The BBC’s Health Correspondent, Nick Triggle, reports on plans to ease the pressure on hospitals by providing vulnerable patients with better support in the community. Social care workers and NHS staff will be available seven days a week when the new scheme comes into play. It is part of the government’s strategy to combine the NHS and council-run social care systems: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29823763

This guide, Commissioning independent advocacy, produced by the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE), is aimed at commissioners charged with meeting the new duties to provide advocacy under the #CareAct2014. It will help commissioning officers in local authorities think through their new duties and understand what they are required to do to comply with the new requirements of the Act.

http://www.scie.org.uk/care-act-2014/advocacy-services/commissioning-independent-advocacy/

To view a free demo of our e-learning course The Care Act: Unpacked, please click here: http://goo.gl/WqICKX. To find out more about the course, please click here: http://goo.gl/njSiat

Embrace-learning has partnered with Carers UK to provide a full e-learning Care Act training course designed for frontline practitioners and carers. The Care Act Unpacked can be delivered at any pace and scale required and is suitable for all social care employers. To view a free demo, please click here: To find out more about the course, please click here: http://goo.gl/njSiat

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) has unveiled a guide to good practice in commissioning advocacy for care users; an important element of the Care Act. We are advised that this is a work in progress, and the consultation process is ongoing.

http://www.scie.org.uk/news/mediareleases/media-release?id=a1UG00000041ETMMA2

Skills for Care and the National Skills Academy for Social Care, in partnership with The College of Social Work, have produced free learning materials for the adult social care workforce in preparation for the changes required by the Care Act 2014: http://goo.gl/2pGU9C

Embrace-learning and Carers UK have also produced a course about the #careact, entitled The Care Act: Unpacked. For more information, please click here: http://goo.gl/njSiat

Embrace-learning has partnered with Carers UK to provide a full e-learning Care Act training course designed for frontline practitioners and carers.

The Care Act Unpacked can be delivered at any pace and scale required and is suitable for all social care employers.

To view a free demo, please click here: http://goo.gl/WqICKX

To find out more about the course, please click here: http://goo.gl/njSiat

The eHospital system, already used by hospitals in the U.S., has gone live at Addenbrooke’s in Cambridge. Records are stored electronically and can be accessed via handheld devices rather than on paper.

The new system has required 200,000 hours of staff training so far.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-29777262

After months of consultation – and over 4,000 comments – the Department of Health has published its final statutory guidance and regulations for the Care Act 2014, including plans for the new national minimum eligibility threshold for social care.

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2014/10/24/eligibility-regulation-changes-undermine-one-care-acts-key-aims/

Carers UK and Embrace-learning have joined forces to develop this key learning resource on The Care Act. With three easy-to-follow study units learners will find out about the changes to practice that will happen when the new Care Act comes into force in April 2015.

http://www.embrace-learning.com/the_care_act_2014_e-learning.php

We have a Tumblr blog; a roundup of the week’s news and announcements relating to the health and social care sector:

http://goo.gl/AFvpKZ.

You can follow us on Twitter. Join in discussions, have your say, read the latest news, and find out more about our courses and bespoke services:

https://twitter.com/embracelearnuk

The Department of Health's response to the Care Act consultation has been published. The main concerns have been:

- about adequate funding for social care, particularly from local government

- the costs of carer assessments

- the efficacy of 15-minute care visits

- the threshold being too high for people to become eligible for social care

[In the light of Simon Steven's wish to move outpatient care away from hospitals, it is essential to ensure that users who are unable to pay the costs of their care are not left alone until they reach the stage when their only recourse is to call an ambulance.]

http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2014/oct/23/department-of-health-response-to-care-act-consultation-views-from-the-sector

The BBC's Health Editor, Hugh Pym, on the Five Year Forward View. He argues that the most radical proposals are:

- the stripping of out-patient care away from hospitals and into GP practices/clinics.

- the employment of consultants and senior nurses at GP practices

- small hospitals to share administration/HR staff

- hospitals to establish their own GP practices

- developing Accountable Care Organisations (likely from within existing NHS trusts) with

  over-reaching responsibility for local care.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29731646

The first two independent hospitals are in the process of inspection by the commission. Spire Southampton in Hampshire, and London Welbeck are the two in question.

The inspectors will require the same information on performance as it receives from NHS hospitals.

