yesterday, The new Coalition of Frontline Care for People Nearing the End of Life, which includes Care England, the British Geriatrics Society (BGS) and The Gold Standards Framework Centre (GSF), is calling for enhanced core training in end of life care (EOLC) for the UK’s three million generalist frontline health and social care workers. They also want to see a step-change in health and care integration from the new Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) and heightened recognition of end of life care by the regulator CQC.
In an open letter to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Rt Hon Steve Barclay MP, and Social Care Minister, Helen Whately MP, they say that existing NHS resources could be better used to transform a vital system of care that is failing those most in need.
Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said:
“Care for people nearing the end of their life is a major part of delivering good health and care services, and all parts of the system need to make changes in order to deliver good end of life care.
The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan (iii) suggests improved recruitment, retention and reform are needed to address the workforce crisis, but it does not adequately address the need for good quality end of life care, and currently excludes the social care workforce.
This obvious omission could be remedied in part by a focus on training in this vital area of end of life care for the social care workforce.
Implementing a policy of enhanced core training in end of life care for all frontline generalist staff in health and social care is essential if we want to reduce suffering for older people in their final years.
In each individual case there is only one opportunity to get end of life care right. If the government is willing to grasp the nettle on this issue, we can bring about a step-change in care.”
The full text of the letter is available to download here.
To read the full update from Care England, click here.
‘How we are testing our approach to integrated care system assessments’ – an update from the CQC.
Today, the CQC have provided an update on their approach to ICS assessments. They had previously confirmed that the 2 integrated care systems (ICSs) where we are piloting our new assessments are:
Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care System
Dorset Integrated Care System
The assessment process has now started, and each pilot system has received a request for information from the CQC. This is so they can collect the evidence that they need to review. As part of our assessment, they are speaking directly with people using health and care services and with staff working in the ICS about their experiences. The CQC will also carry out on-site interviews for each ICS in the pilot.
During the pilots, the CQC will be testing their assessment methods based on how:
work with partners and stakeholders, including NHS England
use feedback from providers and people using services
involve Experts by Experience effectively in our assessments
use our tools and methods, including the information return
enable efficient ways of working
For each of the pilots, the CQC want to look at:
how leadership works
whether systems are integrated
progress towards reducing inequalities
how quality and safety is managed across local services.
The CQC will provide a report of the findings from the assessment for each ICS in the pilot. However, the Department of Health and Social Care has agreed that they should not generate ratings for these pilots.
The CQC will complete a full evaluation of the pilot assessments and incorporate our learning into their formal assessments which will start in 2024. Their approach to formal assessments may be subject to further government approval, as required by the Health and Care Act 2022.
To read more on this update, click here
Public asked to shape future use of health data by the NHS
In the new year, the NHS is organising a series of events to gather public input on how health data can be used to enhance patient care. Supported by up to £2 million in funding, these events aim to involve the public in discussions about digital and data transformation within the NHS.
One of the key topics to be discussed is the Federated Data Platform, a significant software platform that connects existing NHS data to expedite diagnosis, reduce waiting times, and minimize hospital stays.
The public engagement events will also provide information about the government's Data Saves Lives strategy, allowing patients to make more informed choices regarding their data. This approach aligns with the Data Strategy's commitment to involving the public in product development.
Healthcare organisations and experts emphasize the importance of public confidence in data safeguards and call for transparency and genuine engagement in shaping how patient data is used to benefit health.
Read the full article here.
New autism support launched for families and carers across England
Support is available for families and carers of autistic children and adults thanks to a new, free education programme being launched across England.
Autism Central aims to build knowledge and understanding of autism and empower families and carers to advocate for autistic people they support to get the right understanding and adjustments in place across the services they use.
Commissioned by NHS England and informed by or co-produced with autistic people, parents and carers, the programme offers one-to-one and group sessions complemented by high-quality online learning and information.
Families and carers can also talk to people with similar experiences by joining workshops, drop-in sessions, coffee mornings or virtual meetups.
Read the full update here.
