| | | | Welcome to our May newsletter where you can find useful information, tips, news in the industry, training courses and details of any upcoming events and webinars that we are running. | | | | In this issue - Registered Managers Network
- Digital Updates, Information and Webinars
- Messages from NIHR
- Dorset Scabies Pathway for Care Homes and other vulnerable settings
- Free Cancer Symptom Spotting Training for Carers
- New Women's Health Website Goes Live
- West Moors Care Home Director Celebrates One Year of Ownership
- Armed Forces Day: Dementia and the Armed Forces Community
- Free Pulse Oximeters
- RCN Independent Health and Social Care (IHSC) Lead Nurse Update
- Information from Regional Research Setting Lead - Residential Care Settings
- Social Care Impact Awards
- Training Courses and Learning
| | | | | REGISTERED MANAGERS NETWORK | | The Registered Managers Network meetings provide support to managers and leaders with up-to-date information on changes within legislation, training initiatives, opportunities and funding.
We hold these once a month and they can be invaluable in sharing information and support and are a great way to keep up to date.
As many of you will be aware our network provides support to managers across Dorset and regular attendees say that it is an extremely useful way of keeping up to date and discussing key issues with others in a similar role to yourself. | | Save the date for our next meetings: - Thursday 19th June 2025 - 09:30 - 12:30 at the Function Room, The Hamworthy Club, Magna Road, Wimborne, BH21 3AL.
Our next network for New and Aspiring Managers is on: - Thursday 5th June 2025 - 09:30 - 12:00 at the Old Library, Merley House, Wimborne, BH21 3AA. To book your space please click here
| | | | | | | | DIGITAL UPDATES, INFORMATION & WEBINARS | | | | Publish your DSPT by 30th June 2025
🛡️ Ensure Your DSPT is Published by 30th June 2025 The deadline to complete and publish your Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) is fast approaching. All care providers must submit their DSPT by 30th June 2025 to remain compliant and demonstrate strong data protection practices. Whether you're: - ✅ New to the DSPT and unsure where to start, or
- 🔄 Need to review and republish your previous submission...
Partners in Care are here to help!
📅 Join a Support Session We’re running a series of free, friendly support sessions to guide you through the process. These sessions cover: - Getting started with the DSPT
- Understanding what’s required
- Step-by-step help with completing your submission
- Reviewing and republishing if you’ve submitted before
👉 Book your session now Partners in Care Events - 4 Upcoming Activities and Tickets | Eventbrite
💬 Questions?
If you have any questions or need one-to-one support, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Partners in Care team: picare@bpc.ac.uk
| | | | Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) in 2025-26
Update issued – 19 March 2025
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is pleased to confirm that the LDSS will continue in financial year 2025 to 2026. The scheme will continue to support adult social care employers to invest in learning and development for their staff, by providing a financial contribution towards the costs of training. Updated information, including guidance for employers and a list of courses and qualifications eligible for funding, has been published on the Government website. The LDSS will continue to be administrated by NHSBSA, via the online claims service. Please note the Workforce Development Fund (WDF) has now closed and will not be available in the future, however for further information on potential sources of funding please click the button below. | | | | | | Messages from NIHR
For social care nurses: Research development opportunities: The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) website for the newly developed Social Care Nurse Research Development opportunities has gone live and applications for the Social Care Nurse Research Internship and Social Care Nurse Research Champions programmes is now open. They will be holding webinars to support the launch of these initiatives and anyone interested can register for the webinars here: https://www.nihr.ac.uk/researcher-development-programme-social-care-nurses
Priority setting exercise: The University of Salford, in partnership with NIHR and NHS England, are undertaking a priority setting exercise to identify, prioritise and articulate key areas for research and innovation in adult social care nursing. They are inviting participation from front line nurses, people who use adult social care nursing services, researchers, academics, and policy makers to support these discussions. This priority-setting process will help rapidly identify key areas of interest or gaps in the current evidence base, guiding recommendations for future research.
