I sit on the Steering Group of the Skills Academy for Social Care which hopes to be officially launched in October and I attended a regular meeting of the Steering Group today.
The Skills Academy hopes to be able in the future to be proactive in directing and assisting care providers to deliver the best of training. From time to time the Academy also hopes to be the conduit between Government and the sector for the delivery of funds to be spent around the training agenda.
Watch this space because come the Autumn I hope there will be a great deal of good news around the time of the launch of the Academy.
National Care Association Logo
Thursday, July 23, 2009
14 July 2009
14 July
I went with Nadra this afternoon to the launch of the Green Paper by Andy Burnham, Phil Hope and David Behan so we finally managed to get our hands on a copy of the Green Paper.
You can too if you go to:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_102338
We will be doing a piece in the next newsletter about the Green Paper but for care home providers the key point is that the proposal is that Government would pay for care and the individual would pay for “board and lodgings”. In principle this sounds acceptable but as always the devil may be in the detail so as we develop our response I will keep you informed via the blog.
I went with Nadra this afternoon to the launch of the Green Paper by Andy Burnham, Phil Hope and David Behan so we finally managed to get our hands on a copy of the Green Paper.
You can too if you go to:
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_102338
We will be doing a piece in the next newsletter about the Green Paper but for care home providers the key point is that the proposal is that Government would pay for care and the individual would pay for “board and lodgings”. In principle this sounds acceptable but as always the devil may be in the detail so as we develop our response I will keep you informed via the blog.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Green Paper
The Green Paper on the future funding of Long Term Care will be launched this afternoon in the House of Commons.
I know I am showing off but I have been to a breakfast meeting this morning with the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Health and the Minister for Social Care to discuss the Green Paper. I still don’t know what is actually in the Green Paper but the indications are that the Government is looking to create a National Care Service.
The thoughts that are in my mind of course are about:
“Will there be any new money?”
Indications are that there will not but further information will be available later this afternoon.
I said at the meeting that members of National Care Association will enter into the debate. The consultation will last until late in November.
I am going to a launch event at 2pm along with National Care Association Chairman Nadra Ahmed and I will post another note before 10 am tomorrow and hopefully tonight.
I know I am showing off but I have been to a breakfast meeting this morning with the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Health and the Minister for Social Care to discuss the Green Paper. I still don’t know what is actually in the Green Paper but the indications are that the Government is looking to create a National Care Service.
The thoughts that are in my mind of course are about:
“Will there be any new money?”
Indications are that there will not but further information will be available later this afternoon.
I said at the meeting that members of National Care Association will enter into the debate. The consultation will last until late in November.
I am going to a launch event at 2pm along with National Care Association Chairman Nadra Ahmed and I will post another note before 10 am tomorrow and hopefully tonight.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Back to work....
Back to work this morning after a happy week's holiday visiting my daughter in Qatar. Straight into a meeting at 9am with a small sub committee of members of the Care Providers Alliance (CPA). A significant grant has been made to the CPA through ECCA by the Department of Health to raise awareness around the personalisation agenda.
At the meeting this morning the project plan was agreed and by the end of the year a report should be well under way to inform you about personalisation.
It is hoped that further funding will be available next year to continue with this work and to help independent sector providers to concentrate on the person centred approach to care.
Care Quality Commission
When I got to the office very early this morning I found on my desk a copy of the Care Quality Commission's Consultation Document 'Guidance about compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Registration Requirements) Regulations 2009'. It was lucky I went into the office to check my post because by 11am I was in the Care Quality Commission's office in the City for a scheduled introductory meeting with Roxy Boyce who is Head of National Provider Relationships. We had a useful discussion for almost an hour and agreed to stay in touch.
The consultation document can be found at:
http://www.cqc.org.uk/getinvolved/consultations/consultationonnewregistrationstandards.cfm
National Care Association will of course be responding but I hope you will want to as well.
At the meeting this morning the project plan was agreed and by the end of the year a report should be well under way to inform you about personalisation.
It is hoped that further funding will be available next year to continue with this work and to help independent sector providers to concentrate on the person centred approach to care.
