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.
UKHCA presses Department to publish Standards
UKHCA has written to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Michael McGimpsey MLA, to express concerns on behalf of members in Northern Ireland on the length of time it has taken to publish the Domiciliary Care Agencies Minimum Standards, and to press for the publication of the Standards by his Department as soon as possible. At the time of writing, the Department has estimated that the Standards should be published before the end of May 2008 but this remains a provisional estimate. With RQIA inspections likely to begin from August 2008 onwards it is essential that providers have as much time to prepare their businesses and it is essential that a complete and final set of Standards is made available.
Announcement posted on: 8 May 2008
UKHCA raises concerns of live-in providers with Migration Advisory Committee
The rules for entry of non EU migrants to the UK are changing in 2008, and there will be changes to the way in which younger migrants can come and take working holidays in the UK. A new “Youth Mobility Scheme” will be developed which allows younger migrants UK entry based on reciprocal arrangements in other countries and the immigration risks associated with that country. At present the Home Office proposals indicate that younger workers from southern African countries such as Zimbabwe and South Africa would no longer be able to work temporarily in the UK. For “live in” care providers this would have a detrimental impact as many young people from these countries make a huge contribution to the sector. UKHCA has written with its serious concerns to the Migration Advisory Committee, which has been set up the government to provide it with advice on where skills shortages and problems may develop under the new immigration rules.
Announcement posted on: 8 May 2008
UKHCA chairman calls on Home Office to waive ISA fees for homecare sector
The Chair of the United Kingdom Homecare Association, Mike Padgham, has called on Meg Hillier, the Home Office Minister responsible for the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) scheme, to waive the membership fee for ISA for homecare workers. A media release and the letter to the Home Office contains the details of UKHCA's call on the Home Office.
Announcement posted on: 16 April 2008
Influential committee calls for more help for the independent homecare sector
The influential Northern Ireland Assembly Public Accounts Committee have reported on their inquiry into Older People and Domiciliary Care, which hosted evidence sessions in early 2008. It took written evidence from UKHCA and oral evidence from Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Comptroller and Auditor General, who in 2007 had found that not enough was being done to help older people live independently at home. The Committee have made recommendations on what needs to be done to improve homecare for older people and has recognised that much more needs to be done by the statutory sector to help the independent sector in achieving these goals. UKHCA gave written evidence but Committee rules forbade making this publicly available until the Committee reports. The UKHCA evidence is therefore now officially published as an appendix to the report.
Read UKHCA’s media release and the Public Accounts Committee report and UKHCA evidence.
Announcement posted on: 11 April 2008
New measures to protect agency workers from 6th April 2008
From 6th April 2008, some new measures come into force to protect agency workers placed by "employment businesses" and "employment agencies" (ie. those that provide an "introduction-only" service). The new measures are unlikely to apply to "direct service providers", which are the majority of homecare providers. The measures apply in England, Scotland and Wales.
More on "New measures to protect agency workers from 6th April 2008"
Announcement posted on: 4 April 2008
Independent Safeguarding Authority scheme fees and launch date announced
The fees to join the Independent Safeguarding Authority scheme that will be obligatory for the 11 million strong workforce that works with vulnerable adults and children have been announced. Phased in over five years, the scheme opening date has been put back a year to 12 October 2009. The fees will be £64 per employee in England and Wales, and officials have now confirmed that the fee will be £58 in Northern Ireland. This fee breaks into two parts, £28 for ISA administration and the remainder for an enhanced disclosure which is tied to entry on the scheme. This is a “one off” fee to get onto the scheme. The scheme itself is still unclear in many places- we hope to have a major feature on how it will work for the front page of May Homecarer magazine to help clarify matters along with how GSCC registration links into ISA. UKHCA is also planning to meet officials to discuss the issue of the fee. UKHCA issued a media release in response to the costs of scheme.
Announcement posted on: 1 April 2008
CSCI inspections and adult protection
Forthcoming inspections of social care providers by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) will have a major focus on adult protection. Providers whose ‘key inspection’ takes place between 5th to 16th May will have additional questions about adult protection procedures and practice. A limited number of providers will receive an additional inspection, referred to a ‘thematic inspection’ between 21st April and 16th May 2008. CSCI will inform all agencies of the dates of any inspections planned. UKHCA’s Adult Protection Toolkit, produced with national charity Action on Elder Abuse, can be downloaded from this site without charge. We e-mailed UKHCA member organisations with additional information on Wednesday 26 March 2008.