The following is details of an event which is free to book and has an open invite: 4th August [ONLINE] Feedback and prioritisation on agreed themes identified during previous events: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/setting-the-research-agenda-for-adult-social-care-nursing-session-2-tickets-1262765097399?aff=ebdssbdestsearch&keep_tld=1
For care home staff: An opportunity to participate in a research study:
THERMOCARE is a study being conducted by researchers at the University of Southampton, investigating how indoor temperatures in care homes affect the health, comfort, and safety of residents and staff, particularly during heatwaves. The research aims to understand how care home temperatures are currently managed and to identify the challenges that staff face when keeping residents safe, as well as carrying out their usual care duties, in extreme heat. Care home staff are invited to complete a short, anonymous survey to help gather this important information (Survey Link). It should only take 10-minutes to complete and will be accessible until 1st September. This survey will help gather information that will help improve how care homes manage the health risks associated with high indoor temperatures, such as those experienced during heatwaves. There is further information about the study in the information sheet and a poster to advertise this to staff below. If you would like to find out more about the research, please contact the research team via ThermoCare@soton.ac.uk.
| | | | | | | | Dorset Scabies Pathway for Care Homes and other vulnerable settings
Please find below a link to a document detailing the Dorset Scabies pathway for care homes and other vulnerable settings.
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| Free cancer symptom spotting training for carers | | | Volunteers trained by Wessex Cancer Support, will meet carers (in person or online) and share a 20-minute presentation with them about signs and symptoms of cancer. There’ll be a Q&A, and carers will be given booklets of useful information, including community groups who can support following a cancer diagnosis. Want to find out more or book a presentation or apply to become a presenter? Email: hannah.rees@can100.org | |
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New Women's Health Website Goes Live
Women’s health is now firmly on the Dorset map thanks to the launch of a website. Produced by Dorset Women CIC in conjunction with NHS Dorset, clinicians and the public, the new site raises awareness of local community services and provides useful resources to empower people with an interest in women’s health to make informed decisions about women’s mental and physical wellbeing. Find out more.
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West Moors Care Home Director Celebrates One Year of Ownership
A care home in West Moors is making a ‘difference to people’s lives’ after celebrating its one-year anniversary under new ownership. Victoria Ricketts, 27, took over as director and manager of Five Gables Care Home with her partner, Samuel Travers, last year after the previous owners retired, having previously worked there as a manager. She said she fell in love with care work after her working in her first role 10 years ago. Now, she prides herself on the high level of care and support given to the 12 residents in her care home. She said it’s a physically and emotionally challenging job but the feedback she’s received has validated her hard work. “Recently, one of our residents passed away and I received a beautiful handwritten card from her daughter," said Victoria. “She came to us from another care home and unfortunately, she went through a period of neglect at this home, but when she passed away her daughter said we gave her mum back to her. “Those words really hit home because we make such a difference to people’s lives.” On 25 March, the care home had a one-year anniversary party with lots of singing, dancing, cake and fish and chips. Victoria said they are now looking to get a minibus so residents can get out more and connect with the local community. Five Gables Care Home is one of only four private care homes left in West Moors and Victoria says more needs to be done protect private care homes across the country. Story from Bournemouth Daily Echo.
If you have a good news story you would like to share please email us with details at picare@bpc.ac.uk
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Armed Forces Day: Dementia and the Armed Forces Community
BCP Council are hosting a new event, and they would love to see you there. Join them for Armed Forces Day: Dementia and the Armed Forces Community on 26th June 2025 at 10:00 am taking place at Bournemouth University, Talbot Campus. Learn more about: - Upskilling yourself and others in becoming an Age Friendly community, Dementia aware with a focus on the Armed Forces, following the Armed Forces Covenant to support becoming Veteran Aware
- How you can adapt your care plans
- Where you can access financial support
- Sharing of vital research being carried out by BU
- Hearing from our local Police Force on the Herbert Protocol
Book a space below, they hope you’re able to join them!
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Free Pulse Oximeters
As mentioned previously, NHS Dorset have a supply of Pulse Oximeter devices available free of charge for any settings that require them. Please complete this form here with your details if you would like some delivered to you. You do not need to complete the form again if you have already notified us you would like some.
