The care exchange from Skills for Care

S4 E10: Improving social care – one podcast at a time

Our final episode of the current series of the care exchange, we are joined by Zoe Fry OBE from the Outstanding Society.   

Hear Pia, Wendy and Zoe reflect on previous episodes and discuss lots of interesting topics including: 

• Different ways to train leaders and staff  

• Proactively preparing staff for CQC assessments   

• Having conversations about LGBTQ+

S4 E9: We have a few lifers and don’t spend any money on recruitment!

Listen to Claire Callaghan talking about why her staff never want to leave and how she has not spent a penny on recruitment in years.  She credits this to a great recruitment process, a person-centred induction and a ‘listen to’ culture.  Claire also talks about their organisational commitment to diversity in the workplace and the support they provide around LGBTQ+, neurodiversity and menopause 

Resources

Induction toolkit (skillsforcare.org.uk) 

Data and publications (skillsforcare.org.uk) 

Using social media for care recruitment (skillsforcare.org.uk) 

S4 E8: My staff call me a Post-it person

Listen to Colin Scott talking about how he has used the Skills for Care LGBTQ+ learning framework in his care home for older people to create a culture where people can be themselves.  

Colin is the registered home manager of The Maples Residential Care Home, and he talks about  

how he has made changes throughout the service with surprising results and how he has worked to engage people, their families and the staff. Colin also encourages placements and volunteer opportunities for younger people and discusses how this benefits his service 

Resources 

• Confident with difference 
• LGBTQ+ learning framework 
• LGBTQ+ Good and practice webinar 
• LGBTQ+ Inclusion in the workplace course  

S4 E7: The Single Assessment Framework represents an opportunity’

Hear from Isabel De La Haye, a recently qualified solicitor who talks a lot about the new CQC assessment and shares her tips on how you can prepare for any forthcoming assessment by understanding your current position. She talks about the importance of checking the factual accuracy of your CQC report and understanding how your rating is created.  

Resources:

• Data Security and Protection eLearning - Digital Care Hub 
• Digital Care Hub - Run by social care providers for social care providers. 
•  Digital, data and technology (skillsforcare.org.uk) 
• Integration (skillsforcare.org.uk) 
• Local networks for managers (skillsforcare.org.uk) 

S4 E6: Recognise it, record it, evidence it

Maddie Watts, the owner and Registered manager of the outstanding rated Inchwater home care chats to us about the preparation she is doing for assessment under the new single assessment framework and how to evidence good practice for CQC. Maddie talks about evidencing feedback of partnership working with other professionals and the benefits of reflective conversations to the continuous improvement journey. 

Resources

• Go Guide: Single Assessment Framework edition (skillsforcare.org.uk) 
• Inspection toolkit (skillsforcare.org.uk) 
• Being prepared for CQC inspection seminar (skillsforcare.org.uk) 

S4 E5: Nothing about you without you

We chat to Jodie Allen-Cawley, Head of Quality and Health and Safety at Lifeways.   

Jodie talks about why co-production is the key to providing quality care and how it works in partnership with the people you provide care to. She explores how the ‘I statements’ and ‘we statements’ align with the new CQC Single Assessment Framework and, as a quality lead, how to evidence personalisation and co-production.  

Jodie also shares the huge range of co-production initiatives and processes that are taking place at Lifeways from their quality checkers, to involving people in the recruitment process and embedding co-production as day-to-day business within the culture of the organisation.  

“Ensure the people you support are at the heart of everything you do, then build outwards from that.” 

S4 E2: Would you ever dance in the rain?

We chat to Samantha Crawley, CEO of Bracebridge Care and Director of The Outstanding Society.  

She talks about why registered managers strive for Outstanding, and the impact of the culture of a service on CQC ratings. Samantha also shares some great ideas about how to tackle difficult team dynamics and she how uses an assessment centre approach to help with recruitment. You can also find out why she gives a free audio book subscription to managers in all her homes.  

Resources

• Culture toolkit
• Registered manager membership
• S4 E2 Full transcript

 

 

S4 E1: What is your favourite chocolate bar?

Series 4 Episode 1: What is your favourite chocolate bar?

Series 4 kicks off with a fascinating conversation alongside Neil Eastwood, CEO and founder of Care Friends recorded with a live audience!  

Listen to Neil talk about the secrets to recruitment including having a narrow and wide focus on attracting job applicants and how to connect with people in your local community. Neil also shares lots of tips on how to improve your recruitment and retention processes including texting, hosting a dog show, reserving parking spaces, welcome cards and even providing a favourite chocolate bar! 

Resources

• Recruitment and retention in adult social care: Secrets of success 

• Values-based recruitment

• I Care…Ambassadors 

• S4 E1 Full transcript