Are you getting the best out of your supervision?

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A new learning resource from SSSC offers opportunities to explore your experiences and expectations of supervision and promotes good practice in supervision across social work and social care in Scotland.

 

The SSSC  have based the resource on current literature and research and it draws on examples of good practice. It provides suggestions for further reading and includes links to relevant resources which may help you to extend your thinking and develop good practice.

Who is this resource for?

Whether you are being supervised or carrying out supervision for your team this resource is for you.

If you are already confident about the theory and practice of supervision, it will complement your existing knowledge. If you are less familiar, it will introduce you to some models of supervision and direct you to additional resources.

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Improving care for people in Scotland : A focus on Deterioration: Prevention, Recognition and Response

We are pleased to announce the date of the next annual SPSP National Safety Conference which will be held on the 29th November 2016 at the EICC in Edinburgh.

Building on previous years the conference will bring together the SPSP programmes to celebrate the continuing improvements being made and enable delegates to learn from their colleagues across Scotland and beyond.

By attending the conference delegates will:

• celebrate success that teams have achieved in reducing harm in health and social care services across Scotland and beyond
• share practical approaches to prevent deterioration and improve outcomes, and
• network with delegates to learn from their experiences of an integrated approach to prevention, recognition and response to deterioration.

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Survey from Chief Social Work Adviser: Making it Easy to Access Knowledge Online

Making it Easy to Access Knowledge Online

 

The Office of the Chief Social Work Adviser at Scottish Government is seeking contributions from the social services workforce to a survey on how they access information and knowledge online.

The survey is available at

 https://response.questback.com/isa/qbv.dll/ShowQuest?QuestID=4883318&sid=jLJJQrFpJY

The plan is to understand:

  • where the workforce is going for information; what websites they currently use
  • what they find helpful online
  • what the enablers and barriers are to accessing material online
  • what content and features would help going forward, to make it as easy as possible for people to access relevant knowledge for their work

All contributions are encouraged, valued and much appreciated. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Please note that the survey closes on 2 December 2016.

If you have any questions about this survey, please contact [email protected].

Safer Recruitment Through Better Recruitment – Care Inspectorate

First published in November 2016. This guidance replaces the Scottish Government’s national guidance Safer Recruitment Through Better Recruitment (2007).

Safer recruitment is about properly examining the skills, experience, qualifications and values of potential staff in relation to work with vulnerable people. Employers must therefore have a range of safer recruitment and selection practices in place. Working with individuals and families who may be at their most vulnerable and need support can be both rewarding and challenging. There is therefore a great responsibility on employers to ensure that the people providing these most vital services are appropriate and suited to the task.

Faith in Older People and Methodist Homes Joint Conference

FAITH IN OLDER PEOPLE AND METHODIST HOMES JOINT CONFERENCE CULTURAL DIVERSITY, FAITH AND DEMENTIA

A critical examination of the place of religious faith in supporting the well-being of people with dementia

 

Wednesday, 23rd November 2016:  Roxburghe Hotel, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh
Registration fee £95 includes coffees/lunch
This UK wide conference provides the opportunity to consider the issues around ageing, cultures and faith from different religious and non-faith based perspectives.   The conference, jointly organised by Faith in Older People (FiOP) and Methodist Homes, builds on the work of both organisations and others to highlight the needs of older people who are experiencing dementia and those who care for them.

FiOP is working collaboratively to develop guidance for Dementia Friendly Faith Communities and will be highlighting this development at the Conference with an opportunity to discuss and share the ways in which it could be implemented and further developed.

This is just the beginning and there is much to do to make a reality of the ideas to ensure the inclusion of older people with dementia so that they can continue to sustain a faith which has been a cornerstone of their lives and which will contribute to their resilience.

www.faithinolderpeople.org.uk

www.mha.org.uk

Revised SSSC Codes of Practice

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The revised Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers (the Codes) came into effect on 1 November 2016. The Codes set out the standards of practice and behaviour expected of social service workers and their employers.

The SSSC updated the Codes to reflect current social service policy and practice following wide consultation and engagement with the sector.

Download the SSSC Codes of Practice for Social service Workers and Employers here.

