The care exchange from Skills for Care

S3 E1: It’s not a soft cushion, scented candles approach to leadership - Skills for Care | The care exchange

Series 3 Episode 1: It’s not a soft cushion, scented candles approach to leadership 

Starting this series with a thought-provoking conversation is Professor Michael West OBE who discusses compassionate leadership.  

He describes how ‘listening with fascination’ is so crucial for managers and explains how to create more effective compassionate teamwork. He also talks about how to support a stressed workforce and why it’s so important to practice self-compassion.

Resources

• Does team size matter? 
• Compassionate Leadership by Professor Michael West 
• Listening with Fascination is included in Nancy Kline’s book Time to Think
• S3 E1 full transcript

S2 E10: Perfection is the enemy of good enough - Skills for Care | The care exchange

Series 2 Episode 10: Perfection is the enemy of good enough

We speak to Andrew Davis, Managing Director of Right at Home Bournemouth and Poole.

Andrew reflects on how registered managers are often underestimated from those outside care, how he prioritises delegation and how perfection can be the enemy of good enough. Hear about the work that goes in to achieving an Outstanding CQC rating and how managers shouldn’t be afraid of blowing their own trumpet!

Andrew shares how they have used social media to promote the business, but also for their staff to feel a sense of pride for where they work and give them a sense of belonging. He also discusses the importance of always learning no matter how senior you may be as ‘you’re never too cool for school!’ 

Resources

• Social media masterclasses: We have masterclasses to support social care recruiters in using different social media platforms Facebook, twitter, Instagram and TikTokto find and keep staff. The masterclasses are available exclusively to our Registered Manager members.

S2 E9: Young people are the future of social care - Skills for Care | The care exchange

Series 2 Episode 9: Young people are the future of social care

Kirsty Armstrong, registered manager of Kelly Park Ltd a home care organisation talks about her huge success in offering work placements for students and employing young people as a result.

She believes that young people are the future of social care and registered managers have a responsibility to give young people a positive perception of the sector and the range of opportunities available. Kirsty also talks about some recruitment and retention initiatives including the nurturing of staff which has made a real difference for her organisation. 

Resources

• Guidance on employing workers aged 16 and 17: employing young people gives them the opportunity to start a career in care. 
• Preparing for your CQC interview checklist: aimed at helping managers of new care services to prepare for their CQC registration interview.  
• Care Friends: this employee referral app supports you to find and retain high quality care staff, by allowing your staff to refer their friends for job opportunities. 

S2 E8: Registered managers are worth their weight in gold - Skills for Care | The care exchange

Series 2 Episode 8: Registered managers are worth their weight in gold

Zoe Richardson talks about her role as a nominated individual. She explains how she sees the role as a job and not a title and how important she feels the role is in terms of ensuring registered managers are supported by continually asking “what do you need me to do?”

She stresses how much she values registered managers, and that organisational leadership is so important, because if “people think the leadership don’t care, then they don’t care.” She also talks about how important humour is to her and how it can really bring people together and help through the more difficult days.

Resources

• Nominated individuals: an important role for regulated providers, with a key relationship and responsibility to the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Take a look at the information and resources we have to support nominated individuals.
• Caldicott Guardian: it will be mandatory for adult social care services which receive public funds (local authority or NHS funding) to have a Caldicott Guardian by 30 June 2022. For more information take a look at these FAQs

S2 E7: I don’t want to be just another suit - Skills for Care | The care exchange

Series 2 Episode 7: I don’t want to be just another suit

Jay Harper talks about his role as an area manager. He compares it to his previous role as a registered manager and admits that he is still a support worker at heart. Jay explains that ‘it’s not about me’ and proudly uses the word passionate in describing what he does to support people with learning disabilities.

Jay stresses the importance of a person-centred approach, being in the moment to ‘be there and feel it’ and to never under-estimate how being reflective can make you effective as well as the importance of developing yourself.

Resources

• Well led programme: Designed to enable registered managers,  other managers and leaders to deliver care in line with the expectations of a well-led service.
• Leading change – improving care programme:  Explore influencing and implementing changes to meet challenges and service needs.
• Digital learning modules for managers: Our 11 modules support the development of aspiring and new managers. Opportunities to reflect, ideas to improve practices, and motivation to learn more. Employers can claim £50 per completed module from the WDF.
• Workforce development fund (WDF): Employers can claim back money towards the costs of workers completing a broad range of adult social care qualifications, learning programmes and digital learning modules. 
• Learning disability: Our resources ensure that the right skills and knowledge are in place to provide high-quality care. Sign up to the learning disability newsletter to keep up to date.

