Latest pandemic 'flu guidance from UKHCA

Pandemic Influenza Guidance for Homecare Providers

Version: 6.0
Dated: 3rd June 2009

Welcome

United Kingdom Homecare Association Ltd (UKHCA) is the professional association of home care providers from the independent, voluntary, not-for-profit and statutory sectors. UKHCA helps organisations that provide social care, which may include nursing services, to people in their own homes, promoting high standards of care and providing representation with national and regional policy-makers and regulators. The Association represents over 1,600 members across the United Kingdom, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Homecarer July 2009 now available

The July edition of Homecarer is now available for members to download from the members’ area.

In this issue: We call for members views’ on a critical consultation on Compliance Guidance that replaces the National Minimum Standards for Domiciliary Care, our Board representatives for Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales campaign for better funding for training, UKHCA Chair Mike Padgham argues MPs should re-focus on social care, UKHCA Senior Policy Officer Francis McGlone reports on low pay, UKHCA HR Manager Wosiela Bobie looks at new disciplinary and grievance rules, UKHCA Membership Development Officer Sarah King considers whether in-house NVQ assessment and we include new, free “No reply from service user” policy guidance as a centre-page pull-out.

UKHCA “No Reply from Service User” Policy Guidance

The unexpected failure of a service user to answer the door when a care worker arrives, or the inability to gain access by the usual method, should always be regarded as a serious situation requiring immediate investigation and action by careworkers and their managers. UKHCA’s new policy guidance helps members to review their existing “No reply” policies and procedures, and develop new ones.

Don't miss your chance to comment on compliance guidance

In 2010 it is out with the National Minimum Standards in England, and in with compliance guidance, which the new regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will use to inspect services. The guidance will apply to all providers, be they homecare, healthcare or residential care and from now until 24th August 2009 there is a public consultation on the draft. Don't miss your chance to have your say and let us know at UKHCA of any concerns you have. To read more and to hear more from CQC at a series of events over the summer see:

Inquiry into tendering of homecare services in Scotland

UKHCA has submitted evidence to the Scottish Local Government and Communities Committee’s inquiry into tendering of home care services. The Committee is looking at the tendering methods used by local authorities, with a focus on e-bidding/e-auctioning. It comes in the wake of last April’s Panorama programme about standards in the homecare sector. In our response, we called for e-auctions to be prohibited as they drive down the price paid to providers therefore making it extremely difficult for them to pay fair wages to their workers, develop the workforce and retain skilled workers to the detriment of the care of older, frail and disabled people. We also called upon the Committee to recommend to the Scottish Government that local authorities pay fees to providers that reflect the true cost of service provision, including recovery of recruitment costs, workforce development and a sustainable pay-rate that retains skilled and qualified care at home workers in the sector.

Adult Social Care Graduate Management Trainee Scheme Launches

The National Skills Academy for Social Care, supported by the Department of Health, is introducing a Graduate Trainee Scheme to attract some of the executives of the future into the adult social care work- force. It provides a year of management and leadership experience for 20 recent graduates from a range of disciplines hosted by one of 20 employers across the private, statutory and voluntary sectors.

October 2009 national minimum wage rates come with government pledge to act on commissioning

Rates have been set for the National Minimum Wage from 1 October 2009. The adult rate will increase from £5.73 to £5.80 an hour, with the rate for 18-21 year olds rising from £4.77 to £4.83 and for 16 and 17 year olds from £3.53 to £3.57. The modest increases recommended by the Low Pay Commission and accepted by government is to balance need to protect jobs as well as low paid earnings. The Government has accepted that it needs to "ensure that commissioning policies of local authorities and the NHS reflect the acutal costs of care, including the National Minimum Wage". After the fourth successive year of UKHCA evidence to the Low Pay Commission, it seems there has been a breakthough pledge by government to act on the issue.

Advance notice on information roadshows about new vetting and barring scheme

The Independent Safeguarding Authority is running a series of roadshows to provide updated information to anyone interested in the vetting and barring scheme.
The events are free to attend and open to all interested parties, however, places are limited and must be booked in advance through the ISA website. Go to "register for updates", log your details and on Monday (18th May) you should get an email to alert you to the opportunity to book).

Members can also read the list of events from the front page of the ISA website. These begin on 3 June in Nottingham and take place across the regions in England, with an event planned on 29 June in Belfast and two events in Wales on 13 July in Cardiff and 14 July in Llandudno. Each venue will run a morning and an afternoon session.

