News
Scheme aims to boost status of healthcare assistants Following a review of training, candidates must complete certificate to work unsupervised By Kat Keogh THE VIEWS of patients could be sought on whether healthcare support workers are fit to work unsupervised as part of a care certificate being launched this summer. Training provider Health Education England (HEE) is piloting a scheme aimed at raising standards and improving the status of healthcare assistants (HCAs) in England. The scheme follows a government review of HCA training last year by Times journalist Camilla Cavendish, which found the quality of training for new starters was ‘inconsistent’. Every new HCA will have to complete the certificate within 12 weeks of starting work, and cannot work unsupervised without it. Candidates need to prove they meet 15 standards (see box).
They will be assessed on the job and through face-to-face interviews. Candidates can also gather feedback from colleagues, supervisors and patients about their work to be used in their assessment. An HEE spokesperson said: ‘The care certificate should ensure that the healthcare support worker has the required values, behaviours, competencies and skills to provide high quality, compassionate care, which will directly benefit patients.’ The care certificate needs to be completed only once, regardless of whether the staff member moves to a new employer. All certificates must be recorded and made available on a national system, such as the electronic staff record used by NHS trusts.
Petition may trigger parliamentary debate on regulator’s fee
Tiger Feet hit really is neat
NURSING OLDER PEOPLE
■■ Understanding your role. ■■ Personal development. ■■ Duty of care. ■■ Equality and diversity. ■■ Work in a person-centred way. ■■ Communication. ■■ Privacy and dignity. ■■ Fluids and nutrition. ■■ Dementia and cognitive issues. ■■ Safeguarding adults. ■■ Safeguarding children. ■■ Basic life support. ■■ Health and safety. ■■ Handling information. ■■ Infection prevention and control. RCN HCA adviser Tanis Hand welcomed the new certificate, but said employers should also ensure they recruit the right type of person for the role in the first place. ‘The role is more than just the practical things, such as moving and handling and health and safety,’ she said. See analysis, page 8 and opinion, page 12
CLINICIANS WORKING with patients with Parkinson’s disease have applied for funding to carry out research into the link between the condition and music. The move follows the experience of patient Christine Reeve, who has had the disease for eight years and is being treated at London Road Community Hospital in Derby. Ms Reeve has difficulty walking, but when she listens to music with a particular beat, such as the 1970s hit Tiger Feet, she is able to march backwards and forwards. Physiotherapist Fiona Lindop (pictured right with Ms Reeve) said: ‘It just started with Christine saying one time that she fancied a jig. We found her an iPod out of curiosity and she put it on. ‘It was miraculous to see. All of Christine’s anxiety seemed to disappear with the music. It was almost like the music freed up her mind and took the effort away she normally faces when walking or talking.’
Caters
THE NURSING and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) proposed registration fee increase to £120 is likely to be debated in parliament after a petition against the rise reached 100,000 signatures. The petition, started by mental health liaison nurse Steve Iwasyk, gained the necessary number of signatures to spark a debate. Mr Iwasyk argues the fee is unaffordable for most nurses and is urging them to contact their MPs and persuade them to take part in the debate if the backbench business committee decides one should be held. A 12-week consultation on the fee rise started last month and will close on July 31. Go to www.nmc-uk.org/Get-involved/ Consultations/Fee-consultation To sign the petition, visit epetitions. direct.gov.uk/petitions/60164
The 15 standards in the care certificate
June 2014 | Volume 26 | Number 5
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 14, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Scheme aims to boost status of healthcare assistants Following a review of training, candidates must complete certificate to work unsupervised By Kat Keogh THE VIEWS of patients could be sought on whether healthcare support workers are fit to work unsupervised as part of a care certificate being launched this summer. Training provider Health Education England (HEE) is piloting a scheme aimed at raising standards and improving the status of healthcare assistants (HCAs) in England. The scheme follows a government review of HCA training last year by Times journalist Camilla Cavendish, which found the quality of training for new starters was ‘inconsistent’. Every new HCA will have to complete the certificate within 12 weeks of starting work, and cannot work unsupervised without it. Candidates need to prove they meet 15 standards (see box).
They will be assessed on the job and through face-to-face interviews. Candidates can also gather feedback from colleagues, supervisors and patients about their work to be used in their assessment. An HEE spokesperson said: ‘The care certificate should ensure that the healthcare support worker has the required values, behaviours, competencies and skills to provide high quality, compassionate care, which will directly benefit patients.’ The care certificate needs to be completed only once, regardless of whether the staff member moves to a new employer. All certificates must be recorded and made available on a national system, such as the electronic staff record used by NHS trusts.
Petition may trigger parliamentary debate on regulator’s fee
Tiger Feet hit really is neat
NURSING OLDER PEOPLE
■■ Understanding your role. ■■ Personal development. ■■ Duty of care. ■■ Equality and diversity. ■■ Work in a person-centred way. ■■ Communication. ■■ Privacy and dignity. ■■ Fluids and nutrition. ■■ Dementia and cognitive issues. ■■ Safeguarding adults. ■■ Safeguarding children. ■■ Basic life support. ■■ Health and safety. ■■ Handling information. ■■ Infection prevention and control. RCN HCA adviser Tanis Hand welcomed the new certificate, but said employers should also ensure they recruit the right type of person for the role in the first place. ‘The role is more than just the practical things, such as moving and handling and health and safety,’ she said. See analysis, page 8 and opinion, page 12
CLINICIANS WORKING with patients with Parkinson’s disease have applied for funding to carry out research into the link between the condition and music. The move follows the experience of patient Christine Reeve, who has had the disease for eight years and is being treated at London Road Community Hospital in Derby. Ms Reeve has difficulty walking, but when she listens to music with a particular beat, such as the 1970s hit Tiger Feet, she is able to march backwards and forwards. Physiotherapist Fiona Lindop (pictured right with Ms Reeve) said: ‘It just started with Christine saying one time that she fancied a jig. We found her an iPod out of curiosity and she put it on. ‘It was miraculous to see. All of Christine’s anxiety seemed to disappear with the music. It was almost like the music freed up her mind and took the effort away she normally faces when walking or talking.’
Caters
THE NURSING and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) proposed registration fee increase to £120 is likely to be debated in parliament after a petition against the rise reached 100,000 signatures. The petition, started by mental health liaison nurse Steve Iwasyk, gained the necessary number of signatures to spark a debate. Mr Iwasyk argues the fee is unaffordable for most nurses and is urging them to contact their MPs and persuade them to take part in the debate if the backbench business committee decides one should be held. A 12-week consultation on the fee rise started last month and will close on July 31. Go to www.nmc-uk.org/Get-involved/ Consultations/Fee-consultation To sign the petition, visit epetitions. direct.gov.uk/petitions/60164
The 15 standards in the care certificate
June 2014 | Volume 26 | Number 5
Downloaded from RCNi.com by ${individualUser.displayName} on Nov 14, 2015. For personal use only. No other uses without permission. Copyright © 2015 RCNi Ltd. All rights reserved.
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