Care Academy Blog

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Here at Care Academy we are always looking for ways to improve the range of products and services avaialable to clients and as 2008 draws to a close here is a sneak preview of some of the exciting developments in the pipeline for 2009:

• Skills for Life audit tool to assist organisations with the assessment of numeracy and literacy skills. The audit tool is being created with a specific focus on care sector questions and scenarios and will form the basis for our 'learning pathway' concept, taking learners from induction through to NVQ and beyond.
• A range of on-line and tutor led numeracy and literacy programmes to support the delivery of Skills for Life programmes.
• Integrated learning content and e-portfolio solution to streamline the delivery, tracking and attainment of NVQ qualifications. A key feature of the system will be access to on-demand reporting specifically created to meet the requirements for access to funding streams.
• Specialised courses to address key topics including:
  • Dementia
  • Risk Assessment
  • End of Life
  • Administration of Medication
  • Equality and Diversity
  • Managing Challanging Behaviour
  • Lone Working
  • Infection Prevention and Control
  • COSHH
• Housing365 - a dedicated solution created specifically to provide Health and Safety training to Housing Assocaitions.

If you would like to find out more about any of our plans for 2009 please get in touch.

Friday, November 21, 2008

The Department of Health has launched a consultation on Quality Markers for End of Life Care, as promised in the End of Life Strategy published in July.

The document, aimed at commissioners, performance managers and providers of end of life care services, is a development from the July strategy, where it was agreed that a unified national approach should be taken to develop quality standards for care provided to people at the end of life.

Ken Sutton, Director of Strategy and Policy for Marie Curie Cancer Care, said:

"It is important to keep up the momentum on end of life care improvements established in the summer with the End of Life Care Strategy and Lord Darzi’s Next Stage Review. We welcome the consultation and the commitment to introducing quality markers."

For more information click here to download the consultation document.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

A national action plan, promising an extra £3 million pounds a year has been launched to improve services for the terminally ill. This action plan follows a report in August by Audit Scotland which found inconsistencies in the way 'palliative care' is provided.

The plan, which includes 24-hour community nursing and home care services to enable dying patients to be cared for at home and a national plan focusing on education and training for health and social care staff are just part of the proposed action plan.

The Health Secretary, Nicola Sturgeon said:

"People with any advanced, progressive or incurable illness should receive the best palliative care available, regardless of their diagnosis or where they live."

"Our goal is excellent quality, integrated care - planned and delivered in ways which take full account of the needs and wishes of patients, families and carers."

Dr David Oxenham, The medical director for Marie Curie Cancer Care Hospice in Edinburgh, said:

"We particularly welcome the commitment to providing access for patients to 24-hour community nursing and home care services, which would allow them to be cared for at home if they wish."