Our CoursesIn Touch Care offer a wide range of courses for learners of all ages and abilities. Whether you’re looking to update your workforce, further your career or learn something new, we can help make it happen!

To find out more about our courses contact Diane Oram on 0114 2633880 or email diane.oram@intouchcare.co.uk

“I am delighted to introduce the first issue of our quarterly newsletter. In Touch Care are known nationwide for providing innovative and dynamic learning experiences recognised by care sector employers and through this newsletter, we endeavour to keep all our employers and partners up to date with the latest training and information available in our sector” Jo North, Executive Director, In Touch Care Ltd.

• Health and Social Care levels 2,3,4

• Oral Health Care: Dental Nursing level 3

• Support Services level 2

• Childcare levels 2 & 3

• Advice and Guidance level 2

• Leadership & Management in Care Services level 4

• Assessor and Verifier Qualifications

• Initial Teacher Training

• Skills for Life Training

• QCF Qualifications:-

Dementia, Activities Organiser,

Learning Disabilities, ERR

Start dates on most courses

available throughout the

year

November 2010 - Issue 1 Page 1

Employer Forum at In Touch Care12 January 2011

About In Touch Care - Celebrations, Celebrations, Celebrations!!

•We are delighted to celebrate our recent Investors in People Gold Status - and eagerly await the outcome of our our submission for Champion Status.

•On the 7 December we are anticipating a successful outcome of our Excellence Award for the National Skills Academy in Social Care. No provider has yet achieved this award and we look forward to being the first to achieve it.

•ITC is currently working towards achievement of the LLUK Equality Standard and Sheffield Standard for Careers, Information, Advice and Guidance.

As an Investor in People and committed to the Skills Pledge, our staff are highly qualified and well-supported in order to realise their full potential. We attribute our continued success to our dedicated team of staff who play a vital role in ensuring that everyone has an excellent learning experience at In Touch Care.

The introduction of the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for apprentices commenced on the 1 October 2010. It has been set at £2.50 per hour, and will apply to all apprentices under 19, and apprentices aged 19 and over in the first year of their apprenticeship. It applies to time working, plus time spent training as part of that apprenticeship.The different levels of NMW, depend on your age and whether

you are an apprentice. The current rates are:

£5.93 - the main rate for workers aged 21 and over

£4.92 - the 18-20 rate

£3.64 - the 16-17 rate for workers above school leaving age but under 18

£2.50 - the apprentice rate, for apprentices under 19 or 19 or

over and in the first year of their apprenticeship

The age at which you become entitled to the main rate was reduced from 22 to 21 on 1 October 2010. The apprentice rate was introduced on the same date. If you are of compulsory school age you are not entitled to the NMW. Some of your other employment rights are also different.

November 2010 - Issue 1 Page 2

Want to improve your English and Maths Skills?

Do you want to improve your career prospects and boost your confidence?

At ITC, we offer FREE Skills for Life programmes that can help you develop the skills you use in everyday life, such as reading, writing and maths.

Get On!Skills for

Life

Contact Diane Oram

0114 2633880

National Minimum Wage

Page 3Issue 1

In Touch Care is one of the first organisations to achieve The National Skills Academy for Social Care's

Recognition Status and we are currently anticipating a successful outcome

of our Excellence Standard application.

The employer driven NSA for Social Care focuses on leadership, management and commissioning and modelling excellence in learning, in adult social care. Created by employers, for employers, from across the broad spectrum of adult social care, the Skills Academy’s role is to aid the delivery of improved care, in response to the needs of employers, employees and people who use services, by supporting and promoting excellent learning and training in social care in England.

The introduction of the new Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) in September 2010 has meant that all accredited vocational qualifications will now be available on the QCF. This recognises achievement through the award of credits for units and qualifications achieved.

It provides a more flexible route to full qualifications, achievable in smaller steps, with the aim of offering more choice.

