http://www.ukhca.co.uk/ The latest news in the home care sector en United Kingdom Homecare Association Ltd. http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification policy@ukhca.co.uk (Colin Angel) webmaster@ukhca.co.uk (Alex Cluer) Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:00:00 GMT 40 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/images/ukhca.gif http://www.ukhca.co.uk/ UKHCA is offering 10% off some of our most popular training packs and a discount on the Home Care Worker's Handbook until the end of March 2010. The packs range from our popular medication train the trainer programme and include the topical traini... Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2465 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2465 With record numbers of prospective recruits using CareJobFinder.org to make contact with employers in their local area, Social Care Minister, Phil Hope MP, has said the following: 'More and more people are considering a career in social care, ... Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2452 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2452 The 2010 statistics on numbers of people receiving homecare has been published by DHSSPS. Taken in a sample week in 2009, in common with the rest of the UK the data shows that hours of care provided are rising, but numbers of people receiving care is d... Tue, 2 Mar 2010 11:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2444 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2444 The October 2009 edition of the UKHCA Medication Train the Trainer Programme has been updated to take account of any additional requirements stated in the Care Quality Commission's Guidance for Compliance Essential Standards of Quality and Safety ... Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2413 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2413 UKHCA still has places on its workshops this March - in particular on Tendering and Infection Control/Nutrition and Food Hygiene. The Tendering Workshop takes place on the 3rd March in Derby and focuses on how to win contracts and put in sustainable te... Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2414 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2414 The search has begun to find a special individual to lead the homecare industry’s premier representative body forward into the next era. United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) is looking for a new Chief Executive, following the decision by Lesley ... Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2401 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2401 The Care Quality Commission has published its first annual state of care report for parliament. Looking at key themes and quality of services in 2009 across both health and social care, the report calls for more joined up and person-centred services. I... Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2393 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2393 The Scottish Government has launched its new strategy for self directed support with a series of recommendations to expand the use of direct payments and a shift towards procuring services for individuals. Out of 21 recommendations there is likely to b... Mon, 8 Feb 2010 18:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2392 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2392 With Respect: Dignity in Homecare in Wales is a new dignity training programme that has been produced with funding from the Welsh Assembly Government, via the Dignity in Care National Co-ordinating Group. It is designed to enable managers and care st... Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2368 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2368 The Personal Care at Home Bill, proposing free personal care for those in the highest needs, reaches its House of Lords stages on 1st February 2009. UKHCA has prepared the following briefing for Peers who stand have a much greater chance to scrutinise ... Thu, 28 Jan 2010 16:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2363 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2363 Members will recall Budget 2009 announced £75 million of funding for the Care First Careers initiative, which has the ambition to help create up 50,000 job opportunities for young people in the adult social care sector. Social care employers will recie... Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2354 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2354 Skills for Care asked a range of organisations, including UKHCA and UKHCA members to help advise and author a new guide to help homecare businesses manage lone working. The guide focuses on assessing the risk to staff and putting in place a range of me... Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2353 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2353 In addition to events highlighted previously, UKHCA has been offered 2-3 free places at one more regional event on how councils are changing their commissioning and contracting for personalisation. This one is for providers in the Yorkshire and Humber ... Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2345 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2345 The Vetting and Barring Scheme will be explained in a series of roadshows this February and March. Only just announced, the roadshows are already booking up and you will need to log onto their waiting list to register to attend for almost all of the ev... Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2346 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2346 Now the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published its compliance guidance for all health and adult social care providers on meeting new essential standards, Skills for Care has been asked to develop guidelines to be used by CQC and the social care se... Wed, 13 Jan 2010 11:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2343 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2343 The Personal Care at Home Bill, which promises to provide free personal care at home for those with the highest needs in England reaches its "Committee stage" in parliament on Tuesday 12th January 2010. UKHCA has sent MPs the following briefi... Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2313 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2313 In addition to events highlighted previously, UKHCA has been offered 3-5 free places at two more regional events being held across England on how councils are changing their commissioning and contracting for personalisation. The events are aimed at sen... Mon, 11 Jan 2010 14:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2308 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2308 UKHCA chair Mike Padgham has highlighted the role of homecare staff during the current difficult weather conditions, with homecare workers battling their way through the snow to provide care for others. Whilst we all appreciate the efforts of the emerg... Fri, 8 Jan 2010 16:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2304 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2304 The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has now published the “Guidance about Compliance, Essential standards of quality and safety”. This document will replace the current National Minimum Standards in England from October 2010. CQC will use the Guidance as... Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2266 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2266 A new Code of Practice on the prevention and control of infection comes into force for social care providers from October 2010, in addition to CQC’s new “Guidance about Compliance”. CQC will take the Code into account in making judgements about whether... Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2281 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2281 The Department of Health Pandemic Influenza team is trying to gather examples of good practice amongst providers in terms of planning and delivering care services during the swine flu pandemic. They ask providers not to be reticent and are keen to hear... Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2276 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2276 UKHCA has been offered 5-10 free places at Regional events being held across England on how councils are changing their commissioning and contracting for personalisation. The events are aimed at senior council staff as well as senior staff in provider ... Tue, 15 Dec 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2269 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2269 The Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) has published its annual report, and homecare providers are singled out for the improvements they have made towards care planning, service delivery, risk assessment and medication procedures. But ... Wed, 9 Dec 2009 17:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2263 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2263 If you have internet and IT needs, a new £12m fund will be available in 2010 for providers registered with CQC to build up capacity and apply for a grant up to £20,000. The Department of Health has established a "Get Connected" fund to enable... Fri, 4 Dec 2009 16:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2240 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2240 UKHCA has described the reports into the performance and quality of the care sector by social care regulator, the Care Quality Commission, as “a missed opportunity” and “thin on useful analysis”. Despite recent Government announcements on free personal... Thu, 3 Dec 2009 16:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2237 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2237 The Minister of State for Care Services, Phil Hope, launched a new training programme as part of the Dignity in Care Campaign. The training materials, called With Respect, Dignity in Homecare, have been the product of a collaborative project involving ... Thu, 26 Nov 2009 11:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2235 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2235 Queen's Speech contained a new commitment to free personal care in the home. Once the legislation is passed, it will come into force for England only, although members across the UK will be interested in developments. However more detail on how th... Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2212 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2212 An extremely important consultation has begun on the framework and costing for the Scottish Protecting Vulnerable Groups scheme (PVG scheme) which will provide a new and updated vetting and barring system in Scotland at the end of 2010 (this is an esti... Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2210 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2210 Legislation introducing a new registration system for all regulated health and adult social care services in England has now been laid before Parliament. To help social care providers get ready for registration, CQC has published two short guides on it... Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2199 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2199 UKHCA has responded to the Government’s Green Paper on the reform of the care and support system in England: the consultation on which ended today. UKHCA does not believe that any of the three models the Government has proposed to fund the National Car... Thu, 12 Nov 2009 13:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2193 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2193 The Department of Health is funding Kings College London to undertake research on adult safeguarding schemes in England. The researchers are interested in interviewing homecare managers, HR staff, and front line staff, in confidence, to garner views on... Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2188 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2188 The November edition of Homecarer is now available for members to download from the members’ area of our website. In this issue we launch our free personalisation toolkit, Chair Mike Padgham welcomes proposals for free homecare in England, Doug Mullen ... Mon, 9 Nov 2009 12:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2181 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2181 Our new factsheet for members on smoking and homecare outlines the main smoking ban provisions across the UK, considers the issues that arise when service users smoke at home and looks at steps to achieving a smoke-free environment for employees. Our f... Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2176 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2176 The Department of Health has laid before parliament the draft registration regulations for health and social care services. The draft regulations will form the underlying legal framework for registration of health and social care services with the Care... Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2158 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2158 Members will recall concerns about GSCC's ability manage the conduct cases of social workers led to a government imposed review of this GSCC function. The review has now been published by the Council for Healthcare Regulatory Excellence (CHRE) and... Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:00:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2161 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2161 This years Annual General Meeting is to be held on Wednesday 4th November 2009 at the York Marriott Hotel, Tadcaster Rd York, YO24 1QQ at 2.30pm. Details are available for members from www.ukhca.co.uk/members/pdfs/AGM2009FormalNotice.pdf. You may like... Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:15:00 GMT http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2156 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2156 Understanding what personalisation means for the homecare sector is addressed in a new toolkit by UKHCA’s Senior Policy Officer, Francis McGlone, available only to UKHCA member organisations. The toolkit explains the risks, threats and opportunities fo... Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2134 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2134 Members may be interested in a project by the newly merged national charity Age Concern and Help the Aged. They are running, with funding from the Home Office, a project will promote crime prevention messages amongst older people directly and through i... Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2139 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2139 Budget 2009 announced £75 million of funding for the Care First initiative (now called Care First Careers) offering 50,000 job opportunities for young people in the adult social care sector and employers a £1500 subsidy for every eligible unemployed pe... Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2138 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2138 UKHCA celebrates 20 years of the Association’s work in the homecare sector with a new brochure, which includes articles by the Association’s Chair and President. A time-line of significant achievements for the sector runs from the initial meeting of a ... Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2133 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2133 The Independent Safeguarding Authority has issued its guidance for employers on how to make a referral to the barring lists and some general 25 page guidance on the new scheme (social care specific guidance is planned and UKHCA is about to meet with of... Fri, 16 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2114 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2114 Community Care magazine has reported that the plans to begin voluntary registration of the homecare workforce in 2010, before becoming mandatory, has been suspended while GSCC prioritises its work to strengthen its conduct function. In July GSCC identi... Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2109 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2109 The SocietyGuardian Older People and Ageing Britain Conference takes place in London on Wednesday 9 December. This one day event will draw on the opinions of leading experts from the sector and the findings of the green paper consultation to spark a na... Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2110 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2110 The Care Commission has announced changes to their inspection process. From 1 October 2009 until 31 March 2010, the Commission is reducing the number of Quality Themes they will be inspecting. This is so that they can spend less time with services achi... Wed, 7 Oct 2009 15:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2102 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2102 Monday 12 October 2009 is a date when new offences come into effect related to the Vetting and Barring scheme, and two new barred lists replace the existing barred lists such as POVA or DWVA List in Northern Ireland. Next year - November 2010 sees regi... Wed, 7 Oct 2009 12:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2099 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2099 Members will undoubtedly be interested to read the new section of CQC's website which sets out the timetable for its registration plans over the coming year. Key for members is that the compliance guidance that replaces the minimum standards shoul... Mon, 5 Oct 2009 15:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2092 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2092 Welsh researchers have published the most recent statistics on the numbers of people recieving homecare and residential care, and importantly, how much the independent homecare sector contributes to publicly run services which has risen in the year by ... Fri, 2 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2084 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2084 UKHCA has welcomed Gordon Brown's announcement at the Labour Party Conference that homecare would become a free service to those in greatest need in England. The announcement indicates that funding for free care will be sourced in part from the NH... Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2079 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2079 English councils will be expected to offer personal budgets to all new users and carers and those subject to care reviews by October 2010, as part of a set of personalisation milestones they may be assessed against. The standards were laid out in a let... Mon, 28 Sep 2009 13:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2073 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2073 Although members will know from previous alerts that frontline social care staff are on the government's priority list for vaccination, no further information is available yet on the logistical plans including who actually pays for the vaccine for... Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2068 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2068 1 October 2009 sees the annual uplift in National Minimum Wage rates. 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. 1 October 2009... Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2063 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2063 Members will know the Low Pay Commission's reports and recommendations on the Minimum Wage have repeatedly recognised the problems caused for the homecare sector by commissioning practice - and five months ago government accepted it needed to act.... Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2059 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=2059 The Government launched its long awaited Green Paper on the reform of social care funding in England on 14 July. Shaping the Future of Care Together sets out the Government’s broad options for radical reform. The Government wants everyone to get involv... Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=1962 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=1962 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 Car... Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:15:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=1908 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=1908 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 an... Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:10:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=1907 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=1907 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. B... Wed, 22 Apr 2009 17:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=1772 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=1772 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 ... Thu, 9 Apr 2009 22:00:00 +0100 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=1749 http://www.ukhca.co.uk/newsforrss.aspx?articleid=1749