Care Quality Commission
When I got to the office very early this morning I found on my desk a copy of the Care Quality Commission's Consultation Document 'Guidance about compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Registration Requirements) Regulations 2009'. It was lucky I went into the office to check my post because by 11am I was in the Care Quality Commission's office in the City for a scheduled introductory meeting with Roxy Boyce who is Head of National Provider Relationships. We had a useful discussion for almost an hour and agreed to stay in touch.
The consultation document can be found at:
http://www.cqc.org.uk/getinvolved/consultations/consultationonnewregistrationstandards.cfm
National Care Association will of course be responding but I hope you will want to as well.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
National Skills Academy Steering Group
On 20 January I went to the latest meeting of the National Skills Academy Steering Group. The National Skills Academy will formally come into being in April this year ( i think) and I am keeping a very close eye on developments because I think that there will be some early projects that will bring real benefits to small and medium sized care providers.
On 21 January I went to a hotel in Gatwick to a meeting arranged by David Waters of Care Homes Insurance Services. There was a wide ranging group of people there including a banker, a training provider, 2 or 3 medium sized care providers and the Chief Executive of a local Association. David was keen to hear everyone's views of likely developments during 2009.
I think all of us were of a similar view point. Trading is not going to be easy this year because of the world wide financial situation and there will be pressure on fees both in Local Government contracting and also for people who are unable to sell their homes. Having said that everyone who was there was optimistic about the future.
On 22 January I went to Swindon to meet with Richard Harris one of our Board member and to visit two hotels for potential use for Conference 2009. An announcement will be made shortly!
On 21 January I went to a hotel in Gatwick to a meeting arranged by David Waters of Care Homes Insurance Services. There was a wide ranging group of people there including a banker, a training provider, 2 or 3 medium sized care providers and the Chief Executive of a local Association. David was keen to hear everyone's views of likely developments during 2009.
I think all of us were of a similar view point. Trading is not going to be easy this year because of the world wide financial situation and there will be pressure on fees both in Local Government contracting and also for people who are unable to sell their homes. Having said that everyone who was there was optimistic about the future.
On 22 January I went to Swindon to meet with Richard Harris one of our Board member and to visit two hotels for potential use for Conference 2009. An announcement will be made shortly!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! I hope that you, your staff and the people you care for had a peaceful Christmas and that you are able to look to the New Year with confidence.
The first few weeks of January are usually a time for catching up here in the office, and to reflect on our plans for the coming year. As many of you know by now we successfully tendered to Skills for Care for a contract to assist members to complete the National Minimum Data Set (Social Care) The data that is collected is stored confidentially and it is an invaluable source of information for lobbying purposes. I know that many of you have already completed NMDS-SC but anyone that hasn't is welcome to contact us at the office and we will be pleased to assist.
There are advantages to you in completing the NMDS-SC:
1. With your consent CSCI can access the data held for your establishment and that saves you from having to complete the staffing section of the AQAA
2. Accessing some of the TSI funding is dependent on having completed NMDS-SC
I was very disappointed last week to see articles in The Times about care homes. In one of the articles the Minister had been interviewed and he was quoted as saying that he intended to raise standards in care homes but the sector could not expect any "new money"
The following is the letter that we submitted to The Times but it was not published:
Dear Sir,
Your leader and articles yesterday ('Who Cares?')
addresses a crucial problem we raised at our National Care Association annual conference late last year. Time and time again our conference speakers pointed out that Government and care homes regulators must take some of the responsibility in those instances where the provision of care fails.In your articles today the Minister is saying that he will raise standards of care but he cannot offer more money to fund the raised standards. Almost 70 percent of people in receipt of care in care homes are funded by the State. So if there is to be no more money but the standards are to be raised how is that to be paid for within the financial climate businesses are operating at the current time? This is not a new question. For many years the fee increases awarded by local authorities have so often failed to keep up with inflation and in some instances last year there was no increase at all and I know that many of our members fear the same this year. This is a shortfall borne by independent care home owners. Nationally the majority of providers are rated excellent or good by the regulator. There must also be a question around the competence of the regulator who receives millions of pounds a year in fees from care providers to monitor their responsibility to the frail and vulnerable. It is of course extremely disappointing for the responsible providers we represent to hear reports of poor provision when they work so hard within tight financial constraints to provide the best possible care for the frail and vulnerable. We would urge the Government, the Regulator and Commissioners to make sure that they are fulfilling their side of the contract to the old and frail as well as the people they so freely criticise. Until this mismatch is remedied the viability of the Independent Care Sector is under threat.
