Seminar Arlington
13th October 2009
The venue for this year’s autumn seminar was the Mary Hare School, Newbury Berkshire. 
Mary Hare School caters for severe and profoundly deaf children between the ages of 5 and 19 years. Delegates were given a warm welcome from Head Teacher, Tony Shaw who explained the work of the school, now in its 64th year. MHSS together with its Primary School on the south side of Newbury caters for 240 pupils who hale from every country within the United Kingdom.
Health and Safety Issues.
They hear imperfectly (prevalence ~ 1/1000 with severe/profound deafness).
They hear without space perception.
Their use of spoken and written language is ‘immature’ for their age.
Their understanding of spoken and written language is ‘immature’ for their age.
They are ten times more likely to have both hearing impairment and sight impairment (prevalence ~ 7/1000 with both impairments).
He invited delegates to have a haircut during the lunchtime! This was a tape entitled 'Two ears are better than one!' which demonstrated a very personal introduction to the benefits of binaural hearing. This is an aspect of hearing that students will never experience or benefit from. It is a major health and safety issue!
Cath Dyson, CMIOSH, Health and Safety Director, Barchester Healthcare, gave an update on pandemic planning following her excellent presentation at a previous NASHiCS seminar. 
Her pandemic plan had been put into action during the last few months and, in general, had worked well. The plan has now been reviewed, updated and improved ready for the ‘second wave’ of Swine flu that is predicted over the coming months.
The challenges now are:
• to convince businesses that the threat remains;
• Ensure that a robust and effective vaccination programme is in place;
• Build up a ‘bank’ of replacement staff;
• Manage CRB checks as there will be no easement of the rules;
• continuously revisit and revise you plan accordingly;
Organisations can test their plan against Exercise Prometheus that is available on the Department of Health web site. Cath also ensures that staff receive simple, concise bulletins at regular intervals. The key message is that good infection control is essential to limit the spread of this virus. The possibility of a H5N1 avian pandemic has not gone away, however if you have a robust and effective plan in place that is tried and tested, you can manage this threat should it become a reality.
Annie Stevenson, Head of Older People's Services, Social Care Institute for Excellence, (SCIE) – 
Launched the ‘Project on the use of restraint in care homes for older people’. This is an excellent web based package that will assist professionals to make informed decisions and ensure that consistent standards can be achieved across this sector of social care. Anne gave a demonstration of this web based package, which was going ‘live’ on the day of the NASHICS seminar. You can find free learning materials and the e-learning resource at www.scie.org.uk.
SCIE are endeavouring to raise their profile and the upcoming launch of SCIE TV may help.
National Fire Safety Working Group. This group will meet soon to progress this with Chief Fire officers.
Members are asked to e-mail fire safety issues to the Group. Details of contact are on the website.
Mathew Hamar, Health and Safety Executive– Health and Social Care.
Matthew gave update on recent consultation exercises, regulatory matters and guidance and the work that is ongoing with Local Authorities with regard to direct payments and the following issues:
• Bedrails;
• Legionella;
• HSG220 – revising and amending. NASHiCS are supporting and assisting in this;
• Interactive CD aimed at Care Homes being developed;
• PUWER / LOLER – less information sheets available, but there will be more in the future with specific guidance;
• RIDDOR – revised guidance;
• Electronic profiling beds –final report in preparation now;
• Needlesticks – looking at new technology compared to existing systems;
• Floors in healthcare – there is a misconception that safety flooring may reduce cleanliness. This is a myth as both can happen – safety flooring can be hygienic;
• Competent advice – Legionella, Asbestos. Specialist case about bad / poor advice – Company prosecuted due to inadequate surveys etc. Outside agencies are expected to provide competent advice;
• Stress Case studies – HSE invited NASHiCS to participate in this exercise.
Current Challenges –
• the manual handling passport scheme is working well in Wales and has had a positive effect and work is ongoing to mirror this work in England;
• Working on links to other agencies with respect to the Personalisation agenda and direct payments;
• to carry out more inspections.