Announcement posted on: 26 March 2008
NHS to tender for homecare services
The NHS Purchasing and Supplies Agency (NHS PASA) will shortly issue an invitation for homecare providers to tender for the right to supply to Primary Care Trusts and other NHS commissioning bodies.
The new contracts will replace the existing “London Agency Project (LAP3) and Multi Regional Framework Agreement” when it expires in September 2009. This is the first time that Homecare services have been included in a national contract.
Details of the process are available on PASA's website and adverts will appear in trade journals at the end of March or beginning of April. It is anticipated that providers will need to complete a Pre-Qualifying Questionnaire (PQQ or PTQ) by the end of April 2008
UKHCA understands that this tender will not directly affect services supplied to local authorities, although councils may be able to purchase homecare through PASA in the future.
Enquiries about this framework and the tendering process should be made directly to PASA (link above or e-mail nursingandcare@pasa.nhs.uk).
Announcement posted on: 18 March 2008
March edition of Homecarer now available
The March edition of Homecarer is now available for members to download. In this issue:
- We launch our free adult protection toolkit, produced with charity Action on Elder Abuse, and the Home Office describes the new Independent Safeguarding Authority scheme.
- Nick Haines of Hazlewoods LLP advises readers to prepare for tax changes from April
- Doug Mullen of Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP warns of changed rules and penalties on illegal working
- Noni Cobban, UKHCA Vice President, heralds the new grading scheme for providers in Scotland
- UKHCA Chair Mike Padgham welcomes personal budgets – with some caution
- Homecare providers in England and Wales are found to have improved by care regulators
- We report on how the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee heard our call for a fair price for care, and
- We announce our new Food Safety Train the Trainer Pack.
Link to Homecarer magazine March 2008.
Announcement posted on: 10 March 2008
National social care recruitment campaign launched 1st March
UKHCA is pleased to be supporting this year's national social care recruitment campaign in England, run by the Department of Health. The campaign will encourage people to work in the rewarding field of social care and is a significant opportunity to increase the capacity of the homecare workforce.
The campaign has its own website www.socialworkandcare.co.uk and national helpline number 0845 604 6404 for enquirers and is also signposting potential recruits to UKHCA's website so that enquirers can find local homecare providers who may be recruiting in their area.
For more information on the employer's resource pack that accompanies the campaign, see our dedicated Working in Homecare webpage.
Announcement posted on: 29 February 2008
CSCI regulatory fees to be frozen for 2008-2009
We are pleased to announce that the Department of Health has received confirmation that a freeze on CSCI regulatory fees has been agreed by Ministers. An announcement is to be posted on the Department of Health website that:
"The Department will not be increasing regulatory fees charged by CSCI for 2008-09. The fee structure is due to be revised when the new regulatory system comes into being, subject to legislation."
Given the amount of self-assessment that providers now undertake this is welcome news, and sensible given the forthcoming changes to the regulatory regime.
Announcement posted on: 28 February 2008
UKHCA Update Medication Policy Guidance
Assistance with medication is fast becoming a standard requirement placed on homecare providers. In turn, agencies must have a clear policy outlining the range of activities that careworkers can undertake to assist the service user. The policy and accompanying procedures need to give care workers clear instruction on all aspects of the medication assistance expected of them. To this end UKHCA have recently updated their popular Medication Policy Guidance document and is available as a free download to members.
Further assistance in writing a medication policy and procedures can also be gained by using UKHCA’s Medication Policy Template which can also be downloaded free of charge by members.
Announcement posted on: 25 February 2008
Northern Ireland’s homecare managers interviewed by RQIA
The first of Northern Ireland’s domiciliary care agency managers are being called to their ‘responsible person’ interviews with their new regulator, The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA). With the introduction of full regulation in Northern Ireland, we strongly recommend that managers preparing for their interviews should have read and understood the main legislative documents:
Based on the experience of managers registering in the other UK administrations, UKHCA offers the following thoughts:
- The responsible person interview is the opportunity for managers to demonstrate their ability to run a safe, discrimination-free service that responds to users’ needs;
- There shouldn’t be any ‘trick questions’ during the interview and it’s ok to ask for clarification, or for the question to be rephrased;
- Be ready to outline any changes you need to make to your policies and procedures achieve full compliance with the Minimum Standards when they become effective;
- Don’t leave your preparation until the last minute, don’t stress and sleep well the night before.
