SCOTTISH BORDERS COUNCIL and NHS BORDERS

Health and Social Care News Update

Issue 7 – Winter 2017/18

In this issue ....

• IT Integration Project Welcome to the health and • Major investment in Waverley Care Home and Community social care news update Equipment Service unveiled Colleagues, • Integration Joint Board update I am delighted to introduce the Winter • Joint Older People’s edition of the Health and Social Care Inspection News Update. • Carers (Scotland) Act You will see from this edition we are in a Implementation time of great change and I look forward • General Manager Patient to working with you all to meet the Pathways – Dr Jane Prior challenges that lie ahead • Locality Plan consultation • Commissioning and During the ten weeks or so that I have Implementation Plan been in post, I have tried to get out and • Mental about as much as I can and have been Health Strategy really encouraged by what I have seen • Alcohol related brain damage so far. I have been throughout the BGH conference held and Kelso Community Hospital, visited I’ve also met with unions and staff • Scottish Borders Seniors teams in Mental Health and Learning representatives in what I felt was a very Networking Forum (SBSNF) Disability and seen first-hand some of forward looking and exciting exchange • Men’s Sheds make progress the work they undertake. I’ve talked with of views and ideas. They are already • Community equipment homecare providers, district nurses, our well on their way with arrangements to amnesty GP fraternity, occupational therapists, support the partnership of Council and • Other news in brief speech therapists, physios, social NHS staff and we have agreed to meet workers and health care assistants. I regularly in the new year. have also been able to meet with some This coming year will be an especially New assess to of our voluntary agencies and a host of important one for the partnership as we discharge service local communities. review our plans and aspirations for the now open in One of the things that has struck me future of Health and Social Care. It’s Galashiels the most has been the commitment, been a busy couple of months, but I will energy and compassion from everyone endeavour to get out as much as I can I’ve met towards doing their very best and if I haven’t met with you already, As part of the winter plan and to for the communities of the Borders. I’ve really hope to be able to do so soon. In help reduce demand on hospital also had lots of suggestions as to how the meantime, for those of you who had provision, the Partnership has we can make our work more efficient, a break over the festive period, I hope commissioned SB Cares to operate better and effective. To be fair, some of it’s was a fantastic one, and for those an assess-to-discharge unit these suggestions have been at odds who worked through, thank you. within Craw Wood in Tweedbank. with each other, but that’s why we are The new service opened on 4 With every best wish for you and here as a partnership, to thrash it all out! December with eight beds and yours for 2018. So don’t stop talking; the more we are all scope to increase this to 15 in the engaged in improving our services, the Robert McCulloch-Graham future. Thanks go to all the staff more likely we are to succeed. Chief Officer Health and Social Care involved in getting the new service operational within the timescales that were given. Borders General Hospital. Adults who If you would like more information or have transfer to Craw Wood will be assessed any queries, contact Jane at: jane.prior@ Referral to the service will be by the team to establish critical needs scotborders.gov.uk or on 01896 826271. managed by Jane Prior (General and, where a service is required, they will Manager Patient Pathways) and ensure that assessments and support For information, the number for Craw the START team based at the plans are completed. Wood is 01896 829154.

01 IT Integration Project

IT is consistently identified by will help to sustain and enables video calls between clients staff one of the biggest areas of enhance people’s ability to live and practitioners – a virtual clinic opportunity to help improve joint independently. facility – has been successfully trialled working practices. Recognising this, • Workflow and Resource by the Orthopaedics Department at the joint Executive Management Management: to automate the BGH with Diabetes staff looking Team is continuing to developing and improve processes and to use it for hard-to-reach younger a joint IT Programme that will assist the smooth movement patients from January. Other services improve access to, and sharing of patients along pathways – interested include Tweeddale GPs for of, information across integrated including enabling an accurate engagement with local nursing/care services. In particular, the project will view of resource availability homes, the Mental Health Service for address four priority areas: and facilitates matching needs/ their Distress Brief Intervention pilot and requirements to those available the Out of Hours Service working with • Collaboration: to enable staff to resources. health professionals. Once enhanced share mail boxes and view/share WiFi is available in their care homes, SB calendars, and introduce file Project Manager, Graeme Cares will be exploring the potential for sharing capability. Dobson, said: “We are already the technology to help reduce hospital • Person Centric Data: to enable making practical progress on a admissions. staff to share appropriate number of important elements information about clients/ patients of the programme. Two early “Over the next few months we will (care record) in a secure and successes include the provision continue to roll-out the Attend Anywhere confidential way – ultimately, of WiFi connectivity at facility and continue to develop and creating a single view of the Health Centre to give the Assistant implement the wider IT Programme, patient and enabling a single Homecare Manager access to the including developing a clear ‘road map’. update of records. Council network and the provision Once agreed, a further briefing note will • Assistive Technology (including of data points for the Transitional be produced.” Technology Enabled Care): to Care Facility in Waverley Care identify aids and monitoring Home in Galashiels. For more information, contact: capabilities (e.g. video [email protected] conferencing, movement “Attend Anywhere, a video sensors, alarms etc.) which conferencing application that