Where failures in care are identified, centres will be required to put in place a plan of improvement. This would be likely to involve further staff training. 

http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/first-two-independent-hospitals-inspected-under-new-approach

A Health think tank has published a report on the future of the NHS. Entitled NHS Forward View, it has a twin focus on the need for more funding and radical reorganisation.

A range of measures are suggested, all with the aim of curbing hospital admissions, as well as dealing with the pressure of an ageing population.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29726934

Whilst the Care Act is introducing laudable provisions such as the duty of candour and the fit and proper persons test for directors, it is also eradicating a number of well established principles. We are set to lose the following obligations on health care providers:

- informing residents of complaints procedures

- offering a choice of food

- a requirement to plan for and to have in place emergency procedures

This is all done in the name of 'light-touch' regulation. Unnecessary bureaucracy is indeed a costly burden, but these changes would suggest a degrading of the standards in care.  

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/oct/21/dilute-care-home-rules-law-abuse

Nick Temple, Business and Enterprise Director at Social Enterprise UK, asks how social enterprises can help deliver the future of health and social care. Social enterprises and charities have a long history of helping to influence support and deliver services across health and social care, including by doing so in partnership.

http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2014/oct/21/social-enterprises-future-health-social-care

Are you ready for the new Care Act?

Carers UK and Embrace-learning have joined forces to develop this key learning resource on The Care Act. With three easy-to-follow study units you will learn about the changes to practice that will happen when the new Care Act comes into force in April 2015.

http://www.embrace-learning.com/the_care_act_2014_e-learning.php

The Department of Health has released £4m for the Care Act training fund due to concerns that the workforce are not yet prepared for the changes it will introduce.

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2014/10/16/dh-releases-4m-care-act-training-fund-amid-concerns-workforce-readiness/

Improving Quality Handbooks produced by the NHS. They aim to provide a combination of guidance, tools and resources that support programme and project delivery from beginning to end in core areas of knowledge management.

http://www.nhsiq.nhs.uk/capacity-capability/knowledge-and-intelligence/iq-handbooks.aspx

You can find out about our range of courses to help carers in their everyday work, and with their own well-being, by clicking on the link below. For example, our e-learning course About Me: Building Resilience for Caring was developed and produced in conjunction with Carers UK: http://goo.gl/FmFKy6

At 19.30 this evening, October 13th, on Inside Out North West, Sally Magnusson investigates new concerns about poor standards of care for people with dementia, while Dianne Oxberry reveals how a growing number of younger people living with dementia are being misdiagnosed with depression or stress.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04lcs03

Mike Padgham, Chair of the Independent Care Group, stresses that social care must be a general election issue next May. He wants to hear politicians set out real pledges rather than churning out endless reports and statistics, and pointing to commissions.

http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2014/oct/09/social-care-general-election-political-parties

Care, Work, Sleep, Repeat - a very moving programme about young people who care for parents or relatives - is available on iPlayer now. David Matthews, who looks after his Mum, is one of the carers featured.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04kfgct

Are you ready for the new Care Act?

Carers UK and Embrace-learning have joined forces to develop this key learning resource on The Care Act. With three easy-to-follow study units you will learn about the changes to practice that will happen when the new Care Act comes into force in April 2015.

http://www.embrace-learning.com/the_care_act_2014_e-learning.php

We work with you to design, develop, host and deliver your own online training course(s). Our approach is designed to bring you a highly cost-effective return on your investment in e-learning.

http://www.embrace-learning.co.uk/Website/Pages/Guest/bespoke.php

Respondents ignorant to Simon Stevens’ role and a third believe he has had a negative impact on health service.

http://www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2014/oct/09/nhs-health-service-simon-stevens-survey

Andrea Sutcliffe, the Care Quality Commission's Chief Inspector of adult social care, has told the BBC that standards in care homes are "not good enough" and in too many cases "awful".

The commission is trying to drive up standards (and its own reputation) by introducing a new rating system, similar to the OFSTED model. Care homes will be ranked as either:

- outstanding

- good

- requiring improvement, or

- inadequate.

