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Upcoming integration event – 4 September

INTEGRATE, INNOVATE, IMITATE

Teacher Building, Glasgow – 4 September

The Partners for Integration and Improvement team are delighted to host an event which showcases how effective partnership working with the independent sector can foster innovation and good practice across the integrated health and social care setting. The Local Integration Leads are proud of their contribution to service development and improvement having facilitated better outcomes for those who access care and support, and better value for commissioners. The Three I’s is an opportunity to share impact through stories of success and top tips to achieving it.

The event will bring together independent sector providers of health and social care, those involved in commissioning services, senior managers, regulators, colleagues from statutory and third sectors, improvement experts and many others with an interest in service development and person-led care.

As well as key speakers on setting the scene for improvement the event will include workshops, each of which will focus on 4 key themes:

  • Palliative care and end of life
  • Dementia
  • Care at the time of transition
  • Assessment and support planning

By attending the workshops, delegates will have the opportunity to hear from those directly involved in the development of innovative approaches to service delivery and new initiatives.

This event is a must for those with an interest in innovation and improvement.

A full programme and information on how to secure your place will be available soon.

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Media statement: Ipsos Mori research highlights social care Brexit challenge

New research undertaken by Ipsos Mori on behalf of the Scottish Government has painted a worrying picture for the future of social care.

The research highlights that 1 in 10 workers in adult social care and child care are non-UK EU nationals, with the figure even higher in nursing.  Whilst the research found the current impact to be limited, it emphasises the negative consequences for the future if these workers choose to leave Scotland after Brexit.

Responding to the research, Scottish Care CEO Dr Donald Macaskill said:

“We welcome the Ipsos Mori findings but we believe they provide a conservative estimate of the current situation.  We have been calling for a commitment to clarity but political events of the last few days are further indication that we aren’t getting that.

“We agree that there is a particular challenge facing nurses with a 31 per cent vacancy rate for nurses in care homes.  The lack of commitment to put in place a flexible migration system which prioritises the real gaps in social care is causing us profound concern. 

“The impact is not just on EU nationals, but the general negative political climate around migration is putting off non-EU workers too.  The consequences of this political gamesmanship over Brexit are going to leave some of the most vulnerable people in Scotland stuck in hospitals because there will not be enough people in the community to care for them.

“When all the politicians fall silent, we will have a social care system in tatters.”

For more information, see: www.heraldscotland.com/news/16343645.warning-that-care-workers-could-quit-scotland-after-brexit-leaving-system-in-tatters/

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‘The Experience of the Experienced’ – Scottish Care launches new workforce report

Recently (Thursday 28 June), Scottish Care launched a new report on the independent social care workforce at our Workforce Matters event in Glasgow.

‘The Experience of the Experienced’ explores the employment journeys of experienced and older individuals working in nursing home, care home, care at home and housing support organisations.

It is based on interviews with 9 social care workers, aged 41-71, who have either entered the care sector later in life or have worked in the sector for a long time.

Following the report launch, CEO Dr Donald Macaskill said:

“Our experienced social care staff are our experts.  As we seek to address the challenges of re-designing roles, of recruiting a new generation of carers, of reshaping how we support and care for people we forget the voice of experience at our peril.

“We need to mould our systems of regulation, registration, learning and qualification to enable those entering later into social care to know that their skills and experience is valued and validated.”

Katharine Ross, National Workforce Lead, added:

“We welcome the opportunity to work in partnership with providers, front line staff and partners across the health and social care sector to not only attempt to answer some of the challenging questions that the report raises but to ensure that the experience of the experienced is respected, appreciated and celebrated.”

The report can be accessed here: https://www.scottishcare.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/SC-The-Experience-of-the-Experienced.pdf

You can follow discussions from the event on Twitter using the hashtag #exPEERience

If you would like to discuss the report and its findings in more detail, please contact Katharine Ross, Paul O’Reilly or Becca Gatherum.

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Scottish Care Comment on Government Appointment – Jeanne Freeman

Scottish Care notes the decision of the First Minister to appoint a new Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport.

We would like to put on record our appreciation of the work of Ms Shona Robison. In challenging times she has sought to engage and include the independent care sector recognising the critical and central role social care and its workforce play in the health and well-being of our citizens. We wish her well in the future.

We welcome the appointment of Ms Jeanne Freeman to her new position. Scottish Care has supported the development of the Social Security legislation and has commended the emphasis on the principles of control, choice and human rights which lie at the centre of that Act. We believe that core principles of equal treatment and human rights should be at the heart of all integrated health and care provision. We look forward to working with the new Cabinet Secretary in advancing the care and support of older people, not least through quality Care Home, Care at Home and Housing Support services.

We are also pleased to see the appointment of a Minister for Older People: a new post which Scottish Care believes will be important in driving forward the progress we have been calling for in recognising, valuing and supporting older people in Scotland. We are delighted to see that older people have been prioritised in the reshuffle and we look forward to working with Ms Shirley-Anne Somerville in ensuring that Scotland is a positive country to grow old in.
 

