Coventry’s safeguarding board has prioritised three areas for action in its drive to develop excellent safeguarding practices in the city.
This follows publication last December of the Care Quality Commission’s annual performance ratings in which Coventry’s adult social care services were rated as performing well for safeguarding as part of the ‘maintaining dignity and respect’ outcome.
The priorities are to:
• use personal stories to shift attitudes and drive practice change
• continue to improve multi-agency and partnership work
• continue to ensure users are at the heart of all safeguarding work undertaken.
Director of Community Services, Brian Walsh, said: “the priorities were identified at our recent Safeguarding Adults Board away day. We implemented a programme of significant change and development last year, and this resulted in a positive rating from CQC.
“We will now build on these achievements by focusing on three areas for action to ensure vulnerable people in our city are safeguarded from abuse.”
For details contact: Mark Godfrey, Assistant Director, Adults Social Care on 02476 833402
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Giving care and reassurance in Birmingham
Use of low level, stand alone telecare equipment in Birmingham is helping to keep service users safe and reassure their carers.
The city’s telecare service recently carried out a review of the impact of standalone telecare equipment during 2009/10, and have compiled the following summary of results (Client names have been changed):
Keith, 74 years, Just Checking (electronic sensor monitoring system) – Is proving very helpful to the family. User had assured his daughters he was going to bed and sleeping well, but they were worried because his bed often appeared not to be slept in. Just Checking confirmed that he rarely went upstairs, and cat-napped in his armchair, getting up frequently during the night. The family moved his bed downstairs. His sleep, and general functioning, improved.
Connie, 80 years, Pill Dispenser (automatically dispenses pills at programmed times) -Equipment a brilliant help. Daughter much less stressed when she saw her mother was taking medication regularly. Although use of the dispenser stopped when Connie moved into a nursing home, it helped maintain her independence for longer than envisaged –she was on the verge of being admitted to care when equipment was supplied.
John, 88 years, Pill Dispenser - Equipment proving a “godsend” to son and daughter who care for John. He functions better with a controlled medication regime.
Barbara, 64 years, Bed Exit Monitor - Equipment really helpful to daughter. Instead of leaving her bedroom door open and listening for her mother getting up, she could sleep much better knowing the pager would alert her should her mother get out of bed.
Helen, 88 years, Just Checking - Daughter reported: “while mom was living on her own in the flat, the system gave us all peace of mind, and although circumstances dictated that we could not be with her 24 hours a day, at least we could check that she was OK. Thank you for the excellent service."
Francise, 88 years, Just Checking - Family say it is an absolutely brilliant system. Daughter in Spain monitors the data. It gives her something to talk about when she calls her mother. Any concerns can also be discussed with other family members. The system has considerably improved the family’s quality of life and continues to help Francise be independent.
Peter, 67 years, PIR Sensor & Pager - Peter was terminally ill and confined to a medical bed. He could only be discharged home if equipment was in place to alert his wife should he try to get up. Due to the size of his bed he had to sleep downstairs and his wife slept upstairs. Peter died 5 weeks after returning home. However his wife reported it was marvellous to have use of the equipment which gave her peace of mind, and allowed Peter to pass away at home with dignity
The city’s telecare service recently carried out a review of the impact of standalone telecare equipment during 2009/10, and have compiled the following summary of results (Client names have been changed):
Keith, 74 years, Just Checking (electronic sensor monitoring system) – Is proving very helpful to the family. User had assured his daughters he was going to bed and sleeping well, but they were worried because his bed often appeared not to be slept in. Just Checking confirmed that he rarely went upstairs, and cat-napped in his armchair, getting up frequently during the night. The family moved his bed downstairs. His sleep, and general functioning, improved.
Connie, 80 years, Pill Dispenser (automatically dispenses pills at programmed times) -Equipment a brilliant help. Daughter much less stressed when she saw her mother was taking medication regularly. Although use of the dispenser stopped when Connie moved into a nursing home, it helped maintain her independence for longer than envisaged –she was on the verge of being admitted to care when equipment was supplied.
John, 88 years, Pill Dispenser - Equipment proving a “godsend” to son and daughter who care for John. He functions better with a controlled medication regime.
