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Scottish Care comments on the High Court ruling on care homes discharge of COVID-19 patients

The ruling will be devastating for families who lost loved ones discharged from hospitals to care homes early in the pandemic. It raises important questions about what information and advice was given to and heeded by politicians at this time. It will be crucial that the issue of hospital discharge without appropriate testing or isolation is also examined in a Scottish context and we look forward to this being taken forward as part of a robust public inquiry in the coming months. It will be very important that the voices and experiences of frontline care staff, managers and families are prioritised in this process, given it was these individuals who bore the weight of grief, trauma and distress as a result of these discharge decisions, the general prioritisation of the NHS, and these subsequent deaths. This ruling serves as another reminder of the enormous human cost of the pandemic and decisions that were taken, and our thoughts remain with everyone affected.

 

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Shaping Digital Health & Social Care – Innovation Challenge

Businesses invited to share digital ideas for improved healthcare delivery in Scotland

  • New initiative using advanced connectivity to transform and improve healthcare delivery and solve current challenges in the service.
  • ‘Call’ for businesses to provide solutions to improve digital access to services, support care at home and share information safely.
  • Three shortlisted projects will receive access to a private 5G test bed and full technical and business support to develop a solution for market launch.

SMEs and technology entrepreneurs are invited to share their ideas to address challenges in the health sector, as The Scotland 5G Centre and its S5GConnect Dumfries hub launches their first innovation challenge today (date). The ‘Shaping Digital Health & Social Care’ Innovation Challenge will support three projects to improve healthcare delivery, by giving the selected companies the 5G know how to make their solution market ready.

S5GConnect is supported with this ground-breaking acceleration programme by two key challenge owners, namely Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership and Scottish Care. The Challenge Owners have identified the challenges they want to address. This ensures S5GConnect is assessing solutions that the market is keen to integrate.

The ‘Shaping Digital Health & Social Care’ Innovation Challenge invites businesses to respond to real problems and bring their solutions, enabled by 5G, to meet patient and care provider needs accurately, efficiently, conveniently, cost effectively and at scale.

Companies entering are required to highlight a solution that addresses one of the following challenges:

  • Enhance and develop digital access to health and care services across the region, particularly in rural areas.
  • Digital ideas to help support people to manage their own conditions and care for themselves safely at home.
  • Connectivity solutions that enable information to be shared with people and others involved in patients’ care safely and efficiently.

Spearheaded by S5GConnect, the Scotland 5G Centre’s series of 5G test beds and innovation hubs across Scotland, the challenge will provide access to a cutting-edge private 5G network in Dumfries, with expertise and advice to drive development within a 5G environment.

The winning companies will get access to the challenge owners’ expertise and insider knowledge throughout the accelerator programme, with support also committed post programme to bring the solution closer to market integration.

CGI, an additional challenge partner, will also be bringing its “go-to-market” and scaling expertise throughout the programme. CGI’s support will continue with network introductions and a potential showcase at the CGI Innovation Centre’s 5G lab in London. Technical support will be delivered by AWTG virtually and through direct one-to-one sessions at the testbed.

The ‘call’ is open to SMEs across Scotland and the UK who currently have a healthcare product or service in development or already on the market but requires additional digital capacity to meet a need or improve performance. Entrants also need to show they are committed to the programme and can ensure team members can attend the required sessions. There is a £1000 travel and subsistence budget available to each winning company to support these costs.

The S5GConnect innovation programme offers a comprehensive package of support for the successful companies. This includes: a 15-week development programme; access to the 5G testbed in Dumfries with one-to-one technical expertise to support technical development. In addition, companies will receive business and investment advice and introduction to potential customers and ongoing access to S5GConnect business and technical support until March 2023. The post challenge opportunities through the network of challenge owners and partners will add real value to a company.

Lara Moloney, Head of S5GConnect, said:

“Private 5G networks offer organisations a new way to deliver services, this innovation challenge focuses on how we can support independent living and care to ease the burden on the NHS and Care Providers. Collectively we are offering a real opportunity to businesses who can solve these difficult problems and that can be enhanced through advanced connectivity. This intensive programme will allow the acceleration of a business concept into a product that has the potential to transform how we care for people and change lives for the better.