UKHSA launches new infectious disease data dashboard
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) on Tuesday (26 September) launched the first iteration of its new dashboard, which will serve as a centralised source for infectious disease and outbreak data this winter.
The dashboard will be updated on Thursday each week. It will initially feature the latest information on a number of respiratory diseases, including:
COVID-19
influenza (flu)
respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
adenovirus
human metapneumovirus (hMPV)
parainfluenza
rhinovirus
Over time, the data dashboard will be expanded to provide additional health security data, including data relating to incidents of public interest.
The new dashboard will allow UKHSA to share data on common winter illnesses that can severely impact communities and health services each year. Its creation was prompted following high levels of influenza during winter 2022 to 2023 and outbreaks of a variety of infectious diseases, which highlighted the need for a centralised system for UKHSA to share information on other health threats alongside COVID-19.
Read the full announcement here.
See the dashboard here.
Reminder: Suicide prevention funding – closes on Sunday 1 October
On Friday 25 August, DHSC launched a £10 million Suicide Prevention Grant Fund for 2023 to 2025.
The purpose of the fund is to support suicide prevention in the voluntary and community sector and help them meet additional demand for services. It will also support the delivery of new, preventative activity that can help to prevent suicides and save lives.
The application period closes on Sunday 1 October. Applications must be made online via the Find a Grant portal, unless exceptional circumstances apply.
Guidance on the fund can be found on GOV.UK. This guidance provides full details of the objectives of the fund, the eligibility criteria, and what the application process involves.
Read more about the Grant Fund here.
Read the guidance for the Suicide Prevention Grant Fund 2023 to 2025 here.
COVID-19 vaccination: autumn programme resources – reminder
On Tuesday 5 September, the UK Health and Security Agency published an information leaflet and sticker for the COVID-19 autumn vaccination programme.
The leaflet has been translated into a number of languages and are available to download.
A dose of the COVID-19 vaccine will be offered this autumn to:
people aged 65 years and over
residents in care homes for older people
anyone aged 6 months and over in a clinical risk group
health and social care staff
Appointments are available from the National Booking Service.
Read more about the Guidance here.
Free workforce wellbeing helpline and 15% discount on all workforce support, wellbeing and engagement programmes
Offering a dedicated Workforce Wellbeing Helpline to Care England members; Talent for Care is a leading provider of innovative workforce wellbeing, engagement and retention solutions to the Health and Social Care workforce.
We establish strong partnerships with all the organisations we work with: investing time and efforts in understanding your organisation, getting to know your teams, developing quality relationships, understand we achieve outstanding and sustainable outcomng your specific challenges and developing tailored solutions for your workforce. Together, es.
They are partnering with Care England to offer a free workforce wellbeing helpline to all Care England members and a 15% discount on workforce support, wellbeing and engagement programmes.
To view this offer, click here.
To view all offers available, click here.
Tenders and contract opportunities for adult social care
The link below lists recent tender and contract opportunities for adult social care providers to consider.
Solihull MBC (SOL)- Extra Care Housing Services 2024
https://www.publicsector.co.uk/contractalert/498967
Surrey County Council - Care & Support with Community Accommodation DPS
https://www.publicsector.co.uk/contractalert/499133
Surrey County Council - Independent Alternative Provision DPS
https://www.publicsector.co.uk/contractalert/498670
LONDON BOROUGH OF NEWHAM - VCFS Infrastucture Development, Partnership and Sector Growth Service
https://www.publicsector.co.uk/contractalert/498608
Milton Keynes Council - Assessment, Information and Advice Sensory Service
https://www.publicsector.co.uk/contractalert/498747
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust - Clinical Coding Support Services Dynamic Purchasing System
https://www.publicsector.co.uk/contractalert/498766
Click here to see tender and contract opportunities.
Care England re-issues gas and electricity tender for care providers
Care providers with energy contracts expiring before 2026, who wish to secure the lowest possible energy price available at their renewal date and to benefit from support and solutions not available to individual organisations on their own, should register their interest here and complete the expression of interest link.