Scottish Care has issued a statement relating to the BBC Panorama programme and its research highlighting that many care at home providers were handing back contracts because they could not afford to deliver them.

The story is described on the BBC news website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39321579

“Sadly this research does not come as any surprise to us.

We know that a good number of our providers have handed back work as what they have been offered by the local authorities and Integrated Joint Boards simply could not enable them to deliver dignified, safe and adequate care. They would rather lose the work than drive standards even lower.

We are still in Scotland dominated by a political culture which tries to get the most amount of care for the cheapest price. This is a shameful way for the care of our vulnerable older people to be delivered. We have to find a better way of purchasing care than a model which is driving good organisations out of business.

A lot has been said of the funding for the Scottish Living Wage and this has indeed been welcomed, but it is on its own never going to be the answer to a critically underfunded sector. Indeed in practice this has not had the positive effect we had hoped for as 9 out of 10 of our care at home providers are struggling to recruit staff as competition with better paid sectors like hospitality and retail increases.

More pessimistically a survey which has just closed shows that 1 in 5 of our care at home providers are not confident being in business this time next year.

We cannot continue to allow this crisis to grow as the people who suffer the most will be those who have the least ability to speak out.”

Scottish Care calls for urgent Government intervention to protect care homes

 

Each year Scottish Care as the representative body of providers of care homes for older people is involved in discussions with Cosla and representatives of the new Integrated Health and Social Care Boards (IJBs) to set the annual fees for nursing and residential care in Scotland.

This year these discussions have reached a particularly challenging position and are at the stage of virtual collapse. The offer made by Cosla and the IJBs is limited by the funds made available to them by Scottish Government and the impact of a reduced Local Government Settlement.

Scottish Care believes that it will be impossible for its membership, which includes several hundred family run care homes and many care charities, to accept what is in effect the offer of a 1% increase, without putting their homes at very real risk of closure.

Scottish Care has argued for some time that there is a chronic underfunding of the care home sector in Scotland which endangers the delivery of quality care and support to our older population. We believe that this is essentially about the dignity, value and worth of our older population. Failure to adequately fund their care needs speaks volumes about what priority we give to older people and demonstrates that inherent ageism exists in our society, particularly in our approach to social care provision.
Dr Donald Macaskill, the Chief Executive of Scottish Care stated today:

“It is with very deep regret that we have decided to make public the virtual breakdown of our discussions with Scottish Government and others. We believe that it is no longer acceptable for us to remain silent about the lack of investment which the Government is prepared to make in the care home sector in Scotland. Despite new monies being allocated in England following last week’s budget there is no indication that Scottish Government will seek to benefit social care in Scotland.”

He continued:

“In recent months providers have been faced with substantial increases in the cost of fuel, food and other commodities, averaging around 8.5%. A 1% increase will simply not enable care homes to stay in business. Together with that many nursing homes are finding it impossible to recruit nurses. We have a 1 in 4 vacancy level and to meet gaps care homes are having to pay as much as £800 a night to find a nurse.”

Dr Macaskill highlighted that:

“I recognise that we live in hard times faced as we all are with austerity and public sector cuts. But at present a nursing home is allocated only £3.85 per hour for the 24/7 nursing care of thousands of our vulnerable older people, the majority of whom are in a palliative or end of life context. For me this isn’t so much about finance but about the price we are prepared to pay for preserving the dignity of our older Scots and enabling them to exercise choice and control over their options for high quality care provision.”

 

Spiritual care of people living with dementia in care homes

– survey still open

Your opportunity to take part

We are getting a good response to the survey, and would encourage care home managers to complete it if you haven’t yet had the chance. Go to https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/XYJQ2CP

New research

The research, commissioned by the Life Changes Trust, is being undertaken by a consortium of four organisations (Faith in Older People, Aberdeen University, Mowat Research, and Simon Jaquet Consultancy Services Ltd) into spiritual care in care homes in Scotland. The research aims to identify the range of approaches to spiritual care practice in care homes with people living with dementia, and to explore how to best build on this in the future. It will, above all, be a positive exercise – looking for examples (large and small) of the practical ways in which spiritual care is carried out in care homes.

