Care Matters: Wednesday 15 May 2024

Adult Social Care Peer Review Survey, Sutton Technology Enabled Care Shop Now Open, Medicine Management, Alzheimer’s Research UK – Walk for a Cure, Spring vaccination programme, LBS Green Enterprise Partnership, Community Equipment Guidance, New contact details for dementia and more. Please share.

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• Adult Social Care Peer Review Survey – Complete by 17 May
• Sutton Technology Enabled Care Shop and Hub now open
• Medicines Management Information and Support session is now available to book
• Alzheimer’s Research UK ‘Walk for a Cure’
• Spring COVID-19 vaccination programme
• Personal Protective Equipment Transition
• London Borough of Sutton Green Enterprise Partnership
• Community Equipment in Care Homes Guidance 2024
• New contact details for dementia support
• Outbreak contact
• NHS Health and Care Volunteer Responders: How to make referrals for people receiving care.
• Have your Say
• Good Infection Prevention Control

Adult Social Care Peer Review Survey – Complete by 17 May

Please can we ask that you take 2 minutes of your time to complete this Adult Social Care Peer Review Survey

The Peer Review is to support our preparation for a future CQC Local Area Inspection.  The aim of the new CQC Inspection Framework  is to evaluate all local authorities compliance with the Health and Care Act of 2022, using a new way to assess service delivery.   

Your opinion is critical in assessing whether or not you, as a Commissioned Provider, are aware of all of the available resources. In addition, the survey will help identify areas for improvement while also gathering valuable information and viewpoints.

Please complete by Friday 17th May.  Your time and feedback is very much appreciated. 

Sutton Technology Enabled Care Shop and Hub now open

The London Borough of Sutton has opened a new shop, the first of its kind in South London, aimed at providing the latest equipment and digital solutions for people to live an independent life and remain in their own home for longer.  

The shop forms part of the Council’s ambitious plans to transform care for older people and those who have health and wellbeing needs – with a focus on keeping people in the familiar surroundings of their own home whilst continuing to provide the highest standards of care. 

The approach works through the installation of non-intrusive technology (sensors) to monitor people’s well-being and identify early warning signs of decline. The information from the sensors can be shared with professionals and carers (with the individual’s consent) to ensure the right care and support is provided at exactly the point an individual needs. 
  
Working with partners Medequip Connect and The Access Group (Technology Enabled Care) – industry leaders in providing equipment and technology to support people to live independently – they will run the shop, as well as operate a 24-hour, seven day per week alarm monitoring, mobile responder and repairs and maintenance service for the Council. 

Sutton residents who are part of the Council’s independent living scheme supported by Sutton Housing Partnership will also benefit from the upgrade programme.  
 
Councillor Marian James, Lead Member for People Services at the London Borough of Sutton said: “Research shows that people live well for longer when they can maintain their sense of independence and dignity by remaining in their own home. 

“That’s why we are transforming our approach to care with the focus on using the latest digital technology to enable our residents to continue living their lives independently within the comfort of their own home but with the peace of mind that support is available when they need it. 

“The pressures facing our adult social care services show no sign of easing, so I’m proud the Council is taking this forward-thinking approach to find solutions that will reduce the pressure on the system, as well as being beneficial for our residents.   
  
“The new shop will benefit residents already in our care, as well as individuals who may not be in care but who are looking for a solution that can support them to remain in their homes. I would encourage anyone interested to come down and visit the shop.” 

Steve Tucker, Chief Executive of Sutton Housing Partnership said: “Making sure our residents can live well, feel safe and secure in their own home is a key priority for us. The upgrade of all equipment across our 22 supported living schemes, will ensure that we can confidently keep this promise to our residents and continue to provide a high-quality service.” 

Rupert Lawrence, Head of Medequip Connect said: “We’re delighted that Medequip Connect can embark on this exciting development with London Borough of Sutton and Sutton Housing Partnership as we develop and embed Proactive & Preventative TEC utilising the latest digital technologies and activities for daily living monitoring. Our innovative TEC service offer will provide the residents of Sutton with an industry leading approach for supporting health, independence, and well-being using assistive technologies. Our holistic TEC service offer, including Assessment, Installation & Maintenance, Monitoring, and Response services supports older and vulnerable people 24/7. By adopting a groundbreaking proactive and preventative approach, we hope this new contract will be used as a benchmark for other services in the UK.”

Alex Nash, Head of Strategy at Access TEC continues, “technology has a vital part to play in allowing personalised care in the home. Enabling individuals to be safe, independent and comfortable in their own environment, while knowing their care needs are being looked after, is important for the individual, their family and loved ones involved in care delivery.”  

The shop is located at Unit 1, Lower Square, Civic Offices, St Nicholas Way, SM1 1EA.

Medicines Management Information and Support session is now available to book

The primary objective of these online sessions is to provide individuals with the knowledge they require to manage medication safely and confidently.

Dates:

• Monday 10 June 2024
• Monday 8 July 2024
• Monday 16 September 2024
• Monday 4 November 2024
• Monday 13 January 2025
• Monday 24 February 2025

Book here: https://www.aimsol.co.uk/event-details/free-medicines-management-2025-02-24-10-30

Alzheimer’s Research UK ‘Walk for a Cure’

One of our wonderful colleagues here at LBS, Linda Mamedy will be taking part in ‘Walk For A Cure’

Every 3 minutes dementia steals a happily ever after. Research is our only chance of changing the ending for people affected by dementia. Alzheimer’s Research UK are the UK’s leading dementia research charity. They exist for a cure.

