Health Care and Wellbeing e-newsletter for December 2009

What’s Different about the Care Quality Commission?
Lucy Hamer reflects on the dialogue the CQC had with those who attended the Networking Events last month. In our programme news are some of the questions and answers from the four sessions. 
 

CQC webform ‘goes live’
As widely publicised and debated withthe CQC at the National Networking Events around the country in the autumn  the new webform was launched on 1st December 2009. Use this form to send information about local health, social care and mental health services and commissioners, including scrutiny reports.

CQC Social care reports 
The Care Quality Commission has published its first major national statement on the quality of adult social care.  Based on three separate studies it is indicative of a more  analytical and ‘in the round’ approach.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence  has published a new guide on commissioning NHS services.  How to Use NICE Guidance to Commission High Quality Services explains how NICE guidance can be used to support commissioning. It outlines the support available from NICE and the benefits using NICE guidance can bring for local populations.

LINks Page Launched on NHS Choices Website. The DH has also called for health and care professionals to engage with LINks as part of a nation wide campaign to drive up awareness of LINks and promote their ability contribute to genuine change.  

Networking Events – Reducing Health Inequalities.  Su Turner reports back in our programme news on the discussions and workshops held as part of the autumn series of National Networking Events .  All the presentations are available here too.

Hackney Health and Worklessness review

As this review clears its final hurdles, Jonathan McShane  Chair of Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission writes a progress report for the December Scrutiny Digest.  Of the four reviews awarded Innovative Scrutiny funding in January the Warwickshire Joint Review of Winter Deaths and Fuel Poverty was completed and made available in our library in July. North Lincolnshire’s review of Practice Based Commissioning 'The inverse care law and links between Practice Based Commissioning, deprivation and health inequalities'  and East Riding’s Health of Caravan and Chalet Dwellers are, like Hackney, clearing the final hurdles. A report of lessons learned will be collated in the New Year.

Events

Performance management seminar - book now
The CfPS will be launching its key publication: Green Light at this performance management seminar on 20 January 2010.  You will get to discuss with colleagues how to go beyond performance management to look at how scrutiny can use performance information along with other evidence to give rise to real improvements in local services
 

Publications
10 Questions Guide to Safeguarding Children
Safeguarding children and young people: a new scrutiny guide
The Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) and The Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) have published a new guide to support overview and scrutiny committees in fulfilling their critical role in relation to safeguarding children.  Download your free copy here.

New to the Library
Carers Need Care Too. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

The topic was originally suggested by the Chair of the Southend Carers Forum, one of the co opted members on the Community Services Scrutiny Committee. The agreed aim of the scrutiny project was to undertake a baseline review to identify and map gaps in services across health and social care (in the broadest sense) for the 16,000 Carers in Southend – which includes approximately 1,500 young Carers.

Good Scrutiny Awards
We want to hear how you have successfully influenced excellent public services. If you, or your organisation, have done something in the last year that you are proud of we encourage you to submit an entry.  Find out about the new award categories and submission dates here