Care Academy Blog

Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care Qualification

Following the news that we are to launch our first Skillsfirst accredited qualification 'Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care', we have been inundated with questions about how best to integrate this into current induction training plans. Common questions include;

1. How does this fit with Common Induction Standards training?
2. What funding is available and how do we access it?
3. Does the qualification build credits towards Health and Social Diploma?

So in order to provide a little more clarity, we have provided the following flowchart along with some additional information to help contextualise why this qualification is so important.

Example Learner Pathway

Step 1

Learner completes Common Induction Standards (12 weeks).

Step 2*

On completion of Care Academy CIS, Learner is registered onto Level 2 Certificate 'Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care' qualification.

Step 3

Learner completes 9 unit assessments and has access to e-learning support modules as required.

Step 4

Completed assessments are automatically marked and feedback provided immediately. Assessor support is provided within system where appropriate.

Step 5

Upon successful completion of the qualification, learner achieves accredited qualification and employer can then claim up to £300 per qualification via Skills for Care WDF fund.

Step 6

Learner automatically achieves 20 credits towards a full Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care.

* Learners who have completed CIS outside of Care Academy can jump straight to step 2. Alternatively, learners who are not required to undertake CIS (i.e. Apprenticeships) can also register directly onto qualification.

Additional Notes

Skills for Care

SfC state: ‘The new standards (CIS) mirror exactly the new mandatory and core units for Health and Social Care diplomas, so that if the CIS are done well, any evidence of the knowledge gained will be direct evidence that can be used towards the diploma. So there is an incentive for learners and employers to ensure that the CIS are delivered effectively as this will save time when moving on to the diploma. To find out more visit www.skillsforcare.org.uk

Care Academy

The CIS programme available within Care Academy has been reviewed by national awarding organisation Skillsfirst and learners undertaking our programme will be equipped to undertake the assessments required to achieve  Level 2 certificate ‘Preparing to work in Adult Social Care’.

Care Quality Commission

CQC expects service providers to demonstrate good practice in meeting the essential standards of quality and safety and in delivering positive outcomes for people who use services. With specific reference to workforce training and development CQC state that “Care providers must show that they are complying with the relevant regulations covering staff competence and training. The ‘relevant regulations’ in this context mean the Common Induction Standards. Furthermore, on completion of CIS all care practitioners should be offered the opportunity to achieve a recognised vocational qualification, with the current recommended qualification being the Level 2 Diploma in Health and Social Care. To find out more visit www.cqc.org.uk

Workforce Development Fund

The Workforce Development Fund (WDF) is a funding stream from the Department of Health disseminated by Skills for Care via a network of organisations and employer led partnerships. WDF supports the achievement of qualification units and continuing professional development across the adult social care sector in England. Funding is available at a rate of £15.00 per credit for qualifications on the Qualification and Credits Framework (QCF). To find out more visit www.skillsforcare.org.uk

Additional workforce development funding for dementia qualifications available

Skills for Care has released details of £2.4 million of enhanced funding for the completion of accredited dementia qualifications.

The Workforce Development Dementia Fund is designed to support the delivery of a national learning and development programme for the adult social care workforce supporting people with dementia.

Under current Workforce Development Funding, Skills for Care pay £15.00 per credit for completed units and will now also pay an additional £200.00 per QCF Award and £300.00 per QCF certificate (source www.skillsforcare.org.uk July 26 2012).

The list of eligable units and qualifications are listed below along with links to those currently available within Care Academy.