May Homecarer now available

In this issue: We call for members’ views on regulation by the Care Quality Commission, Anthony Collins Solicitors report on contract cancellation rights and a recent procurement challenge, Vic Citarella of Skills for Care and ADASS discusses local workforce planning, we report on the delay to the ISA’s Vetting and Barring Scheme, Yvonne Apsitis rounds up our policy work in Wales, the RQIA’s Dermot Parsons advises on preparing for inspection and Jenny Roberts reports on the Scottish Caring Congress.

Swine 'flu update for social care sector

The Department of Health has asked UKHCA to cascade the information to homecare providers in England on plans for distribution of antivirals and facemasks to social care staff. The following letter contains reassurances about government priorities for facemasks and antivirals for social care staff in England www.ukhca.co.uk/pdfs/DHSwineFluLetter20090507.pdf.

UKHCA is still waiting for responses on our representations to ministers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland on the issue of consistent treatment between health and social care staff in the event of a pandemic. We will keep members updated on further developments.

In the meantime "Version 5" of our pandemic 'flu guidance is now online with updated information on swine 'flu.

Briefing on challenging unfair tender processes

UKHCA’s preferred solicitors Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP stopped a council in its tracks recently when they forced it to re-run part of a tendering process by using an emergency injunction. They have described the process in a procurement challenge case study available to all. UKHCA members can also download a special briefing by Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP on challenging unfair tender processes, with username and password.

UKHCA's Budget comment

The Budget was a mixed bag for the homecare sector. Much more detail is needed but the announcement that there will be funding for traineeships in care is a positive move to give young people experience and skills for a career in the homecare sector. But the fuel duty rises planned as early as September this year will have an impact on both providers and careworkers travel costs. With the public sector tasked to make efficiency savings of an additional £9 billion in the coming three years, UKHCA is determined that this should not be at the expense of frontline homecare services and the people they serve.

UKHCA statement on Panorama programme

The United Home Care Association found the Panorama programme deeply disturbing. As the representative association for homecare providers, UKHCA’s mission is to promote and support the sustainable provision of high standard homecare. We recognise that the programme may have caused caused concern to users of homecare, their families and care workers and have issued a statement for the public.

(Members of the press can find our media statements on the media pages of this website).

A manifesto for sustainable homecare

In 2008 UKHCA launched its manifesto for sustainable homecare which set out actions for both providers, central government and local government to address the urgent demographic and workforce challenges the country faces. We're urging policymakers to embrace this agenda and work with providers to deliver a better, more fully funded system of care.

A fair price for care campaign

In 2007 UKHCA launched its Fair Price for Care campaign, highlighting how homecare has become more demanding as people's needs intensify yet the prices paid for care by councils have been driven down to such an extent that capacity to deliver care is being damaged. It identifies how paying a fair rate for care, that recognises training costs and regulatory requirements would deliver a much more sustainable system for the future and provide due reward to the workforce.

UKHCA statement on forthcoming Panorama 9 April 2009

A Panorama programme on homecare will be screened on 9 April at 9pm. Read our pre-screening press release. We expect to issue a further release on the issues raised after the programme.

New era for health and social care regulation in England

1 April 2009 sees the end of CSCI's reign as social care regulator, with the newer broader health and social care regulator, Care Quality Commission coming into being. CQC envisage "business as usual" in terms of this being a transitional year where the current standards and regulations for homecare continue to apply as do the current enforcement powers. Accompanying the announcement is a new consultation on the registration regulations for health and social care services by the Department of Health which can be found at: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_097141

Independent Safeguarding Authority helpline announced

Following the important announcements last week about the date when the Independent Safeguarding Authority's vetting and barring scheme will commence in full, ISA has announced it has now opened a new dedicated contact centre to take calls regarding any further details on the scheme. The new contact number is 0300 123 111 from 8am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

New statistics show 81% of publicly funded homecare delivered by independent sector in England

The independent sector has increased the amount of publicly funded homecare it delivers by 3% this year and now delivers over four fifths of publicly funded homecare in England. But the service commissioned by local authorities is increasingly to those with most intensive needs, leading to overall decline in the numbers of people recieving care and therefore expenditure (1% in real terms). Members elsewhere in the UK may be interested in the data for comparison. UKHCA's press release can be found here: www.ukhca.co.uk/mediastatement_information.aspx? releaseID=1716 and the actual data, which includes detailed tables of how much each English authority utilises the independent sector, can be found at:

