Welcome to Real People, ARC England's newsletter with the latest learning disability and adult social care news and resources.

#BetterPay4SocialCare: Sign the petition
ARC England are proud to support our member Autism at Kingwood and their campaign calling for #BetterPay4SocialCare.

The coronavirus outbreak has caused the government and wider public to become more aware of the reliance on adult social care providers in directly keeping some of our country’s most vulnerable people safe and easing the pressure on the NHS. Social care workers are indeed frontline keyworkers.

#BetterPay4SocialCare is raising the profile of pay for social care staff. Few people working in social care would disagree that frontline workers are not receiving an adequate salary for the valuable service they provide.

Help by signing this petition calling on Government to ensure better pay for social care workers across the UK
https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/betterpay4socialcare

MCA/DoLS, Positive Risk Management and new training course dates for 2021

• Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
  Updated due to the postponement of Liberty Protection Safeguards until 2022. 
  - MCA/DoLS for Trainers: 1st and 2nd December, 9.45am - 1pm
  - MCA/DoLS for Managers: 8th and 9th December 2020, 9.45am - 1pm
  - MCA/DoLS Workshop for Frontline Staff: 25 and 26 January 2021, 10am-12.30pm
• Introduction to Active Support Workshops
  - 11th November 2020, 9.30am - 12.30pm
  - 10th December 2020, 9.30am - 12.30pm
  - 18th January 2021 9.30am – 12.30pm
  - 10th March 2021, 9.30am – 12.30pm
• Positive Risk Management  (four hours over two days):
  - 16th and 17th November, 10.45am-1pm
  - 11th and 12th February 2021, 10.45am-1pm
• Supporting Medication in Social Care Settings for Trainers  (four hours over two days):
  - 23rd and 24th November 2020, 11am - 1pm 
• Introduction to Loss and Bereavement and People with Learning Disabilities
  - 16th November 2020, 9.45am - 4.00pm
  - 7th December 2020, 9.45am - 4.00pm

• Level 2 Independent Advocacy (distance learning)
• Level 2 and Level 3 Diploma in Care Qualifications
• Level 4 Diploma in Adult Care (England)
• Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care

Care worker pay falls behind that of retail staff and cleaners, as turnover continues to mount
Pay progression minimal for care staff as employers concentrate pay rises at the lowest end in response to rises in minimum wages, shows latest Skills for Care state of workforce report. 
Read the full story at Community Care >

Watchdog warns charities and the public to protect themselves against fraudsters amid pandemic
The Charity Commission is warning trustees and donors to strengthen defences as it fears the pandemic has created environments that are enabling charity fraud.
Read the full story at Gov.uk >

Worries over infection control funding and access to PPE
Concerns are growing over whether the second round of infection control funds will be enough to last throughout winter, as well as access to free personal protective equipment (PPE) as promised by the government.
Read the full story at Laing Buisson News > 

Seeking views on care plans for community mental health – 16 October 2020 - PRSB
The Professional Record Standards Body (PRSB) is inviting service users, health and care professionals and organisations who work with and support those with mental health conditions to read this consultation document and provide your view on the information needed for care planning.
Take part in PRSB's consultation >

Legal View: The CQC’s Transitional Monitoring Approach
Anna-Maria Lemmer, Associate Solicitor at Ridouts, explains what care home providers should expect from the CQC’s new Transitional Monitoring Approach.
Read the legal view of the CQC's new Transitional Monitoring Approach >

CQC webinar series on transitional regulatory approach and emerging 2021 strategy 
CQC are offering three weeks of webinars as to discuss their transitional regulatory approach and the latest on their emerging strategy for 2021. 
Register for CQC webinars > 

CQC surveys: Have your say
CQC surveys are now live on the following topics: 

• Strategy 2021: People
• Strategy 2021: Smart
• Strategy 2021: Safe
• Strategy 2021: Improvement

Skills for Care Qualification review consultation events
Skills for Care is interested in your expert insight and experience to help them review the content of three important adult social care qualifications for care workers and managers: Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care, Level 4 Certificate in Principles of Leadership and Management in Adult Care and Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management in Adult Care.

• Online consultation event for learning and development professionals 
  Monday 2 November, 14:00-15:00  Register >
• Online consultation event for care providers, sector leaders and commissioners:
  Wednesday 4 November, 14:00-15:00  Register > 
  Thursday 5 November, 11:00-12:00 Register >  
• Online consultation event for care workers:
  Thursday 5 November, 14:00-15:00  Register >

Skills For Care Digital skills and digital leadership: making sure we build what you need
Skills For Care want to know if you agree with their findings on what is needed in the sector to improve digital skills and digital leadership in a 10 minute survey that closes on 1st November. They would like to hear from: 

• managers and leaders
• care workers
• learning and development leads
• people in business support roles
• individual employers or personal assistants

Take the Skills For Care Digital Skills and Leadership survey >