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Information from Regional Research Setting Lead - Residential Care Settings
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) is funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). NIHR works in partnership with the NHS, universities, local government, other research funders, patients and the public. The NIHR funds, enables and delivers world-leading health and social care research that improves people's health and wellbeing and promotes economic growth. NIHR is a major funder of applied health research in low and middle-income countries. Further information on the NIHR can be found at www.nihr.ac.uk. As part of NIHR, the Research Delivery Network (RDN) supports the effective and efficient initiation and delivery of funded research across the health and care system in England for the benefit of patients, the health and care system and the economy.
The role of the Regional Research Setting Lead is primarily to support research delivery within health and care settings. To this end, I will be working with residential care settings to promote research activity to either lead on funded research studies or to engage with currently funded studies to implement within residential care settings across the South West Peninsula. I will disseminate information regarding upcoming opportunities and support interested staff in the process of applying. For already funded studies, I will contact setting that I think may be interested in getting involved. My contact details are above and I am happy to respond to queries.
Upcoming funding opportunities: Health Technology Assessment What are the social and mental wellbeing benefits of intergenerational practises in care homes and schools? | NIHR Hospital at home/virtual wards: service delivery, integration, evaluating impact on health and social care | NIHR Doctoral Award cohort 1 | NIHR Researcher Development Programme for Social Care Nurses | NIHR There are also annual internship programmes and leadership programmes.
Residential Care Settings: Professor Pat Schofield: patricia.schofield@plymouth.ac.uk
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Social Care Impact Awards
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) is proud to announce the launch of their first-ever Social Care Impact Awards. These awards will identify, recognise, and reward small organisations doing exceptional work in social care. SCIE is a not-for-profit, independent, and impartial charity driven by improving social care for adults and children. By launching their Social Care Impact Awards, they hope to support those organisations that would not ordinarily have the budget available to commission their services. The awards are free to enter and are open to organisations with annual incomes up to £100,000. The simple application process invites organisations to submit 300 words, a 2-minute video, or a 2-minute voice note explaining why they should be considered for a Social Care Impact Award. If you’re part of a small organisation trying to make a big difference, they want to hear from you. For more details on how to create and submit an entry, please visit their website. The deadline for entries is 9am on Wednesday 28 May 2025. Winning organisations will be notified by Friday 20 June 2025. Winning organisations will be announced in media and social media, as well as their e-newsletter SCIELine, with a reach of around 130,000 recipients across the sector. The winners of the 1st and 2nd prizes will also be invited to an event on 2 July 2025 in London where they will be presented with their award. Travel expenses will be covered by SCIE.
| | | | TRAINING COURSES AND LEARNING | | | | Advance Care Planning Workshop
This interactive workshop aims to provide core knowledge for Registered Nurses working within a community role or Nursing Home setting. It aims to explore the issues and challenges relating to the practical application of person-centred palliative care towards the end of life.
Contents include:
- What is meant by advance care planning (ACP)
- Aims and principles of ACP – including documentation and legal aspects
- Roles and responsibilities
Learning Outcome
By the end of the workshop you will:
- Be able to describe what is meant by advance care planning
- Be able to examine your own role and responsibilities around advance care planning
- Have increased confidence to facilitate conversations around ACP with patients and families.
Venue & Booking Information:
Only a few spaces left.
Taking place on Friday, 26 September 2025
Course hosted by Forest Holme will be held in the Coldwell Room, Forest Holme, Poole and is charged at £70 per person including refreshments.
Registration: 8.45am
To book, please complete the booking form by clicking on the blue box below and send to MMU.education@uhd.nhs.uk. | | | | | | Essential Safeguarding Adult Skills
Aim/About this course: To raise awareness of adult abuse and the responsibility of staff as detailed in local safeguarding adults’ policy and procedures. Participants will be provided with the knowledge to enable them to undertake the safeguarding role within their workplace.
