Learning

Exchange

Networks

Learning Exchanges (LEN’s) are small, informal friendly groups where managers, deputy managers or providers of a care service get together to discuss good practice and exchange ideas and information. They are completely free to attend and participate in.

These sessions are a very valuable tool for you to share good practice, discuss the issues that matter to you and your service, give you a safe place to vent your frustrations or simply use the opportunity to have a break from your role and meet your peers over tea and cake!

 

Network

Benefits

What are the benefits of a Learning Exchange Network? Do Learning Exchange Networks contribute to the quality of care and local policy? We believe it does.

The first benefit to a Learning Exchange Network is that it reduces the isolation within the workplace or the pressures of running a social or health care business.

It is clear that through sharing of information we can assist in enhancing the care of people who use your services. Whether through discussions about dilemmas and challenges within the practice or by working in partnership with other care staff, care organisations, the NHS and other health and social care sectors, Learning Exchange Networks helps share resources, initiatives, develop skills and knowledge and even provide access to professional development.

There is no cost involved, just call us to register your interest on:

Tel:         01823 461876

email:    enquiries@carefocussomerset.org

or alternatively::  Join a Learning Exchange Network by Contacting Us Today

 

FROME LENS FEEDBACK - 25th January 2012

Many thanks for coming along to the Frome Care Focus LEN meeting recently. I hope you enjoyed the meeting, and found it interesting and useful, if so please just look out for the date of the next meeting. If you can please let me know if you plan to attend the next one that would be fantastic, so we can make sure there is enough room (and refreshments) for all! I would anticipate May / June time.

 Please see attached the training programme from Somerset County Council, this is free training to send staff on for day courses, but as you will see this booklet is for the year 11/12, so a lot of the dates have now passed. They will be sending me a new version next month, so we will publicise this when we got hold of it. On page 7 is the “managing a safeguarding incident course for manager” that we discussed. This covers DOL’s and Mental Capacity Act, and is strongly recommended that managers attend.  Many thanks to Martin for his time, in speaking to the group, his contact details are below, if you ever need to get in touch:-Martin Wiesner 01278 436596 or 07766 726709mwiesner@somerset.gov.uk . 

Also for reference:-Chris Hamilton 01278 437241CAHamilton@somerset.gov.uk And Sharon Baker 01278 437294

 The link to the Care Focus e-learning, on MCA and DOLs is below:-http://www.carefocussomerset.org/pdf/elearning/Development_resources_and_e_learning_available_new.pdf

and there are also lots of e-learning programmes for free on these subjects on the SCIE website:-http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/elearning/mentalcapacityact/index.asp

 

This is the Somerset County Council safeguarding adults page,

http://www.somerset.gov.uk/irj/public/services/directory/service?rid=/guid/605a9818-0937-2c10-e2ae-fea632085d29

down the right hand side is documents and links, towards the bottom is the best interest checklist, and assessment of mental capacity template. These were discussed during the meeting and can be used straight from the website.

 Here is the link to the Social Care institute of Excellence site, with lots of resources on Mental Capacity etc. http://www.scie.org.uk/topic/keyissues/mentalcapacity and more info herehttp://www.scie.org.uk/publications/mca/index.asp 

This was a link to the Lord Munby case, http://www.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/Cheshire_West_and_Chester_Council_v_P_(2011)_EWCA_Civ_1257 

Here is links to pages that contained the code of practices that we discussed http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/protecting-the-vulnerable/mental-capacity-act/index.htmhttp://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@disabled/documents/digitalasset/dg_186484.pdfhttp://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_087309.pdf

 If people wanted any more information on Funding, or to get hold of more Care awards posters, or the NHS work booklets please telephone the Care Focus office.

 Any problems with any of these links please do not hesitate to get in touch with me. Finally it just leaves me to thank Martin again for the talk, and thank Sue for the venue. Thanks to everyone for their time, hope to see you again soon, if there is ever anything I can do to help please do not hesitate to get in touch with me,

 

Jon Guy

 

MINEHEAD LENS FEEDBACK - 17th January 2012

The Minehead LEN was a well-attended, useful and constructive session, which was beneficial to all those who attended. The guest speaker was Martin Wiesner who is the new lead for Somerset County Council on Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty. Martin led a group discussion on both these topics, and was able to answer the group's questions and provide links and templates that will be helpful.

 

Please see below some links to some of the documents we discussed, firstly there is the Somerset County Council safeguarding adults page, down the right hand side is “information and resources”, towards the bottom is the best interest checklist, and the assessment of mental capacity template. These can be used as they appear, or tweaked to suit your individual needs.

 

http://www.somerset.gov.uk/irj/public/services/directory/service?rid=/guid/605a9818-0937-2c10-e2ae-fea632085d29

 

Here is the link to the Social Care institute of Excellence site, with lots of useful resources on the Mental Capacity Act etc.

http://www.scie.org.uk/topic/keyissues/mentalcapacity

 

with more info here:-

http://www.scie.org.uk/publications/mca/index.asp

 

This was a link to the Lord Munby case, http://www.mentalhealthlaw.co.uk/Cheshire_West_and_Chester_Council_v_P_(2011)_EWCA_Civ_1257

 

Here was a link to the issue of what age do people start having this legislation applied to them,

http://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/262F794F-3C54-4541-81BD-D87B135312D8/0/MCAandChildren.pdf

 

Here was a link to a page that contained the code of practice that we discussed, http://www.justice.gov.uk/guidance/protecting-the-vulnerable/mental-capacity-act/index.htm

 

Also please see here Jonathon Yelland’s details who will carry out a “enter and view” report on a care home if you wish.

Jonathon Yelland

Somerset LINk Development officer

T: 01458 250674

E: jonathon.yelland@helpandcare.org.uk

 

Martin’s contact details are mwiesner@somerset.gov.uk if you ever needed to speak to him about an incident or issue please do not hesitate to get in touch with him.

 

 

 

Yeovil LEN   -   A Great Success!!

 

The inaugural Care Focus Learning Exchange Network meeting in the Yeovil area was a resounding success, with some 23 care providers present at the launch in September 2011. The Abbey Manor Business Centre proved to be a great location, with a range of speakers on the day including; Somerset County Council, NHS Somerset, Safeguarding Board, Clinical Practitioners.

There was also plenty of networking, discussion and debate amongst those present, over a light lunch. Feedback from the day was positive, with comments such as….

“Very good networking opportunity, helpful to gain an understanding of barriers and common issues”
“Hearing from relevant professionals and advice / resources given”
“All speakers were interesting”
“Thoroughly enjoyed the day”
“All of the course was helpful”

LEN's are free to attend, and are informal and interactive, with all of the speakers happy to take questions. All of the information, links, etc discussed during the day is disseminated, along with a certificate of attendance. If you have not been to a Care Focus LEN meeting before, or for some time, please do come along to the next one, and feel free to bring a provider colleague who you think may be interested. Care Focus believe these settings are an ideal way for sharing good practice with each other, improving knowledge and understanding issues, and most importantly support each other. I look forward to seeing you there soon!