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Self-directed support systems – Mind the gap

The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) is to hold a free workshop to discuss a whole systems approach to self-directed support (SDS) implementation.

Can taking a whole systems approach work? What resources would the health and social care sector need to help to engage in whole systems thinking? You are invited to explore these questions.

In the continuing Adventures In Systems (AS IS) series of workshops the SSSC welcomes Julian Corner from the Lankelly Chase Foundation https://lankellychase.org.uk/person/julian-corner/

Julian will explain whole systems approaches and help to consider how this might work from an SDS perspective. The workshop will give participants the chance to think about what’s happening and working well now in their services and how thinking at a systems level can help to improve future collaboration. The workshop will also discuss what resources workers and organisations need to support systems thinking.

We will hear from our colleagues in the Living Well in Communities Team at Healthcare Improvement Scotland about how they are working to support system change in Scotland.

This event is for people working in any part of the health and social care system including: commissioners, finance staff, procurement staff, policy officers, risk compliance officers, legal officers, social workers and their managers, service providers, support organisations, people who use services and their families and friends.

The workshop is free although places are limited so please book early. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

Please click here to confirm your place.

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Effective Leadership in Dementia Care

The University of Stirling is to hold a two-day course designed to develop effective and efficient leadership in dementia care.

Strong clinical leadership is arguably the hardest of all roles to embed in an improvement culture. Yet leadership plays such an important role in the care of people with dementia.

Historically, emphasis has been placed on management style and strategies as opposed to leadership. But there is a difference. Often, health and social care systems are over-managed and under-led. Leaders need to have the capacity to influence others, to inspire and articulate their vision to move the workforce to the end goal.

Dr Kevin Hope, Honorary Professor at the University of Stirling and DSDC Associate, explores the importance of leadership in the workplace in this blog.

DSDC’s new programme, Effective Leadership for Dementia Care Services, addresses the important topic of leadership and dementia care. Aimed at Front-line Leaders and Operational Leaders, the course explores a range of relevant information aimed at developing leadership skills will help to identify what characterises good leadership and its associated traits and behaviours.

The course, which takes place on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 April, provides an important opportunity to network within and beyond dementia communities, including the potential to liaise with and gain support from other like-minded people who have undertaken this programme of development.

Please click here to confirm your place.

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Spiritual Care survey still open

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]

 

 

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Scottish Care issues statement on Social Care and the UK Budget

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.

 

 

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Book now for Care at Home & Housing Support Conference 2017

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]

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Extended till 17th March – Scottish Care Annual Care at Home and Housing Support Awards

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

 

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Scotland’s Dementia Awards 2017 – Entries Open

Scotland’s Dementia Awards celebrate and recognise projects and the people behind them who are going the extra mile to support people living with dementia and their families across Scottish communities.

Entries are encouraged from teams and projects that support people with dementia to enhancing the health, wellbeing and experience of people with dementia and their families, and from those involved in the education of these communities and sectors.

From the Scottish Borders to the Highlands and Islands, all entries are welcomed.

There are 6 categories to enter; –

• Best Acute Care Initiative,

• Best Community Support Initiative,

• Best Dementia Friendly Community Initiative,

• Best Educational Initiative,

• Best Innovation in Continuing Care,

• Most Innovative Partnership.

By showcasing creative approaches from policy to practice, the awards recognise the country’s most innovative and ambitious projects, celebrating the passion and dedication of those who work to support people living with dementia and their families in services and projects up and down the country.

Entries close at 5pm on 31st March 2017. For more details and to enter your application visit www.ScotlandsDementiaAwards.org.uk

The entrants that make it to the shortlist of Scotland’s Dementia Awards 2017 will go on to attend an awards ceremony held at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel on 21 September 2017 – World Alzheimer’s Day.

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Supervisors in adult care: tell us about your experiences at work

The SSSC has recently contacted registered supervisors in care at home services, housing support services and care home services for adults to announce a proposed change in the additional supervisory qualification that supervisors need for SSSC registration.

To ensure the SSSC get this right they need to hear directly from supervisors about their experiences and wish to understand the managerial and supervisory aspects of their role so they can work with others to offer the most effective support.

To start this process they would like supervisors to take part in one of six half day workshops in March, or one of a small number of telephone discussions.

Although this invitation is only for supervisors in the adult services listed above, there will be a wider online survey in March in relation to both the supervisory and management requirements in adult services.  (They are not considering any changes to the practice requirements for supervisors or managers in adult services at this time).  Anybody with an interest in supervisory or management qualification requirements will be invited to participate in this.

If you are a supervisor and would be interested in coming to an inquiry group or taking part in a short telephone discussion to share your views, please complete your details in this short form and the SSSC will get back in touch.

Click here to complete your details

Please note that the Glasgow workshop is now full.  Details of the other venues are as follows:

8 March, 10am – 1pm, Dundee (The Steeple) (SPACES)

14 March, 10am – 1pm, Edinburgh (Edinburgh Training Centre) (ALMOST FULL)

15 March, 11.30am – 2.30pm, Inverness (Eden’s Court) (SPACES)

16 March, 10am – 1 pm, Kirkcaldy (New Volunteer House) (SPACES)

17 March, 10am – 1pm, Stirling (Stirling Highland Hotel) (SPACES)

For more information, or if you cannot access the link, please contact Jacqueline McDonagh, Learning and Development, on 01382 207316, or [email protected]

For further details about this consultation process please contact Robert Kelman:

Robert Kelman

Learning and Development Adviser

Tel: 01382 346469

Email: [email protected]

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Scottish Care to host Declaration Fest session

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.

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Time is running out to enter the Scottish Social Services Awards #SSSA17

Deadline: 6pm, Tue Feb 28

Enter now

If you know a person, team or organisation who deserves a  Scottish Social Services Award, make sure you get your nomination in on time.

It’s really easy to apply and SSSA are actively encouraging short and simple entries.

With ten new categories such as ‘silo buster’, ‘the untold story’ and ‘head above the parapet’ the awards have been designed to recognise innovation and excellent practice across the sector.

Shortlisted entrants will be invited to join The Minister for Childcare and Early Years, Mark McDonald and Sally Magnusson at a special afternoon tea ceremony at Crieff Hydro on 13 June 2017.  

Launched by the Social Work Services Strategic Forum, a partnership set up to create and deliver a vision for high quality and effective social services, the Scottish Social Services Awards will celebrate individuals, teams and organisations making a positive difference to peoples’ lives.

Time is counting down to the deadline to enter.  Make sure you get your entry in before 6pm on Tuesday 28 February 2017 to be in with a chance of being part of these inaugural awards.

Follow @SSSAwards on Twitter and Scottish Social Services Awards on Facebook to keep up to date with all of the latest news and details of the shortlisted entries.