Major investment in Waverley Care Home and Community Equipment Service unveiled

The official opening of the new Community Equipment Service premises in Tweedbank took place in October. The recently completed refurbishments to Waverley Care Home in Galashiels were also unveiled. Both facilities are operated by SB Cares and received funding from the Partnership to deliver the transformations. Waverley now provides a fit for the future care home provision of 10 long stay beds as well as a new 16 bed transitional care facility. This new service delivers short term rehabilitation for up to six weeks for people who no longer need to be in hospital but require some additional support to regain their independence before returning home.

The Community Equipment Service (formerly Borders Ability Equipment Service) now operates from a state of the art facility that has been designed community without delay. The building For more information, visit: to ensure community equipment is also contains an industrial washer/ www.sbcares.co.uk cleaned and recycled to the highest disinfector, improved welfare facilities possible standard in as short a time as for staff, a larger warehouse for Read more possible. This means that equipment increased stock holding and a public can be returned for use in the space for demonstrating equipment.

02 Integration Joint Board (IJB) update

The IJB has welcomed Tris Taylor as a voting member. Tris is also a Non Executive member of the NHS Borders Board. Read more

The latest meeting of the IJB took place on 18 December – papers are published to the SBC Calendar of Meetings.

2018 MEETING DATES ARE: 2018 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC Council HQ, 2-4pm 12 23 11 20 22 17

Joint Inspection of Older Peoples’ Services

As you should be aware, the Across the nine key indicators of The Care Inspectorate and Care Inspectorate and Healthcare performance, Inspectors found one Healthcare Improvement Scotland Improvement Scotland undertook to be good, five to be adequate and will be meeting with us in January to an inspection of our older people’s three to be weak. There were also 13 agree the final format of the action services between October 2016 recommendations for improvement plan. and February 2017. This involved which are currently being addressed submission of extensive advance through a draft action plan. Many of Read more information in the form of a report the actions have been completed and documentary evidence, three while the remaining reflect work For more information, contact weeks of on-site investigation, a that is already in progress. The Susan Henderson: file reading week and two weeks of Joint Inspection Executive Group [email protected] meetings with stakeholders. is monitoring progress of the plan The inspection report was and reporting this into the Executive published on 28 September. Management Team.

Carers (Scotland) Act Implementation Locality Plan The new Carers Act (Scotland) comes into force on 1 April 2018. consultation Designed to support carers’ health and wellbeing and help make caring more sustainable, it also gives carers more rights including no longer needing to be providing ‘regular and substantial care’ before requesting Feedback received from a Carer’s Support Plan. The Act also brings a number of new duties for the consultation held on the local authorities and health boards which SBC and NHS Borders are , Cheviot, Eildon, currently working to develop. Teviot & Liddesdale and Tweeddale locality plans was presented to Project Lead, Susan Henderson, is due to be produced by the end of the IJB on 23 October. They are said: “This Act is good news as 2018, providing local and national now being updated, including the it recognises the important role information. addition of a priority focusing on of carers as well as extending support for informal carers in line and enhancing their rights. The “We are keen to have input from with the legislative requirements of Partnership, including Borders carers throughout this process and the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016. The Carers Centre and Borders Care welcome their involvement. The updated plans will be resubmitted to Voice, is working with carers to Borders Carers Centre provides an the IJB in early 2018. ensure we are ready for 1 April. information and advice service to This includes having a carers’ carers on behalf of the Partnership To find out more, contact support plan and an eligibility and they are also encouraging carers Trish Wintrup: trish.wintrup@ criteria in place specifically for to be involved.” scotborders.gov.uk carers as the Act means that carers who meet the eligibility criteria For more information, contact will be eligible for support in their Susan Henderson: sahenderson@ own right. This includes young scotborders.gov.uk carers. A short breaks statement

03 General Manager Patient Pathways Commissioning and Dr Jane Prior Implementation Plan

Jane took up the role of Rob McCulloch-Graham said: “Jane’s The Plan was approved by the General Manager Patient appointment represents a significant IJB in October. Work will begin Pathways at the end of step in our commitment to the in early 2018 on reviewing September, taking on integration of health and social care the Partnership’s overall responsibility for overseeing services, particularly in relation to Strategic Plan and as part of and managing the discharge supporting patients to move through that, the Commissioning and process, producing an their pathway in the most appropriate Implementation Plan will also be overarching strategy and and timely way. She has also been updated. The Strategy is available reviewing and revising given authority to make decisions as as part of the IJB papers. policies and protocols well as question and challenge existing as required. She is also processes if she thinks there is a more Read more continuing in her post of effective way for these to be undertaken. Team Leader START, working I would ask you all to work with her to For more information, contact to address patient discharge support this new role which we believe Jane Robertson: jane. requirements/ delayed is in the best interests of patients and [email protected] discharges from a social the service as a whole.” work perspective.

