Children's mental health is rapidly declining. Some experts and researchers argue we are in a children’s mental health crisis. Currently, 75% of children and young people who experience mental health problems aren’t getting the help that they need.
At least one in six children and young people aged 7 to 16 years have a probable mental health disorder which increases to 1 in 4 in 17 – 19 years old. So, what are the factors and wider social determinants of health that impact children’s mental health and wellbeing? What is being done currently to tackle these issues? And what more can be done?
To find the best solutions, we must get to the heart of the problem and understand why children’s mental health is declining.
At Access Elemental Social Prescribing, we know that social prescribing has been well established and successful when used by both adults and students. We have worked with a number of different organisations across health and social care, housing, and education to deliver better preventative and early intervention services which can easily be adapted to apply in children and young people (CYP) too.
This article will review what factors have caused the mental health in children to decline, the current mental health problems in children, what support is available, as well as explore how social prescribing in children can be a proactive alternative to improving mental health support for our children and young people.
Feedback in health and social care is often overlooked. When it comes to understanding the experiences, perspectives and needs of people drawing on support, caregivers and regulatory bodies, nothing can compare to care feedback. In England, CQC feedback forms are the cornerstone of continuous improvement and quality assurance in care, so should be taken advantage of.
Good communication in health and social care is the first step to developing good relationships with people and generating consistent feedback that can be used to praise your team or motivate them to change and improve the care your service offers. It’s also key to promoting empowerment in health and social care, which gives people in your care the feeling of control and autonomy over their lives.
We at The Access Group have been working with care services across the country for over 30 years, providing them with high-quality digital services, support and information to help them succeed. We have put this article together along with other useful resources to help you understand feedback in health and social care, its importance and how you can use feedback to improve your quality of care.
The cost of electronic health records can be the deciding factor whether or not to buy a solution; regardless of the benefits such software will have on patients or clients.
These solutions aren’t cheap, it’s true, but it’s a classic case of you get what you pay for: buying an electronic health record (EHR) is an investment that will have longer term benefits, and it’s on an organisation to perform analysis to determine whether there are cost benefits as well as care benefits for them to onboard an EHR software.
For new healthcare organisations, it may be a step too soon, but for established organisations like NHS trusts it is commonplace to have electronic patient records already – and NHS Digital are pushing for all trusts in England to have these solutions as a matter of course. This push is encouraging private healthcare providers to follow suit, to better collaborate with the Integrated Care Systems (ICS) in the UK and be a part of the growing health and care ecosystem aiming to provide joined-up care.
In this article we will explore these costs by looking at the initial outlay, subscription fees, how an EHR can reduce costs and the return on investment, as well as the market out there and the competition, and how pricing structures might differ.
Collaborative working in the NHS puts partnerships between clinicians and organisations at its foundation. We see this in action through patient engagement and the patient experience, both of which are priorities under the NHS Long Term Plan and the NHS’ Integrated Care protocols.
These partnerships are being pursued by the NHS – primarily through NHS England, due to devolution – with the goal of taking that difficult first step of making contact with other health and care organisations. Establishing regular communication channels and building connections takes time, something healthcare professionals don’t have a lot of, so they need incentive – or a nudge in the right direction in this case.
There are benefits to be gained though through greater communication though; better knowledge of treatment methods, of population trends, of patient needs… the list goes on. In this article we’ll guide you through what collaborative working entails. We’ll touch upon NHS Trusts in England (NHS health boards in Wales), though that topic is for a companion blog to this piece given how much there is to talk about on collaboration between trusts. Instead, this is a guide to explore what collaboration needs to succeed, and what you as a healthcare provider can do – whether inside the NHS or outside – to be engaging and cooperative.
Knowing how to achieve an outstanding CQC report starts with considering the CQC’s five key questions: are services safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led? These questions form the basis of the CQC’s inspection and assessment framework, and they address what the CQC needs to see in terms of high-quality, safe, and person-centred care.
This article will break down the methodology behind the CQC’s rating process. We will share proven strategies that you can implement to improve your CQC rating. By committing to these strategies and continuously striving for excellence, you can work towards getting your own outstanding rating.
Person-centred care means the person is placed at the heart of their care. This ensures that the person has a choice in how they want their care and support delivered. By keeping the person fully informed they can contribute to their own safeguarding.
Person-centred care is especially important in care planning where it is now recognised as a key driver of the provision of high quality care.
Person-centred care’s benefits are:
- Flexibility: Individuals are free to tailor their care to their own needs instead of having a one-size-fits-all solution forced upon them.
- Responsibility: By giving individuals the responsibility to make their own care decisions, they become more empowered and engaged.
- Autonomy: Individuals who are responsible for their own health are more incentivised to make better lifestyle choices such as healthy eating and regular exercise.
- Independence: By enhancing the quality of individuals’ care they become less reliant on health services and more able to remain independent for longer.
- Happiness: Individuals who know they are receiving the most suitable care for their needs will be less anxious, more confident, and more happy.
In this article, we will define person-centred care, share examples of person-centred care in action and explain why it is important for health and social care.
Reflective practice in health and social care brings a wide range of benefits for health and social care professionals, patients, and their loved ones. With the approach often being embedded within training across many industries, reflective practice predominantly started in healthcare where the approach was heavily adopted across different industries with health and social care now at the forefront.
But, what exactly is reflective practice and why is reflective practice important in health and social care?
At the Access Group, we are aware many different approaches are being advised to help improve outcomes and care delivery. We understand that reflective practice goes further than talking or writing about your day, instead, it is about analytically evaluating your experiences to deliver better person-centred care in the future.
By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of what reflective practice is in health and social care and how it may differ between the two, as well as how it works, why it is important, and how often reflective practice should be used.
Brokerage in social care and healthcare helps to navigate the complex landscape of health and social care services. The King’s Fund identifies that brokering is essential to the integrated healthcare system as a future model for the health and social care market.
The services brokered or procured across the health and social care market can differ depending on the sector such as care, aged care, healthcare, and social care.
But, what does brokerage mean within healthcare and social care and what benefits does it provide to individuals and the wider market?
At Access Adam Care Commissioning, we are dedicated to helping local authorities reach the increasing demand whilst still delivering the best quality care at a fraction of the price. We are committed to ensuring all local authorities make better use of the resources around them to facilitate seamless adaptation of support services to meet both your community’s health and social care needs now and in the future.
By the end of this article, you should fully understand what brokerage is in healthcare and social care, why it is important, and the benefits it offers individuals, care providers, care commissioners, health and social care professionals, and the wider community. This article will also review the challenges of brokerage in health and social care and what are the best ways to overcome this.
Medicines management or medicines optimisation is defined as ‘the clinical, cost-effective and safe use of medicines to ensure people get the maximum benefits from the medicines they need, while at the same time, minimising potential harm’ by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.
Unfortunately, the frequency of medication errors in UK care homes has increased, which compromises the safety of residents across the UK and tarnishes the reputation of care homes.
Are you concerned about medicine errors and the associated risks in your care home? Perhaps you’ve recently had a near miss, or are anxious about when one might happen?
