Policy Updates 16th May 2022
The following policy updates have been curated from the week commencing 16th May 2022.
Government Updates
New prescription charge freeze to help ease cost of living
Cost of prescriptions will be frozen for the first time in over a decade
GOV.UK
New prescription charge freeze to help ease cost of living
NHS prescription charges will be frozen for the first time in 12 years to help with the cost of living. Charges usually increase in line with average inflation. This year – in a move not seen for over a decade – the cost for prescriptions will remain the same to help ease cost of living pressures and ensure prescription medication remains accessible. This means people in England who pay prescription charges are saving £17 million overall. Charges for prescriptions will remain at £9.35 for a single charge or £30.25 for a 3-month prescription prepayment certificate (PPC).
Found at: GOV.UK
Registered Manager webinar: New managers – what resources and support is available
This webinar is for all new managers. Whether you are new to the role in the past year or you are stepping up into management for the first time, the webinar will provide an introduction to how Skills for Care can help you to be successful. You’ll hear about practical ways to recruit, develop and lead your teams, as well as how to further your own development and different ways to connect with peer support and local expertise. The session will include our top tips for new managers and practical demonstrations of the tools that can help you. Wednesday 18th May, 10:00-10:45am.
Found at: Skills for Care
Stakeholder Updates
Agency Fees for Social Care
The adult social care sector currently faces significant challenges in both the recruitment and retention of staff. As such, there has been a significant increase in the use of agencies to help fill workforce gaps, which are currently over 10%, and to deal with absence due to sickness, and 34% attrition levels. The greater use of agency staff has consequently increased the demand for agency staff and its cost.
Consequently, Care England held a discussion with the Department of Health and Social Care in early May to discuss pragmatic solutions to this problem.
What is required now is quantitative data to take this issue forward.
This survey has been devised as a means of demonstrating the multi-faceted issue of sourcing and paying for agency staff which will underpin Care England’s ongoing discussions with national stakeholders seeking to provide a sector wide resolution to this issue.
This survey covers nursing and carer agency cover only.
All information provided will be handled sensitively and anonymised.
This survey will close at midday on 1 June - The survey can be found here.