Health Management and Policy Alert

Every minute matters: the impact of delayed discharges from hospital on terminally ill people in Northern Ireland

Marie Curie - 

This report focuses on the extent – and underlying causes – of delayed discharges across local hospitals in Northern Ireland, the impact these delays are having on terminally ill people and what can be done to address the issue. 

• Report
• Press release

Quality Matters summary action plan: second edition

Department of Health and Social Care -

Quality Matters is an initiative to improve the quality of adult social care, led jointly by the Department of Health and Social Care and partners from across the adult social care sector. This action plan sets out four areas for improvement: supporting collaborative commissioning; collecting and using data; strengthening the feedback culture in the sector; and providing support for quality improvement.

• Guidance

Transforming children’s services

Public Accounts Committee -
This report looks at the current pressures on children's social care and what the Department of Education has been doing to make the quality or finances of these services sustainable. The report concludes that the Department for Education has not done enough and requires a step-change in the understanding of pressures, the reduction of unnecessary variation between areas in their social care activities and the costs of providing them, and greater pace in its work with struggling local authorities.

• Report
• Public Accounts Committee - news

A review of the fit and proper person test

Department of Health and Social Care - 

This independent review, led by Tom Kark QC, considers how effectively the fit and proper persons test prevents unsuitable staff from being redeployed or re-employed in health and social care settings. It sets out seven recommendations, including: developing competencies for directors; making a central database of directors’ qualifications, training and appraisals; and expanding the definition of serious misconduct. The current fit and proper persons test is designed to ensure that senior staff who are responsible for quality and safety of care are fit and proper to be in their roles. The test applies to directors in the NHS, the independent healthcare sector and the adult social care sector.

• Review
• More detail

Chief Social Worker for Adults' annual report: 2018 to 2019 – social work leadership in changing times

Department of Health and Social Care -
The Chief Social Worker for Adults in England, Lyn Romeo, sets out progress in improving the education, training and practice of social work with adults. The report details: how social workers are taking a practice leadership role in delivering safe and best outcomes for people with health and care needs; and priorities to further raise the quality and profile of adult social work across an integrated system. It offers examples of social workers demonstrating leadership, professional oversight and co-operation with individuals, families and the wider health and care sector.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Caring about complaints: lessons from our independent care provider investigations

Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman -
This good practice guide shares lessons from complaints to help adult social care providers improve their services. It is based on the Ombudsman’s experience of investigating complaints about independent providers and gives real-life examples of the common problems the organisation sees as well as offering some ways to avoid the pitfalls.

• Report
• Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman - news

Breaking point: the social care burden on women

Age UK -
This report sets out the challenges facing many women who are carers. The report shows how women are going above and beyond to care for loved ones because good, reliable social care support isn't available.

• Report
• Age UK - press release

Care home performance across England

Independent Age -
This briefing assesses the state of care home performance across England and looks at what is being done to tackle poor performance. The report uses publicly available inspection data from the Care Quality Commission to work out a total figure for the percentage of care homes in each local authority that are rated either “Inadequate” or “Requires Improvement”. The briefing also outlines how Independent Age want to see care home quality develop and what factors are key to ensuring that care home quality does improve.

• Report
• Independent Age - publications

Relationships and sexuality in adult social care services

Care Quality Commission - 

This guidance  sets out how care providers should consider people's relationship and sexuality needs.

• Guidance
• Press release

Care and support of people growing older with a learning disability: quality standard consultation

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence - 

This draft quality standard covers identifying, assessing and regularly reviewing the care and support needs of people with a learning disability as they grow older. It covers all settings where care and support is provided and describes high-quality care in priority areas for improvement. The closing date for responses to the consultation on this draft quality standard is 5pm, Monday 11 March 2019.

• Draft quality standard
• Consultation responses