Learning Objectives: · Reflect on the categories and indicators of abuse and how to identify adults at risk, as defined in the Care Act and take appropriate action · Understand dignity and respect when working with individuals and mental capacity · Recognise and consider how to apply the principles of making safeguarding personal · Understand the procedures for raising a safeguarding concern and sharing information · Demonstrate knowledge of policy, procedures and legislation which supports adult safeguarding · Understand how to apply safeguarding practice within the context of your role
Dates - 14 July 2025
- 2 October 2025
- 4 February 2026
The courses will be run virtually via Zoom. Target group for our courses All staff, in a variety of roles, who support or work with adults within Care Dorset, independent, voluntary, private and community care services, including front line staff and managers. How to book you place: Please book via our website Essential skills for safeguarding adults - Dorset Council Waiting Lists If the date / time you wish to book onto is fully booked, please make use of the waiting list as we use this to contact you if a space becomes available through cancellation and it also allows us to understand demand. Late bookings- 1 week prior to the session If you book onto a course one week prior to the date, please contact the Team at AdultsandHousingLandD@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk | | | | End of Life Medications Workshop
The Macmillan Unit, Christchurch Hospital, are pleased to announce that Forest Holme Hospice will be hosting an End of Life Medications workshop on the morning of Thursday, 26 June 2025. This will be held at Forest Holme in Poole and there are only seven spaces available at a cost of £30 each. Delegates must have previously attended the two-day Principles in End of Life Care course. If you would like to book a space on this workshop please complete and return the booking form below to MMU.education@uhd.nhs.uk below as soon as possible. | | | | | | Find out more about providing community activities (Day Opportunities)
If you provide day opportunities, community activities, or small community events or if you're interested in learning more about offering community activities for adults in Dorset, Dorset Council invite you to join one of their online events. Dorset Council want you to be part of the proposed transformation of day opportunities for Dorset residents. The aim is to expand the range and availability of activities, including options for weekends and evenings. During the session we will: · Explore how local services, groups and individuals can contribute to this initiative. · Discuss the potential benefits for both providers and adults who will receive support. · Your participation and insights would be invaluable, and we look forward to collaborating with you to create a more inclusive and supportive communities. These events will be held via Microsoft Teams and recorded for those unable to attend live. You can book onto any of the events through Eventbrite by clicking on the relevant button below. We do hope you can join us. | | | | | | | | Intelligent Pain Assessment in Long-term Care Webinar
The Global Observatory’s of Long-Term Care (GOLTC) are excited to announce the upcoming webinar:
Intelligent Pain Assessment in Long-term care The GOLTC Pain in Care homes Interest Group webinar Date: Tuesday, 10th June Time: 14:30 PM – 15:30 BST Link: Register to join on Zoom Pain is connected with emotional, cognitive, and behavioural disorders as well as functional issues. Moreover, chronic pain increases suffering, disability and social isolation which impacts negatively upon a person’s psychological, emotional and social wellbeing and consequently leads to a reduced quality of life and more years spent living with disability.
People living in long-term care facilities are often living with dementia or cognitive impairment, frailty and multiple co morbid conditions and can experience complex forms of pain. As a consequence, long-term care facility residents are likely to experience issues with mental capacity and communication which can impact on their ability to articulate their pain and how this impacts upon them this has a significant impact on all aspects of their life and well-being. A person living with dementia may exhibit distressed behaviours as a result of experiencing pain and all too often this is considered indicative of a symptom of dementia as opposed to a manifestation of unmanaged pain. Therefore, focusing on improving the identification, assessment and management of pain in residents living in long-term care is of the utmost importance.
The webinar will cover: 1. Introduction to the Global Observatory of Long-Term care and welcome (Adelina Comas-Herrera, Care Policy and Evaluation Centre, LSE, UK). 2. Introduction to the Pain in Care Homes GOLTC Interest Group (Dr. Manuela Hoedl: Medical University of Graz and Prof Sandra Zwakhalen: Maastricht University, Netherlands) 3. Presentation: “Pain Chek- an intelligent pain assessment instrument” Prof. Chief Scientific Officer PhD, MPS Jeff Hughes https://www.painchek.com/about/team/prof-jeff-hughes/ 4. Q & A: open discussion with the participants | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Our mailing address is: Partners in Care BPC - Science, Care, Health & Foundation, Room 241, North Road Poole, Dorset, BH14 0LS
Contact Number - 01202 205847 E-mail - picare@bpc.ac.uk
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