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Vitamin D Guidance in Care Home Workshop – Dec – Jan 2023/24

Workshops on new guidance on offering vitamin D supplements to eligible residents in adult care homes 14 December and 23 January

Dear colleagues

We are writing to invite you attend one of the workshops arranged by the Scottish Government for care homes and professionals who support care homes which will be held on Thursday 14th of December 2023 (3:00-4.30) and Tuesday 23rd of January 2024 (11:00-12.30) following the publication of the new Vitamin D guidance on 7th December. The joining links to the workshops are below.

Vitamin D is important for keeping bones and muscles healthy. Current advice is that everyone should consider taking a daily supplement of vitamin D, particularly during the winter months. However, groups at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency, including people living in care homes, are advised to take a daily supplement all year round.

Guidance to support care home staff in offering vitamin D to residents has been developed by Short Life Working group (SLWG) following calls from the care home sector around the need for guidance on implementation. The guidance materials were piloted in some care homes Ayrshire and Arran who reported an overall positive experience in offering vitamin D supplements to eligible residents.

The workshops will provide information on vitamin D, the findings from the pilot in Ayrshire and Arran, how to use the guidance to support conversations around vitamin D and there will be an opportunity to ask questions. The content of both workshops will be the same, so there is no need to attend both.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Thursday 14th December: 3:00-4:30pm

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 381 780 582 889
Passcode: zbMqkn

Or call in (audio only)

+44 131 376 2847,,122762797#   United Kingdom, Edinburgh

Phone Conference ID: 122 762 797#

 

Tuesday 23rd January: 11:00-12:30pm

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 325 785 468 511
Passcode: evkMze

Or call in (audio only)

+44 131 376 2847,,1016923#   United Kingdom, Edinburgh

Phone Conference ID: 101 692 3#

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Moving from Talk to Action on Bereavement – Online Event (23 January 2024)

 The Bereavement Charter Group and Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief  is organising an online event on ‘Moving from Talk to Action on Bereavement: Improving Signposting’.

Date: Tuesday 23 January 2024
Time: 2:00 – 4:00 pm
Location: Online via Zoom

This will be first in a series of events to discuss how we in the bereavement sector in Scotland can work together to achieve positive change.

The event is for anyone who feels they can play a role in improving signposting to available bereavement support in Scotland.

Find out more about the event and sign up on: Moving from Talk to Action on Bereavement: Improving Signposting Tickets, Tue 23 Jan 2024 at 14:00 | Eventbrite

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Care Home Awards 2023 – Winners

The National Care Home Awards 2023 by Scottish Care took place on the evening of Friday 17 November 2023, hosted at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow. The event, hosted by Pop Idol Winner Michelle McManus and Scottish Care CEO Dr Donald Macaskill, was an eventful evening!

A big round of applause goes out to our well-deserving finalists and winners, and our heartfelt appreciation to all the Awards Sponsors. A special mention to The Nursing Partnership for generously sponsoring the Arrival Drinks and to the Hilton Glasgow for sponsoring the Hotel Stay Raffle Prize.

To discover more about our exceptional finalists, you can explore the details in our Awards Programme.

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Five Nations Care Forum Communiqué 16 November 2023

Eight steps to a sustainable social care workforce

In this rapidly changing world, the demands on the social care workforce are also evolving. Our workforce is the backbone of the care and support sector, and investing in its capabilities and well-being is key to achieving our shared goals. Demographic and societal changes require a creative and innovative approach to how we deliver care and support in a sustainable way, which enables the person-led care and support we all deserve.

We recognize the need to support a workforce that is adaptable, innovative, and equipped with the necessary skills to address the complex needs experienced by individuals and communities. But this will require bravery across the whole social care system to address the implementation gap experienced to date and reinforced by bureaucracy and systemic barriers. The Five Nations Care Forum is calling for urgent attention on the following seven recommendations for a sustainable social care workforce.

  1. A valued workforce

A collaborative pledge to value social care as a career that is actively promoted and supported by the sector, civil servants and politicians.

  1. Continuous Training and Professional Development

Enable a system for knowledge exchange and co-creation across training and development.

Encourage and create the conditions for lifelong learning opportunities for all social care professionals.

Establish an interdisciplinary career pathway across health and social care.

  1. Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

Implement initiatives that promote diversity and inclusion with the healthcare workforce, ensuring that our staff is reflective of the diverse populations we serve.

Foster a culture of respect and inclusion, providing training to address unconscious biases and create a supportive working environment.