Barbara, 64 years, Bed Exit Monitor - Equipment really helpful to daughter. Instead of leaving her bedroom door open and listening for her mother getting up, she could sleep much better knowing the pager would alert her should her mother get out of bed.
Helen, 88 years, Just Checking - Daughter reported: “while mom was living on her own in the flat, the system gave us all peace of mind, and although circumstances dictated that we could not be with her 24 hours a day, at least we could check that she was OK. Thank you for the excellent service."
Francise, 88 years, Just Checking - Family say it is an absolutely brilliant system. Daughter in Spain monitors the data. It gives her something to talk about when she calls her mother. Any concerns can also be discussed with other family members. The system has considerably improved the family’s quality of life and continues to help Francise be independent.
Peter, 67 years, PIR Sensor & Pager - Peter was terminally ill and confined to a medical bed. He could only be discharged home if equipment was in place to alert his wife should he try to get up. Due to the size of his bed he had to sleep downstairs and his wife slept upstairs. Peter died 5 weeks after returning home. However his wife reported it was marvellous to have use of the equipment which gave her peace of mind, and allowed Peter to pass away at home with dignity
Staffordshire residents offered a 'Helping Hand'
A simple device that helps people with their daily tasks will be distributed to hundreds of older and vulnerable residents in Staffordshire.
The Helping Hand is a grabbing aid which allows users to pick up items without bending, stretching or over-exerting themselves, reducing the risk of falls.
Three hundred Helping Hands will be making their way into the county's homes during the next month thanks to a donation to Staffordshire's Joint Commissioning Unit - a partnership between Staffordshire County Council, South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust and NHS North Staffordshire.
Falls are a major cause of death and injury in people aged over 65 and roughly 800 people fall each day in the West Midlands.
Read more
The Helping Hand is a grabbing aid which allows users to pick up items without bending, stretching or over-exerting themselves, reducing the risk of falls.
Three hundred Helping Hands will be making their way into the county's homes during the next month thanks to a donation to Staffordshire's Joint Commissioning Unit - a partnership between Staffordshire County Council, South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust and NHS North Staffordshire.
Falls are a major cause of death and injury in people aged over 65 and roughly 800 people fall each day in the West Midlands.
Read more
Testing efficiency of the pill dispenser
First findings from the automatic pill dispenser pilot currently underway are expected by summer this year.
Six authorities in the region are taking part, with eight residents in Dudley being the first to test the device in their own homes.
Organised by the JIP, the pilot aims to show how safe and appropriate technology can help vulnerable people stay well and live independently at home.
The battery operated dispenser is loaded with prescribed amounts of medication and is programmed to sound an alarm when it is time for the patient to take their pills.
It can prevent individuals, who have difficulty remembering, from overdosing or not taking enough, and, as a result, being re-admitted to hospital or placed in residential care for their own safety.
Data will be collected on:
• users' compliance with taking medication
• users' and carers' satisfaction and feedback
• savings to the NHS and social services
• impact on reduction of wasted medication
The following PCTs and local authorities are taking part:
• Worcestershire County Council
• Dudley MBC
• Staffordshire County Council
• North Staffordshire PCT
• Wolverhampton City Council
• Telford & Wrekin Council
Contact project manager, Andy Jackson; mobile: 07815 073611, email: andy.jackson28@ntlworld.com
Six authorities in the region are taking part, with eight residents in Dudley being the first to test the device in their own homes.
Organised by the JIP, the pilot aims to show how safe and appropriate technology can help vulnerable people stay well and live independently at home.
The battery operated dispenser is loaded with prescribed amounts of medication and is programmed to sound an alarm when it is time for the patient to take their pills.
It can prevent individuals, who have difficulty remembering, from overdosing or not taking enough, and, as a result, being re-admitted to hospital or placed in residential care for their own safety.
Data will be collected on:
• users' compliance with taking medication
• users' and carers' satisfaction and feedback
• savings to the NHS and social services
• impact on reduction of wasted medication
The following PCTs and local authorities are taking part:
• Worcestershire County Council
• Dudley MBC
• Staffordshire County Council
• North Staffordshire PCT
• Wolverhampton City Council
• Telford & Wrekin Council
Contact project manager, Andy Jackson; mobile: 07815 073611, email: andy.jackson28@ntlworld.com
Pricing tool savings set to exceed £1 million
Councils using the Care Funding Calculator to commission care for adults have recorded cumulative efficiency gains of £947,155.
