Just a reminder that the final milestone for TSI (Training Strategy Initiative) during this financial year is fast approaching.

The County Durham Safeguarding Adults Inter-agency Partnership is committed to providing safeguarding adults training to all partner agencies, including the independent and voluntary sector.

Skills for Care have given details of a programme of events they are holding for Social Work practitioners (including SW students, mentors, practice educators, those involved in PQ and CPD, et al) and managers, in February and March this year.

Places are still available at this half day Regional Apprenticeship event to be held on the morning of 3rd February 2010. This is a joint event with Skills for Care and the National Apprenticeship Service. The event will enable you to better understand how apprenticeships can benefit you, how to access, support and resources available. You will have the opportunity to have your questions answered.

Decha are pleased to offer 10 places on the above qualification for our membership through Bishop Auckland College. Each employer member is able to nominate 2 members of staff in the first instance. This module is funded and decha only requires a £9 booking fee, payable before the course commences.

Due to popular demand the decha Short Course Programme has been extended to include additional dates for the courses which have been newly introduced during the September 2009 to March 2010 programme.

County Durham DISC held their Staff Away Day at Hall Garth Golf & Country Club, Darlington, and the first business of the day was the presentation of a Skills for Care Learner of the Year Award to Jo Hall.

Accept Care of Consett held their second Awards Event on December 2nd 2009. This was a particularly special event as one member of staff became the first County Durham recipient of the SKILLS for CARE LEARNER of the YEAR AWARD.

There have been several new dates/courses added to the Short Course Programme and we still have places available on the rest of the programme.

Developing Growth and Opportunity is designed for small to medium sized employers and a grant may be available to cover the majority of the cost. To find out if your organisation may qualify please call Ray Cox on 01494 817000.

Bishop Auckland College has recently made taking on an apprentice easier than ever before with a dedicated employer-facing team which works with employers to find the best possible match for your business needs. We have developed a system which gives you, the employer the choice of candidates through a series of interviews which Bishop Auckland College arranges either on your premises or at a variety of sites throughout the local area.

The Safeguarding and Practice Development Team, funded jointly by Durham County Council and County Durham PCT, have now published their latest edition of their Dignity newsletter which can be found at the link below.

New Board members were elected at the 2009/10 Annual General Meeting. This morning Board meeting was extended to additional employer members of the Alliance. The day reviewed decha's achievements and coming challenges.

the HPA have updated their guidance in respect of Swine Flu for Care Homes which can be accessed for information purposes for those working in Social Care Environments.

DON'T FORGET, This Autumn Roadshow has something for everyone, whether you have fully up dated, need to update or never registered there's something for you at the nmds-sc (National Minimum Data Set - Social Care) roadshow. The bus is fully equipped to allow you to login, upload data and edit any data currently logged to your establishment and there are staff there to support you through the process.

Compass NE are delivering seminars on the HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE ACT 2008 and the (REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS) REGULATIONS 2009

Serco would like to invite organisations from the private, public and third sectors who are interested in becoming part of their network of quality providers to deliver Flexible New Deal Part 2.

The following link may be of interest to you, Hartlepool Borough Council are managing a grants scheme which is regionwide and offers grants for VCS groups delivering against Employability outcomes.

The Big Care Debate, launched by the Government to find out what the adult social care sector really thinks about the 'Shaping the Future of Care Together' Green Paper announced in July, has instigated Skills for Care's 1000 Voices Questionnaire in order to attempt to find out what the sector thinks.

Find attached details of Skills for Care - Care Ambassador Induction Day to be held on 20th November at Gateshead and information about the second cohort of the Professional Practice Award starting in November. New ambassadors are welcome.

The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Team are planning to hold four half day sessions to raise awareness on the Mental Capacity Act. These sessions will be used to up date homes on issues surrounding the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and provide guidance on the following areas of the Mental Capacity Act:

through Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS)

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards came into force on 1st of April 2009 as an amendment to the Mental Capacity Act 2005

To date there have been fewer applications than expected across the North-East region. It may be that care home managers do not yet fully understand when they should be applying for an authorisation. There may be unlawful deprivations of liberty taking place

The Durham County Safeguarding Adults Board are offering training to staff from all organisations (including the Independent & Voluntary sector)with the county.

Coming to a Car Park near you!

This Autumn Roadshow has something for everyone, whether you have fully up dated, need to update or never registered there's something for you at the nmds-sc (National Minimum Data Set - Social Care) roadshow. The bus is fully equipped to allow you to obtain a login, upload data and edit any data currently logged to your establishment and there are staff there to support you through the process.

Members, Please be aware that a new e-learning course is now available FREE for all decha members. The hand hygiene course lasts approximately 15 minutes and is great for all staff working at all levels.

The Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Team (Durham County Council) are planning to hold four half day sessions to raise awareness on the Mental Capacity Act. These sessions will be used to up date homes on issues surrounding the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and provide guidance on the following areas of the Mental Capacity Act:

Just a reminder that the Short Course programme is now open for bookings

This piece of work was initiated and funded by Skills for Care NE. In January 09 it was agreed that Durham Employers’ Care and Health Alliance would facilitate three sessions with local advocacy services in Durham, and regionally where possible, to assess the impact on these services of the introduction of the personalisation agenda.

decha have been advised that the bid we submitted for TSI Funding has now been accepted, and on completion of contractual agreements between decha and Skills for Care we will be managing the funding for 1000 units for our membership.