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Palliative Care training for front line staff – 6th December, Edinburgh

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) are looking for front line workers involved in the palliative and end of life care of people with dementia to attend their training in Edinburgh.

This free, one-day course is aimed at health and social care staff from care homes and care at home services who are working at the Dementia Skilled Level of Promoting Excellence.

Recent Scottish Care focus on palliative and end of life care has shown that our workforce are keen to develop their knowledge and understanding in this area, and we would encourage as many of you as possible to attend.

For more information, see the attached flyer.

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Care in Mind – Event Report

On Tuesday 26th September Scottish Care held Care in Mind, a workshop designed to explore how we can manage and promote good mental health and wellbeing for those working in care homes and care at home organisations.

The physical and mental wellbeing of our workforce is critical if high quality health and social care services are to be delivered to the most vulnerable in our society. Recent research by Scottish Care has indicated that the pressure and demands facing the social care workforce are creating significant recruitment and retention challenges for employers.

The day began with Scottish Care’s National Workforce Lead, Katharine Ross, opening proceedings with a warm welcome and introducing the themes for the day. Louise Wilson and Anne Connor of Outside the Box then presented the outcomes of their research exploring the mental health and wellbeing of older people in receipt of care and support.

Louise explained how conversations with older people across the country has shown that loss of personal independence, loneliness, transitions as well as grieving for loved ones, has the biggest impact on the mental health and wellbeing of those we are caring for. In order to feel positive and well, older people have said that structure, meaningful activity, relationships – maintaining existing ones as well as building new ones – communication and freedom are among the most significant factors. The full report from Outside the Box’s research can be found here.

Following this Becca Gatherum, Policy and Research Manager at Scottish Care, discussed Scottish Care’s mental health research project. As we headed to the interval Becca encouraged all present to let us know their own thoughts, comments and experiences of mental wellbeing and the workplace by writing them down and attaching them to the different themed parts of the room. The response to this request was incredibly well taken up, with the walls being covered in a thick coat of post-it notes that will inform our Mental Health report – which will launch at Scottish Care’s Annual Care Home Conference on 17th November.

Between refreshment and lunch breaks saw our own Chief Executive Officer, Dr Donald Macaskill, exploring How well is our frontline workforce? Having conversations about mental health within your organisations. In this informative and thought provoking session Donald advised that, in 2015, 15.3% of the total UK workforce had identified themselves as being affected by a common mental health illness such as stress, depression or anxiety – meaning the actual figure is likely to be far higher. With this number representing an estimated 12.1% of overall GDP, workers living with mental health problems are making a significant contribution to the economy.

This being the case, Donald challenged employers to develop robust mental health policies for their organisations with a culture of compassion and positive communication embedded throughout to support the workforce, and provided helpful tips as to how this can be progressed.

As it can be with day-long events, some of those in attendance perhaps felt a little sluggish as they returned to their seats from lunch. Luckily we had Dr Tara French from the Digital Health and Care Institute, Glasgow School of Art, to lead us in her session of full-audience participation.

Entitled How can you look after yourself? Exploring music, creativity and wellness, Tara’s presentation focussed on the positive impact of music and singing to our mental wellbeing. With the use of a keyboard Tara moulded those congregated into what is believed to be Scotland’s first ever social care choir. More than this, it actually sounded really good as you can see for yourself by watching the video here!

Rounding off the event Lyn Ryden of Carr Gomm, with Mindfulness: a tool to promote workforce health and wellbeing, explained how each of us individually can help ourselves to be both healthier and happier. As her presentation was drawing the day to a close, Lyn lead the group in a few moments of quiet contemplation in which no sound could be heard other than her calming words. A perfect and relaxing way to complete the day.

Scottish Care would like to thank everyone involved with Care in Mind – colleagues assisting with the development of the idea and the logistics on the day, each of the contributors at the event, and everyone in attendance – for helping produce what we feel was a very interesting, entertaining and thought provoking milestone and call to action in our research into the mental health and wellbeing of the social care workforce.

If you would like to see more content from the day, and you are a Twitter user, please search using the hashtag #careinmind for quotes, comments and reflections from those attending on the day.

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New report highlights extent of care being delivered at end of life by independent sector in Scotland

Today (Thursday 12 October 2017), a suite of publications will be launched relating to the end of life care delivered to Scotland’s older people.

They include a new report, which shows that:

  • 66% of independent sector social care services have increased the amount of palliative and end of life care they deliver over the past year
  • 81% of people supported by the independent sector have multiple morbidities
  • 85% of care staff are involved in the delivery of palliative and end of life care

 However the report also highlights that over a quarter of organisations believe they aren’t able to offer the level of care and support they would like to at the end of someone’s life, and over half believe current staff training is insufficient to equip them to deliver this care.  This, social care providers believe, is due to a lack of value placed on independent care services and care workers, as well as insufficient funding and not enough opportunities to work with other agencies in delivering this support.