The proposed benefits of the QCF are to be more inclusive and responsive to meet current and future employer requirements, thus leading to a demand-led system. The Learner will be able to study at a pace, place and time that suits their individual circumstances. It will also introduce a more transparent system that will bring greater consistency and understanding across all vocational qualifications.

Page 3November 2010 - Issue 1

Endorsement FrameworkOne of the National Skills Academy’s key areas of commitment is promoting excellence in social care training and education. Their Endorsement Framework gives a clear indicator of quality training for the adult social care sector. Organisations offering social care training and specific learning programmes can now apply for Recognition and the Excellence Award. Jo North, Executive Director of In Touch Care, is delighted to have been appointed as the Regional Review Co-ordinator for the NSA for Social Care in Yorkshire and the Humber.

For more information email Jo North on Jo.North@nsasocialcare.co.uk or for more information and details on how to apply please visit the Academy's website: www.nsasocialcare.co.uk

Membership SchemeThe NAS for Social Care is developing a membership scheme for organisations and individuals in social care. It will be open to everyone in the sector and will offer products and services of real practical value that will support them in their commitment to delivering excellent care in an unpredictable climate and at a

time of change. Full Membership of the NSA for Social Care will be rolled out early in 2011. As a starting point, a selection of 100 organisations and individuals who are committed to excellence and innovation in social care have joined us as Founder Members of the Academy. In Touch Care is proud to be one of the Academy's Founder members and we will be working with them to ensure the services they develop will provide real benefits and tangible value, and deliver what the sector needs, at a time of enormous change in social care.

Comments from our Visitors"Made me feel very welcome, thanks" "Excellent hospitality and venue"

"This visit was amazing; such energy and motivation displayed""Very high tech, very impressed" "Overwhelmed"

"A very welcoming place" "Found ITC a very good experience, nice environment""Absolutley fantastic. Will be feeding back to Midwifery Managers"

November 2010 - Issue 1 Page 4

News from the Sector

CQC News

The End of the Care Standards Act 2000The Care Standards Act (CSA) 2000 ceased to be in force in England from the 30 September 2010. ASC and IH providers will no longer be registered under the CSA. Anyone wishing to make a change to their registration please wait until you have received your ‘notice of decision’ for registration under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

See www.cqc.org.uk for further information

CWDC News

A skills framework that supports and informs the whole of the young people's workforce has been launched by the Children's Workforce Development Council (CWDC).The Skills Development Framework (SDF) aims to support employers across the workforce to cultivate integrated working skills within their organisations.

The SDF will inform employees, training providers, workforce development managers and national standard-setting bodies, as they introduce and develop the skills and competences required for effective joined-up working.

See www.cwdcouncil.org.uk for further information

Skills for Care News

Keeping Up The Good Work - a practical guide to implementing continuing professional development in the adult social care workforce This guide is for all employers in adult social care in England, whether local authority, private or voluntary sector. It provides clear information on the importance and practicalities of effective continuing professional development (CPD) for adult social care workers.

For further information see www.skillsforcare.org.uk

Skills For Health News

‘Six Steps Methodology to Integrated Workforce Planning’ is a useful tool that has been produced by Skills for Health.

Effective workforce planning ensures you will have a workforce of the right size, with the right skills; organised in the right way within the budget that you can afford, delivering services to provide the best possible care. This tool gives step by step guidance on how to do this effectively.

For further information go to www.healthcareworkforce.nhs.uk

Sector Body News

LLUK have produced a new set of Learning and Development qualifications. These are currently under consultation at this time. The new Training and Quality assurance qualifications may be included in these.Assessment and Internal Quality Assurance will be the successor to the existing Assessor and Verifier Units. Registration has opened with these new units. The existing A and V units are still open for registration until the end December 2010.

