The government has announced new plans to reform support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in England. Plans announced by the Department for Education, which aim to improve SEND support and the alternative provision system, include earlier diagnoses and a commitment to build 33 more special free schools....
Six figure fine for health board that failed to follow safe working practices
A health board has been fined six figures after a patient died while being treated in hospital as a result of care that fell “below the required standards.” NHS Highland was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for failing to follow safe working practices in relation to the death of 78-year-old Colin...
New framework for supporting LGBTQ+ people in later life
Skills for Care have released a new learning framework to help care workers support LGBTQ+ people in later life. Commissioned and funded by Skills for Care, the new framework has been developed by the “innovative partnership” of Dr Trish Hafford-Letchfield of the University of Strathclyde and the Pride in Ageing programme at the LGBT...
Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training: providing the health and care workforce with the right skills
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training Framework for Learning Disability and Autism has now been officially launched and should be accessed by all health and social care services. The new training framework has been specifically designed to provide those working in health and social care with the right skills and knowledge to provide safe, compassionate...
Make sure safety is part of your perfect Pancake Day recipe
Pancake Day is all about fun, indulgence and exciting flavours. Lemon and sugar, strawberries and Nutella, perhaps even maple syrup and bacon? Whatever your topping of choice, ensure that safety is a key ingredient in your delicious creations this Pancake Day… Fire safety warnings for Pancake Day Local fire and rescue services across the...
Let’s Connect for Children’s Mental Health Week
This week (6th-12th February 2023) is Children’s Mental Health Week and the theme for this year is Let’s Connect, as data suggests more than two-thirds of children experiencing mental health problems feel socially anxious. The annual awareness week is run by children’s mental health charity, Place2Be, and was first launched in 2015 to help...
Have a mental health conversation on Time to Talk Day
Thursday 2nd February 2023 is Time to Talk Day, aimed at encouraging the nation to make time for a conversation about mental health. The national awareness day, which was first launched in 2014, is run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness in England, in partnership with the Co-op. It is a UK-wide campaign, which...
Skills for Care urges care teams to #KeepLearning
Skills for Care have launched their new campaign, ‘Keep learning for success’, which aims to highlight the real benefits of continual professional development. The campaign will run throughout January, February and March to support adult social care providers and their teams to #KeepLearning. Skills for Care to highlight importance of training The national workforce...
Too cold to work? HSE advises on working safely in the winter
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued advice and guidance for employers to help them protect their workers during the current icy cold weather in the UK. As the UK is hit with another bout of icy weather – expected to last until Friday (20th January), the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has...
Third of UK adults feel anxious about their finances
There are worries about the state of the nation’s mental health after a recent survey found that more than one third (34%) of adults in the UK felt anxious due to financial worries. The survey, commissioned by the Mental Health Foundation, also found that 1 in 10 adults felt hopeless about their finances, while...
Child mental health referrals up 39% after ‘difficult’ year
Referrals for child mental health services have risen by 39% in England in just one year, official data has revealed. NHS referrals for mental health treatment for under-18s increased to more than 1.1 million during 2021-22, compared to 839,570 in 2020-21, and 850,741 in 2019-20. The figures – branded “alarming” by the NSPCC –...
Parents urged to keep sick children at home
Parents have been urged to keep children away from school or nursery if they feel unwell and have a fever, as flu, Covid-19 and Strep A infections continue to rise. The advice was issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) as families across the UK prepare for children to return to school and...
How First Response Training is responding to the latest vaccination requirements
National workplace training provider, First Response Training (FRT), has taken decisive steps to ensure the health, safety and welfare of its staff, clients, learners and they people they support. The leading training provider, which works with hundreds of local and national health and social care providers on a regular basis, has confirmed that all...
Annual social care report reveals impact of pandemic
The latest report into adult social care serves as a “stark reminder” that sector bosses face “significant recruitment challenges” with vacancy rates steadily rising since the pandemic. Skills for Care have published their annual report on ‘The State of the adult social care sector and workforce in England.’ The report, which is based on...
New campaign to improve public mental health
The government has launched a new campaign to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the general public. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), which was only officially launched on 1st October 2021, has initiated its first campaign as part of the government’s mission to tackle health problems at an earlier stage....