The report will be launched at an event on palliative and end of life care, entitled ‘Supporting Solace’ which will see over 100 individuals from across the care sector, including front line workers, come together to discuss the positives as well as the challenges of delivering this support.

The event is being hosted by Scottish Care, the representative body for independent sector care services.  CEO Dr Donald Macaskill said:

“Bringing comfort is the essence of all good care but is especially the case when someone is receiving palliative care and at the end of their life.  A significant majority of those supported to die at home or in a care home are supported by staff from the independent care sector. 

“The Supporting Solace conference is about celebrating and highlighting the amazing work which happens around the country.  The report which Scottish Care launches today speaks of the very real and immediate challenges faced by front line social care workers and the organisations that employ them.  The strategic aims of the Scottish Government’s Palliative Care Framework have little chance of success unless all partners recognise the critical contribution of homecare and care home services and staff.  To do so we have to prioritise and adequately resource and train those who are the comfort and solace givers to vulnerable Scots at the point of their death. Dying well costs on so many levels and we need to ensure that those who care are supported and adequately trained. At the moment we are failing workers and therefore failing those they care for.”

The event will also see the launch of a resource aimed at providing comfort to care workers and families who are dealing with the loss of an older person.  Dr Macaskill explained:

“I am also delighted to welcome the publication today of 'This Speaks To Me' - this is a booklet which is full of deeply moving readings and poems which tell the story of the dedicated care and support given by frontline care staff and nurses in care homes and in people’s own homes up and down the country.  If you ever doubt the intensity of commitment that care staff offer then simply read this.  It is beautiful, appealing and inspiring."

 

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Opportunities for Care Home Nurses from General Nursing Council

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: GENERAL NURSING COUNCIL FOR SCOTLAND (EDUCATION) FUND 1983 AND MARGARET CALLUM RODGER MIDWIFERY AWARD

NHS Education for Scotland has announced that applications are now being invited for the above award. The 2018-2019 scholarships are open to registered nurses and midwives resident and practising in Scotland. Applications from registered nurses across health and social care are welcomed.

Information on the funding opportunities available, a copy of the fund flyer, how to apply for funding, the application form and scholarship information for applicants can be accessed by going to the GNC webpage http://www.nes.scot.nhs.uk/education-and-training/by-discipline/nursing-and-midwifery/information-for-practitioners/general-nursing-council.aspx

A learning resource to support application writing has also been developed and can be accessed here.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Wednesday 17th January 2018.

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CMA care home provider survey

Scottish Care has agreed to facilitate a short survey of our care home members on behalf of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). It should not take more than a few minutes to complete and the results will be fully anonymised.

The survey, which focusses on your business practices with residents (in particular self-funders), will help to inform the CMA’s market study – the study is considering whether the market for the provision of care home and nursing home services (to the over-65s in the UK) is working well for residents and for fairly competing businesses. Further information about the CMA and this work can be found at this link: https://www.gov.uk/cma-cases/care-homes-market-study

Please note that if you are a provider who operates more than one care home, you should only submit a single corporate response on behalf of all the care homes in your group.

Please be assured that the responses to this survey are anonymous at the point of submission . The CMA will not be able to identify which responses came from which provider, nor will Scottish Care.

We encourage you to answer the questions honestly as your feedback will help shape the CMA’s work in the care homes sector.  However, if there are any questions you prefer not to answer, then you can simply go to the next question, by clicking ‘Next’ at the bottom of the page.

For this survey, no personal information is being sought, and as previously stated, responses will be anonymous. Nevertheless, if you wish to know more about how the CMA handles the information it receives as part of its market study, then further details can be found at the Annex (Use of Information provided to the CMA) to this link: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/58414134ed915d0b1200003b/carehomes-statement-of-scope.pdf

Clicking on the link below will take you to the CMA’s short questionnaire:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CMAcarehomessurvey

We would be grateful if you would please submit your responses to the CMA by no later than midnight on Monday 30th October.

If you have any concerns or queries, you may contact the CMA at this generic e-mail address: [email protected]

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Courses on Sexuality from the Terrence Higgins Trust

Scottish Care has been undertaking work on sexuality and dementia with the Terrence Higgins Trust and Alzheimer Scotland and we are pleased to support the work of the trust in the sector.

Some of the courses running in the autumn and delivered by the Terrence Higgins Trust may be of interest to those delivering training and delivering care in the sector.