“This is an ideal opportunity for businesses to access expert support to fine-tune their concept and assess it in a real environment. This will in turn lead to scaling up and commercialisation to create new skills and jobs and will make a positive and real difference to the economy.”

David Rowland, Director of Strategic Planning and Transformation, Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership, added  

“We launched a comprehensive Sustainability and Modernisation Programme to address the growing pressures on local services. We recognise that adopting new and emergent digital solutions is critical to our success as it can help us provide our services efficiently and effectively.

“This Innovation Challenge offers a fantastic opportunity for our partnership to forge the new alliances necessary to explore innovative and creative solutions to some of our key challenges.”

Nicola Cooper, Technology and Digital Innovation Lead, Scottish Care

“This is a terrific opportunity to do something of real value for people who access, or work in health and social care through delivering new solutions enabled by advanced connectivity at a time when we need it most.

“We want to work with innovators seeking real world applications for their solutions in health and social care. We will help match them with care providers, to shape and evaluate their ideas as part of the accelerator process.”

The programme will be delivered in person and remotely. The live test bed used will be at the S5GConnect innovation hub, at the Crichton Centre in Dumfries. Details of the innovation challenge, including a link to the Expression of Interest form and Q&A event are available at:

Shaping Digital Health & Social Care

Timetable for applications:

  • 12th April – Challenge Launch
  • 21st April – Live Q&A Application Support Event
  • 18th May – First Stage: Expression of Interest Documentation to be submitted
  • 1st – 3rd June – Second Stage: Technical Interviews with shortlisted Companies
  • 6th June – Winning companies will be notified
  • 27th June – Companies to start.
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Social Care Job Fairs – Hosted by Scottish Government and Department for Work and Pensions

Please see below for a flyer for a number of upcoming jobs fairs for the social care sector, hosted by DWP and Scottish Government. We would be most grateful if you would share the attached flyer with your networks and via social media to maximise reach.

If any social care providers would like further information, or to host a stand at one of the events, please contact [email protected]

Social Care Job Fairs Flyer SG
Download flyer
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Job Opportunity – Care Technologist Lead

SCOTTISH CARE REQUIRES A CARE TECHNOLOGIST LEAD

Are you excited about the potential of technology to help people live their lives to the fullest? Do you consider it important to use technology within a human rights and ethical framework? Are you passionate about empowering people who access care and support, and knowledgeable about the opportunities for technology? Are you a skilled communicator who can build confidence and skills in others? Then this may be a great role for you.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Scottish Care for a Care Technologist Lead to join the national Scottish Care team. This full-time post is for a fixed period of 12 months. The post is remunerated at £33,447 per annum plus agreed expenses.

Scottish Care is funding this post as a result of funding from the Scottish Government Technology Enabled Care Programme.

Applicants should ideally be qualified to degree level or equivalent and have experience of working in the technology and digital sector. Current knowledge of the social care sector in Scotland, and an ability to engage and innovate the positive use of technology to enable the delivery of a rights-based approach to support and care are desirable.

The Care Technologist role was conceived through work undertaken on the future of social care carried out with Glasgow School of Art School of Innovation and Design. The next phase of this project will involve working with homecare and care home service providers, people who access services and support, strategic designers, technology industry, academia, and wider stakeholders across health and social care. Travel will be required to work in different service areas and geographical locations. The Care Technologist Lead will lead on the operational delivery of the project as the senior officer, with the Care Technologist role. This is an excellent opportunity to be part of the re-imagining of social care delivery and to really make a difference to people who access care and support services.

The contract offers a home-based option, and the post-holder will report to the Scottish Care Technology and Digital Innovation Lead, Nicola Cooper.

Intro to the role – information session

Our Technology and Digital Innovation Lead, Nicola Cooper, is hosting an information session on a intro to the Care Technologist/Lead role. This session will include a short presentation followed by Q&A. Please join if you are interested in finding out more about these roles.

This session will take place on Thursday 28 April 2022, 12:30 – 1:00 pm. Please register on Eventbrite for this session: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/intro-to-the-care-technologist-role-tickets-327429970857

Application forms

An Application Form and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form is available below and completed forms should be returned to [email protected] by no later than 12 noon on Friday 29th April 2022.

