Oxfordshire County Council : Social Care Provider Engagement

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Introduction

This toolkit supports UKHSA’s Adverse Weather and Health Plan (AWHP) and the updated Cold-Health Alerting (CHA) service. This is the second toolkit for stakeholders for communicating in periods of adverse weather, with the last one being from June for hot weather.

The communication material in this toolkit relates specifically to cold weather and is intended to provide basic health information that can be communicated during cold spells so that the right messages reach the right people at the right time.

The content included in this toolkit can be used to target both public and professional audiences. It contains background information, key messages, suggested social media copy, social media assets and links to useful information. For further information about our national campaign and communications please contact: externalaffairs@ukhsa.gov.uk Sign up to their Stakeholder Cascade to receive a weekly newsletter with the latest news, updates and guidance from UKHSA Follow UKHSA on X (Twitter): @UKHSA

About the Adverse Weather and Health Plan

The Adverse Weather and Health Plan (AWHP) published in April 2023 delivers UKHSA’s commitment under the National Adaptation Programme to develop a single plan, bringing together and improving current guidance on weather and health.

It builds on existing measures taken by government, its agencies, NHS England and local authorities, to protect individuals and communities from the health effects of adverse weather and to build community resilience.

The Plan outlines the important areas where the public sector, independent sector, voluntary sector, health and social care organisations and local communities can work together to maintain and improve integrated arrangements for planning and response to deliver the best outcomes possible during adverse weather.

The Plan is underpinned by:

• an evidence collection, published in parallel, that underlines the activities and scientific evidence that support the Plan
• guidance and support materials
• the Weather-Health alerts (heat and cold), developed in collaboration with the Met Office

Key messages for adult social care managers

Guidance for adult social care managers provides advice to managers working in the social care sector on how to reduce the risks of cold weather to the health and wellbeing of those who receive care. Main messages are:

In all settings, you should reduce the risks associated with exposure to cold weather by:

• developing, and where necessary implementing, business continuity plans (BCP) for cold weather, and ensuring all staff know how to take action accordingly
• protecting clients and staff by promoting COVID-19 and flu vaccination for them
• taking simple measures to protect clients and staff from cold, snow and/or ice

If you work in a setting that provides care in clients’ own homes, you should also:

• identify who is at higher risk of cold-related illnesses and how to reduce that risk
• have a plan in place for individuals you are responsible for to keep them warm during the winter and ensure staff know how to raise concerns regarding clients they are working with if necessary
• ensure staff are aware of main sources of support for housing, energy bills and other needs to signpost clients to, including support for those on low incomes.

Dear Care Provider,

Hopefully you will already be aware that the regulations relating to the procurement of public services and goods are set to change from 24^th February 2025. This is a part of reset of how the UK does business for public contracts following Brexit and taking onto account the new Government’s National Procurement Strategy.

The Procurement Act will introduce NEW PROCEDURES for contracting for goods and services, increase transparency of opportunity and contract performance of providers, introduce a Central Digital Platform for notices and information including a central repository for each supplier’s information.

To support suppliers in preparation for the Procurement Act, the Cabinet Office has published a suite of guidance documents that address all aspects of the new regime, provide technical guidance, and help with interpretation and understanding. Links to these supporting materials can be found on the Council’s website at the following link : Doing business with the council - supplying goods and services | Oxfordshire County Council and these include the following:

• The Procurement Act 2023 A short guide for suppliers
• Central digital platform factsheet
• TPP suppliers guide and knowledge drops LinkedIn
• Recent comms and marketing resources (1)

Suppliers can register to receive updated information which is expected to be issued in the New Year.

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My name is Marcia Bowden (Adult Social Care Service Improvement Officer). I am getting in touch with you today to inform you that Oxfordshire’s Adult Social Care (ASC) Teams are due to go live with a new Planned Temporary Variation Form on the 21^st October 2024.

What is a planned temporary variation?