Workforce Development Dementia Fund 2012-13 acceptable units that are eligible

Unit number	Unit	Level	Credit
ACT 201	Understand activity provision within social care	2	2
ACT 202	Understand the benefits of engaging in activities in social care	2	2
ACT 204	Understand the delivery of activities in social care	2	2
ACT 206	Therapeutic approaches for activity provision in social care	2	2
ACT 207	Community involvement in activity provision	3	3
ACT 208	Understanding the benefits of reminiscence as an activity	2	2
ACT 301	Coordination of activity provision in social care	3	5
ACT 304	Understand the effects of ageing in activity provision	3	2
ACT 305	Activity provision in dementia care	3	3
ACT 306	Specialist activity provision in social care	3	2
ACT 307	Equality and diversity in activity provision	3	3
ADVO 301	Purpose and principles of independent advocacy	3	4
ADVO 305	Providing Independent Mental Capacity advocacy	4	12
CMH 301	Understand mental well being and mental health promotion	3	3
CMH 302	Understand mental health problems	3	3
DEM 201	Dementia awareness	2	2
DEM 202	The person centred approach to the care and support of individuals with dementia	2	2
DEM 204	Understand and implement a person centred approach to the care and support of individuals with dementia	2	3
DEM 205	Understand the factors that can influence communication and interaction with individuals who have dementia	2	2
DEM 207	Understand equality, diversity and inclusion in dementia care	2	2
DEM 209	Equality, diversity and inclusion in dementia care practice	2	3
DEM 210	Understand and enable interaction and communication with individuals with dementia	2	3
DEM 211	Approaches to enable rights and choices for individuals with dementia whilst minimising risks	2	3
DEM 301	Understand the process and experience of dementia	3	3
DEM 302	Understand and meet the nutritional requirements of individuals with dementia	3	3
DEM 304	Enable rights and choices of individuals whilst minimising risk	3	4
DEM 305	Understand the administration of medication to individuals with dementia using a person centred approach	3	2
DEM 308	Understand the role of communication and interactions with individuals who have dementia	3	3
DEM 310	Understand the diversity of individuals with dementia and the importance of inclusion	3	3
DEM 312	Understand and enable interaction and communication with individuals who have dementia	3	4
DEM 313	Equality, diversity and inclusion in dementia care practice	3	4
	Lead and manage dementia care (available from Sept 2012)	5	6
EOL 201	Awareness of working in end of life care	2	3
EOL 301	Understanding how to support individuals at end of life	3	3
EOL 302	Managing symptoms in end of life care	3	3
EOL 303	Understand advance care planning	3	3
EOL 304	Support the spiritual well being of individuals	3	3
EOL 305	Support individuals with loss and grief before death	3	2
EOL 306	Support individuals during the last days of life	3	5
EOL 307	Understand how to support individuals during the last days of end of life	3	3
EOL 308	End of life and dementia care	3	2
EOL 501	Lead and manage end of life care services 5 7
EOL 502	Lead a service that supports individuals through significant life events	5	4
HSC 2001	Provide support for therapy sessions	2	2
HSC 2003	Provide support to manage pain and discomfort	2	2
HSC 2012	Support individuals who are distressed	2	3
HSC 2022	Contribute to the care of a deceased person	2	3
HSC 2023	Contribute to supporting group care activities	2	3
HSC 2025	Support individuals undergoing healthcare activities	2	3
HSC 2031	Contribute to support of positive risk taking for individuals	2	3
HSC 3002	Provide support to continue recommended therapies	3	3
HSC 3008	Implement therapeutic group activities	3	4
HSC 3020	Facilitate person centred assessment, planning, implementation and review	3	6
HSC 3029	Support individuals with specific communication needs	3	5
HSC 3033	Support individuals during a period of change	3	4
HSC 3035	Support individuals who are bereaved	3	4
HSC 3047	Support use of medication in social care settings	3	5
HSC 3048	Support individuals at the end of life	3	7
HSC 3057	Work with families, carers and individuals during times of crisis	4	5
HSC 3062	Interact with and support individuals using telecommunications	3	5
HSC 3066	Support positive risk taking for individuals	3	4
LD 201	Understand the context of supporting individuals with learning disabilities	2	4
LD 202	Support person centred thinking and planning	2	5
LD 302	Support person centred thinking and planning	3	5
LD 305	Understand positive risk taking for individuals with disabilities	3	3
MH 201	Understanding assisting and moving individuals	2	2
PD OP 2.1	Understand physical disability	2	2
PD OP 3.1	Understand physical disability	3	3
SS MU 2.1	Introductory awareness of sensory loss	2	2
SS MU 3.1	Understand sensory loss	3	3
SS OP 2.1	Introductory awareness of models of disability	2	2
SS OP 2.4	Contribute to supporting individuals in the use of assistive technology	2	3
SS OP 3.1	Understand models of disability	3	3
SS OP 3.4	Support individuals in the use of assistive technology	4	4

Qualifications funded with enhanced payments

Activity provision qualifications

Level	Qualification title	Minimum credits	Unit funding*	Enhanced payment	Total funding
Level 2	Award Supporting activity provision in social care	8	£120	£200	£320
Level 3	Certificate Activity provision in social care	18	£270	£300	£570