The SSSC Codes of Practice for Social Service Workers and Employers sets out the standards social workers, social care, early years and young people’s workers and their employers should meet.

What has changed?

The main changes to the Codes are:

However the Codes are largely the same as before with some updates to the language and terminology we use.

We didn’t change too much in the Codes as during our consultation we heard lots of good examples of how the Codes support workers’ practice and the delivery of high quality social services.

You can see the full details of the changes to the Codes in an overview here.

 

SSSC Code of Practice for Social Service Workers

The Code of Practice for Social Service Workers sets out clear standards of professional conduct and practice that social service workers must meet in their everyday work.

Workers are responsible for making sure their practice meets the required standards and that no action or omission on their part harms the wellbeing of people who use services. The Code is part of the wider package of legislation, practice standards and employers’ policies and procedures that social service workers must meet.

 

SSSC Codes of Practice for Social Service Employers

The SSSC Code of Practice for Social Service Employers sets out the responsibilities of employers in the regulation of social service workers.

Employers are responsible for making sure they meet the required standards and supporting their workers to meet the standards set out in the Code for Social Service Workers.

The Care Inspectorate take the Codes of Practice into account during inspection of services and may take action to support improvement or require change if providers don’t meet the required standards set out in the Codes.

 

What do the SSSC Codes of Practice mean for the public?

By setting clear standards of professional practice and behaviour, the Codes are an important part of regulating and improving the quality of care for people who use services.

The Codes let you know what you can expect from social service workers, whether they are social workers, early years practitioners, care home staff or any of the many other social service roles.

If you are concerned a worker providing a service for you or someone you care for does not meet the standards set out in the Codes you need to tell someone. Visit the SSSC raising a concern section to find out more.

www.sssc.uk.com

 

Care Inspectorate : Complaints about care report

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People in Scotland are using better quality care services, and are also more confident about complaining when services do not meet expected standards.

That is the message from a report published today by Scotland’s social care scrutiny and improvement body, the Care Inspectorate.

The report shows that complaints about care services have increased over a five year period by about 45%, but also shows that during that time the quality of care overall has improved.

Karen Reid, chief executive of the Care Inspectorate said: “Care services operating in Scotland must be registered with the Care Inspectorate. We are responsible for registering and inspecting almost 14,000 care services, ensuring that standards are high and supporting improvement where necessary.

“We know from our inspections that the majority of care services in Scotland perform well and that the quality of care is good or better in the overwhelming majority of services.

“Our complaints procedure allows people who use services, their friends, families and others, to raise concerns they have when things are not as good as they should be.  We use our complaints procedure to help us support services to improve wherever possible and that enables us to ensure people in Scotland continue to receive high quality, safe and compassionate care.”

The report presents a range of statistical information from complaints about care services over the past five years. The volume of complaints received over that period has increased from 2,800 received in 2011/12 to 4,086 in 2015/16. Over the same period, the quality of care overall has improved, with the percentage of services achieving grades of good or better for all quality themes increasing from 85% to 88%.

Karen Reid added: “Whilst we would encourage anyone with a concern about care to raise it directly with the service in the first instance, where possible, the increase in complaints received by us most likely reflects an increasing awareness of the Care Inspectorate’s role in investigating complaints. It also shows that our efforts to encourage people to report concerns are helping people feel more confident to come to us with issues.

“We take all concerns brought to us seriously and consider information given to us carefully. Where we uphold complaints we work closely with services to support improvement. Our focus in all areas of our work, including complaints, is on improving quality of care and outcomes for people who use care services. We do this both in the course of the investigation as well as using the intelligence from complaint investigations to help us better target problem areas.

“Complaints can be made in writing, through our website, or by telephone through our contact centre. Complainants can opt to remain anonymous if they wish. When someone makes a complaint, they can choose to remain completely anonymous.

“Everyone in Scotland has the right to safe, compassionate care which meets their needs and respects their rights. Anyone with a concern can contact us, anonymously if necessary, by calling 0345 600 9527.”