Providers are only able to request planned temporary increases/decreases to care packages. A planned variation to care is when the provider knows, ahead of time, that the person will need some additional / less support. For instance, the informal carer is going into hospital for one night on X date and therefore additional support is required for that person to cover that night.

Providers can request a temporary variation to a persons care ranging from one visit up to a maximum of two weeks at a time. If it is an exceptional circumstance/situation and the variation to care needs to be for longer than two weeks, you must discuss this with the ASC worker at the time of your call, making it clear why longer than two weeks is required.

What does this new form mean for you as a provider?

This new form doesn’t change what you need to do as a provider with regards to planned temporary variations. If you identify a situation where a person requires more or less care, you must get in touch with Adult Social Care as soon as possible to make them aware of the planned change, we can’t accept changes to home care provisions retrospectively.

Once you have made the call to the relevant ASC Team to discuss the change required, the ASC worker will complete the new Planned Temporary Variation form on our recording system and send it for approval by the relevant ASC Manager (if appliable). Once approved, the ASC worker will send a PDF copy of the form to you for your records. Our Payments and Systems Data Team will send you the necessary contractual paperwork once the additional provision has been added to our recording system.

What do we need from you?

As mentioned above, temporary variations are planned a head of time, so please contact us as soon as possible to discuss any changes required to the person’s care package, whether that’s for an increase or a decrease.

Please also don’t forget to inform us as soon as possible if the person has gone into hospital as well, as we can ensure that our records and information are kept up to date.

Should you have any questions regarding this new form or process, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Kind regards

Marcia Bowden

Service Improvement Officer

Adult Social Care Service Improvement Team

Mobile: 07785762259

Email: marcia.bowden@oxfordshire.gov.uk

8 Oxfordshire’s Adult Social Care Information and Advice Hub (Public Portal) Portal Home (oxfordshire.gov.uk)

Dear care provider,

Please save the date for the next Workforce Roundtable.

Tuesday 5th November 2024

09.30am-15.00pm

Abingdon and Witney College, Abingdon Campus, Wootton Road, Abingdon, OX14 1GG

A finalised agenda will be shared shortly but topics will include:

OCC - A year in review

Training opportunities with Abingdon and Witney College

Skills for Care Strategy Development and Career Pathway update

An update on Care Friends and the new rewards available

International Recruitment Fund

To register your attendance please complete the Microsoft Form via the link below. You will then be sent the calendar invite with a more detailed agenda to follow.

Register Here

Best Wishes,

Evie Bennett

Apprenticeship and Engagement Lead

Oxfordshire County Council

This November the Oxfordshire Men’s Health Partnership will be running their hashtag#30Chatsin30Days campaign, a campaign encouraging everyone to engage in 30 meaningful conversations with 30 people (ideally men) across the 30 days of November.

The partnership is also taking part in a series of events throughout November, including these Men’s Mental Health Talks in partnership with Oxfordshire Libraries.

These are free events and are open to all. Find out more here

Achieving period equality for all

Free period products are now available across the county for residents and staff in 18 libraries, eight children and family centres and 11 council offices, in a trial to help achieve period equality for all.

Get Online Week starts today. This annual digital inclusion campaign is run by Good Things Foundation.

The aim of the campaign is to help tens of thousands of people get online in just one week. Whether people want to start managing their money online, learn about online safety or gain basic digital skills for employment, free community events are held across the UK for people to get connected.

Digital inclusion is important because it:

• Ensures that all members of communities, including those at a disadvantage, can access key learning experiences.
• Helps everyone, especially historically excluded groups, to fully participate in the digital world.
• Bridges the gap between those who can easily navigate the online landscape and those who are left behind.
• Aims to dismantle existing social inequalities and enhance well-being for all.
• Provides opportunities, safety, and addresses issues like gender inequality and accessibility.

Last year during Get Online Week over 865 events were held, supporting over 16,000 people to cross the digital divide in seven days.

Many of our libraries are putting on events and sessions during the week, including support to help people use the library app and online book, audio, magazine and newspaper services. Age UK is also running sessions about scam awareness and there's even a digital story time.

You can find a full list of events online.