We can’t predict the questions asked during the interview, but managers should be confident about describing the following working practices:
- Pre-employment interview and screening processes;
- Adult and child protection, appropriate to the service user group (download UKHCA’s Adult Protection Toolkit);
- The safe handling and administration of medicines (UKHCA members can download our Medication Policy Guidance);
- How the service engages with service users and processes for assuring quality (UKHCA members can download our Quality Assurance Guide);
Questions may be posed on how the organisation plans to keep up-to-date with social care policy and reform, UKHCA member organisations benefit from assistance from our telephone helpline on 020 8288 5291, our weekly email alert bulletins and our bi-monthly Homecarer magazine. Non-members can join UKHCA by downloading our application form.
UKHCA wishes all homecare managers in Northern Ireland the very best of luck with their interviews.
Announcement posted on: 21 February 2008
New good practice guide helps homecare providers protect adults from harm
UKHCA is pleased to launch, in conjunction with national charity Action on Elder Abuse comprehensive information on adult protection in the homecare sector. The toolkit is primarily designed to give an understanding of the issues surrounding adult protection and signpost homecare providers across the UK to everything they need to know when writing or reviewing procedures and policies to protect vulnerable adults from abuse.
See our joint media statement or download the toolkit for free.
Announcement posted on: 18 February 2008
Important change to VAT status of homecare services in Northern Ireland
The introduction of regulation in Northern Ireland by RQIA will change the way VAT is charged by "state-registered" homecare agencies, other than those acting as 'introduction only' Employment Agencies. Once agencies are registered, homecare services become VAT exempt. Agencies expecting to become registered with RQIA, but not yet in receipt of confirmation of their registration, may apply VAT-exemption on a voluntary basis. When VAT-exemption applies, agencies will no longer be able to reclaim from HMRC, the 'input' VAT they pay on goods and services they purchase. In most cases, agencies will also cease to be subject to VAT registration. UKHCA recommends that homecare providers:
- Read the disclaimer below
- Download and read HMRC Notice 701/2 Welfare from the HMRC website or request a copy from HMRC's National Advice Service on 0845 010 9000;
- Take any necessary advice from your accountant, legal advisor or HMRC's National Advice Service on the number given above;
- Ensure that VAT rules are correctly applied to the services that they provide.
Disclaimer: This information is provided as a service to UKHCA member organisations. It does not attempt to be an exhaustive reference source or a statement of law. The United Kingdom Homecare Association Ltd accepts no liability for organisations acting or refraining from acting solely on the information provided in this message.
Announcement posted on: 21 January 2008
Local Action Pack helps make case with local authorities
Making the case for the value of your homecare service can be intimidating, especially when your biggest customer is a local council or primary care trust. Our Local Action Pack gives UKHCA members the information and techniques to raise the profile of homecare, negotiate a fair price and help you access the growing private market. The pack explains shows you how to compare your local authority’s purchasing with its neighbours and contains strategies to help target your message with maximum impact. It also includes a briefing to avoid the risk of anti-competitive trading under the Competition Act. Download UKHCA's Local Action Pack (username and password required).
Announcement posted on: 17 January 2008
UKHCA Launches Quality Assurance Guide
The increasing expectations of service users and the introduction of ‘light-touch’ regulation have increased the importance of using Quality Assurance (QA) systems that demonstrate continuing improvement in care services.
With this in mind, UKHCA has developed a Guide to Quality Assurance, which will explain the process and help you develop systems that provide evidence of your quality for service users and inspectors.
Free for members to download from the website, the document will explain why a quality assurance system is important. It will provide you with some ideas of how to develop a quality assurance system of your own, what documents to look at, how to set your own quality assurance standards and how to measure these in a non-threatening way.
Finally, the document explains how to report the results of your audits to suit your audience and what to do when results need improvement.
Download the UKHCA Guide to Quality Assurance order form.
Announcement posted on: 30 November 2007
Government announces its plans for the new health and social care regulator - "the Care Quality Commission"
The Secretary of State for Health has set out firmer details of how the new “super regulator” for health and social care, due to replace CSCI in April 2009, will operate. In summary, the new era of health and social care regulation will see the end of National Minimum Standards for each regulated service. Instead all health and social care services will be registered under one common set of registration requirements that will focus on safety and quality. These new requirements will be simpler and more outcome based, and regulation will be proportionate and based on risk. Providers will be audited under a set a “compliance criteria” to see how they are complying with registration requirements.
The new “one size fits all” system of regulating services as diverse as the NHS, GP surgeries, residential care and homecare will be subject to further consultation, legislation and regulations in the coming months and year. UKHCA issued a media release in response to the announcement, calling for a period of stability in regulation once the new regulator comes into being, and questioning the wisdom of introducing CSCI’s star ratings at a time of comprehensive change.
