Welcome to the UKQCS newsletter. If you cannot see this email in graphical format, a formatted copy is available at www.ukqcs.info/newsletters.htm, together with an archive. This newsletter is free, so please pass it on to your colleagues, who can sign on for their own copy by visiting our website at www.ukqcs.com and completing the brief details requested. Click here for details of the UKQCS Quality Management System www.ukqcs.info has been launched to provide clients and others with full information on the rapidly expanding range of support services provided by UKQCS. Venalink Monitored Dosage System users are the beneficiaries of the collaboration between our two companies. Subject to a qualifying Venalink order from their pharmacy and supplying a valid email address, care homes are entitled to Free online access to a customised and fully legally compliant medications policy and procedure Free Level 1 (Skills for Care Induction) online induction training, for as many staff as required Free access to the Useful Documents section of their personalised UKQCS web site, which includes over £200 worth of induction workbooks Special deals on UKQCS services such as the Quality Management System and the HR indemnified support package If you are currently a Venalink user, or wish to change to Venalink and take advantage of these offers, contact us on 08707 489 899. We will contact your pharmacist and encourage them to support you with this offer Click here for details of the UKQCS Quality Management System Edgeworks has recently updated the Care-Academy 'Recognising and Responding to Abuse and Neglect' (POVA) training in response to the publishing of the new Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Knowledge Set from Skills For Care. For a demonstration of this content please contact UKQCS on 08707 489 899 Click here for details of the UKQCS indemnified HR Support package Help is at hand for enterprises confused by the new statutory holiday entitlements coming into force. Starting from October, the minimum holiday allowance increases from four weeks to 4.8 weeks, and will continue to rise until it reaches 5.6 weeks in the year 2009/10. The new Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) has come up with an online ready reckoner to help employers work out staff holiday entitlement, based on when their leave year begins. (thanks EnterQuest) Find it at http://www.dti.gov.uk/employment/holidays/page40455.html Click here for details of the UKQCS Quality Management System A study by researchers at the University of Cardiff has shown that drinking a pint of milk every day could stop men from developing diabetes and heart disease. The study of 2,375 men, carried out over 20 years, showed that consumption of dairy products lessened the danger of developing metabolic syndrome. The syndrome has been proved to heighten the risk of diabetes and heart disease. At the beginning of the study, 15% of the men had metabolic syndrome and showed a significantly increased risk of diabetes and heart disease. They were shown to have 62% less risk of metabolic syndrome if they drank a pint or more of milk daily. Men with metabolic syndrome were 50% more likely to die than those without the condition. Researchers asked the participants to log their weekly food consumption in order to ascertain how much dairy produce was eaten. The study's head, Professor Peter Elwood, said the research added to "the evidence that milk and dairy products fit well into a healthy eating pattern." Jemma Edwards, care advisor at Diabetes UK, cautioned against eating huge amounts of dairy products to prevent the conditions. She said: "We would recommend people aim to eat two to three servings of low fat dairy a day. Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and physical activity are vital in reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes." (thanks hc2d.co.uk) Click here for details of the UKQCS indemnified HR Support package Experts say that the widespread use of a DIY test kit for bowel cancer could save thousands of lives a year. The simple kit is being sent to people in their 60s across the UK as part of a national screening programme. The charity Cancer Research UK say that if 60% of those who receive the test make use of it there would be up to 20,000 fewer deaths from the disease over the next two decades and a further 5,000 lives will be saved if the number using it rises to 80%. The Faecal Occult Blood Test allows people to take samples in their own home and send them for testing. If any blood is found they are then invited for a colonoscopy. In many cases small pre-cancerous growths, detected by colonoscopy, can be removed with bowel cancer prevented from developing. At present, there are about 35,000 cases of bowel cancer diagnosed each year in the UK with just under half that number dying from the condition, making it the second most common cause of death in the country. Professor Max Parkin, who is an epidemiologist at the Wolfson Institute in London and involved in the findings, said: “Our research looked at a realistic scenario where uptake is about 60% and compared those results with an optimistic scenario where uptake could rise to 80%. In both cases thousands of deaths could be prevented.” The Department of Health has issued 300,000 testing kits in England with 2,500 positive results and those patients are now receiving treatment. (thanks hc2d.co.uk) Click here for details of the UKQCS Quality Management System Research into achieving dignity in care for older people in the UK has consistently found that meals and mealtimes are a major priority for people staying in residential settings. People have cited meals as the "highlight of the day" and often define the quality of a home based on their experience at mealtimes. Unfortunately, the same research has found that the quality of food and service is still a major concern for many. In a recent