Dementia qualifications

Level and type	Qualification title	Minimum credits	Unit funding*	Enhanced payment	Total funding
Level 2	Award Awareness of dementia	8	£120	£200	£320
Level 2	Certificate Dementia care	18	£270	£300	£570
Level 3	Award Awareness of dementia	11	£165	£200	£365
Level 3	Certificate Dementia care	21	£315	£300	£615
Level 2	Diploma Health and social care (adults) England - dementia pathway only	46	£690	£200	£890
Level 3	Diploma Health and social care (adults) England - dementia pathway only	58	£870	£200	£1070
Level 5 unit	Lead and manage dementia care (optional unit of Level 5 diploma, available from September 2012)	6	£90	£30	£120

End of life qualifications

Level	Qualification title	Minimum credits	Unit funding*	Enhanced payment	Total funding
Level 2	Award Awareness of end of life care	3	£45	£200	£245
Level 3	Award Awareness of end of life care	10	£150	£200	£350
Level 3	Certificate Working in end of life care	26	£390	£300	£690
Level 5	Certificate Leading and managing services to support end of life and significant life events	17	£255	£300	£555

*Unit funding is calculated by multiplying the minimum number of credits for each qualification by £15. The amount of unit funding is variable depending on the units selected for each qualification.

QCF Qualifications via Care Academy

Not surprisingly, since we first announced that we were developing our technology to enable us to deliver on-line QCF Qualifications earlier this year, we have had a steady stream of enquiries from customers wanting updates on when it will be available.

Well, as the images below will demonstrate, we have been busy scoping and developing a product which we feel will deliver a solution that will far exceed even our initial expectations.

From the outset, we were keen to develop a solution that would ultimately help deliver a wide range of QCF qualifications, combining the very best e-learning, e-assessment and e-support and administration. Whilst we planned to initially concentrate on developing a system that was capable of delivering knowledge only qualifications, the bigger challenge was how we build a platform which would allow us to extend this to include alternative forms of assessment such as observations and witness statements. The inclusion of multiple assessment methods will enable us to ensure the system supports a wider range of online QCF qualifications. Working closely with our partner Skillsfirst, we intend to address this issue over the coming weeks and months to ensure we deliver an exceptional product.

In the short term (as the images below will demonstrate), we are getting very close to launching our first QCF qualification,"Level 2 Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care" details of which can be found on the Skillsfirst website or by downloading our PDF guide.

Sneak Preview

1. After logging onto Care Academy learner selects link to qualification
   
2. Learner is presented with links to individual units which make up the qualification.
   
   
   
3. After selecting a unit, learner can choose to complete unit assessment or alternatively access e-learning content via the Resources link.
   
   
   
4. If the assessment is selected, learner is provided with access to questions, details of previous attempts, scores and directions to e-learning material specific to incorrect answers.
   

To stay informed of further developments, please either subscribe to our blog or contact us using the details posted on this page.

The Good Care Group

We are pleased to welcome our latest client; The Good Care Group, who have chosen Care Academy to help them deliver Common Induction Standards training to their carers. The Good Care Group is a young and exciting company and we are excited about working with them over the coming years.

The Good Care Group is the professional provider of high quality live-in care for elderly people that allows them to live safely and comfortably in their own home, maintaining dignity and independence. Our expertly trained professional carers provide a range of tailored care at home services, everything from companionship, personal care, domestic duties and social activities, through to specialist dementia care and care for those requiring post-operative rehabilitation or for those living with Parkinson’s.

Providing our service throughout England, we are not an agency and all our professional carers are exclusively employed by us – we know that this enables us to deliver the very highest standards of home care. To find out more, please visit their web site.

Impact of Autism Act on Health and Social Care Training

The introduction of the Autism Act 2009 is likely to herald a new era for adults with autism. The act places significant statutory guidance on local authorities to raise awareness and understanding of autism via dedicated training programmes.

A key outcome of the act, is the requirement it placed upon the government to produce an adult autism strategy by 1st April 2010. The strategy document was duly published on 3rd March 2010 and provides a clear message that local authorities and NHS bodies must improve:

1. Training for staff.
2. Identification and diagnosis of autism.
3. Planning of services for people with autism.
4. Local leadership.

What Does Strategy say about Autism Training?