Linda’s mother is currently living with Dementia and is now living locally at Sutton Court.  The Alzheimers Society has personally supported Linda when making difficult decisions and has provided her with so much support over the last four years.

Linda says it is now time for her to give back and do the utmost to raise funds to help with ongoing research for a cure.  All donations are welcome, no matter how small.

https://walk.alzheimersresearchuk.org/fundraisers/lindamamedy/london

Spring COVID-19 vaccination programme 

The COVID-19 Spring 2024 is being offered to those at high risk of serious disease and who are therefore most likely to benefit from vaccination.Vaccination continues to help protect against severe illness, hospitalisations and deaths from COVID-19. The following groups will be offered a COVID-19 vaccine this spring:

• Adults aged 75 years and over.
• Residents in a care home for older adults.
• Individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed (as defined in tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the Green Book).

The National Booking System for eligible cohorts opened on 15 April 2024 with vaccinations commencing from 22 April 2024. Residents in care homes for older adults and eligible housebound individuals will start to receive their vaccinations from Monday 15 April.

Personal Protective Equipment Transition

The Department of Health and Social Care’s scheme to provide free COVID-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to health and care providers ended on 31 March 2024, meaning that NHS Supply Chain PPE orders must be made through the Catalogue from 1 April 2024 onwards. The last order date from the Foundry platform was on 31 March 2024.

PPE Portal – Community, Non-Acute, and Primary Care Healthcare Partners

The PPE Portal is an online platform that was set up originally to distribute PPE to eligible primary care, social care and public sector organisations, free of charge to meet demands that had arisen from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Paid for PPE will continue to be available via this platform until 23 May 2024 with the last delivery date occurring week commencing 27 May. Customers will be able to purchase these items using a credit or debit card. We will be accepting VISA and Mastercard cards, but American Express card will not be accepted. 

If customers have an NHS Supply Chain account (current or lapsed), and have previously ordered through the NHS Supply Chain catalogue, they will be eligible to purchase PPE through this platform via invoicing. This can be accessed here .

Following the closure of the PPE portal on 23 May, local arrangements will need to be made to purchase PPE. 

https://www.supplychain.nhs.uk/resilience/ppe-transition

London Borough of Sutton Green Enterprise Partnership 

The Go Green Scheme for the Care Sector Pilot – Removing barriers for the care home sector action on climate.

Apply for a 70% discount on your business rates bill by joining the Go Green Scheme.

Overview 

The London Borough of Sutton created the Green Enterprise Partnership (GEP) for businesses in Sutton. The GEP helps businesses to thrive while also helping them to take advantage of the benefits of the sustainability agenda, such as reduced energy bills and increased customer engagement.

You can find out more about Green Mark here.

Apply to join the Go Green Scheme by completing the form below. 

https://forms.gle/pJJtvnCC4ZBusRxs7

Read more here: https://www.sutton.gov.uk/w/gep

Community Equipment in Care Homes Guidance 2024

New contact details for dementia support

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/sutton/our-services/dementia-wellbeing-support/

From April 2024, dementia support in Sutton will be provided by Age UK Sutton. To access support, please contact 020 8078 0002 or email [email protected].

Carers of people with dementia can also contact the Sutton Carers Centre directly via [email protected] or 020 8296 5611.

Outbreak Contact

If you have a suspected or confirmed outbreak of COVID-19, please report it to the health protection team. Advice for outbreak management latest guidance can be found on the care hub.

Health Protection Team:

• HPT Email: ([email protected]) or call: (0300 303 0450)

Have your Say

We want you to have your say. This is an opportunity to ask questions that will be answered by Sutton’s Commissioners or Public Health Team. Please also use the link to the form below if you have any good news stories or activities your residents have taken part in that you would like to be shared on the Carehub.

https://forms.gle/6fY1pHirsC1gnDFAA

Infection prevention control for Adult social care sector

Good infection prevention and control (IPC) practice remains important throughout the year.

Good infection control practices can help reduce the risk of outbreaks occurring. It is important that adult social care providers refer to the guidance on infection prevention and control:

• Infection prevention and control: resource for adult social care
• Infection prevention and control in adult social care: COVID-19 supplement
• Winter-readiness (infection prevention) information for care homes winter pack 2022/23

If you require any infection control support or advise please contact the London borough Sutton public health team: [email protected]

Guidance changes? Help from London Borough of Sutton Public Health team

If you need any help or advice on the changes please contact the London Borough of Sutton Public health team. Send them an email [email protected] 

Webinars and training

IPC training can be found on Eventbrite

Skills for care – Care Certificate
Care Courses Online – Infection Prevention and Control in Healthcare
Social care institute for excellence – Infection control e-learning course

Care home information sharing webinar

Fortnightly on a Tuesday 1:30 – 3pm

The webinar link;
Microsoft Teams meeting
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Click here to join the meeting
Meeting ID: 357 180 495 149
Passcode: uHrJiP
Download Teams | Join on the web
Learn More | Meeting options

Sutton Care Hub Job Portal

To support Sutton’s care providers to recruit the best staff for all positions from management, to clinical staff, carers and administrative support, we have created the Sutton Care Hub Job Portal.