Showing posts tagged with: Health and Social Care

App to tackle loneliness wins social care Dragons' Den contest

An app that helps families separated by geography stay in touch with loved-ones at risk of loneliness triumphed in a recent Dragons' Den-style contest to identify innovative solutions to adult social care's funding crises.

Health trusts call for urgent debat on national pay

A body representing more than 200 NHS trusts across England says new ways of negotiating pay need to be considered.

The chief executive of the Foundation Trust Network (FTN), Chris Hopson, has questioned whether national agreements can deliver the savings needed for the health service.

He said it was time to consider setting pay regionally or trust-by-trust.

Unison has warned against putting at risk current proposals, covering more than one million NHS workers.

A new national deal on pay, terms and conditions for most NHS staff in England appears tantalisingly close.

Trade unions are consulting on changes to the Agenda for Change scheme, covering more than one million workers. One of the main modifications is a clearer link between annual pay increments and performance.

Mr Hopson said NHS trusts completely supported the deal on the table.

However, he argued that when you look at the challenges trusts face over the next five years - a flat budget, rising costs, and the need to improve care at nights and weekends - it will not be enough.

Fantastic feedback from CQC's unannounced visit to Blackpool!

Routes Healthcare has received superb feedback following another successful unannounced visit from CQC - this time to our Blackpool Branch.  CQC left with no recommendations at all for the improvement in our provision of Health and Social Care.  

Bev Baxter - Blackpool Branch Manager said "I am very pleased with the recent report from CQC following our unannounced inspection on Monday 18/2/2013.

The team work very hard both in the field and in the office to ensure that we meet the company ethos of excellence in all we do. It was noted by clients that this extends to the back office services as well as the frontline staff.

Blackpool's last report was also excellent and it is could be easy to coast when no recommendations for improvement are noted; however Routes has a listening culture where we strive for continued improvement and all staff and clients regularly make suggestions on how we can improve.

Andrew Healing, Director said  “Congratulations on deserved recognition of your commitment to delivering excellence..”

Demential care 'patchy'

The standard of care provided for people with dementia is "patchy", the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has said.

Some people with the condition were not getting even basic levels of care, it added.

The warning came as NICE unveiled new standards for dementia care in England, covering issues such as housing and access to leisure services.

To read the full article click here.

Healthcare Assistants "want professional register"

Most healthcare assistants in the UK want to see tougher regulation of the profession, a survey suggests.

A British Journal of Healthcare Assistants poll of 385 staff found 93% backed compulsory registration - with many prepared to pay for it.

It would mean healthcare assistants would have to be on a formal register to work, just as nurses have to be.

To read the full article click here.