Page 5November 2010 - Issue 1

In Touch Care welcomes all Service Users to be involved in the ITC experience.Iris, who lives at The Queens Care Centre, has visited ITC regularly. She most recently presented certificates to both Learners and Staff for outstanding achievements and contribution to training on VQ (Vocational Qualification) day. Presentations were also made to Employers who have shown tremendous support to the Learners and ITC. Further details of the winners can be found on the In Touch Care website www.intouchcare.co.uk

We asked Iris what it was like being a service use.

What is the most important thing your carer does for you?"Just knowing that they are there 24hours a day – I’m never alone! Also, they support me with toileting etc. This was embarrassing for me at first, but now it’s part of my life as are the carers.’‘I would be willing to help any carer with their NVQ if I could. I like letting carers use me in their observations as I feel I’m helping them to better themselves."

Do you feel that the support and level of care from your carer is good?"Very good. All staff are kind and patient. They give me choices in all aspects of my care – this includes care plan reviews through to daily menus."

In Touch Care would like to thank Iris for her continued support to our learners and look forward to her next visit.

Mike, a university graduate, has recently completed a 3 month placement with In Touch Care.

Mike left school after completing his A levels and went on to graduate in Biology at University. His original intention was to gain employment in Biology, but soon realised that his degree was too broad, so Mike decided that his best course of action was to go back to university and get a more specific qualification. Being passionate about environmental issues, Mike chose this subject for his second degree.

Mike graduated in Clean Technology in 2008, however, after graduating found finding work difficult. He managed to get a temporary job with Yorkshire Water and from there was able to get a secondment as an Environmental Officer. Unfortunately for Mike this job came to an end in 2010 and he was back applying for jobs again, where he found he kept being turned down due to lack of experience.

At this time Yorkshire Forward was offering graduates the opportunity to take part in internships and Mike applied as he thought it would allow him to gain more experience and new skills that would be transferable to the jobs he was applying for.

Jo North, Executive Director of In Touch Care had heard about the Graduate Internship programme and offered Mike a placement.

Mike said “I had an interview with Jo North and was lucky enough to be offered a 3 month placement. The role allowed me to experience life inside an industry I had not encountered before; I gained a valuable insight into how businesses were run; learned many new skills during this time and put into practice some of the skills I had learnt during my course and previous roles. I learnt about many things I had not considered before, such as how Equality and Diversity projects were run and overall enjoyed my time there”.

Thank you Mike for all your hard work - from all at ITC

Page 6November 2010 - Issue 1

1. How many people in the UK have a disability?(a) 1 in 5 (b) 1 in 25 (c) 1 in 55

2. What percentage of disabled people are born with their disability?(a) 1%(b) 8%(c) 28%

3. What percentage of people with disabilities are wheelchair users?(a) 50%(b) 15%(c) 5%

4. If you were in a room with 100 people how many of them would you expect to have dyslexia?(a) 4(b) 34(c) 104

5. Most disabilities are associated with ...(a) Motoring accidents(b) Sports injuries(c) Age

6. Ramadan is ...(a) The first day of the Chinese new year(b) A month of fasting for Muslims(c) The Hindu festival of lights

7. What percentage of the British population say they have no religion?(a) 5%(b) 15%(c) 25%

8. How many mosques are there currently in the UK?(a) 10(b) 100(c) 1,000

9. Are Rastafarians recognised as a separate racial group?(a) Yes(b) No

10. What is the largest ethnic minority in Britain?(a) Caribbean, African or other black descent(b) Indian(c) Pakistani or Bangladeshi

11. Black African graduates are 7 times more likely to be unemployed after graduating than their white counterparts?(a) True(b) False

12. Which UK city is the most ethnically diverse?(a) Birmingham(b) Bradford(c) London

13. What percentage of the population in York and North Yorkshire is white?(a) 86.3%(b) 97.2%(c) 98.4%

14. What is the most prevalent minority in York at 0.4%?(a) Indian(b) Chinese(c) Bangladeshi

If you have any feedback on this edition of the newsletter or would like to share your opinions or suggestions then contact Juliet Meeres on email:

juliet.meeres@intouchcare.co.uk or telephone 0114 2633880