Engage in a global conversation about the impact of economic migration.

  1. Mental Health and Well-being support

Develop comprehensive mental health support programmes for social care workers recognising the unique stressors they face in their roles.

Establish peer support networks and counselling services to address burnout and promote healthy work life balance.

  1. Technology integration

Invest in technology solutions that enhance the efficiency of social care and support delivery, reducing administrative burdens and allowing more time for direct patient care.

Provide training and resource to ensure all social care professionals can effectively utilize new technologies.

  1. Collaboration and interdisciplinary teams

Promote collaboration among different social care disciplines to create a more integrated and holistic approach to patient care.

Develop interdisciplinary training programmes to encourage effective communication and collaboration.

  1. Flexible work arrangements

Implement flexible work arrangements such as remote work options and flexible scheduling to accommodate the diverse needs of social care professionals.

Recognise and address the unique challenge faced by caregivers, providing tailored solutions to support their work-life balance.

  1. Recognition and Rewards

Establish a system for recognizing and rewarding outstanding contributions by social care professionals.

Develop incentive programmes to attract and retain top talent in the care sector.

These recommendations are intended to serve as a foundation for our collaborative efforts to strengthen the social care workforce across our nations. By prioritizing these initiatives, we can build a resilient and empowered workforce who are not only capable to providing the high-quality care and support that our communities deserve but experience the joy that working in this valuable sector can bring.

The 5 Nations Care Forum is an alliance of the professional associations representing the care sector across the UK and Ireland

-ENDS- 

This statement has been issued by Scottish Care on behalf of the Five Nations Care Forum, of which Scottish Care is a member.

About the Five Nations Care Forum

 The 5 Nations Care Forum is an alliance of the professional associations representing the care sector across the UK and Ireland. Through a collective commitment to information sharing, joint lobbying, shared learning and support, the aim of the 5 Nations Care Forum is to add value to members’ activity by promoting the interests of service recipients, staff and service providers. The Forum seeks to encourage the development of a joined-up approach to matters which have a UK-wide or European dimension.

For more information including membership: http://www.fivenationscareforum.com/

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Bereavement Charter Webinar “The Space Between: Understanding Anticipatory Grief” – Resources

“The Space Between: Understanding Anticipatory Grief” was a recent webinar hosted by Scotland’s National Bereavement Charter for Adults and Children Working Group. This session took place on 1 November 2023, and marked the fourth in a series of enlightening webinars exploring diverse aspects of death and bereavement.

The webinar delved into the topic of anticipatory grief, shedding light on this complex emotional experience faced by many. We were privileged to have speakers and experts who shared their valuable insights.

For those who missed the live session or wish to revisit the discussions, we are pleased to announce that the recording of the webinar is now available on: https://youtu.be/VNsJcIWVZJ8. Additionally, the presentation slides shared by our speakers can be accessed below:

The knowledge shared during this webinar promises to be a valuable resource for both professionals and individuals navigating the complexities of bereavement.

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The Truth about Ageing plus Q&A – 10 November 2023

 – 

Location: Tower Suite, Forth Valley College, Alloa, FK10 1PX

Booking required

In the upcoming event, “The Truth About Ageing,” participants will embark on an exploration aimed at reframing the perception of ageing and older age. Departing from the conventional view of ageing as a challenge, this event advocates for perceiving it as an opportunity for thriving. This event serves as a continuation of the impactful Reimagining the Future in Older Age Project, delving into the nuances of older age and its potential. Utilising Forum Theatre, an interactive theatrical approach empowering the audience to actively reshape the narrative, the event seeks to reshape societal perspectives on ageing and older age.

Following the theatre performance, attendees will engage in a Panel and Audience Q&A session, delving into the issues brought forth by “The Truth About Ageing.” The esteemed panel comprises Professor Alison Bowes and Dr Melanie Lovatt from the University of Stirling, Dr Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive of Scottish Care, and Suzanne Dance, an Actor and Facilitator associated with Active Inquiry. Guiding the discussion, Dr Hannah Graham of the University of Stirling will chair the panel, fostering meaningful dialogue on the evolving landscape of ageing perceptions.

Find out more and book your place here

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Scottish Modern Slavery Roundtable: Resources Available

Scottish Care, in partnership with Scotland Against Modern Slavery (SAMS), successfully hosted the Scottish Modern Slavery Roundtable on 26 October. This significant event brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss vital issues surrounding modern slavery.