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Media Statement: Parliamentary report on Scotland’s Economic Performance

Scottish Care welcomes the report on Scotland’s Economic Performance published today (21 June) by the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee of the Scottish Parliament.

For some time Scottish Care has been calling for social care to be recognised as a contributor and driver of the Scottish economy. For too long we have talked about social care as a drain and as a cost.

Across Scotland 1 in 13 individuals are employed in social care and a recent report into the economic impact of the sector has highlighted that the adult social care sector contributes £3.4 billion to the Scottish economy.

We now have clear evidence that the adult social care sector can be valued not only by the high-quality care and support offered to our most vulnerable citizens, but also by its economic contribution to society.

We are pleased to see the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee underline this reality and wholeheartedly support their call to Scottish Government to make social care an economic priority area.

The Committee has stated of social care:

‘As a first step in recognising its importance, the Committee recommends that care becomes a Scottish Government priority sector with a monetary value put on the sector.  The Committee … asks the Scottish Government to put a monetary value on the sector and grant it the same status as the six growth sectors mentioned in the Economic Strategy.’

Dr Donald Macaskill, Scottish Care CEO said:

“I am delighted that the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee has continued to support the cause of making social care an economic priority. The Welsh Government has recently made this commitment and I call upon the Scottish Government now to make a similar commitment and prioritise social care as an area of economic priority and investment.”

 

ENDS

 

 

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New animation on the importance of integration.

Sharon Blackburn CBE,  is a long-term partner of Scottish Care in our work. In 2015-16 she was awarded a Florence Nightingale Foundation Leadership Scholarship which was sponsored by Garfield Weston Foundation, and supported by her employer , a sister organisation of Scottish Care, the National Care Forum. As part of the scholarship she completed a project on the subject of integration with the sole aim of contributing to the step change that needs to take place for people using services…that’s you and me…not just ‘them’.

Her work included interviews with key players in Scotland. She has now developed an animation to support staff wherever they work to consider ‘how to be the change they want to see’. The animation has been informed by people who use services; their families and so many people who afforded her time across the devolved administrations in the UK to share that which was good and more often that which needed to change. The animation can be accessed at

https://vimeo.com/274947682

Sharon writes:

 “Integration has been a theme; an aspiration that has travelled with me during my career to date. During that time, in England much progress has been made in delivering person centred outcomes for people using services but we are not there yet. This looks and feels so different depending where the person is in the system. The language that is used is also confusing. The words may be the same but different meanings are attributed.

People who use services do not understand the differences and nuances until it personally impacts upon them or their loved ones. They expect people to share relevant and pertinent information about them; they do not expect each professional to carry out duplicate assessments.

All  staff working across health; social care and housing systems need to work together to achieve the best outcomes for people, irrespective of the constraints that can sometimes conspire to work against what they would like to achieve, such as existing policy; cultures of organisations; legislation…the list could go on.

Achieving it will depend on each person in the various systems playing their part. It will require a shift in how nurses; care and all staff across Health; Care and Housing Systems think and behave, this means you and me!.

Ask yourself “do you know what you don’t know…what will you do to rectify this”…”how can you and will you be the change you wish to see?””

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Care Home Week 18: Focus on Balmer Care Homes

On Engagement day during Care Home Week 2018 we are delighted to hear from Balmer Care Homes about some recent occasions they have been actively engaging with their local communities. 

#carehomeweek

Summerlee House

In celebration of Care Home Week, Summerlee House changed the Annual Fete to a Vintage Afternoon Tea Party. This was an enormous success. It was great to see people spending good quality time with the residents and having good old tradition family fun. The ladies dressed for the occasion with fascinators and the men dressed with shirts and jackets. As well as afternoon tea, residents and families enjoyed some Prosecco and ice cream. Young children were also catered for with a bouncy castle and party bags. It was so good to see residents and families so relaxed, the sun also came out for us. Residents told us the day was fabulous and can’t wait until next year. Mr Balmer was delighted to see so many families and thanked people for their support. We are planning on inviting a vintage quartet to play music for the  next year.

 

Croftbank House

Croftbank House took part in the village community project in Uddingston. This involves creating a variety of visual art displays around the village. Croftbank house Staff, Residents, and relatives alongside Tree Tops and St Brides Nurseries embraced the Ethos of the craft bomb and created several art pieces that are displayed around the trees at Croftbank House.

The theme was 'Colour in fusion' and we were the rainbow colours, this enabled us to create a different vision for each tree using recycled items such as plastic bottles, old wellie boots, cans and tins, and involved lots of crochet, knitting and painting. More than this, the nursery children came into the home on a regular basis, two afternoons per week and together with residents and staff helped make the creations for the trees, whilst residents and children enjoyed each other's company.  This will be an ongoing weekly treat for everyone.