Scottish Borders Mental Health Strategy

The draft Strategy was approved by service. It is currently available to mental health the IJB in August. It has now been read as part of the IJB papers. strategy1. INTRODUCTION finalised and plans are being made SCOTTISH BORDERS for it to be launched early in the Read more new year. The Strategy provides a framework for the delivery of mental For more information, contact Haylis health activities in the Borders for all Smith: haylis.smith@scotborders. age groups; it’s aims are to promote gcsx.gov.uk good mental health and wellbeing for all; respect, protect and support people with mental health issues and mental illness to live well; recognise, support and value families and carers; promote partnership between services and the population they

Alcohol related brain damage conference held

A successful multi-agency conference on Alcohol Related Brain Damage (ARBD) was held on 8 November where representatives from SBC, NHS Borders, the third sector and family members met as part of the Partnership’s commitment to developing an integrated care pathway, commissioning strategy and action plan for people with ARBD and their families. To find out more, contact Dee Chamberlain: Read more [email protected]

04 Scottish Borders Seniors Community Networking Forum (SBSNF) equipment amnesty

Older people from across the Borders to all voluntary, community and are being invited to the next meeting non-profit organisations based or of the SBSNF on 20 February in the active in the Borders that provide Community Centre, Walkershaugh, or have an interest in the provision Peebles starting at 9:45am. Supported of services and activities for older by the Community Capacity Building people. Team, the Forum gives older people To find out more, contact Diana and the organisations that represent Findley (SBSNF Chairperson) them the opportunity to meet on a on 01835 823374 or at: diana. regular basis. Membership is open [email protected] Working with SB Cares, a month- long community equipment Other news in brief amnesty was held in September- October to encourage people to return any unused items that • • Health in Harmony has been Flu vaccinations could be recycled. Even though As part of the annual flu vaccination set up by Coldstream GP, Dr the campaign has now ended, campaign, Joint Director of Public Emma Platt and Music Therapist, items can still be returned – visit Health, Dr Tim Patterson has Clare Gillespie under the www.sbcares.co.uk for more been encouraging anyone who is guidance of Jennifer Sterling, a information. eligible for a free vaccine to make highly experienced and hugely sure they take up the offer. This enthusiastic musical director. includes pregnant women, people They meet every Thursday 7.15- aged over 65 and anyone with a 9.15pm at The Tryst, Chaplaincy Men’s Sheds make health condition such as asthma, Centre, Borders General progress diabetes, chronic heart disease Hospital. Sessions are £3 each. or liver problems. Staff from NHS If you would like to join or are Borders, SBC and SB Cares who interested in booking a recital, have direct contact with patients contact: clare.gillespie@ or clients have also been offered a borders.scot.nhs.uk free vaccine. • Singing for Breathing is open Read more to people in the Tweeddale • Carers Act (Scotland) training area who have COPD (chronic The Borders Carers Centre is obstructive pulmonary disorder), offering awareness training on the emphysema, bronchiectasis and severe asthma. Due to be new Carers Act (Scotland), which The Men’s Shed initiative is launched in January, the group comes into force on 1 April next proving hugely popular right will be a chance for people to year. The sessions take no more across the Borders with sheds experience the range of benefits than an hour and are open to all either open or in the process that singing can offer anyone professionals working in social care of being formed in Coldstream, with a respiratory illness, along and health across the Borders. Duns, , Galashiels, with a chance to meet others with Hawick, Jedburgh, Kelso, To find out more visit: www. similar conditions. Carers are also and Peebles. Many have been borderscarerscentre.co.uk/ welcome. professionals-training or contact set up with the support of the Debbie Rutherford on 01896 To find out more, contact Julie Community Capacity Building 752431. Harvey on 07597577527 or Team with Duns & District being Anne Ritchie on 07769322583. the latest to reach another • Singing social care and health milestone with their recent move staff sought • Third sector news into Gavinton Church Hall. Two new choirs for people working Keep up to date with the latest in social care and health are looking news across the third sector at: Read more to attract members. www.linknews.org.uk

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