During the break for an excellent light lunch provided by the staff of the Arlington Centre delegates attended a demonstration of Fire Safety Training held in the Car Park of the centre.
The afternoon session comprised of Workshops which delegates could choose to attend. Two questions were posed for consideration. They were:-
‘What risk do organisations have in relation to allocating budgets and where does the responsibility lie?'
'What are the risks to the budget holders and the carers they employ?'
These are some of the questions and answers posed.
Final Budget holders...
Individual – Is the ‘person’ you are going to employ.
Suitable – training of the employee – family member – friend. (do they need training)
Manual handling – adequate training – what is realistic?
Does the initial assessment include an element of what training is required?
Freedom to choose and manage risks?
LA’s monitor outcomes without restricting choice? Can/should LA’s provide guidance and advice?
How far does the assessment go to determine the precise needs of the person?
Brokers – roles and responsibilities – support agencies.
Agencies – providing carers
Value for money – inappropriate use of funds
If a person is deemed to be unsuitable to be the carer – who will be responsible for dismissal and future insurance claims?
‘Below standard’ care - Who monitors?
Who will be responsible for an injury to the final budget holder?
What about an injury to the employee?
Capacity – how well will decisions be made?
Abuse – how is this managed?
Carer causes injury? What will local authorities do about this?
Are there additional costs specifically for insurance?
S.51 exclusion. Domestic servants fall outside of the HSAWA. When will the HSE become the enforcing authority or will the law be changed?
What will the framework look like to provide direct payments and who will monitor how it is spent?
How will learning points regarding risks/ experiences be cascaded and communicated (up and down)?
Who is the duty holder? And how do they know they are?
How does the self assessor know what questions to ask in assessing their needs?
The groups then came together and more questions were posed and answers sought from a panel of experts comprising of representatives from the HSE, SCIE, NASHiCS, Weightmans' Solicitors and Travellers Insurance.
Many questions were difficult to answer at this stage
HSE - HSW would apply if self employed.
Risk Management – Civil liability – difficult questions to answer.
Suffolk CC – View on MH – will provide training free of charge. Bespoke training only i.e. what is absolutely necessary.
HSE – training targeted at the task required. LA’s could be a resource implication.
Suffolk CC – Day 1 = mandatory, Day 2 = bespoke.
Insurance – Insurance Question: (personal injury). Civil Claim – insurance will look for the deepest pocket i.e. the LA. LA is giving out this money and has a duty of care. Lots of difficult questions.
SCIE – Spirit of personalisation – users are experts on their own care – people are not feckless. Framework required – balanced – empowering. Users to have an opinion. Believe it or don’t – technical issues.
Balance recognising what we need. Working with vulnerable people to find root causes. Already have RA’s in place for most of these people. Legislation not really in place yet.
Question: Communication – could we be in separate worlds.
NASHiCS – Summit of these issues. We need to revisit issues to find solutions. Regulator or Legislator – would be the best person.
Question: Person knows what they want. Advocacy becomes more prevalent.
It was acknowledged by all who had taken part in the workshops how useful and informative these sessions had proved to be.
And finally …….
Chris Jackson National Chair updated Members on the recent activities of the Associaitons and then closed the Seminar by formally thanking all of today’s speakers and especially thanked the sponsors with whom the delegates were able to view new products, systems and obtain technical and practical information.
Chris also thanked Andy Hollingshead Health and Safety Adviser, Leicestershire County Council, for organising this very successful day.
Chris also thanked the Centre Administrator, Lynda Chandler, and all the staff of the Arlington Centre for their excellent service.
He announced that the next NASHICS conference will be held on 1st July 2010.
Thanks to our sponsors of the event - Travellers - Sitex Orbiz - Praetorian Safe Guard - Global - Gipping Healthcare - Weightmans - Praxis 42 - Vodafone - Spectrum Healthcare (Hospital Aids).