The calculator is designed to help local authorities and PCTs manage the cost of providing care for adults who need support by providing a breakdown of care costs using national data and regional variances, allowing for a more fruitful negotiation and engagement with the providers.
There are two versions - one for residential care and the other for supported living.
So far over 270 staff including care managers, social workers and team managers have been trained to use the tools.
The calculator has been successfully piloted with other user groups including those with mental health issues, physical disabilities and sensory impairment. A children's services version is being developed to ease the financial impact of transitions cases and will be available later this year.
Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands (IEWM) is currently participating in a project, led by Improvement and Efficiency South East, to put the calculator on line. It is currently available for download from the national programme website.
Contact: Mihir Trivedi, Project Manager, mobile: 07977 160 163, email: mihir@hb21.co.uk
The calculator is designed to help local authorities and PCTs manage the cost of providing care for adults who need support by providing a breakdown of care costs using national data and regional variances, allowing for a more fruitful negotiation and engagement with the providers.
There are two versions - one for residential care and the other for supported living.
So far over 270 staff including care managers, social workers and team managers have been trained to use the tools.
The calculator has been successfully piloted with other user groups including those with mental health issues, physical disabilities and sensory impairment. A children's services version is being developed to ease the financial impact of transitions cases and will be available later this year.
Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands (IEWM) is currently participating in a project, led by Improvement and Efficiency South East, to put the calculator on line. It is currently available for download from the national programme website.
Contact: Mihir Trivedi, Project Manager, mobile: 07977 160 163, email: mihir@hb21.co.uk
JIP gives hands on support
The Joint Improvement Partnership (JIP) operates as a programme board for the IEWM and oversees the adult social care brief. Included in its priorities is improving efficiency in adult social care services, specifically:
• ensuring access to national Care Services Efficiency Delivery tools (see story - Maximising benefits with CSED)
• supporting initiatives that deliver cash releasing savings and/or improved productivity
• supporting local authorities in meeting Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) targets
• roll out of the Care Funding Calculator tool used for gauging and negotiating the cost of residential and supported living placements.
Contact: Matt Bowsher, Regional Transformation Lead, telephone: 0121 245 0170, email: mbowsher@westmidlandsiep.gov.uk
Read more
• ensuring access to national Care Services Efficiency Delivery tools (see story - Maximising benefits with CSED)
• supporting initiatives that deliver cash releasing savings and/or improved productivity
• supporting local authorities in meeting Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) targets
• roll out of the Care Funding Calculator tool used for gauging and negotiating the cost of residential and supported living placements.
Contact: Matt Bowsher, Regional Transformation Lead, telephone: 0121 245 0170, email: mbowsher@westmidlandsiep.gov.uk
Read more
RIEP helps councils make savings
Councils in England are required to reduce their operating budgets by three percent per year between April 2008 and March 2011.
This equates to cashable savings of £500m in the region, 60% of which the Department for Communities and Local Government expects to be achieved through procurement.
Improvement and Efficiency West Midland’s (IEWM) is the RIEP for the West Midlands. Its purpose is to support councils and their partners to continually improve public services to meet customer needs and ensure they are more efficient.
IEWM assists local authorities in obtaining cost effective deals by sharing contracts and maximising their buying power by joint purchasing.
Since April 2008 IEWM has supported the region to deliver over £25m efficiency savings and predicts a total of £171m cashable savings from its current five year programme.
Read more
This equates to cashable savings of £500m in the region, 60% of which the Department for Communities and Local Government expects to be achieved through procurement.
Improvement and Efficiency West Midland’s (IEWM) is the RIEP for the West Midlands. Its purpose is to support councils and their partners to continually improve public services to meet customer needs and ensure they are more efficient.
IEWM assists local authorities in obtaining cost effective deals by sharing contracts and maximising their buying power by joint purchasing.
Since April 2008 IEWM has supported the region to deliver over £25m efficiency savings and predicts a total of £171m cashable savings from its current five year programme.
Read more
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