Freeways is currently looking for a new Chief Executive to help lead the organisation.

Source: http://www.freeways.org.uk/posts/chief-executive-vacancy-18.html

We are looking for an exceptional individual who is driven to succeed and shares in our organisation's values. You should have strong knowledge of the social care sector and be familiar with the key agencies, authorities and partnerships in the area (Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset).

This is an exceptional opportunity to join an established organisation with an enviable reputation as a provider of choice.

For further information, please view the attached job description and if you wish to be considered for the vacancy, please complete the attached application form and return either by post to Freeways, Leigh Court Centre, Pill Road, Abbots Leigh, Bristol, BS8 3RA or by email to recruitment@freeways. Please mark your application for the attention of Tony Rees.

www.freeways.org.uk/media/Job%20description%20%20chief%20executive.pdf

www.freeways.org.uk/media/s%20Application.doc

This summer Skills for Care will be launching a new way for users of the NMDS-SC to visualise and make use of their information.

NMDS-SC users' information will be visually presented in a new and easy to understand format with tailored interpretation, simple guidance and links to useful documents. Users will be able to explore and customise a series of dashboards showing different topics such as recruitment and retention, pay rates and worker demographics.

For further information on the project, example screenshots and the chance to have your say to help shape the dashboards please visit:
 

www.skillsforcare.org.uk/nmds-scdashboards

January 2012: Please note that the MIS are being 'refreshed' and new editions are expected to be published in March 2012, including one priced book that will replace both The New Manager's Guide and The New Manager's Manager. In the short term you may wish to continue to use the 2008 MIS to give you time to update your manager induction systems, but it is strongly recommended that longer-term MIS planning and purchasing should now await the new standards.
 

More information: http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/developing_skills/leadership_and_management/management_induction_standards.aspx

The value of workforce development in tough times

Thursday 8 March 2012, Hilton Manchester Deansgate

Conference programme announced

In tough times it is critical that the 1.56 million people who work in adult social care have the skills, knowledge and qualifications to deliver high quality social care. Continuing to invest in the development of a well trained and flexible workforce is essential for every social care provider to not only survive but thrive. The programme for this year’s conference will bring together a mix of keynote speakers and workshops to give delegates the bigger picture of what is going on in our sector and how to tackle the new ways of working that impact on the day to day job of providing adult social care.

Confirmed speakers:

Paul Burstow MP, Minister of State for Care Services

Peter Hay, Strategic Director, Adults and Communities, Birmingham City Council / President - Association Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS)

Sharon Allen, CEO, Skills for Care

Delegates have the opportunity to attend two workshops on the theme of quality v capacity. Each workshop will be delivered as an information session or interactive session. Some will incorporate examples from employers on how Skills for Care's work is being put into practice.

For more information and to book your place visit www.skillsforcare.org.uk/conference2012.

Many of you who have liaised with Care Learning over the years will be aware of the Care Ambassador Scheme, one of the many successful projects that has been running for over 6 years.

The Care Ambassador Scheme in the West of England was originally co-ordinated by Emma Torregiani who launched the scheme in June 2006. Since December 2007, I have co-ordinated the scheme alongside the Learning Exchange Network, until 2010 when this project came to an end.

Over the years the Care Ambassador numbers have soared and dipped, but we have remained fairly stable over the past few years at 35+ and have managed to cover 90 – 95% of the requests from our schools and colleges, up to 100 events each year! Through our work we were able to inspire and enthuse a new generation of social care workers whether through a college route, an apprenticeship, through to university for graduate roles or directly into the workplace.

I am proud of all that has been achieved during the time that Emma and I have worked on the scheme, but unfortunately, funding has not been forthcoming this year to support our endeavors, so it is with great sadness that the scheme will officially cease on Friday 30 March and I will be made redundant. I have had the most wonderful 4+ years working with Bernard and Phil, the Care Ambassadors and all the care providers across the West of England.

I do not want to let this occasion go past without celebrating all that the West of England Care Ambassadors have achieved and their enormous input into enriching the lives of young learners, to enable them to make the correct choices for their futures.

So, please see attached invitation below to a Celebration Event that will take place on Tuesday 20th March 2012 at BAWA, Bristol (see attachments below for map)

I realize that it is hard to get away from your workplaces, but it would be so lovely to see some of those whom I have had the great pleasure of working with over the past 4 years. Please do let me know by returning the Reply Slip (see attachments below) or email me on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 0117 973 3695.

With very best wishes

Caroline Tarbuck

Care Ambassador Co-ordinator, West of England

Attachments:

BAWA map.pdf	[Map and directions to BAWA venue]	220 Kb
Care Ambassador Celebration Event - Reply Slip.pdf	[Reply Slip]	41 Kb

This document has been updated January 2012.

This advice on meeting the workforce - specific outcomes of the Care Quality Commission regulations has been developed by Skills for Care. It is based upon consultation with the adult social care sector and its development has been guided by key sector stakeholders including the CQC.

Direct Link to PDF: Meeting the workforce regulations: Skills for Care's advice on CQC's workforce outcomes (pdf)

Source: http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/qualifications_and_training/adviceonmeetingCQCregulations/advice_on_meeting_CQC_regulations.aspx

From 1 January 2012, the Government-funded whistleblowing helpline will change to a free-phone service provided by the Royal Mencap Society. The new service is now available to staff and employers in the social care sector providing a place to raise concerns about people who use services being put at risk.

The new helpline number will be 08000 724 725 and will operate weekdays between 8am and 6pm with an out of hours answering service available weekends and public holidays. A web-based service is also being developed.

For more information visit http://www.dh.gov.uk/health/2011/12/whistleblowing-helpline/.

Issue 17 of NMDS-SC Briefings stands back to consider how much our knowledge of the adult social care workforce has improved in the last six years. It seeks to identify a ‘top ten’ of areas where prior to the NMDS-SC, little or no information existed. New knowledge areas include how NMDS-SC information has been used to estimate and project the size and structure of the workforce as well as facilitating a better understanding of pay, use of migrant workers and of individual sectors.

Direct link to briefing: https://www.nmds-sc-online.org.uk/Get.aspx?id=714604

Skills for Care has created new support products to emphasise a person-centred approach to risk. A person-centred approach seeks to focus on people's rights to have the lifestyle that they choose, including the right to make 'bad' decisions. The person-centred thinking tools help people and those who care about them to think in positive and productive ways about how to ensure that they can achieve the changes they want to see, while keeping the issue of risk in its place.

For more information and to view the resources visit: www.skillsforcare.org.uk/risk

This month’s edition of the Social Care bulletin has Director General for Social Care, David Behan talking about engagement across the social care system and the National Dementia Strategy. The bulletin is more streamlined looking at key areas including carers, personalisation, mental health, children and families, training and development and an update on the Health and Wellbeing board implementation.

PDF: https://www.wp.dh.gov.uk/socialcarebulletin/files/2011/12/Social-Care-Dec-2011_print-friendly.pdf