PEN participation - Provider Engagement Network

Contents

Welcome to our new engagement structure

Sector Specific Forums, (tactical level)

Frequency: all monthly

Indicative Dates: see below pending decisions tbc

Issues raised at these forums should primarily be sector-wide / tactical. or strategic ones which only affect a Sector.

Sector Specific Forums will:

Develop thinking and discussions on sector-specific issues
Topic based with invitations with system partners to attend
Exploratory/developmental
Action-oriented as appropriate
Discuss commissioning intentions
Accountable for active participation and communication
Involve relevant invites to Specific Trade Association (e.g., DCHC
Create Project Groups for the specific sectors when necessary

Countywide Strategic Forum

Welcome to the new quarterly Countywide Strategic Forum, which is open to all providers who are interested. Please email socialcarebusinessrelations-mailbox@devon.gov.uk if you are interested in participating.

This high-level forum will primarily be of interest to providers with the appetite for strategic discussion, but all providers will be invited so everyone gets the opportunity to get important messages.

This forum will cover important countywide, cross-sectoral topics such as budget announcements, strategic developments and key policy and practice changes.

System partners such as the Integrated Care Board, NHS Devon and Devon Partnership Trust will be invited to present their significant issues and trade association representatives will be expected to participate representing their sectors.

We are looking forward to how we engage in the future and to hear feedback from providers regarding strategic items.

Provisional date: September

Sector Forums

County Care Home Forum

County Care Home Forum Dates for 2025

In collaboration with our partners at the Devon Care Home Collaborative and the Integrated Care Board, we have reviewed and updated the schedule for our County Care Home Forums in 2025.

Here are the new dates and extended timings:

CHF 2025 Meeting Dates – Tuesdays (2-3.30pm)

4^th March

20^th May

15^th July

16^th Sept

25^th Nov

Our Care Home Forums are open to ALL Care Home providers across the Devon County Council (DCC) footprint, who are signed up to a DCC contract. The forums provide an opportunity to connect with Devon’s Care with Accommodation Team, NHS Devon, Commissioners, Care Home providers, and other professionals.

Please mark these important dates in your diary. Invitations, including a registration link, will be sent to care homes prior to each meeting.

Housing with Support (HwS), Day and Enabling Services Provider Forum

These meetings were cancelled following June’s ‘Innovation’ meeting, where we acknowledged that there are various issues and opportunities that providers are keen to raise and progress. We therefore propose to use the summer months to progress work on these, but also acknowledging the notably the points outlined below:

Change in market capacity position / international recruitment
The next Steps for Housing with Support
Themes from the community services review (inc Innovation / TECs)

We would like to invite providers to be involved in task and finish groups around the above activities, if you are interested in putting yourself forward, please email the below mailbox stating your name and organisation and any specific elements you would like to engage with: socialcarebusinessrelations-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

Future service area specific forums meetings are schedule as follows:

Every last Thursday of the month, 11am-12noon

28 November, 11am-12noon – CANCELLED

NO MEETING IN DECEMBER

Personal Care Services Provider Forum

Future service area specific forums meetings are schedule as follows:

NO MEETING IN AUGUST

16 October Face-to-face

20 November, 11-12noon

NO MEETING IN DECEMBER

Mental Health Provider Forums

Jacqui Blackmore is chairing quarterly meetings, which are attended by MH providers, DCC commissioners and Devon and Cornwall Police.
Please contact jacqui.blackmore@carastonhall.com if you would like to attend.

Devon Residential and Nursing (DRN) WhatsApp group

Devon Care Home Collaborative (DCHC) runs a WhatsApp group for care home providers or managers to join a peer to peer support group that provides quick responses on questions you may have as well as flagging up resources, training and gathering your feedback on key issues. Please email: info@devoncarehomes.org with your request. Please note it is one contact per care home.

The Devon Integrated Social Care Alliance CIC (DISCA) represents a modern approach to collaborative working in social care. DISCA provides peer-to-peer support to managers and hands-on owners, facilitating the sharing of best practices, quality improvement ideas, and offering free training opportunities and more. Recognising the challenges and isolation that can come with being a manager or hands-on owner, DISCA aims to provide a supportive network of peers to lean on when necessary.

Since our establishment in late 2021, we have grown significantly, now boasting hundreds of managers who regularly access support through our innovative digital infrastructure, Infra360.org.uk. Accessing this peer-to-peer support is free and only takes two minutes to register on the website. Additionally, Infra360.org.uk can be accessed by downloading My Care Bubble from any app store. This allows managers to have work support readily available at any time, while keeping personal and professional life separate.

DISCA works closely with local authorities and Integrated Care Boards (ICB) and other partners such as the Devon Care Homes Collaborative, Devon Carers to provide strategic support and insights into the future direction of social care. We frequently seek the opinions of our members through this platform. Infra360 is overseen by a stewardship team from various areas of the sector, ensuring there is no conflict of interest. Should any profit be generated through different sponsors or funding in the future, it will be managed by the stewardship team as a system innovation fund for social care in Devon.

For more information and to access our support, visit https://infra360.org.uk or download My Care Bubble from your app store. Join us to benefit from a strong, supportive network of social care professionals in Devon.

Devon Care Homes Collaborative

Devon Care Homes Collaborative (DCHC) is a membership organisation that provides support to care home providers, managers and staff in Devon, Plymouth and Torbay. They aim to share best practice, provide inspiration, stimulate innovation, enable peer to peer learning and support the development of a financially sustainable care sector that understands and meets the common needs of members.

They work collaboratively with key stakeholders: the local authority, NHS and Clinical Commissioning Group, Devon STP, Proud to Care and others to support those working in the sector who strive to provide good quality care for those in need.

Membership to DCHC is free and open to all care home providers, managers and staff.

DCHC also runs regular events.