Department of Health online survey, people complained that too little help is available to those who need assistance with eating. Full story at http://tinyurl.com/3xvfjm Click here for details of the UKQCS indemnified HR Support package The EAT has held that a senior policeman who was diagnosed with minor dyslexia was disabled within the meaning of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. After over 15 years in the police force the Claimant discovered he was dyslexic. He had not previously had difficulties with report writing, financial literacy or any of the other aspects in his complex and demanding job. However, medical evidence suggested that he ought to be given 25% extra time in his examinations for promotion to the rank of Superintendent as a result of his (newly diagnosed) dyslexia. The Tribunal concluded that the dyslexia had only a minor/trivial impact upon the Claimant's day-to-day activities, and that he was therefore not disabled. The EAT overturned this finding and substituted a finding of disability. It stated that a tribunal should not compare the performance of the employee with the average person in the population (as this tribunal had done). Rather, it is the comparison between what the individual can do and would be able to do without the impairment which is important in determining whether someone is disabled (para 39). The EAT concluded it was self-evident that a person who needed 25% longer to complete an examination because of his dyslexia was at a substantial disadvantage to the position if he did not have dyslexia, and he was therefore disabled. Click here for details of the UKQCS Quality Management System >new framework clarifies eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care >developed after consultation with various stakeholders >standardised England-wide eligibility criteria comes into force in October. Funding for long-term care will be fairer and easier to understand thanks to a new National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare and NHS-funded Nursing Care. The framework introduces two key changes: >a national approach to determining eligibility for NHS Continuing Healthcare – instead of each of England’s SHAs having its own rules >a single band for NHS-funded Nursing Care in a nursing home – doing away with the current separate assessment of need, which places individuals in one of three bands. It also sets out the legal framework, the core values and principles to consider when assessing eligibility, and details of assessment reviews and dispute resolution processes. The current systems will remain in place until October. In the meantime, the guidance in the framework should be treated as good practice and used to prepare for implementation. The framework recommends that NHS bodies and local authorities work together to review how their existing processes fit with the new guidance. It was developed after close consultation with voluntary groups, professional bodies and patient/user groups. Currently, nearly 31,000 people receive NHS continuing care and around 70 percent of care home residents have some or all of their personal care costs paid by the public purse. The framework is expected to cost up to £220 million in its first year of operation. The framework is here: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_076288 Click here for details of the UKQCS indemnified HR Support package The government recently announced that Adults under the age of 25 who have missed out on education and training opportunities will be able to get free tuition to obtain a first, full level 3 qualification, equivalent to 2 A levels, from August 1st. When added to the current Train to Gain funding for Level 2 NVQ qualifications, this will present considerable additional opportunity for employers to access fully funded NVQ provision locally. Adults over the age of 25 may still be able to access Train to Gain funding for Level 3, however LSC training provider guidance sets out an expectation that a fee contribution of £200 should now be required. Training requirements and funding guidance can be confusing for employers. If you require further assistance please do not hesitate to contact UKQCS’s sector experts who will be happy to assist you. Click here for details of the UKQCS Quality Management System Previous newsletters have referenced the collaboration with Venalink, the UK’s leading supplier of Monitored Dosage medication packs (blister Packs). In addition to the free UKQCS Medications Policy and Procedure now available to Venalink customers, our affiliate partners the Care Academy are providing free access to their medication and Health care procedures induction unit. This unit is part of their approved Common Induction programme and provides appropriate training for safe handling of medicines at Level 1. If you are interested in more information concerning this or full induction training please contact us on 08707 489 899 Click here for details of the UKQCS indemnified HR Support package Online care sector management and quality assurance systems, information at www.ukqcs.info/online_manual.htm Care Training including NVQ, information at www.ukqcs.info/training.htm Personnel/Employment Law support/HR indemnity package, information at www.ukqcs.info/hr_support.htm HR/Personnel/Payroll outsourcing (details to follow) Audits; CSCI and RDB pre-audits, information at www.ukqcs.info/health_check.htm CRB/POVA checking, information at www.ukqcs.info/health_check.htm Induction, including LDAF, information at www.ukqcs.info/induction.htm Care and Business Consultancy, information at www.ukqcs.info/consultancy.htm Company registered in England & Wales Reg No 5776646. Registered Office 1 Blackley Hall Cottages, Pont-y-Capel Lane, Gresford, Wrexham. LL12 8SA Tel: 08707 489 899 Fax: 08701 316 817 Email: info@ukqcs.info Web: www.ukqcs.info
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