S2 E6: I’m a dictate obsessive - Skills for Care | The care exchange

Series 2 Episode 6: I’m a dictate obsessive

Ruth French the Operations Director for Stow Healthcare, an organisation that specialises in turning failed services around to become Outstanding talks about the importance of recognising that everyone is human and that we all make mistakes.

She shares her tips on colour-coded improvement plans, time-saving dictation, and golden gems. She also discusses why it’s so important to stand up and have your voice heard by telling your story and giving positive messages about social care in the media.

Resources

• Inspection toolkit: Skills for Care has lots of guidance which brings together best practice, recommendations, resources, practical examples, and learning so you can meet or exceed CQC expectations. Our Good or Outstanding (GO) range draws on practical examples from CQC reports and regulated providers, to share best practice, help you prepare for inspection and improve your service.
• Effective supervision: Effective supervision supports good working relationships, helps you to address any issues and celebrate achievements. It provides the opportunity to discuss learning and development. Skills for Care have various bite-size resources and guides to help you.  
  

S2 E5: Sleep at night - Skills for Care | The care exchange

Series 2 Episode 5: Sleep at night

In a specially extended podcast, we’re joined by Sanjay Dhrona who is the Managing Director of The Close, an award-winning care home in Oxfordshire. We find out the steps he took to change the CQC rating from Inadequate to Outstanding in five years.

Sanjay talks about how he made changes to culture, management structures and his ‘win’ folder. Sanjay also discusses how to develop innovative practices, the importance of training staff on LGBTQ+ and why he has become involved with the Outstanding Society.

Resources

• Recruiting for values: A values-based approach to recruitment and retention involves establishing strong workplace values and ensuring that your workforce matches them. Doing this will help to reduce time and wasted resources in recruiting the wrong people, and help your people deliver exceptional care and support.
• Inspection toolkit: Skills for Care has lots of guidance which brings together best practice, recommendations, resources, practical examples, and learning so you can meet or exceed CQC expectations. Our Good or Outstanding (GO) range draws on practical examples from CQC reports and regulated providers, to share best practice, help you prepare for inspection and improve your service.
• Confident with difference: Our confident with difference resource supports you to consider how well diversity is embraced within your organisation and how you could improve. 

S2 E4: I’m handy with a drill - Skills for Care | The care exchange

Series 2 Episode 4:  I’m handy with a drill

Hear from Becky Coles who in 2020 became the youngest CQC registered manager of a newly built respite service. Becky shares her career journey, from work experience aged 15 through a range of roles via apprenticeships, to becoming a registered manager. She also talks to us about what it’s like to build a brand-new facility (hard hat included!), build up a team which feels like a family and develop local connections. 

Resources

• Workforce intelligence team: Our workforce intelligence team work with the data collected in Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) and share intelligence and insight into the sector. They produce various reports that help identify what the adult social care workforce in England looks like today and what it might look like in the future including information on registered managers. 
• ASC-WDS: is an online data collection service that covers the adult social care workforce in England. Join over 20,000 care providers already using the free ASC-WDS online service and discover all the benefits it can have to our sector and your organisation.
• Think Care Careers: find out more about careers in social care.
• Registered manager networks: We support over 140 local networks across England. Our networks are a place for managers to come together with other managers in their local area and share guidance and experiences and provide support. 
  

S2 E3: Fly your wings - Skills for Care | The care exchange

Series 2 Episode 3: Fly your wings

Mark Topps was a registered manager for six years, and in this podcast he reflects on his learnings during that time including the importance of sharing, making the role what you want it to be and having a good work-life balance.

Mark discusses the importance of standing up for what you believe and challenging things you don’t agree with. He also shares his top tips for using social media to network, find support and latest guidance. 

Resources

• Learning from events: this 35-minute, digital interactive learning module is designed to support managers and leaders in all adult social care settings to carry out learning reviews. Find out more about the module. 
• Putting the social media in social care: This blog talks about how social care providers can use social media for their organisation. Read the blog.
• Social care managers Facebook group: used every day by managers to support one-another by sharing advice, guidance and experiences. Join the Facebook group. 

S2 E2: The snow globe effect - Skills for Care | The care exchange

Series 2 Episode 2: The snow globe effect

Martyn Dawes, registered manager and author, talks about how we all have a tendency to overthink things. He believes that for managers in stressful situations it’s important to stop, step back and create time to reset and wait for the answers to come. He also stresses the importance of making the right decisions, against making the easy decisions. 

Resources 

• Wellbeing resource finder: find trusted resources to support your own and others wellbeing. Access the wellbeing resource finder.
• People performance management toolkit: Managing people performance well has a big impact on the quality of care your service provides. It is key to motivating, supporting and encouraging your staff.  Find out more about our people performance management toolkit.
• Martyn Dawes – The Overwhelmed Manager. Find out more about Martyn’s book.