In this new monthly sector roundup, I will delve into topics that have captured the attention of both myself and my colleagues at CareLineLive. You can get acquainted with the team here.
The selected topics span various regions across the UK, focusing on what I consider to be the most relevant.
These topics cover a wide array of subjects, including discussions on supply and demand in health and social care, updates from the Care Inspectorates in Wales and Scotland, and culminating in a heart warming piece of good news.
- Demand for social care
A stark lack of contingency with it being reported that social care demand is set to outstrip supply. With winter just around the corner, a Local Government Association survey raises concerns regarding the expiration of the Household Support Fund in September 2024. - Recruitment
Home Care Insights reports an 82% drop in visa applications for skilled work, health and care and study visas compared to 2023. - Care Inspectorate Wales
From April 2025 domiciliary care services will have published rating so their service. Read more here about the Inspectorate’s action plan. - Care Inspectorate Scotland
The Care Inspectorate has been actively assisting adult care service providers in enhancing their self-evaluation skills. The primary goal is to prepare them for upcoming assessments, where they will assess the accuracy of the services’ self-evaluations during inspections. To find out more about self- evaluation watch the webinar on self evaluation in adult services.
In an industry where sharing best practice is extremely valuable I would urge readers to access information from a variety providers and regulators. The Care Inspectorate webinar provides insights that can be utilised by services across the UK and beyond. It offers practical tips aimed at enhancing service quality. My advice would be to pick and choose information that would help to support learnings and improvement in your service.
Finally, it would be great if readers would like to share their good news stories and celebrate the wonderful people in our communities.
Here’s my good news story, it demonstrates the spirit of people in the North Eastern town of Middlesbrough. The response from the local community was nothing short of remarkable!
During a night of unrest, Brendan Nwabichie, a dedicated care worker and university student, completed a 12-hour shift caring for elderly people. To his dismay, he discovered his car overturned and engulfed in flames on the street. This incident was undeniably shocking and deeply distressing for Brendan.
Brendan’s employer, Clare’s Care, located in Redcar, swiftly initiated a fundraising campaign to collect £3,000 for a new vehicle. The response from the local community was nothing short of remarkable, with a staggering total of £65,000 raised thus far. To read more about the profound impact of human compassion during challenging times, see Home Care Insight’s article.