Announcement posted on: 25 October 2007
Homecare and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 – new guidance material from UKHCA
This document is available to members only.
The Mental Capacity Act 2005 comes into force fully on 1 October 2007 in England and Wales and introduces new rights for people who may have problems making decisions (“mental capacity”) as well as responsibilities for people who look after someone who may have mental capacity issues. This guidance, developed by UKHCA and our recommended solicitors Anthony Collins LLP, is designed to complement the government guidance and other official materials which have been issued on the Mental Capacity Act 2005, as well as providing an overview of the Act and the new systems and organisations that are being set up to support it. It makes some practical suggestions on how to adopt mental capacity assessments into homecare practice.
Download “Homecare and the Mental Capacity Act 2005”.
Announcement posted on: 26 September 2007
UKHCA calls for more work to be done on Minimum Standards in Northern Ireland
UKHCA members in Northern Ireland will be aware that the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) have been working on the Minimum Standards for domiciliary care following a consultation in 2004.
Following requests from UKHCA on an update on progress with the Standards, the DHSSPS has just released a further version of the draft Standards, dated April 2005, which we are pleased to see reflect some of the comments UKHCA made to the 2004 consultation. DHSSPS has informed UKHCA that this is a final draft, and has not yet received final Ministerial approval. We therefore caution against providers investing in major financial or organisational change, based on an interpretation of this draft and before the final version of the Standards become available.
This is the first time UKHCA has seen a further draft of the Standards, and taking them as a whole, UKHCA members should be encouraged that the Standards are achievable and, in many ways, reflect the requirements already placed on the other three UK nations. However there are a number of issues that have caused us concern. We have written to DHSSPS on behalf of UKHCA members in Northern Ireland with observations on the revised April 2005 draft of the Standards.
A copy of our letter to DHSSPS demonstrates our concerns. UKHCA members can also download the draft April 2005 Standards with username and password. Please read the disclaimer on the front page of the Standards.
Announcement posted on: 28 August 2007
Legal requirement to check careworkers comes into force 30th July in Northern Ireland
30th July 2007 sees the commencement of Article 46 of the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (NI) Order (POCVA). From this date:
- it is compulsory for care providers to carry out checks against the Disqualification from Working with Vulnerable Adults (DWVA (NI) List) when proposing to appoint someone to a care position;
- it will be an offence for an individual to knowingly offer, employ or procure work for a person, or fail to remove them from a position caring for a vulnerable adult if they are on the DWVA (NI) List; and
- it will also be an offence for an individual on the List to apply for, offer or accept to do any work in a care position. This applies to both paid and unpaid work.
Most homecare providers are already registered with the POCVA service run by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, and use the service to make checks when conditionally offering a position to a careworker. The new rules mean any provider not registered should register with the service and use the checking facility when proposing to appoint to a care position - the updated POCVA service guide contains the necessary forms (link below). The registration remains free for now until a new system "Access NI" comes into play in late 2007/early 2008. UKHCA has requested an official update and likely fees and timescales from the Northern Ireland Office and will update members when received.
The POCVA team at the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety welcome enquiries from providers. Their telephone number is 028 9052 2559 or 028 9052 2951. The comprehensive and definitive guide “Choosing to Protect” contains much more information on the new legal obligations, and is at the following link.
More Information: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/pova.pdf
Announcement posted on: 1 August 2007
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.
Home - About Us - Choosing Care - UKHCA Membership - Homecarer - Publications - Disclosure - Conferences & Workshops - Training - Assessment Centre - Projects - Media Statements - For Researchers - For Advertisers - Site Map - Links - Contact Us - Accessibility - Top of Page
Disclaimer: All efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of this site's information. Please note that advice given on these pages is intended to be general advice only, was correct at time of publication, and will be updated from time to time. No responsibility can be accepted for action taken, or refrained from, solely by reference to the contents of this web site. Users are reminded of the need to take accurate advice appropriate to their own requirements. If you have any comments on this web-site please contact the webmaster. View our Privacy Statement.
 © 2005-2008 United Kingdom Homecare Association Ltd.
Registered Office: Group House, 52 Sutton Court Road, Sutton, Surrey SM1 4SL
Tel: 020 8288 5291 Fax: 020 8288 5290 Email: enquiries@ukhca.co.uk
Registered in England No. 3083104
|