A necessary first step towards attaining a high standard is to ensure that ALL staff are working competently and efficiently. Training levels should be reassessed and, where necessary, staff should be given good quality, cost-effective training. #elearning #embracelearning

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29547598

Click below to find out about our Carers UK e-learning Training Pack, which includes 4 course titles:

About me: building resilience for caring

Carer Awareness: supporting frontline practice

Supporting Carers at Work: a line managers' guide, and

The Care Act Unpacked: frontline support for carers.

http://www.embrace-learning.co.uk/Website/Pages/Guest/subscription_offer.php

Following the recent announcement about the use of surveillance cameras in care homes, Stephen Burke asks: “ Why is the CQC doing this? Isn’t it a bit like bolting the stable door well and truly after the horse has fled? Surely the regulator should be about raising the bar for the quality of care and exposing, and then tackling, poor care where it exists.”

http://www.theguardian.com/social-care-network/2014/oct/08/cctv-care-homes-secret-cameras-improve-care

We round up daily news, reports, and announcements relating to health and social care on our Tumblr blog. Click http://embrace-learning-blog.tumblr.com to follow us and post your comments!

The BBC’s Political Correspondent Brian Wheeler reports on Nick Clegg’s announcement that waiting time targets are to be introduced for people suffering from mental health problems. Clegg is also expected to pledge more money for treatment of mental health conditions, including bipolar and eating disorders, if the Lib Dems are in government.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29529877

To find out about our e-learning course Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, please click here: http://goo.gl/tZcYDl or give us a call on 0161 928 9987.

There was a massive increase in Deprivation of Liberty (DoLs) applications in England from April to June 2014. This may well be largely due to March's Supreme Court ruling extending application criteria to include unopposed (patient) deprivation.

The Law Commission, at the behest of the Department of Health, are on the case.

http://www.learningdisabilitytoday.co.uk/more_deprivation_of_liberty_applications_recorded_in_first_quarter_of_20145_than_whole_of_previous_year_25769816474.aspx

One in three employers have reported an increase in absenteeism attributable to caring responsibilities. Carers UK have estimated that this costs businesses £3.5 billion a year, as well as increasing costs to the economy and to families.

Perhaps revealingly, only 1 in 6 organisations have policies in place to assist workers with their responsibilities.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/oct/06/workers-take-time-off-care-children-elderly-relatives

Find out about our Mandatory Training Pack by visiting: http://www.embrace-learning.com/mandatory_training_pack_e-learning_courses.php or give us a call on

0161 928 9987.

You can pay as little as £1 per learner with our package deals!

Why the new ratings system should take some of the stress out of choosing a care provider.

http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/choosing-care-one-lifes-most-stressful-moments-finds-cqc

Leading figures in the health sector have written a letter to the three main political parties, highlighting the plight of the NHS.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29501588

Advice and guidance to be provided by the Care Quality Commission on setting up ‘undercover’ surveillance devices and systems in care homes.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/elderhealth/11142675/Relatives-to-be-given-official-guidance-on-how-to-spy-on-care-homes.html

The government have announced that from April 2015, the earnings threshold for Carers' Allowance will be raised by £8 to £110 a week.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/boost-for-carers-from-rise-in-allowance-threshold

A Chair of the Independent Care Group is calling on all political parties to prioritise social care funding. Is this a vote winner?

http://www.careindustrynews.co.uk/2014/10/social-care-must-be-an-election-issue-says-care-group-spokesman/

Click below to find out about our Carers UK e-learning Training Pack, which includes 4 course titles:

About me: building resilience for caring

Carer Awareness: supporting frontline practice

Supporting Carers at Work: a line managers' guide, and

The Care Act Unpacked: frontline support for carers.

http://www.embrace-learning.co.uk/Website/Pages/Guest/subscription_offer.php

Public Services - Which?

Have you ever complained about your local hospital, doctors, school, nursery or care home? Join the Which? campaign and make your complaints count.

http://www.which.co.uk/campaigns/schools-doctors-hospitals/#.VCRYVCY2_lc.facebook

You can enrol on our e-learning courses for as little as £1 per learner with our new package deals!

Carers UK Pack (4 courses)

Mandatory Pack (5 courses)

Bronze Pack (Any 10 courses)

Silver Pack (Any 20 courses)

Gold Pack 20 (Any 30 Courses)

Platinum Pack (ALL courses)

You can view our course lists here http://goo.gl/5Qruzr and here http://www.embrace-learning.com ... or give us a call on 0161 928 9987.

E-learning is increasingly being used as an alternative to standard medical prescriptions. There is a wealth of evidence to show that early intervention is both effective and highly cost efficient.

GPs can now prescribe e-learning courses to patients and carers giving the patient the opportunity to access training anywhere they have an internet connection. This flexibility to gain self-help can provide early intervention for many common ailments and is an effective way of enhancing the health and well-being, and resilience of patients and carers.

You can view our course lists here http://goo.gl/5Qruzr and here http://www.embrace-learning.com.