We are delighted to announce that the recording of this insightful session is now accessible to the public. The recording can be viewed via the following link: Recording Link.

In addition to the video, we are sharing the presentation slides from key contributors:

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who engaged in this crucial discussion. Your active participation contributed significantly to the depth and diversity of perspectives explored during the event.

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Job Opportunity: Independent Sector Career & Attraction Lead (Care Homes) – North Highland

North Highland

Independent Sector Care Home Career Attraction Lead

PARTNERS FOR INTEGRATION 

SCOTTISH CARE 

Health and Social Care Integration  

£48,120 per annum

Fixed term contract funded until April 2025

Home Based with Significant travel across North Highland

Open to secondment

Do you have an interest in improving the quality of care, can you COLLABORATE, INNOVATE AND COMMUNICATE, and would you like to join a successful, committed and highly motivated team? This could be the opportunity you have been waiting for.

We are seeking to engage an Independent Sector Care Home, Career Attraction Lead.

To support the Integration of Health and Social Care in North Highland, to promote the benefits of working in Independent Sector Care Home provision and to specifically attract more potential employees to work in this highly rewarding sector.

We are recruiting to the above post which will work across North Highland with a key focus on the recruitment and retention of our most valuable assets.

You will connect with potential care home recruits through innovative means, harnessing technology, and social media to convey the many positive benefits of a care home career and engage with relevant stakeholders to develop effective mechanisms to promote and channel this interest.

Hosted by Scottish Care and working closely with the current Independent Sector Leads, Care providers and Partners, the post involves ensuring sector involvement in the delivery of the integrating of health and social care in Scotland’s HSCPs.

The post holder must be highly motivated, passionate about care home service delivery, be able to use initiative, influence, possess excellent communication and networking skills, along with excellent IT and social media understanding and use and be able to report on outcomes and impact at a strategic level.

Qualifications and recent experience of working in the care home sector at a management level would be a significant advantage, as would care sector recruitment experience, although this is not essential for the right candidate.

The post holder will be expected to create and support significant collaborations across the independent care sector whilst contributing to the development of new pathways which will result in the delivery of improved outcomes for people who access care and support. The post holder will ensure the Independent Sector’s contribution is fundamental to integrated services and transformational change and be able to evidence their impact. The role requires considerable and skilful collaboration with our key partners in the NHS, Local Authority, Carers, third sector organisations and other forums.

North Highland is a progressive partnership and invests heavily in this post and the Independent Sector.

The successful candidate will be required to spend a significant amount of time in the North Highland area. 

The post is home based with significant travel and is hosted by Scottish Care. Flexible working is available.

You can find the application pack below or request one by contacting Tracy Doyle at Scottish Care by email [email protected].  To discuss this post please contact Jim Carle by email [email protected].

Closing date 12pm on Friday 17th of November 2023.  Interviews will be held in person – Tuesday the 28th of November 2023 (to be confirmed). 

Application Pack

Download Role Specification

Download Application Form

Download Equality Monitoring Form

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Joint statement: Scottish Government’s Winter Plan ‘offers no hope for social care’

As the CEOs of Scotland’s two major umbrella bodies representing providers of care and support in the third and independent sectors we are dismayed to see yet another Winter Plan which purports to be a whole system response for Scottish citizens but in fact offers almost no hope for social care.

Both of our organisations have attempted to convince both the Scottish Government and CoSLA that the plan was wholly insufficient to address the deep crisis facing our members and a system that is meant to uphold the rights of individuals who require care and support.

We have tried to be constructive in those discussions to which we have been invited, but have certainly not been engaged in any way as equal partners in finding solutions for a system in which our members deliver key public services for some of our country’s most vulnerable individuals and families. This document reflects that. The marginal changes made to an early draft following our strong criticisms do not allay the fundamental concerns we shared.

In particular, we note a deeply disturbing direction for social care providers and, ultimately, for those who rely on services to maintain independence and connection and prevent crisis:

Where necessary, local systems will prioritise social care and support services for those who need it most and are considered to be at a critical or substantial risk level.

In the current climate, where we already see social care budgets being depressed to the detriment of people and, indeed the wider system, we fear this will be read as carte blanche to remove or reduce funding for many people who need support. This cannot be allowed to happen.

We hope that the Cabinet Secretary and CoSLA leaders will clarify their intentions in including this statement and do significantly more to underline their commitment to a thriving social care system for which they wish to share accountability through a National Care Service.

Rachel Cackett, CEO, CCPS, and Dr Donald Macaskill, CEO, Scottish Care