The strategy makes some fairly explicit statement’s regarding the provision of autism training for all frontline staff. More specifically, the guidance categorically states that local authorities and the NHS:

1. Must provide autism awareness training for all frontline staff.
2. Must provide specialist autism training for key staff, such as GPs and community care assessors.
3. Cannot refuse a community care assessment for adults with autism based solely on IQ.
4. Must appoint an autism lead in their area.
5. Have to develop a clear pathway to diagnosis and assessment for adults with autism.
6. Need to commission services based on adequate population data.

Implementation

As is plainly obvious, the Autism Act is likely to have some very far reaching implications for the delivery of local health and social care provision. It is generally acknowledged that frontline staff working across both health and social care have limited understanding of autism and therefore the strategy specifically recommends:

'We recommend that autism awareness training should be included within general equality and diversity training programmes across all public services'. (2.8)

'We believe it is therefore essential that autism awareness training is available to everyone working in health or social care' ... (2.16)

'We will work with PCTs and local authorities to identify priority groups for training'. (2.20)

'We recommend that autism awareness should be an essential part of the training given to staff carrying out community care assessments'. (2.24)

It will come as no surprise to many to realise that no additional funding is being made available to deliver the Autism Strategy, with local councils, the NHS and care providers being required to fund training and development initiatives via re-deployment of existing resources.

Here at Care Academy we have witnessed a significant increase in the number of clients wishing to utilise Care Academy to help deliver their Autism training. Our dedicated course; ‘Supporting People with Autistic Spectrum Disorder’ meets the Skills for Care Knowledge set and is suitable for staff who have either a direct or indirect role in supporting people with autism.

In summary, the course outline is as follows:

1. Introduction to Autism.
2. Laws and policies associated with supporting someone with Autistic Spectrum Condition.
3. Supporting someone with an Autistic Spectrum Condition.
4. Supporting the person with Autistic Spectrum Condition through good practice.

To find out more about ‘Supporting People with Autistic Spectrum Disorder’ please click here to view the course outline or alternatively you can contact us via our online form.

Further background information on the act can be found at www.autism.org.uk/working-with/autism-strategy.aspx

Unpaid Carers to be given free access to training via Care Academy

Care Academy is launching an initiative aimed at partnering with Local Authorities to provide unpaid carers with the opportunity to access our high quality e-learning portfolio free of charge. The programme will be launched early in 2011 and will be co-ordinated at a local level, accessed via a dedicated website and co-branded with each local authority partner.

Figures released by Carer's UK, place the total number of unpaid carers currently numbering around 6 million, many of whom experience a wide range of health, social, financial and career barriers. This number is expected to increase significantly over the coming years.

Here at Care Academy, we have first hand experience of the size of this problem, frequently receiving calls direct from carers, often in some distress and looking to access our e-learning course's to help them develop their knowledge in specific areas such as autism and dementia so they can better support their dependents and loved ones.

Although we are keen to help, we recognise that we are not best placed to support individual carers and provide the wide range of advice and support they require. However, through our partnership with local authorities we hope to be able to provide one small piece of the jigsaw towards helping them develop their knowledge, understanding and possibly gain accredited qualifications to recognise the invaluable work they provide.

In order to kick-start the initiative, we aim to get local authorities on-board, providing them with access to a dedicated website along with up to 50 free user licences to be assigned to unpaid carer's within their region.

In the first instance, we will be limiting participation to 20 local authorities, some of whom will be our existing client's, to enable us to evaluate the overall operational effectiveness of the programme with a view to rolling out nationally later in 2011.

If you work within a local authority and would like to participate in this exciting initiaitive then please feel free to contact us directly on Tel:0161 228 1712 or via our online form.

New Common Induction Standards e-learning launched

Care Academy is pleased to announce the launch of their refreshed 2010 Common Induction Standards.

After many months of hardwork, Care Academy has finally completed the cross-mapping exercise mentioned in our earlier post and completely updated our learning content to meet the requirements for the expanded 8 standards. Interestingly, the outcomes have increased from around 70 to 161 - a 130% increase and now includes dementia, nutrition, equality and diversity to name just a few. This will undoubtedly put increased pressure on training resources especially as induction still has to be completed within 12 weeks!

To further assist Care Academy clients' with the transition away from the old standards we are also launching an online CIS pre-assessment tool. The CIS pre-assessment tool will enable new employees to be comprehensively assessed and the outcomes used to determine their individual leaning plan. This will streamline the whole induction process and ensure prior learning and achievement is duly recognised.

