Adult Social Care Update Earlier this week, International Women’s Day reminded us all of the amazing contribution women around the globe make to society.
It did this, whilst also acknowledging the many barriers still remaining before our equality, value and potential to make a difference is truly recognised. This year’s theme of ‘break the bias’, which encourages everyone to celebrate women’s individuality regardless of gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation, feels horribly relevant as the unprovoked assault on Ukraine continues and women of all ages find themselves disproportionately drawn into a conflict they never asked for.
In direct contradiction of the day’s aims, it is the distorted values of bias, division and deception which are driving the Kremlin’s agenda. As more men and boys leave their homes to take up the fight against their oppressors, it is the equally brave and compassionate women in their lives now digging deep to find the strength to protect families, friends and loved ones. There is no greater test of resolve and I am in awe of their sacrifices and the many more that will sadly come.
For our Ukrainian care colleagues, who have already had their mettle tested during the height of the pandemic, this latest crisis unfolding in their homeland must be exacting a huge emotional toll. As I hope they and their colleagues know, the British Government has already eased visa regulations to allow Ukrainian nationals to live and work here for longer in the UK if they need to.
Meanwhile, the wellbeing resources introduced when coronavirus was a clear and present danger remain available for any frontline care staff who are finding the weight of events at home and abroad simply too much to bear. These services are available seven days a week and are only a text, phone call or click of a mouse away. Please don’t wait to ask for help. It’s free and freely given, without judgement, bias or motive.
Women still make up the vast majority of the care workforce in this country (around 80 percent). It’s an obviously unequal gender split, which in turn means women bear the brunt of the emotional, psychological and physical burden of caring when system pressures mount.
International Women’s Day shone a light once more on the strength we have to show day in day out when faced with prejudice, ignorance and misunderstanding. Right now, an entire nation is fighting against these dark impulses of the human condition.
I believe freedom and democracy will ultimately prevail, but we must be united in celebrating our differences and defiant in the face of those who would deny the truth of who we are. We stand with all women. We stand with Ukraine.
Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care meets inspirational women... [Deborah Sturdy, third from right] Earlier this week, Deborah Sturdy, the Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, joined Care Talk magazine to meet inspiring women leaders in social care. Together, they talked about ways to encourage and nurture the next generation of care sector leaders.
Deborah also attended the Nepalese Nursing Association's annual conference this week and expressed her thanks for "the amazing support Nepalese social care colleagues provide in our nursing homes." She also shared the career challenges she has faced as a woman working in the care sector.
...and pays tribute to care and health staff we lost in the pandemic On the second anniversary of the World Health Organisation declaring Covid-19 a global pandemic, NHS Charities Together held a remembrance service to reflect on the sacrifices of health and social care staff during this time.
The event was also an opportunity to reflect on the impact of the pandemic for everyone. Joined by health and social care staff from across the nations, including Deborah Sturdy, the service was streamed live from the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire and included a minute's silence at 11am.
Implementing the cap on care costs: consultation underway [Image created by freepik.com] On 7 September 2021, the Prime Minister announced that, from October 2023, the government will introduce a new £86,000 cap on the amount anyone in England will need to spend on their personal care over their lifetime.
The main purpose of this consultation is to seek views on the statutory guidance which sets out how a cap on care costs would operate in practice, as well as to inform how government can support local authorities in their preparations for its implementation.
Social care reform: care colleague views and new charging reform resources In December 2021, we announced plans to develop and support the social care workforce over the next three years, as part of our long-term vision for reform.
To find out what difference these reforms will make to care workers across the sector, we spoke to Gez, (pictured above) who manages Wentworth Court Nursing home in Cheltenham. He talked about the importance of good quality training, wellbeing support for colleagues and what these reforms could mean for the future of social care.
Download our free information and resources about how we’re transforming social care and what the changes will mean for individuals and their families.
Vaccination as a condition of deployment ends 15 March A reminder to all care colleagues that vaccination as a condition of deployment (VCOD) will end on 15 March 2022. This follows the outcome of an open consultation on its revocation earlier this year.
With or without this mandate, vaccination remains the best defence against COVID-19. Download winter vaccine campaign materials from our toolkit and make use of our boosters narrative for adult social care to help you and your colleagues make informed choices.
Blogwatch: International Women's Day and the Ukrainian conflict [Image created by freepik.com] Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker for Adults and Deborah Sturdy, Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, lent their voices of support to International Women's Day this week. They did so in the context of the Ukrainian conflict, the indomitable strength of women in a crisis, and the role social workers and care colleagues across the sector can play in supporting each other in these dark times.
Chief Social Worker for Adults update: rural safeguarding and supporting the homeless [Image created by freepik.com] This week, Lyn Romeo, Chief Social Worker for Adults, attended a Suffolk County wide rural safeguarding conference: Hidden in Plain Sight. The aim was to inform and support health and social care workers, community members, emergency services and others to respond to safeguarding concerns in a timely and effective way. The event stressed the importance of a collaborative approach to supporting people to feel safe and protected from abuse or neglect.
Lyn also co-chaired an LGA round table with Melanie Brooks, Director of Adult Social Services in Nottinghamshire, looking at best practice approaches to delivering better support to homeless people to help them achieve safer, happier, healthier lives.
Guidance updates: care homes and supported living settings [Image created by freepik.com] Guidance on how to protect care home residents and staff during the coronavirus outbreak and for providers of services in supported living settings has been updated.
In keeping with all related guidance, safe ways of working, including social distancing, respiratory and hand hygiene, and enhanced cleaning are clearly set out to help colleagues and residents stay safe and well.
Contact Us
Complete our web form or write to us at: Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries Department of Health and Social Care 39 Victoria Street London SW1H 0EU Don’t want to receive any future updates from us? |