Latest News
| 24/07/07 | Information sessions about registration of managers and supervisors in care home services for adults
Registration of managers of care home service for adults began in January 2006. Supervisors in care home services for adults will begin in October 2007.
The events are free but places are limited. If you would like to attend the sessions please contact Sandra Wilson on 01382 207248 or email Sandra at sandra.wilson@sssc.uk.com to book a place. For further details regarding location and parking facilities please view the website beside the venue. |
| 24/07/07 |
New Code of Practice for UK's Homecare ProvdersUnited Kingdom Homecare Association Ltd (UKHCA), the professional representative organisation for homecare providers, today publishes its new Code of Practice for the nation’s domiciliary care agencies A national Code of Practice for safe, high quality homecare was one of the fundamental reasons for UKHCA’s creation in 1989. Subsequently, the Association’s campaign to have statutory regulation of the homecare sector was realised in England and Scotland in 2003 and in Wales in 2004. Homecare in Northern Ireland is expected to be regulated during 2007-8. UKHCA’s Head of Policy, Colin Angel, was responsible for the latest revision and commented: Regulation has been a fundamental part of improving home-based care for some of the most vulnerable people in society. However, UKHCA’s Code of Practice enables our member organisations to operate above the minimum requirements enforceable by regulators. The new Code, which comes into effect on 1 st May 2007, addresses the most contemporary issues for homecare services, including, but not limited to: The need to protect children and vulnerable adults from abuse and neglect by their family, friends or the people who provide their care; The rights of people who use care services to make choices about how they lead their lives, and an assumption that they have full mental capacity to take these decisions, unless the contrary can be established; Non-discriminatory practice, both for people who use services and the staff who provide their care; The need to inform statutory bodies (generally local authorities) of situations where the care they fund fails to meet a service user’s needs. Endorsing the decision of UKHCA’s Board to approve the new Code, Mike Padgham (Chair) said: Homecare is at the very heart of social care policy in each UK administration, and this updated version of the Code enables UKHCA’s member organisations to continue to demonstrate their commitment to the highest quality care services. taken from Care and Health http://www.careandhealth.com |
| 24/07/07 |
New Ministerial Team at the Department of healthAlan Johnson is Secretary of State for Health Ben Bradshaw is Minister of State for Health Services Ann Keen is Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health Services Dawn Primarolo is Minister of State for Public Health Ivan Lewis is Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Care Services Lord Ara Darzi is a Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, and will be conducting the NHS Next Stage review. The full list of ministerial responsibilities at the Department of Health can be found on http://www.careandhealth.com/Pages/Story.aspx?EntityID=e3d0eef1-6bca-4f99-bf9f-6376560a1aea taken from Care and Health http://www.careandhealth.com |
| 24/07/07 | Alzheimer's hope as Scots researchers find way to reverse diseaseA TEAM of scientists at a Scottish university have moved a step closer to finding a cure for Alzheimer's disease, it was revealed yesterday. Biologists have developed a compound which has successfully prevented the disease killing brain cells. It was also found to reverse existing symptoms such as memory loss and reduced learning ability. The researchers at the University of St Andrews, working with scientists in the United States, have developed compounds capable of blocking a nerve cell interaction known to lead to symptoms of the disease. The Alzheimer's Research Trust, one of the UK's leading Alzheimer's charities, described the findings as "exciting". Rebecca Wood, the trust's chief executive, said last night: "A drug that can stop Alzheimer's from killing brain cells is a holy grail for researchers." The results of the study - carried out in the laboratory using a model of the disease - have prompted the trust to help fund a further three years' research. Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common forms of dementia in the UK, affecting around 450,000 people, including approximately 60,000 sufferers in Scotland. The number of sufferers is expected to double to more than a million as the population ages over the next generation. By 2031 the disease in Scotland is expected to affect more than 100,000 people, leading to calls from campaigners for action to reduce the "dementia epidemic". Alzheimer's is linked to the build-up of amyloid protein, which eventually forms "senile plaques". The amyloid protein causes damage by interacting with an enzyme called amyloid beta alcohol dehydrogenase (ABAD) and releasing toxic substances which kill brain cells. Researchers at St Andrews initially focused on developing the three-dimensional shape of ABAD and understanding how amyloid attached itself to the structure. Dr Frank Gunn-Moore, who led the research, said: "Alzheimer's sufferers produce too much amyloid and ABAD in their brains. "Based on our knowledge of ABAD, we produced an inhibitor that can prevent amyloid attaching to it in a living model." Dr Gunn-Moore, at the university's school of biology, added: "We have shown that it is possible to reverse some of the signs associated with Alzheimer's disease. The work is being continued to try to refine the inhibitor into a potential drug. "Our research holds a possible key for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, particularly in its early stages." Genetic factors are responsible for the disease in only a small number of families. There is no single gene for the disease. Researchers believe that many factors, including age, genetic background and lifestyle, can lead to its onset. Last week a study in the US discovered a substance in turmeric root could be a factor in tackling Alzheimer's disease. Scientists said the extract might boost the immune system to help combat plaques forming in the brain. Previous research has suggested a range of preventive measures including drinking one alcoholic drink a day to slow the progression of dementia, while others suggested drinking up to three glasses of fruit juice a week could be beneficial. taken from The Scotsman http://news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm |
| 04/07/07 | Additional Qualifications recognised for the purposes of registrationAdditional qualifications have been added to the qualification criteria for the registration of the following groups of workers: Phase two - supervisors in adult residential care Phase two - practitioners in adult residential care Phase two - support workers in adult residential care Phase two - supervisors in housing support services Phase two - support workers in housing support services |
| 04/07/07 | Approaches to Quality in Voluntary Sector Social Care Services: Summary of a survey of major service providersThe results of the CCPS survey on issues of organisational and service quality have now been published. The survey was conducted as part of the CCPS response to the publication of the Changing Lives report and the public service reform agenda. These initiatives provided a new impetus for improving the quality of social care services, and the CCPS Working Group on Quality felt that the time was right to determine where service providers are ‘at’ in relation to some of the developing thinking around quality. The findings demonstrate that voluntary sector service providers are engaged in a significant amount of activity relating to service quality, and have a wide range of systems in place to monitor, evaluate and improve quality. The CCPS Working Group on Quality is using the findings of the survey to develop and design a programme of work to further develop providers’ understanding of service quality and to increase levels of activity in relation to it, in particular collaborative working, learning and sharing with other providers in the voluntary sector. taken from Community Care Providers Scotland website |
| 04/07/07 |
Alzheimers Society NICE challenge submitted to high courtEvidence of serious flaws in the way the NICE have reached its controversal decision to restrict access to dementia drugs on the NHS will be submitted to the high court today by the Alzheimers Society. The dossier of evidence highlights the way National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) drastically underestimated costs of care, overlooked benefits of drugs to carers and ignored the way the decision will grossly discriminate against people of different cultural and educational backgrounds. The staggering submission is the first stage of a lengthy legal appeal that will challenge NICE in the high court for the first time. Campaigners are now awaiting a court date for arguments to be heard. Neil Hunt, chief executive of the Alzheimers Society says, The evidence we are presenting today highlights serious flaws in the process NICE have used. The decision is a blow for millions of people already devastated by Alzheimers disease. We have been left with no choice but to champion the rights of people with dementia and their carers in the high court. Background: In March 2005, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (Nice), the government body which produces guidance on which drug treatments should be funded by the NHS, ruled four drug treatments licensed for Alzheimers disease (Aricept, Exelon, Reminyl and Ebixa) should no longer be funded by the NHS. It acknowledged that three out of the four drugs were clinically effective, but stated that they were not cost effective. Further information about the campaign can be viewed at |
| 26/04/07 | Skill SetsThe SSSC has developed more skills sets in conjunction with employer representatives, the Scottish Centre for Excellence, SQA Care
Skills Sets are guidance notes to help employers, assessors and candidates identify the SVQ units and underpinning knowledge most relevant to their area of practice. They can also be used to help workers move from one service area to another. Instead of taking a full SVQ again, staff can complete units from the relevant Skills Set to equip them for their new area of work. There are other skills sets that cover:
You can request copies of the new skill sets or any of the above skill sets by contacting the SSSC on 0845 60 30 891 or at enquiries@sssc.uk.com |
| 17/04/07 | ILA Scotland income threshold raisedThe Scottish Executive has announced that the income threshold for the ILA Scotland £200 scheme will be raised from £15,000 to £18,000 from summer 2007. This is good news for learners and means that around 200,000 more people will be able to benefit from the higher level of funding and the wider range of courses provided by the ILA Scotland £200 offer. Contact: Claire Elliott,
ILA Scotland Partnership Development, Tel: 0141 285 6065, Mobile: 07919 212 183, Web: www.ilascotland.org.uk |
| 01/03/07 | EVOC Care TNA (ECTNA)If you are working on or about to start your learning and development planning EVOC may be able to assist you. They been developing a web based tool based on an existing paper and excel based tool. The Training Needs Analysis (TNA) has been designed as a first step tool to enable you to identify the qualifications and learning needed for each post holder for Registration. The analysis shows who is qualified; working towards and the qualifications required. The process is in four stages and is easy to understand. The ECTNA will be available on the EVOC web site shortly and we will be sending out more information and setting up demonstrations in February/March - Trisha Gow will be attending the next Midlothian Community Care Providers' Forum. To view the ECTNA and discuss learning and development for your organisation contact Trisha at 0131 555 9100 or email Trisha.gow@evoc.org.uk or see |
For older items see Archived News items in the Information Bank.