Nadra Ahmed
Chairman
The first few weeks of January are usually a time for catching up here in the office, and to reflect on our plans for the coming year. As many of you know by now we successfully tendered to Skills for Care for a contract to assist members to complete the National Minimum Data Set (Social Care) The data that is collected is stored confidentially and it is an invaluable source of information for lobbying purposes. I know that many of you have already completed NMDS-SC but anyone that hasn't is welcome to contact us at the office and we will be pleased to assist.
There are advantages to you in completing the NMDS-SC:
1. With your consent CSCI can access the data held for your establishment and that saves you from having to complete the staffing section of the AQAA
2. Accessing some of the TSI funding is dependent on having completed NMDS-SC
I was very disappointed last week to see articles in The Times about care homes. In one of the articles the Minister had been interviewed and he was quoted as saying that he intended to raise standards in care homes but the sector could not expect any "new money"
The following is the letter that we submitted to The Times but it was not published:
Dear Sir,
Your leader and articles yesterday ('Who Cares?')
addresses a crucial problem we raised at our National Care Association annual conference late last year. Time and time again our conference speakers pointed out that Government and care homes regulators must take some of the responsibility in those instances where the provision of care fails.In your articles today the Minister is saying that he will raise standards of care but he cannot offer more money to fund the raised standards. Almost 70 percent of people in receipt of care in care homes are funded by the State. So if there is to be no more money but the standards are to be raised how is that to be paid for within the financial climate businesses are operating at the current time? This is not a new question. For many years the fee increases awarded by local authorities have so often failed to keep up with inflation and in some instances last year there was no increase at all and I know that many of our members fear the same this year. This is a shortfall borne by independent care home owners. Nationally the majority of providers are rated excellent or good by the regulator. There must also be a question around the competence of the regulator who receives millions of pounds a year in fees from care providers to monitor their responsibility to the frail and vulnerable. It is of course extremely disappointing for the responsible providers we represent to hear reports of poor provision when they work so hard within tight financial constraints to provide the best possible care for the frail and vulnerable. We would urge the Government, the Regulator and Commissioners to make sure that they are fulfilling their side of the contract to the old and frail as well as the people they so freely criticise. Until this mismatch is remedied the viability of the Independent Care Sector is under threat.
Nadra Ahmed
Chairman
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Consultations
3 November 2008
There are three important documents on my desk this morning two of which are consultations:
· Ministry of Justice
Reviewing the Mental Capacity Act 2005: forms, supervision and fees
This consultation is specifically looking at Lasting Powers of Attorney forms, Supervision by the Public Guardian and the Office of the Public Guardian and Court of Protection fees.
You can access the consultation documents at www.publicguardian.gov.uk/
The consultation ends on 15 January 2009.
· Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Enforcement policy and guidance for trusts on registering in relation to Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI)
This is a consultation exercise for the NHS and private hospitals but it is well worth us looking at it to form a view of the position of the Care Quality Commission on enforcement.
www.cqc.org.uk
The consultation ends on 16 January 2009.
· Commission for Social Care Inspection
CSCI have issued a review of the eligibility criteria for social care called “Cutting the Cake Fairly”. A document worth reading I think.
www.csci.org.uk
Any feedback that you wish to give to us can be emailed to info@nca.gb.com.
There are three important documents on my desk this morning two of which are consultations:
· Ministry of Justice
Reviewing the Mental Capacity Act 2005: forms, supervision and fees
This consultation is specifically looking at Lasting Powers of Attorney forms, Supervision by the Public Guardian and the Office of the Public Guardian and Court of Protection fees.
You can access the consultation documents at www.publicguardian.gov.uk/
The consultation ends on 15 January 2009.
· Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Enforcement policy and guidance for trusts on registering in relation to Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI)
This is a consultation exercise for the NHS and private hospitals but it is well worth us looking at it to form a view of the position of the Care Quality Commission on enforcement.
www.cqc.org.uk
The consultation ends on 16 January 2009.
· Commission for Social Care Inspection
CSCI have issued a review of the eligibility criteria for social care called “Cutting the Cake Fairly”. A document worth reading I think.
www.csci.org.uk
Any feedback that you wish to give to us can be emailed to info@nca.gb.com.
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