To discuss the refreshed 2010 Common Induction Standards or to find out how Care Academy can help your organisation please contact us directly on Tel: 0161 228 1712 or use our online form

UK's first online City & Guilds accredited Dementia Qualification

Care Academy is pleased to announce that we are currently developing the UK's first fully online City & Guilds accredited Dementia Qualification which will be available from January 2011.

The Level 2 Award in Awareness in Dementia Care is made up of 4 mandatory units:

1. Dementia awareness
2. The person centred approach to the care and support of individuals with dementia
3. Understand the factors that can influence communication and interaction with individuals who have dementia
4. Understand equality, diversity and inclusion in dementia care.

Notably, the Level 2 Award will count as 8 credits towards the new Health and Social Care Level 2 Diploma (the NVQ replacement) forming a key component of the new Dementia Pathway.

Currently 700,000 people in the UK have dementia and this figure is expected to double over the next few decades.

The qualification in awareness of dementia is aimed at occupational areas across all service user groups and ages, working in statutory (including NHS), private and voluntary agencies. This also includes healthcare/care assistants, support/key workers, family support workers and team leaders/first line supervisors.

Additionally, it's been confirmed that the Dementia Award will be eligible for TSI funding until 2011 at a rate of £80.00 per unit (That's £320.00 in total!) - so it's advisable to get your registrations in early!

To discuss how Care Academy can help your organisation please contact us on 0161 228 1712 or via our online form.

Welcome to our new client's.

We are pleased to welcome a number of new client's who have chosen Care Academy to help deliver their regulatory and compliance training including:

The Salvation Army is one of the largest, most diverse providers of social services in the UK after the Government. Founded in East London in 1865, they are now working in 120 countries worldwide.

As a church and registered charity, they demonstrate our Christian principles through social welfare provision. Worldwide there are over 1.6million members, with programmes including homeless centres, drug rehabilitation centres, schools, hospitals and medical centres, as well as nearly 16,000 church and community centres. The work of The Salvation Army is funded through donations from its members, the general public and, where appropriate, local authority and government grants.

To find out more please visit their web site:
www2.salvationarmy.org.uk/uki/www_uki.nsf

Deafblind UK was launched in 1928 by a small group of deafblind people and their carer's to offer mutual support and understanding in the face of conditions they found 'unjustifiably cruel and hard.' Since then, Deafblind UK has developed into a national charity chaired by a deafblind person.

To find out more please visit their web site:
www.deafblind.org.uk/

Linc-Cymru specialises in the affordable housing, social care and health sectors in Wales. We are a socially responsible business and all profits are reinvested for the benefit of our customers rather than being distributed to shareholders. Established in 1977, they are an Industrial and Provident Society registered with the Welsh Assembly Government.

To find out more please visit their web site:
www.linc-cymru.co.uk/

The Care Alliance for Workforce Development (CAWD) works to improve the services on offer to people who use services and carers.  It does this by working in a collaborative, flexible and responsive manner to improve the skills and knowledge of the social care workforce. CAWD engages with employers of all sizes from across the social care sector and encourages service users and carers to get involved.  CAWD also delivers on a range of activities on behalf of Skills for Care Yorkshire and the Humber, which cover a number of the Putting People First work-streams.

To find out more please visit their web site:
www.cawd.org.uk/

City & Guilds to end registration onto Learning Disability Award

Following the announcement that City & Guilds will end registration onto their Learning Disability Qualification - Induction Award on 31st December 2010 (read details on City & Guilds web site) we have seen an upsurge in registrations over the past few weeks. We fully anticipate this trend to continue right up until the deadline, as clients seek to secure access to the current qualification before the window closes. Any candidates registered before the deadline, will of course then be able to complete their qualification in the normal manner.

Although not yet confirmed, it's looking likely that there will be no direct replacement 'Award' available on the QCF. It seems candidates will be required to undertake a Health and Social Care Diploma at either Level 2 or 3 and select a Learning Disability Specialist Pathway alongside the mandatory components. Perhaps not an ideal scenario for everyone.

Naturally we will continue to monitor the situation as it develops, but our current advice remains the same, register as many candidates as possible before the deadline if you wish to secure access to the current qualification.

Please feel free to contact us directly on 0161 228 1712 or via our online form form if you have any questions.