For further information on the post please contact [email protected]

Interviews will be held virtually.

Download Job Description - Information for Candidates : Care Technologist Lead
Download Application Form
Download Equality & Monitoring Form
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Job Opportunity – Care Technologist (full time & part time roles)

SCOTTISH CARE REQUIRES A CARE TECHNOLOGIST

Do you have a passion for working with people and an enthusiasm for technology? Are you excited by the opportunity for technology to provide meaningful and personalised support? Do you consider it important to use technology within a human rights and ethical framework? Are you excited to learn about new technology and digital solutions, and confident that you could apply these in practice? Then this may be a great role for you.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Scottish Care for a Care Technologist to join the Scottish Care team. There are two posts available – 1.0FT and 0.6FTE or the equivalent. The post holder will be hosted within a partner organisation and employed by Scottish Care.  The partner organisations will be located in Glasgow and Aberdeen with the possibility of other locations being included. Some travel will be required, and expenses will be paid.

This post is for a fixed period of 12 months and is remunerated at £26,500 per annum plus agreed expenses.

Scottish Care is funding this post as a result of funding from the Scottish Government Technology Enabled Care Programme.

Applicants should have qualifications and experience in health and social care and/or the technology and digital sector. Current knowledge of the social care sector in Scotland, and an ability to engage and innovate the positive use of technology to enable the delivery of a rights-based approach to support and care are desirable.

The Care Technologist role was conceived through work undertaken on the future of social care carried out with Glasgow School of Art School of Innovation and Design. The next phase of this project will involve working with homecare and care home service providers, people who access services and support, strategic designers, technology industry, academia, and wider stakeholders across health and social care. Some travel will be required to work in different service areas and geographical locations. The Care Technologist will work as part of a small team, with another Care Technologist role and the Care Technologist Lead. This is an excellent opportunity to be part of an innovative approach to delivering care and support services.

The post-holder will report to the Scottish Care Technology and Digital Innovation Lead, Nicola Cooper.

Intro to the role – information session

Our Technology and Digital Innovation Lead, Nicola Cooper, is hosting an information session on a intro to the Care Technologist/Lead role. This session will include a short presentation followed by Q&A. Please join if you are interested in finding out more about these roles.

This session will take place on Thursday 28 April 2022, 12:30 – 1:00 pm. Please register on Eventbrite for this session: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/intro-to-the-care-technologist-role-tickets-327429970857

Application forms

An Application Form and Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form is available below and completed forms should be returned to [email protected]  no later than 12 noon on Friday 29th April 2022.

For further information on the post please contact [email protected]

Interviews will be held virtually.

Download Job Description - Information for Candidates : Care Technologist
Download Application Form
Download Equality Monitoring Form
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Congratulations to our 2021 Care Home Awards winners!

Scottish Care’s Annual Care Home Awards 2021 took place on the evening of Friday 1 April 2022 at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow, hosted by Pop Idol Winner, Michelle McManus and Scottish Care CEO, Dr Donald Macaskill.

This was first in-person awards ceremony that we have hosted in over 2 years, since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic! It was an amazing yet emotional night for everyone there.

Huge congratulations to all of our deserving finalists and winners, and thank you to all the Awards Sponsors.

Find out more about our finalists here.

#celebratecare #careawards21

 

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‘Bereavement in the Workplace’ – A Bereavement Charter Webinar (3 May)

Webinar: Bereavement in the Workplace |A Bereavement Charter for Children and Adults in Scotland

Tuesday 3rd May 2022, 13:30 to 15:05 (via Zoom)

The Group which developed the Charter is holding the third in a series of webinars exploring different elements of death and bereavement.

Full programme can be viewed below.

Register your place here.

Bereavement in the Workplace Webinar Flyer - May 22 (1)
Download programme
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Finalists announced for Care at Home & Housing Support Awards 2022

We are delighted to announce the finalists in this year’s Care at Home and Housing Support Awards. Thank you to all who submitted nominations and congratulations to all who have been shortlisted!

Winners will be announced at our Awards Ceremony, hosted by Michelle McManus and Dr Donald Macaskill on the evening of Friday 13 May 2022 at the Radisson Blu, Glasgow. If you are interested in booking an Awards Table, please contact [email protected].