The Trust is offering a range of  informative and accessible courses on HIV, sexual health and related topics. For more information about any of the courses, just click on the links below. You can also visit Learning Centre Scotland, email [email protected] or call 014 1332 3838.

Understanding HIV & AIDS
The PDA in HIV is ideal for anyone who works in healthcare, social care, sexual health, or HIV. The course is also relevant to early childcare workers and anyone who supports at-risk populations or high prevalence communities. It is comprised of two units:
Unit one: HIV – An Introduction (Tuesday 17 October)
Unit two: HIV – Treatment & Lifestyle Management (Tuesday 14 November)
Cost £187.50 – £195 per unit (includes VAT, SQA fees and a light lunch)

‘I learned lots and this will definitely improve my support for individuals living with HIV’ (Participant attending Understanding HIV & AIDS)

Delivering Sexual Health Training
The PDA in Sexual Health Training is ideal for anyone who delivers Sexual Health Training. It is comprised of two units:
Unit 1: Sexual Health Training – An Introduction (Thursday 26 October)
Unit 2: Sexual Health Training – Experiential Learning (Thursday 23 November)
Cost £187.50 – £195 per unit (includes VAT, SQA fees and a light lunch)

“The trainer was excellent – very knowledgeable, supportive, approachable and encouraging.” (Participant attending Sexual Health Training)

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Care at Home services – Take part in Lifecurve™ research

We are encouraging care at home organisations to contribute to the largest piece of Scottish Care research ever to be conducted with a view to influencing future decisions and investment in a preventative approach to care:

  • It should take 5 minutes to complete

  • It will provide a national snapshot of current care provision

  • It will allow researchers to access information on the timing and effectiveness of intervention

  • Your organisation can complete as many as you like throughout the month of October

We are aiming to gather 3000+ responses by working with all of our Care at Home providers. Such a large sample should produce truly representative results and provide gravitas for the outcome to have influence. We request that each provider complete and return 3-4 forms, but you are welcome to complete more.

How do I take part?

Familiarise yourself and your staff with the Lifecurve™:

Throughout October, ask staff to undertake this short survey with the people they support (including completing the consent form):

Complete the survey itself, one per individual, with as many individuals as you like:

Please return all completed surveys and consent forms to:

FAO Professor Philip Rowe (AILIP)

Professor of Rehabilitation Science, Bioengineering Unit

University of Strathclyde, Wolfson Centre, 106 Rotten Row

Glasgow G4 ONW 

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Celebrating Older People’s Day – A message from our CEO

Today, Sunday 1st October, is Older People’s Day across the UK which coincides with the UN International Day of the Older Person

The theme of the International Day of Older Persons 2017 is

“Stepping into the Future: Tapping the Talents, Contributions and Participation of Older Persons in Society.”

The theme is about helping us all to recognise that older individuals in our community have a massive amount of untapped potential and contribution to make to our society.

For those of us who work in social care, in care homes or care at home, we daily recognise that the individuals who are supported are contributing a huge amount to their local communities, despite often living with limiting illness and conditions. Yet all too often they are a part of the community, which others choose to ignore or consider to have nothing to offer and give.

I have written many times in this blog about the creeping ageism, which limits potential and despoils our communities. Older People’s Day is an opportunity not just to celebrate what older individuals have contributed to our society, but to start to work to remove the barriers of attitude and behaviour which are preventing them from giving more, contributing greater and participating better.

There is a real truth in the acknowledgement that we are not a community unless we enable the full participation of every single member of our society.

Between 2015 and 2030 the number of older persons worldwide is set to increase by 56 per cent — from 901 million to more than 1.4 billion. By 2030, the number of people aged 60 and above in Scotland will exceed that of young people aged 15 to 24.

Stepping into the future with our older citizens, wherever they live in our communities, is making about making a commitment that no one will be left behind, no voice will be unheard because it has lost its strength, no contribution will be dismissed because it is articulated by age.

To be valued, to find a place, to be able to give, to contribute, to participate are fundamental to our health and well-being. So as we all grow older in Scotland I hope we can also tap the potential of all in order to maximise the health benefits which come from feeling you can still make a difference.

So in your place of home, in your place of work, in your place of relaxation, think today about how you can include all the generations, and value especially the gifts, abilities, capacities of those who are older.

Let us all therefore work together to step into a future where all can find their place to give, share and be.

Dr Donald Macaskill

@DrDMacaskill

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Registration Support events

In October, the SSSC will deliver two registration support events in partnership with Scottish Care. 

These are free events for employers and workers in housing support and care at home services. They will be held at the Renfield Centre, Bath Street, Glasgow, on the following dates:

  • Monday 9 October
  • Tuesday 17 October

If you are interested in attending please contact [email protected] 

Fort further details please see below: