Provider communications and engagement offer
Page contents
- Introduction
- Which communication or engagement formats are suitable for my service type?
- Further information and contacts
- Adult Social Care Provider Bulletin
- Autism Partnership Board
- Care home huddle
- Day opportunities network: Learning disability
- East Sussex Care Homes Group
- East Sussex Mental Health Action Group
- East Sussex Registered Managers Network
- Learning Disability Partnership Board
- Market Position Statement
- National policy briefings
- Safe in East Sussex bulletin
- Safer Communities Board
- Any other feedback or queries?
Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the way Adult Social Care and Health (ASCH) communicates with service providers.
New communication channels such as the adult social care provider bulletin, care home huddle and network meetings for day opportunities’ providers were initiated to support our response to the pandemic.
You can sign up for our adult social care provider email bulletin which has stories about workforce, wellbeing, service news, training and development, events, and opportunities to ‘have your say’.
Working alongside providers and partners we reviewed a range of communications and engagement formats that are either funded, authored, or co-ordinated by ASCH and are targeted at independent sector providers.
Overall, providers have been positive about how we have supported them to stay up to date on frequent and complex developments in social care policy, guidance, and funding opportunities. We intend to retain that offer of communications support and expand opportunities for providers to engage and collaborate with us.
ASCH will also seek to maximise the opportunities offered by digital communication and engagement, while acknowledging that a combination of digital and non-digital formats is needed to reach the full range of stakeholders who help us meet the care and support needs of people in East Sussex.
This offer will be subject to review, and ASCH will continue to assess the pressures facing social care and the wider system. Where appropriate, further changes to our provider communications and engagement offer may be required to meet strategic and operational priorities.
Which communication or engagement formats are suitable for my service type?
We know that there are a vast range of information sources available to providers. Where possible, ASCH will try to tailor and segment the information we share based on the type of services you provide, or the client groups you support.
This table indicates which of our communication or engagement formats are suitable for different service types. For information about any of the formats listed below, please click the links in the left-hand column of the table, which will take you to the relevant section. Please note that some forums are accessible by invitation only.
| Format | Care homes | Day services | Home care | PAs | Supported living | VCSE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASC Provider Bulletin | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Autism Partnership Board | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Care home huddle | Y | |||||
| LD day opportunities network | Y | |||||
| E Sussex Care Homes Group | Y | |||||
| E Sussex Mental Health Action Group | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | |
| E Sussex Registered Managers Network | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||
| LD Partnership Board | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Market Position Statement | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| National policy briefings | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Safe in East Sussex bulletin | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Safer Communities Board | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Further information and contacts
This section provides key information about each communication or engagement format. If you are interested in accessing any of these please take note of the target audience, access route, and get in touch with ASCH using the contact listed.
Adult Social Care Provider Bulletin
| Target audience | All social care providers in East Sussex |
| Frequency | Weekly |
| Location | Digital, email |
| Topics covered | News relevant to adult social care providers, such as changes to national guidance or new policy; service changes; engagement, consultation and training opportunities; stories about workforce and wellbeing. |
| Access | Open access. Sign up for the provider bulletin |
| Contact | ASC Personalisation |
Autism Partnership Board
| Target audience | Membership includes autistic people, family carers, and representatives from the local authority, NHS, VCSE and wider public sector who have a role in supporting better outcomes for autistic people. |
| Frequency | Meets 3 times a year |
| Location | Virtual meetings via Microsoft Teams (until further notice) |
| Topics covered | The East Sussex Autism Partnership Board is a consultative body of stakeholder representatives, who are committed to working together to help autistic people and their carers lead more fulfilling and rewarding lives. It works to support the delivery of the national Autism strategy, alongside local priorities and strategies. Priorities include improving outcomes from health, care, education, employment and welfare services, and improving understanding of autism across all local services. |
| Access | Invite only to Board members |
| Contact | Autism Partnership Board |
Care home huddle
| Target audience | Care home managers |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Location | Virtual meetings via Microsoft Teams |
| Topics covered | Updates to care home managers on changes to policies, guidance or any new relevant service or updates to processes. |
| Access | Open access via the Adult Social Care provider email bulletin and through email mailing list. |
| Contact | esxccg.carehomehuddle@nhs.net |
Day opportunities network: Learning disability
| Target audience | Learning Disability day service providers supporting adult social care clients. |
| Frequency | 2 - 3 times monthly |
| Location | Virtual meetings via Microsoft Teams |
| Topics covered | Providing a networking opportunity. Initially facilitated in response to pandemic and to share best practice ideas. |
| Access | Invitation only |
| Contact | Day services lead |
East Sussex Care Homes Group
| Target audience | Invited representatives of organisations involved in the provision of care in care homes. This includes primary, community and social care, plus the Registered Care Association and Healthwatch representatives. |
| Frequency | Monthly |
| Location | Meetings via Microsoft Teams |
| Topics covered | Place-based oversight of the Enhanced Health in Care Homes agenda and COVID-19 related issues |
| Access | Invitation only |
| Contact | Care homes lead |
East Sussex Mental Health Action Group
| Target audience | Mental health provided services (statutory and voluntary), service users and carers/groups, plus any local services or organisations interested in mental health support as part of their offer e.g. DWP, Healthwatch, community organisations, Public Health. |
| Frequency | 3 times a year (4 monthly) plus key community mental health updates and information by email. |
| Location | Virtual meetings via Microsoft Teams (previously rotated between Hastings, Eastbourne and Lewes) |
| Topics covered |
|
| Access | By personal invite but always open to and seeking new members to ensure system-wide representation. |
| Contact | Mental health lead |
East Sussex Registered Managers Network
| Target audience | Registered managers, deputy managers and aspiring registered managers. |
| Frequency | Bi-monthly |
| Location | Virtual meetings via Microsoft Teams |
| Topics covered | Supporting registered managers by sharing knowledge, hearing from guest speakers, accessing peer support, and helping improve the quality of services. The network is led by a registered manager as Chair. Skills for Care takes a proactive role in supporting the network and assisting the Chair. |
| Access | Invitation only |
| Contact | ASC Training |
Learning Disability Partnership Board
| Target audience | People with a learning disability, family and carer representatives, provider representatives, council and health services staff, people from community services. |
| Frequency | 3 times a year |
| Location | Virtual meetings (currently). Meetings previously held in Eastbourne. |
| Topics covered |
The Learning Disability Partnership Board is a group of people who work together to improve experiences for people with a learning disability and local family carers across East Sussex, and ensure they have a say in how services are delivered and how improvements can be made. Topics covered include equality, community, housing, employment and health.
|
| Access | Invitation only |
| Contact | Learning Disability Partnership Board |
Market Position Statement
| Target audience | Adult social care providers |
| Frequency | As required, based on market shaping priorities and local trends in social care supply and demand. |
| Location | Digital, ESCC web pages |
| Topics covered | Contains an assessment and summary of adult social care supply and demand in East Sussex, signals ASCH commissioning intentions, and the current and future business opportunities within the care market. |
| Access | Open access: Market Position Statement |
| Contact | ASC Personalisation |
National policy briefings
| Target audience | Adult social care providers |
| Frequency | As required based on frequency of key national developments. |
| Location | Virtual meeting or recorded presentation via Microsoft Teams or YouTube |
| Topics covered | National developments related to social care reform or health and social care integration. Raising awareness of key national policy developments that have implications for adult social care providers. Facilitating feedback or discussion on these policies, where appropriate. |
| Access | Open access |
| Contact | ASC Personalisation |
Safe in East Sussex bulletin
| Target audience | East Sussex residents, local businesses, Safer Communities Partnership organisations e.g. East Sussex Fire and Rescue, Sussex Police, local District and Borough councils and VCSEs. |
| Frequency | Quarterly |
| Location | Digital, email |
| Topics covered |
|
| Access | Open access. Subscribe to the Safe in East Sussex bulletin |
| Contact | Safer Communities Partnership |
Safer Communities Board
| Target audience | East Sussex Safer Communities Partnership: made up of many local organisations who work together throughout the year to make East Sussex safer. |
| Frequency | Invitation only |
| Location | Virtual meetings via Microsoft Teams (previously meetings held in Lewes). |
| Topics covered |
The partnership undertakes an annual strategic assessment of community safety and from this agrees the working priorities detailed in its business plan.
Key tasks are to:
|
| Access | Invitation only |
| Contact | Safer Communities Partnership |
Any other feedback or queries?
If you have any queries or comments about the ASCH provider communications and engagement offer, including any formats not listed in this briefing, please email ASC Personalisation.
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