Free Excel courses for all Healthcare, Social Care, Primary Care and Community Services staff in Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire.

This is an ideal development opportunity for all staff, for example Care Assistants, Reception Staff, Business & Administration, learning leads, trainers, assessors and many other roles in your organisation. These course are delivered via online interactive sessions with the Tutor, and there are a range of dates available to book:

There are 3 courses

1. GETTING TO GRIPS WITH EXCEL MORE EXCEL

https://forms.office.com/e/CfvDqMQ5CC

2. FORMATTING AND FUNCTIONS

https://forms.office.com/e/8MSWT3Hbtk

3. INTRODUCTION TO EXCEL DATA ANALYSIS

https://forms.office.com/e/CZrX3ud7gq

Courses will run through June and July and you can pick your date when you click on the link (as a guide there are several every week):

Mondays throughout June and July at the following times:

2.00 – 3.45

Wednesdays throughout June and July at the following times:

9.30 – 11.15

10.00 –11.45

12.15 – 2.00

2.00 - 3.35

2.15 – 4.00

Thursdays throughout June and July at the following times:

9.30 – 11.15

Please find the slides from the Workforce Roundtable held on Wednesday 22nd May 2024 using the following link.

https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/27235/widgets/78300/documents/62038

Data Enforcement Update

Providers at Risk of receiving NOIs by the NHSBSA (the DHSC delivery partners & enforcers)

• Not updated in the last 2 windows (April – May 2024) and at risk if they do not update in June 2024. The compliance window will open on Saturday 8^th June and will close on Friday 14^th June.

We kindly ask that you contact as many providers as possible.

1. If you are aware that a Provider is no longer active – please notify CQC or encourage providers to contact CQC directly to de-register à CQC National Customer Service: 03000 616161, enquiries@cqc.org.uk.

Please can you also notify us if there are any providers that appear on CT, that are no longer active (as we are collating a list).

1. If a provider has 0-1 CT registered users (shown in the User Count column below) à using the attached 'How to register for a CT account' user guide, please encourage providers to register for multiple CT users, to cover periods of absence.

1. Please share the weekly CT provider training offer (see attached docs).

0 = non-compliant in the reporting period, 1 = compliant in the reporting period

Section 277A of the Health and Care Act 2022 – enables the Secretary of State to require regulated providers of Adult Social Care to provide information relating to: • themselves • their activities in connection with provision of ASC in England • persons to whom they have provided such care. The Adult Social Care Information (Enforcement) Regulations 2022 came into force on 1st December 2022. It requires all ASC providers, regulated by the CQC, to update the mandated collection in the Capacity Tracker. The reporting windows are between the 8th & 14th day of each month - or next working day if the 14th is a weekend or public holiday. Frequently Asked Questions is accessible here. Provider training & awareness sessions are available here • These sessions are to help guide providers through the information requests, update methods and reports – they are informal events that offer providers the opportunity to raise any questions or seek clarification. Important Reminders • Multiple CT Registered Users recommended – to ensure sufficient cover during periods of absence. To register for a CT account, simply click on: https://capacitytracker.com/register • Going Abroad - users are reminded that CT is not accessible outside the UK. • Active providers with 0 service users or 0 staff – providers are required to submit a return, including a 'nil' return where services may not yet have commenced, ceased or are in the process of being updated with CQC. • Active dual-registered providers that offer both home care and residential care – submissions are required for both services, including a 'nil' return if services are not being delivered. It is essential that providers ensure their CQC registration is up to date and that CQC are informed at the earliest opportunity if services are closed. • For access and system guidance queries - please contact the Support Centre see details below. • Change of staff - It is recommended that updating Capacity Tracker is included within providers staff leaver/new starter process with user accounts closed & new user registrations in place. This will ensure that you continue to receive important communications issued via Capacity Tracker and remain up to date with the information submissions. • Any changes to provider regulated services/specialisms/bed capacity – Capacity Tracker uses CQC information. Until the CQC information is updated, it is essential the providers make CQC aware of any changes at the earliest opportunity and data submissions are maintained by completing a ‘nil return’, until the CQC information has been updated. • Providers that are closing down/no longer active/changing registration or ownership - please notify CQC directly to de-register, see contact information below. It is essential data submissions are maintained by completing a ‘nil return’, until the CQC information has been updated. • If you receive an enforcement notice from the DHSC partners, NHS BSA – it's important that providers who receive an enforcement notice to respond directly to the NHS BSA, see contact details below. We remain committed to supporting providers to be compliant with the ASC Information (Enforcement) Regulations 2022 and can ensure the appropriate support and guidance is in place. Contact Information: • For system support and guidance - please contact NECS Capacity Tracker Support Centre - 0191 691 3729 or necsu.capacitytracker@nhs.net (We are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, excluding public holidays) • Changing registration, closing, change of ownership – please contact the CQC - T: 03000 616161, E: enquiries@cqc.org.uk, CQC Provider Portal (They are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm, excluding public holidays) • If you receive an enforcement notice – please contact the NHS Business Services Authority Enforcement Team (NHSBSA) – T: 0300 330 2088, E: enforcement@nhsbsa.nhs.uk (They are open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm

Care Home Provider Training: Using Capacity Tracker

The sessions are aimed at Adult Social Care CQC regulated Care Home Providers.

• How to get set up on Capacity Tracker
• What Capacity Tracker is and its general functionality.
• Tips & tricks to make your service stand out.
• Current government policy and guidance, related to Capacity Tracker
• How Capacity Tracker is used to source vacancies
• How Capacity Tracker benefits the health & social care system

Joining Instructions

• Sessions will be hosted on Microsoft Teams.
• No prior booking is required and the number of participants per session is unlimited.
• Please join the session a few minutes beforehand to allow for a prompt start.
• Estimated Duration of each session: 1 hour.

