Statutory guidance on data submission amended
The formal notice of a mandate for all adult social care providers, which lists the data providers have to submit on Capacity Tracker, has been revised to remove ‘full primary course of the COVID-19 vaccination’ from the collection for directly employed staff, agency or bank staff, residents and homecare setting staff; and removal of full primary course definition. There is more about required data in statutory guidance on adult social care provider information provision.
Government in court to contest FOI decision on adult social care data
HM Treasury and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) were due to oppose the Information Commissioner (ICO) and charity Access Social Care in court on 29 April 2024. The government was contesting an ICO decision that mandates the disclosure of information about how funding decisions for adult social care are made. More information.
New data on adult social care provided by councils
A new government agency, the Office for Local Government (Oflog) has published data in 27 categories about councils in England. The five main areas are waste management, corporate and finance, adult social care (ASC), planning and roads. In the ASC category, there is data about workforce turnover rates, requests resulting in a service, short term provision, the quality of life of people receiving adult social care and carers, and whether people find it easy to find information about services. The tool allows comparison with up to three local authorities. Local Authority Data Explorer.
Best practice guidelines on gender identity services
The Care Quality Commission has asked providers and professionals to follow best practice guidelines, following publication of the final report of the Cass Review on gender identity services for children and young people. This relates to quality statement “delivering evidence-based care and treatment” and Reg 12 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
Closed cultures in social care: Guidance and questions to ask
The Local Government Association has developed guidance for councils on closed cultures in social care, and questions they should ask when commissioning services. The guidance says risks of closed cultures can increase in services where people are unable to leave, live-in services such as shared lives, supported living services and any service where there is one-to-one care and no witnesses to poor practice.
Review panels to focus on move out of long-term segregation
CQC is to take a lead on ICETRs for the next two years, at DHSC’s request. Review panels will start in late May, with a focus on ensuring that people who are autistic or who have a learning disability have an independent care and treatment review to move out of long-term segregation. More from: CQC’s programme of Independent Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews.
CQC has now published Final guidance on visiting and accompanying in care homes, hospitals and hospices, following a consultation earlier this year.
NHS prescriptions increase from 1 May 2024
Prescription charges are increasing from 1 May. A prescription will cost £9.90 for each medicine or appliance dispensed, a rise of 25 pence. A 3-month PPC will cost £32.05 and a 12-month PPC will cost £114.50. More information. There is tool to check if people are entitled to free prescriptions at: Check what help you could get to pay for NHS costs - NHSBSA.
Employing disabled people
A revised version of Employing disabled people: Disability Confident and CIPD manager’s guide - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) is now available. This is a practical guide for line managers on recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition.
