Homecare
Government should invest wisely to harness ‘robot power’
Steve Carefull examines how we can create the conditions for initiatives such as cobots to be scaled into the mainstream to mitigate the UK’s social care workforce challenge.
Give local councils freedoms on workforce vaccination
Councils need the freedoms and flexibilities to determine which parts of their workforce should be prioritised for vaccination, whether they fit the official ‘key worker’ definition or not, says Paul Najsarek.
One in nine care workers not tested weekly
A government pledge to test all care home staff every seven days is not being met, according to a survey published today.
No place like home
Building on its experiences earlier in the pandemic, Reading Council’s ‘Home First’ is its embedded approach for those leaving hospital or needing more support. Cllr Tony Jones explains why.
Digitising the front door to care
A new 'white paper' report by consultancy Agilisys outlines how technology can help lead the rethink of the care sector. Author Steve Morgan talks to Michael Burton of The MJ about some of the solutions.
Using technology to help in the second wave
The pandemic has opened people’s eyes to the possibilities of technology in social care and this winter the benefits are going to be more important than ever, says Mark Kennion.
Pay boost for care workers following tribunal
A group of homecare workers have been awarded £100,000 in backdated pay in a tribunal ruling that could have further implications for the sector.
A Sisyphean task for health and social care?
Magda Stainton at Veredus looks at the issue of health and social care integration, and ponders if things would improve under ownership of the NHS.
Is COVID-19 the turning point for commissioning?
The coronavirus crisis has tested care to the limit, but it could serve as a turning point for commissioning, writes Ewan King.
The very big and the very small
Chief executive of Shared Lives Plus Alex Fox outlines three ways we might move from thinking big to thinking small as the crisis moves into its ‘new normal’ phase.
The challenge of discharging post COVID-19 patients - an OT perspective
Councils need to focus on ensuring their services are in as good a shape as possible for the incoming wave of need. OT can play a significant part in this, says Nikki Thompson.
Firms say government needs to do more
Key firms providing services to councils have welcomed measures to mitigate the damaging effects of the Covid-19 crisis but said more needs to be done.
Online tool helps residents assess likely care costs
Anton Hodge describes how a new online tool to help people assess the likely cost of adult social care services has brought benefits to residents and to North Yorkshire CC.
Medway's success in reducing delayed transfers of care
Chris McKenzie outlines how innovation and strong partnership working has enabled Medway to reduce levels of delayed transfers of care (DToC) to among some of the lowest levels in the region.
A pragmatic approach to care provider failure in Hertfordshire
When Allied Healthcare got into difficulties last year, Hertfordshire CC set up Herts at Home as a council-owned trading company to take on a significant part of the operation’s local business. Steven Lee-Foster outlines the rationale.
Analogue safety rules aren’t fit for the digital world of work
Unison has developed a new health and safety gig economy guide to help employers understand what they should be doing to protect workers. Robert Baughan explains.