2024 Schedule for Training

June/July 2024

To join the Care Home training session, click on the link below:

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 372 172 762 94
Passcode: fK2FKW

Download Teams | Join on the web

Homecare Provider Training: Using Capacity Tracker

The sessions are aimed at Adult Social Care CQC regulated Homecare Providers.

• How to get set up on Capacity Tracker.
• What Capacity Tracker is and its general functionality?
• Tips & tricks to make your service stand out.
• Current government policy and guidance, related to Capacity Tracker.
• How Capacity Tracker benefits the health & social care system.

Joining Instructions

• Sessions will be hosted on Microsoft Teams.
• No prior booking is required and the number of participants per session is unlimited.
• Please join the session a few minutes beforehand to allow for a prompt start.
• Estimated Duration of each session: 1 hour.

2024 Schedule for Training – Jun/July 2024

To join the Homecare training session click on the link below:

Microsoft Teams meeting

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device

Click here to join the meeting

Meeting ID: 358 742 106 527
Passcode: MjbFvJ

Download Teams | Join on the web

Calling all Registered Managers in Oxfordshire!

We are pleased to confirm the details of our next Oxfordshire RM network meeting which are listed below.

Oxfordshire Registered Managers Network (Weds 19th June 2024 10-12pm - registration and coffee from 9.30) *book here*

Oxfordshire Registered Managers Network (Weds 19^th June 2024 10-12pm - registration and coffee from 9.30)

The meeting will be held in person at:
Thame Barns Centre,
Church Road,
Thame,
Oxfordshire,
OX9 3AJ

• Please click the link to book your place. Please then hold the date and time in your diary and note the venue details. Completion of this booking form will secure your place at the meeting.
• Tea & coffee will be provided.
• Please contact rachel.reid@skillsforcare.org.uk if you have any queries or if you can no longer attend.

The agenda will cover:

• CPD group activity focusing on CQC requirements
• Map of networks and opportunities across Oxfordshire
• What are the gaps - what can the Ox RMN fill / cover
• Registered Manager challenges and successes - open forum
• Dates, arrangements and topics for meetings for 2024/25

We look forward to seeing you there!

Gareth Groves, Eddy McDowall & Rachel Reid.

For Dying Matters Awareness Week (6-12 May 2024), Hospice UK is encouraging us all to get talking about death, dying and bereavement. You can find some great resources to use in your organisation or with the people you support here: Dying Matters Resources | Hospice UK

Death affects us all, but it’s not always easy to talk about Have you thought about the kind of care you’d like if you were very ill? What kind of funeral you want? How you would like to be remembered? Those working in social care can play a major role in opening up important conversations about life and death, to help others to be prepared and access the services they might need as they approach end-of-life.

The Oxfordshire Palliative Care Network has recently run a pilot programme with a small number of providers in the county to explore creative ways of talking about dying, death, and bereavement. The pilot engaged service users and staff within 3 different community groups: residential care homes, learning disability support, and a sixth form college. One care home manager reflected, ‘we were grateful to be given the time and space to talk about death and being able to be honest about fears and plans in a safe space.’ If you would like to find out more about the project, please contact the Network Manager, David Savage, at dsavage1@helenanddouglas.org.uk.

We’d also like to hear from anyone working in any aspect of social care to find out what end-of-life support would be useful in the future. Please take a moment to answer three questions.

Questions - please put comments below

In your social care role, what issues relating to end-of-life have you had to deal with (these might include issues of life-limiting illness, palliative care, dying, death, or bereavement)?

Thinking about the end-of-life issues you have dealt with in your social care role, were there particular challenges you faced? Were there positive opportunities, approaches and experiences?

What could help you better support the people in your care to think about, talk about, and manage matters of dying, death, and bereavement?

Dear Provider,

As part of Oxfordshire County Council's Market Sustainability and Improvement Fund return for this year, DHSC require local authorities collect and report
- the number of people who joined a care provider as an employee in the period 1 April - 30 April 2024
- the number of people who left employment with a care provider in the period 1 April - 30 April 2024.

We prepared a short survey to collect this information MSIF Provider Survey May 2024 (office.com). DHSC does not require any distinction on the job role of the person and all care provider employees are in scope. Please include the number of people, regardless of hours worked, or FTE. Please do not count agency staff and staff who moved roles within the same organisation.

Please could you submit your response by 14th May 2024. If you have any questions, please email ascstrategyteam@oxfordshire.gov.uk

We really appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Thank you!

Fulya Markham

As summers have been getting hotter, Public Health have developed, with colleagues, a new campaign to raise awareness for groups vulnerable to extreme heat – Beat the Heat.

The communications pack will be shared in the coming days, but to secure a spot in your diary we’d like to invite you to sign up to a Teams webinar on Thursday May 16^th 1pm to 2pm. Please share the invite on to colleagues or partners to add to their diaries who are involved with supporting the groups listed below.

Groups we’re looking to reach include

1. Those with health conditions
2. Over 65 years
3. Pregnant people or children under 5 years.
4. Those living in top floor flats or properties likely to over heat during extremes of temperature

In the session you’ll learn why heat is a real and growing issue for some of our residents and what information and support is out there.

The DHSC have now published more information about the new Adult Social Care Training and Development Fund.

Follow this link for the most recent information about the Adult Social Care Training and Development Fund due to be launched during the 2024-25 financial year.

The fund will be available to eligible adult social care employers in England who will be able to claim reimbursement for training costs for qualifying staff.

This link to the Skills for Care web page offers additional clarification ⇨ Find out more

Procurement and supply chain bulletin: 20 April 2024

Local Government Association sent this bulletin at 19-04-2024 12:15 PM BST