National Health and Social Care Standards – consultation roadshows

National Health and Social Care Standards – consultation roadshows

 

Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Care Inspectorate are delivering a series of consultation roadshows on the new National Health and Social Care Standards.  These consultations will be taking place across Scotland to provide information and to gather feedback and responses on the Scottish Government’s public consultation on the draft National Health and Social Care Standards.

 

The existing National Care Standards are a set of standards for regulated care services in Scotland.  The new draft standards are designed differently and are proposed to be applicable across all social care and healthcare provision.  They are designed to help services understand the quality and standards of care that they should provide to deliver better outcomes.  They will be used by inspectors when carrying out inspections of health and care services, as well as others involved in the planning, assessment, commissioning and delivery of care.

 

These events are an opportunity to get involved in the public consultation on the National Health and Social Care Standards.

Your feedback on the new draft standards will contribute towards improving the quality of care for people across Scotland.

There will be a short presentation about the broader National Care Standards review, the development work that has happened to date, and the proposed next steps.  There will also be a workshop to facilitate a discussion to allow for providing feedback, suggestions and comments on the draft new standards.

 

Consultation events:

Monday 14th November, 11:00am – 1pm,  Care Inspectorate, Castle House, Fairways Business Park, Inverness

Wednesday 16th November, 1:30pm – 3:30pm, Stirling Community Hospital (Education Suite),Stirling

Monday 21st November, 11:00am – 1pm, The Suttie Centre, Foresterhill, Aberdeen

Friday 2nd December, 10:00am – 12:00 and 1pm – 3:00pm, Rooms 6A & 6B, Delta House, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, 50 West Nile StreetGlasgow

Thursday 15th December, 10:00am – 12:30, Lecture Theatre
, Clinical Skills
, Western Isles Hospital, Stornoway

 

To request a place, please email your preferred date and time to: [email protected] or call 01382 207328.  Spaces are limited so you are encouraged to respond as soon as possible.  An email will be sent to confirm your place.

Don’t worry if you are unable to attend, as you will be able to respond to the public consultation from 24 October by following the link on the National Care Standards review website www.newcarestandards.scot 

A practical guide to revalidation for nurses working in social care

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The FoNS Centre for Nursing Innovation are delighted to share a new animation ‘A practical guide to revalidation for nurses working in social care’ which is supported and funded by the RCN Foundation.

 

FoNS believes that ‘revalidation is a positive opportunity because it encourages an ongoing process of sharing, reflecting and improving’, a view shared by Kate Lettin, Revalidation Officer, NMC who said ‘this is a very positive and practical video that will be extremely useful for nurses working in social care’.

 

Deepa Korea, Head of RCN Foundation said  “We are delighted to have funded this animation. The RCN Foundation recognises the challenges that nursing staff face every day in trying to live up to high expectations as well as providing care that is value based and person centred in a range of settings. We hope it has a positive impact not only for nurses in social care but to all nurses.”

 

FoNS Chief Executive, Dr Theresa Shaw said, “I am delighted we are launching this practical resource to help nurses working in social care prepare for revalidation. The social care sector plays a vital role in caring for people who are vulnerable, have long term care needs and/or are at the end of life; yet the nurses working in these areas can miss out on support and development opportunities.”

 

This free access, practical guide is one way in which FoNS is reaching out to offer support. The video animation is available via the FoNS website  and offers a step-by-step guide to nursing revalidation. The script is also available to download.

Consultation on the New National Health and Social Care Standards

Consultation on the New National Health and Social Care Standards

 

The Review of the National Health and Social Care Standards is well under way.

Earlier this year the Care Inspectorate and Healthcare Improvement Scotland consulted, and the Scottish Government agreed the principles that now underpin the new draft Standards.

The views of representative groups and individuals from across health and social care, including people who use care and their carers are being sought to inform whether the new Standards are fit for purpose; the extent to which they are directed at supporting improvement in care and support; and ultimately, whether they will achieve better personal outcomes for everyone.

You are invited to take part in the consultation and help shape the future standards and expectations of health and social care in Scotland.

The consultation is now live and can be accessed at:

 https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/care-and-support/national-care-standards

Read the Consultation paper here:

http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0050/00508831.pdf

 

For full details of the draft Standards, a consultation pack and questionnaire, please visit  www.newcarestandards.scot