Getting involved

The link to the online survey (at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/XYJQ2CP) is being sent to all of Scotland’s 900 care homes. It is hoped that care home managers will be able to spare the time to complete the survey (which should take no more than 15 minutes to complete).

The survey is supported by a number of national bodies:

“Scottish Care warmly commends this work and encourages you to participate by completing the short questionnaire.  Spiritual care lies at the heart of all good care home support.” (Donald Macaskill, Chief Executive, Scottish Care)

“The Care Inspectorate and the Scottish Social Services Council support this important area of work, seeing spirituality as part of person centred care” (Care Inspectorate, Scottish Social Services Council)

Further information

For further information about the survey, contact Simon Jaquet (Director, Simon Jaquet Consultancy Services Ltd) at [email protected]

 

 

Scottish Care response to Budget debate on social care in Scotland.

Scottish Care as the national representative body of older people care home and care at home providers notes with interest the substantial allocation of resource which is to be made available to the social care sector in England following the Chancellor’s announcements in the Spring Budget Statement.

In Scotland we face similar challenges within social care. The sustainability of both care homes and care at home services is today under increasing threat and challenge. Running costs for most organisations have increased significantly in the last few months. People are living longer, demand for social care is increasing all the time and the needs of those going into care are becoming greater.

Whilst recognising the investment in social care provision over the last two years we are calling upon the Scottish Government to make clear how it proposes to invest its share of the Barnett Formula allocation to support a sustainable and viable social care sector in Scotland. Together with the Government we want to work to ensure that the provision of care is sufficiently funded to ensure the rights and dignity of our older citizens are upheld. The adequate funding of social care is not a luxury but a fundamental component of what creates a just and fair Scotland.

 

 

Yes it’s that time of year again!

Scottish Care’s annual Care at Home and Housing Support Conference & Exhibition will take place in the Glasgow Marriott, Argyle Street, Glasgow on Friday 12th May 2017.

This year’s conference is entitled “Bringing Home Care: Transforming Support in the Community”

#bringhomecare

Click here to view the draft conference programme.

  You will notice from the conference programme that there will be insight sessions before and after lunch to enable delegates to attend two different sessions.  When booking, you will be asked to choose the two sessions you wish to attend on the day.

With the care at home reform process ongoing and an ever changing landscape of health and social care, the conference is a crucial opportunity for providers, partners and stakeholders to hear about how the reform work is progressing and what effect it will have on the sector.

Scottish Care will also be launching a new report on the care at home and housing support sector at this conference.

You can book your place to attend conference at: 
https://cahandhssconference2017.eventbrite.co.uk

You can only pay by card for online bookings.  Alternatively you can contact: [email protected] for a booking form.  Please note: no tickets will be issued until payment is received.

We look forward to seeing you on the day.

If you are interested in booking an exhibition stand at the conference, please contact [email protected]

Extended till 17th March – Only a few days left!!!

 

Scottish Care’s Annual Care at Home and Housing Support Awards are an important opportunity to recognise the tremendous work undertaken by organisations and staff who work in care at home and housing support services. This is a chance to highlight the skills, dedication and abilities of the many talented individuals and organisations who are dedicated to making life better for people and in supporting them achieve their fullest potential.

Entries are now open for the 2017 Awards, which will take place on Friday 12 May.

This is your chance whether as an organisation, individual or family member to tell us and others about the work you value.  We want to acknowledge what can be achieved when people work together to improve the lives of those who access care and support services in their own homes.  Awards are open to Scottish Care member organisations, their staff and clients but anyone can submit a nomination.

There are ten categories to enter in 2017 and we can’t wait to hear about your projects and partnerships.

1. Care at Home Services Carer(s) of the Year – Individual or Team
2. Housing Support Services Carer(s) of the Year – Individual or Team
3. Management & Leadership Award – Individual
4. Training & Staff Development Award – Individual or Company
5. Care Services Coordinator / Administrator of the Year – Individual
6. Innovative Practice Award – Individual or Team
7. Client Achievement Award – Individual or Team
8. Housing Support Provider of the Year – Company
9. Care at Home Provider of the Year – Company
10. Significant Contribution Award – Individual

Please make sure you have read the Awards Guidelines before entering.

Nominations can be submitted online at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/homecare2017.  If you require a hard copy of the nomination form, this can be downloaded here.

The deadline for entries is Friday 10 March 2017

 

Scottish Care is to host a special session on the rights of older people at the forthcoming Declaration Fest.

The festival will take place over two days on Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd March at Summerhall in Edinburgh as part of an on-going commitment to the right to health and social care in Scotland.

The hour-long session, titled ‘Age is a work of art’, starts at 5pm on Friday 3rd March and will explore through film and discussion all that is beautiful about our ageing society and what we need to do together to ensure that older people are treated with respect, dignity and without discrimination.

Human rights, in their very essence, are universal. However, we all know that certain groups can find it more difficult to claim their rights. In response to this, the United Nations created additional treaties which seek to protect the rights of women, children, disabled people and racial and ethnic minorities. These fundamental agreements strive to keep our society fair, just and equal.

There is no additional treaty for older people. Ageing seems to be viewed as a threat; a health care challenge that cannot be met.  We need to move away from this, to view older people as valuable individuals: as employees, volunteers, carers, parents, grandparents but most importantly- as rights’ holders. Rights’ holders with aspirations, experience, knowledge and potential. As Stanislaw Jerzy Lee said, “Youth is a gift of nature but age is a work of art.”

At Scottish Care we work directly with older people to empower them to claim their rights. We also work with our members who are providing care services to support them to take a human rights based approach which respects, protects and fulfils these rights in practice.

Working in partnership, the Scottish Government, NHS Education for Scotland, Scottish Social Services Council, Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, the Care Inspectorate and Healthcare Improvement Scotland are delivering 4 conferences across the country for all relevant health and social care staff including independent contractors and care providers.

The focus of the events is to provide staff with the skills, knowledge and confidence to implement the new model Complaints Handling Procedures for the NHS and Social Work which will be introduced in April 2017, as well as understand the social care complaints process.  The events will also enable staff to prepare themselves and their teams for the introduction of the new Duty of Candour, which will come into force on 1 April 2018.

These free events will run from 9.30am – 4.30pm and will be held in:

Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel, Clydebank           2 March 2017

Perth Concert Hall                                                              9 March 2017

Edinburgh International Conference Centre            16 March 2017

Stirling Court Hotel                                                            23 March 2017

The events will provide the opportunity to learn from the experiences of colleagues across health and social care.  There will be a range of presentations, including a keynote address from the Scottish Government and also a conversation with a carer around their experience.  In addition, there will be a series of interactive workshops which will provide you with the information and tools you need to meet the requirements of the new model Complaints Handling Procedures and also help to understand your roles and responsibilities under the Duty of Candour which applies to all health and social care staff in Scotland. NHS Education for Scotland will monitor applications so that, where possible, there is a mixture of staff across all the workshops.  You will be able to attend 4 workshops from the following options:

Power of Apology

Are you unsure of when to apologise?  Is sorry really the hardest word to say?  This session will explore the barriers to giving an apology and saying sorry as well as providing some tools which will support staff in the frontline.  It will also outline what an apology is, as well as good practice in providing one.

Dorothy Armstrong, DA Professional

NHS and Social Work model Complaints Handling Procedures

SPSO will take you through an overview of the new model complaints handling procedures that will come into force as of 1 April 2017. The key areas covered in this workshop will be:

• The definition of a complaint
• Recognising feedback, comments and concerns
• Details of the two-stage process
• Governance arrangements

This will be an interactive session and will involve working in groups for further discussion.

