News NCF unveils dedicated ICS resources


The National Care Forum (NCF) has created a range of resources designed to help the care sector implement Integrated Care Systems (ICS). These dedicated resources are designed to help social care providers understand, navigate, and improve the integration between health and social care as they prepare for the ICS ‘go-live’ date on 1 July 2022 following the expected enactment of the Health and Care Bill.


The partnership model brings together


providers and commissioners of NHS services with local authorities and other local partners such as social care and housing to collectively plan health and care services. This represents a fundamental shift in the way the health and social care system is organised in England – moving away from competition and organisation autonomy to collaboration between health and care organisations so as to integrate services, reduce health inequalities, and improve population health and wellbeing. The NCF resources include dedicated


training to help social care providers understand more about ICS, and an online ‘one-stop shop’ on the NCF website offering a simple overview to ICS, interactive maps to discover which ICS operate in any given area, ‘key messages’ to help providers understand how social care is central to improving health and care for their local populations, and case studies to showcase how engagement can


work to make a difference for people using health and care services. Vic Rayner OBE, CEO of the National Care Forum said: “The introduction of ICS is a major change to the health and social care system in England and as such it is imperative that the social care sector fully understands and engages with the process of transition to this new model of partnership working. We have created these resources to support our colleagues from across the sector to strengthen their understanding, upskill their competencies and build their confidence in identifying partnering opportunities that integrate health and care services and improves peoples’ health and wellbeing. “The resources are available to all and we


encourage social care providers to fully engage with them.”


National Care Awareness Report shines light on UK Care Sector


The organisers of UK Care Week have revealed the results of a new survey – the National Care Awareness Report. The National Care Awareness Survey was


conducted in November 2021 in collaboration with the Care Worker’s Charity, National Care Forum, and the National Care Association. Its aim was to capture a snapshot of the social care sector across the UK to understand the challenges facing care professionals. Findings from the Survey demonstrate


that overall, the social care industry remains under intense pressure. It found that: n 72% of carers think their salaries are unfair n 70% don’t feel confident in their ability to sustain their business over the next year


n78% don’t feel supported by the social care system


n75% feel groups and communities are important in giving care workers a voice


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When asked: ‘What more could be done to support you?’ care professionals answered most commonly with: ‘appreciation’, ‘recognition’, ‘better pay’, and ‘skills and training’. Many social care professionals felt


undervalued and unsupported. Care workers also want better remuneration, more time off, and more training. Comparisons were often drawn with the superior pay and benefit packages offered to NHS workers. According to the survey, the sector’s three biggest challenges are: nRecruitment and staffing nLack of funding nAttracting and retaining the right staff


UK Care Week’s Steve Clarke promised to repeat the survey next year so that care professionals continued to have “a voice on how they feel the sector is performing.”


Care consortium marks twenty years’ support across care Spectrum


Leading care consortium Spectrum has marked 20 years of providing support, advice, and networking opportunities to the care sector. Spectrum, a free-to-join care purchasing network that seeks to support care home operators with insight and networking opportunities, recently co-hosted its Celebration of Social Care’ event - its first face-to-face gathering since the pandemic - alongside commercial property services provider Colliers at the latter’s London offices. The event - which was led by Professor Martin Green OBE, chief executive of Care England - provided members with the chance to collaborate and discuss the state of the social care sector. The event also saw Spectrum announce


a rebrand to future-proof its network, which will include a new website and a designated members’ portal to enhance networking opportunities for its 1,700 members who, between them, provide nearly 54,000 beds across nine care associations.


As part of the rebrand, monthly forums will be hosted to offer members the opportunity to share best practice and hear from speakers from various industries – including finance, insurance, public health, and employment. Commenting on the event, Spectrum chairman Arif Pradhan, said: “Reaching a 20th anniversary is a significant achievement for any organisation, but it’s especially the case when you reflect on all that we’ve achieved in that time. From our inception in 2002, we now have more than 1,700 members and it’s fantastic to see this continuing to develop as we evolve and thrive. “With 20 years of heritage behind us though, now offers the perfect time to future-proof the Spectrum brand as we look forward to the next 20 years. This then, has seen us embark on a comprehensive rebrand – and one that does full justice in showcasing our expertise and long-established offering. “All of these efforts are aimed at


improving our channels of communication to reach a larger audience.”


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com June 2022


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