National website providing dedicated  advice and support to the care sector on technology and data protection to the sector. They also produce a monthly newsletter which you may find helpful

The Care Home Nurses Network is a jointly funded initiative by the Chief Nursing Officer England, the Queen’s Nursing Institute and the RCN Foundation.

• Would you like to be part of a national network of nurses working in the care home setting? 
• Would you like to learn from and listen to the latest research, best practice, innovation and policy? 
• Do you want to feel energised and motivated by the network?
• Do you want to use your voice and get involved in the work the QNI does, to represent your discipline within Nursing?

To join the online network, please register through this link and choose the “Care Home Nurses Network” as your area of interest.  You can also sign up for email updates from us and join other QNI networks. You can also join their Facebook forum for Care Home Nurses where you can network, ask for advice and get support from fellow nurses. The group holds regular meetings and has a newsletter for members.

The  Nurse Lifeline Charity is the first national, free, confidential, peer-led listening service in the UK run by nurses and midwives, for nurses and midwives. This initiative was developed by nurses and midwives, for nurses and midwives and as  a peer-led listening service, provided space for those in need to offload and chat with someone who gets it.

The Nurse Lifeline volunteers are there to reduce isolation within our professional community, together. To find out more about this service please visit their website or follow on twitter at @nurse_lifeline. A poster is available through this link which you can display. To access the service please call: 0808 801 0455.

Project Choice is a Supported Internship for young people with learning difficulties/disabilities and/or Autism. Health Education England work with them over an academic year to develop their employability skills and interview skills. They also work with them to job search and support them through job applications and interviews. The young people complete 3 x 12 weeks work placements, working alongside a workplace mentor and weekly support and progression visits from a member of Project Choice staff. They are always looking at organisations who would be interested in working with them to host a work placement. Further information can be found through the below resources.

• Employer Booklet
• Case Study and NHS Role Examples

Yorkshire Ambulance Service- Supporting Information for Care Providers

These slides are designed as a resourced for care provider staff of all levels, including as training for new starters. They are a useful guide for what to expect when calling 999, 111 and PTS services (including around waiting times, who will take your call, what to mention and what paperwork to have ready) as well when to call each of these.

Suicide Prevention in Care Homes- Webinar Recording and Resources

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and Yorkshire and Humber Clinical Networks recently held a webinar to launch the publication "Promoting Emotional Health and Wellbeing and Preventing Suicide: A Resource for Care Home Settings". The resource has been developed  to offer further information and best practice advice around prevention of suicide, intervention with those at risk and action to take following a suicide (postvention).                                   
A recording of the webinar is available here- Please note: there is a content warning for this recording.

Additional resources which were shared in the chat during the session are listed below:

• Zero Suicide Alliance training
• HEE self-harm and suicide prevention resources
• Staying Safe

Awareness of Swallowing Difficulties- Training Video for Care Homes

Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust's SALT team have produced a video training session on awareness of swallowing difficulties. The team provide the community nursing service across the Scarborough, Ryedale, Filey, Whitby and Pocklington patch. This 30 minute video is appropriate for carers and registered nurses, and would also be beneficial to kitchen staff and people who are new to care work. The focus is on awareness of swallowing difficulties and the steps prior to diet and fluid modification, and references the a care home swallowing pack. 

Working Together to Reduce UTI Prescribing

Work is taking place across to reduce antibiotic prescribing for UTI's and the "Do Not Dip" project. You may see changes in how your GP Practice responds to a UTI building on this work. Further information can be found through the presentation slides, but key messages include:

• If antibiotics are used when they are not really required bacteria can develop resistance. There were an estimated 55,000 antibiotic resistant blood stream infections in the UK in 2020, which can easily spread in care settings. They can also cause harm where used inappropriately, with links to stomach/bowel upside and infections such as C. difficile or MRSA.
• Many older people have bacteria in their urine anyway (around 50% of over 65's and an almost 100% with catheters). A dipstick will detect this and test positive, even if it isn't causing an infection. Practices have been asked to diagnose UTIs based on clinical signs and symptoms in the over 65s and those with catheters rather than using a dipstick test.
• We can work together to reduce inappropriate UTI prescribing, including by giving any antibiotics exactly as prescribed, and not doing a dipstick test or dropping in a sample unless requested by a clinician.

For any questions on this project- Please contact: susanbroughton1@nhs.net

Cooking with Confidence for Dysphagia

A new series of videos are being launched delivered by Nestle in partnership with renowned dysphagia chef Gary Brailsford, to provide support to providers in perfecting textured diet recipes. Across the series they will be providing top tips for preparing and presenting meals for IDDSI levels 4, 5 and 6. From menu planning to ideas on how to change up traditional texture modified potato or present the perfect dessert, they will be covering a range of topics to help you feel confident in getting mealtimes right for those in your care with dysphagia. To view the introductory video please follow this link.

The Social Policy Research Unit at the University of York have developed Getting Informed, Getting Prepared. This is a website features videos and guidance for those looking fund their own their or the care of others, including animations on who to talk around meeting the cost of care and looking for care.

Incidents and concerns involving controlled drugs should be reported to the Local Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer (CDAO). This is in addition to your usual incident reporting processes. Reports to the CDAO are made online at www.cdreporting.co.uk.

Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care Awards- Nominate Your Team!

The Chief Nurse Awards are an opportunity to recognise the outstanding contribution made by social care staff, and celebrate those who go above and beyond in their work, provide outstanding care, commitment and inspiration to colleagues. As well as being able to nominate individual staff members for a gold and silver award, there is now also the chance to nominate your team! The criteria for the new team award is:

• Recognising creative, innovative and effective team approaches.
• Demonstrates high level of performance, capability and commitment that goes beyond what’s expected.
• Demonstrates commitment to users of services through outstanding person-centred care which is recognised and supported by family, friends, or colleagues.

Further information on the award including the nomination criteria can be found through this link. We would encourage providers to have a think about staff meet these criteria and deserve recognition. We're happy to support with any nominations, and if you submit an application please copy us in so we can also celebrate the outstanding work undertaken everyday by care staff in our area..