John Stevenson and Alison Bradley, Scottish Public Services Ombudsman

Duty of Candour – Roles and Responsibilities

The session will enable participants to hear more about the Duty of Candour and the implications on roles and responsibilities for staff and organisations.  It will cover the main aspects of the Duty and allow participants to consider their readiness for the implementation of the Duty and also share experiences of openness and learning with other participants.

Craig White and Michelle Campbell, Scottish Government

Jane Davies, NHS Education for Scotland & Laura Wylie, Scottish Social Services Council

Adverse Events in Health and Social Care

Healthcare Improvement Scotland published a National Framework for learning from adverse events through reporting, review and the sharing of learning in September 2013 and refreshed the Framework in April 2015. It includes a national definition of an adverse event, guidance on reporting, accountability, responsibilities and learning, and principles for an open, just and positive safety culture. The principles of this framework applies to all health and care settings.

The adverse event national programme of work supports a consistent national approach to identification, review, reporting and learning from adverse events based upon national and international good practice and promotes the sharing of learning points following adverse event reviews. It also supports a consistent approach to Being Open and communicating well with people following an adverse event which directly links with the new duty of candour provisions in the Health (Tobacco, Nicotine etc. and Care) (Scotland) Act 2016.

In this awareness raising session, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will share their experiences of implementing the national approach to adverse events and how effective management of adverse events includes being candid, open and communicating well with the people affected.

 Julie McQueen, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Nanisa Feilden, Healthcare Improvement Scotland

Social Care Complaints and Duty of Candour

The Care Inspectorate occupies a unique position in the UK of being the only regulator that also takes and investigates complaints regarding registered care services. We are responsible for the scrutiny and improvement of care and social work across Scotland. We regulate some 14,000 care services for children and adults and carry out joint inspections of care services with other scrutiny partners.

This workshop will give the attendee an overview of how the care inspectorate deals with complaints from the perspective of:

1. using risk assessment to inform the action it takes
2. supporting improvement in service delivery
3. the impact of the Duty of Candour.

We all share a common purpose as partners in health and social care – and that is to ensure the best possible outcomes for people using care services. Promoting improvement is very much at the heart of what we do.

Marie Paterson, Service & Complaints Manager, The Care Inspectorate

Meetings with Families and Difficult Conversations

Meeting with patients, families and carers provides a unique opportunity as an organisation to:

• Listen, understand and sometimes learn from their experience
• An opportunity to apologise
• Staff to explain face to face the detail of care that was and is provided
• Alleviate fear and provide closure
• Avoid complaints or escalation

This workshop will present the experiences of NHS Forth Valley and enable participants to understand the practicalities and skills required to establish a pool of skilled and trained staff to meet with families and have difficult conversations regarding harm caused or provision of care that falls below expected standards.

Karen Maclure, NHS Forth Valley

If you are interested in attending, please email the completed application form to

[email protected]

APPLICATION FORM

NAME:

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

ORGANISATION:

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

JOB TITLE:

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

EMAIL ADDRESS:

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Please indicate preferred venue:

Golden Jubilee Conference Hotel, Clydebank   2 March 2017   ☐

Perth Concert Hall                                               9 March 2017   ☐

Edinburgh International Conference Centre     16 March 2017   ☐

Stirling Court Hotel                                             23 March 2017   ☐

You will have the opportunity to attend 4 workshops during the day.  Please prioritise your preferences 1-6: 

Power of Apology                                                                                                    ☐

Human Factors Approach                                                                                      ☐

Model Complaints Handling Procedure                                                               ☐

Duty of Candour Roles and Responsibilities                                                      ☐

Monitoring and Reporting for Duty of Candour                                                  ☐

Meeting with Families/Difficult Conversations                                                    ☐

Please advise of any dietary or accessibility requirements you may have:

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Applications must be submitted no later than 22 February 2017 and places will be allocated after that date.