Important news on Independent Safeguarding Authority implementation

The government has announced a more phased approach to the Vetting and Barring Scheme, operated by the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), which was due to “go live” in full on 12 October 2009. Of most importance to homecare providers is the delay to the date when new employees will need to begin to register with the new scheme. The legal requirement for new staff to register has been put back from 12 October 2009 to November 2010. From 26 July 2010 and in the run up to November 2010, when registration becomes mandatory for new employees, those new to working with vulnerable adults and children in England, Wales and Northern Ireland can begin to apply, via Registered/Umbrella Bodies, to the Criminal Records Bureau in England and Wales or AccessNI in Northern Ireland for ISA-registration. Changes will still occur to the system in October 2009 when new criminal offences associated with barred individuals and new ISA barred lists come into operation. The government notice below should be read to get a fuller understanding of the changes and key dates and more information is also available on the Independent Safeguarding Authority website www.isa-gov.org.uk

Care Commission publishes its guidance on inspections 2009/10

The Care Commission has issued guidance to help care service providers prepare for their 2009-10 inspections. This Copies of the self-assessment forms for 2009-10 are also now available. As members will know, before inspection, the Care Commission asks providers to complete an online self assessment of their service and grade themselves against a framework of Quality Themes and Statements. More about inspection for 2009-10, inspection focus areas, how the Commission will target assessments, and the self-assessment forms can be accessed at:

New agreement aims to treat providers in Wales as partners in care

A new Memorandum of Understanding "Securing Strong Partnerships in Care" has set out a new framework for improved communication and understanding between providers of care services and local authorities in Wales. The Memorandum, signed by UKHCA, Registered Nursing Homes Association, Care Forum Wales, Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru and Welsh Local Government Association was signed at a ceremony attended by Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, Gwenda Thomas AM. UKHCA hopes that the agreement will put homecare providers in a stronger position to secure improved dialogue with their local authority commissioners. UKHCA's media release can be downloaded at: www.ukhca.co.uk/media.aspx

UKHCA urges fair homecare contract terms for North Wales

In a comprehensive submission to councils preparing a standard contract for use in North Wales, UKHCA has highlighted key principles of fairness and the need for a balance of rights and obligations for both purchasers and providers. The contract is being drafted for use in Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham, but UKHCA understands that councils elsewhere in Wales are also watching this matter closely. UKHCA members’ interests are being represented by Gill Charlick and Colin Angel. Colin is also leading UKHCA’s response to a similar standard contract for use in the East of England.

National dementia strategy launched

Alan Johnson, health secretary, has launched the National dementia strategy, directed at the treatment received by 700,000 people with dementia. The strategy contain 17 recommendations which includes reference to the need to better training and work across health and social care, and the need for commissioners to particularly understand the need for flexible and person centred homecare. The main media focus is on improving public awareness and encouraging people to visit their GP to seek diagnosis earlier. For homecare, see UKHCA’s comment to the media (at www.ukhca.co.uk/mediastatement_information.aspx?releaseID=1616)

CSCI publishes its last "State of Social Care" report

The fourth and final "State of Social Care" report is published by CSCI today and yet again homecare is a picture of improvement with 73% of homecare services rated as “good” or “excellent, meeting on average 82% of standards, with privacy and dignity, care needs assessment and financial procedures amongst the highest performing areas.
Growth continues in the private homecare sector, and is dominated by small providers. Councils are criticised for not focussing on the quality of the services they commission and generally poor engagement with the independent sector in strategic planning for a new era of personalisation. UKHCA has commented to the media - see www.ukhca.co.uk/mediastatement_information.aspx?releaseID=1509

ADASS agree to talks on Eastern Region homecare contract

UKHCA has welcomed an agreement to examine critical issues relating to a draft homecare contract approved by the ADASS Eastern Region. Having met with ADASS representatives in January, their Secretary confirmed that she was “confident that any detailed issues can be dealt with to the satisfaction of both parties and that an ongoing dialogue would be useful”. A meeting to discuss our concerns about individual clauses is to be arranged. The contract has been drafted for future tendering exercises for the following local authorities: Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough, Southend, Suffolk and Thurrock.

Campaign for greater adult protection legislation and better guidance

At the invitation of Action on Elder Abuse, UKHCA is supporting a campaign to put adult protection on a similar statutory footing to child protection. Outside Scotland there is no statutory adult protection system, although there is guidance for local authorities and Health and Social Care Trusts to lead on adult protection investigations. The Alliance wants to ensure that everyone, whether using a regulated care service or employing a personal assistant, is able to access suitable, vetted and accountable careworkers from safe and secure home based care, and that where abuse is suspected or reported, there are responsive statutory systems in place to investigate appropriately and respond. The Alliance is particularly focussed on the safeguards needed in a new era of personalisation.

Protection: ISA to take decisions on placing careworkers on the POVA list (and other"barred lists") in England and Wales

Members will be aware that the new Vetting and Barring scheme will come into operation later this year and the body in charge of the scheme, the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) is already in operation. From today, 20 January 2009, the new ISA will take over responsibility from the Secretary of State for the making of barring decisions under the POCA, POVA and List 99 schemes. Members who after an investigation of abuse in homecare, are considering referring a careworker to the POVA or POCA list who has harmed or placed at risk of harm a vulnerable adult or child must make the referral to a new address of ISA, PO Box 181, Darlington, DL1 9FA.

As far as the CRB process is concerned there is no change to the way you request a check of the POCA list, POVA list and List 99 as part of an Enhanced or Standard CRB check. There is also no change to the POVAFirst service. The wording printed on a CRB certificate relating to POCA/POVA and List 99 will change slightly to reflect the fact that the decision to is now taken by the ISA.

(General information about the scheme is available at www.isa-gov.org/Default.aspx?page=378 or the recorded information line 0300 123 1111 and also in the May 2008 edition of Homecarer).

Hope for social care as its ministerial status rises

The Prime Minister's reshuffle has led to the move of Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis to an international development role, and his replacement with Phil Hope MP. UKHCA pays tribute to the work of Ivan Lewis in raising the status of social care and we welcome the appointment of Mr Hope, who arrives in the post with both parliamentary and personal experience in the third sector and experience of local care services as MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire. The new minister is a Minister of State - a higher level post than that held previously by Ivan Lewis and signals an uplift in the importance of social care politically.

UKHCA's Cost Pressure Campaign 2008

UKHCA has written to every local authority in England, Scotland and Wales and every health and social care trust in Northern Ireland to highlight the cost pressures affecting homecare providers, and requesting that they convene urgent meetings with providers to find a way forward.

Using the Freedom of Information Act, the Association has also asked for a comprehensive list of contract price increases awarded in the last 12 months. This is to examine the scale of below-inflation increases, and to build the case for a fair increase in 2008-9. The results will be published as soon as they are analysed. We will also be writing to providers before the end of August with additional materials to help gather momentum at a local level.

Domiciliary Care Agencies Minimum Standards now published in Northern Ireland

After public consultation in 2004 and numerous unpublished drafts since, the long awaited Domiciliary Care Agencies Minimum Standards have been launched and can be found on the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's website. Hard copies are also available on request from the DHSSPS at the contact given on the site. UKHCA is pleased to say that the final version has seen the removal of some poorly worded and onerous requirements in previous drafts, and despite the lengthy delays to publication, UKHCA members should be encouraged that the Standards as a whole are achievable and, in many ways, reflect the requirements already placed on the other three UK nations.

UKHCA members are welcome to download our workshop presentation on preparing for regulation which explains how the Standards and Regulations work together, along with tips on preparing for pre-registration inspection by RQIA. UKHCA is continuing to pursue some areas of the Standards which appear to be counter to principles of better regulation with officials. Our letter to Michael McGimpsey, Health Minister, on these issues features in the article entitled "UKHCA calls on Minister to make final changes to draft Standards".

UKHCA calls on Minister to make final changes to draft Standards

UKHCA has found serious concerns in the latest draft of the Domiciliary Care Agencies Standards and written urgently to Michael McGimpsey, the Minister due to imminently publish the Standards to urge him to make amendments and ensure that the Standards are cross referenced with their accompanying Regulations, as they are in England and Wales.

Homecare sector must be prioritised in view of current Access NI delays

In a letter to the Health Minister Michael McGimpsey, UKHCA has called for disclosure applications from the homecare sector to be prioritised by AccessNI following the announcement that the body has had to revise its service standard for enhanced disclosures from 4 weeks to 6-8 weeks over the summer. Given the impact this will have on recruitment to the sector, UKHCA has requested that he makes a ministerial direction to AccessNI to enable the organisation to prioritise homecare sector disclosures.

If you are looking for home care providers please see are Choosing Care section for advice and a list of members. Alternatively view our list of members.

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