Events

Help improve your business with the following events that are available to you. Please note, some of these are run by external organisations.

Members' Meetings - 2010 update
All three of the forthcoming MKB members’ meetings are in fact open meetings which non-members may also attend. We are keen to attract non-members, not only to demonstrate the benefits of membership but also to broaden our own knowledge base here at the Association by talking to as many care providers as possible.

These meetings will be especially useful as, due to reduced Government funding in 2010/2011, it is up to care providers to make sure they know exactly what funding is available and how they can maximise their applications. MKB Care Association exists to help members do exactly this and, even more importantly, we can direct and prioritise the funding that comes through Bucks CC, Skills for Care and SCIE – providing we know what is important to our members. So please come along and talk to us, tell us what you want and ask us any questions you think we can help with.

21st January: Click here to read the report from the meeting at the Green Park Conference Centre.

23rd February: YMCA, High Wycombe, 2pm. Presentations: Mental Capacity Act, SoVA, DoLS. Click here for more information

10th March: The Well at Willen, Milton Keynes, starting at 10am. The main presentation is a seminar on Parkinson's Disease given by Katy Slade from the Parkinson's Disease Society. Click here to download more details.

Click here to download the booking form  Please e-mail Susie Bell (susie.bell@mkbcare.org) if you would like a paper copy of any of these forms sent to you.

Skills for Care: annual conference 25th February 2010

The Skills for Care annual conference will take place on 25th February and will be held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole at the NEC, Birmingham, B40 1PP.

The theme will be recruitment and retaining staff and the conference will use a mix of expert speakers, interactive workshops and fringe sessions to explore the best ways to recruit more people to adult social care – and retain them for the future. Key speakers include Phil Hope, Minister for State for Care Services and David Croisdale-Appleby, Chair of Skills for Care.

To book your place, vist www.pavpub.com/skillsforcareannualconference or call 0844 880 5061 or fill in the booking form available here.
 

End of Life Care Conference: 18th March 2010

The NHS South Central region is hosting a free, one-day conference on End of Life Care on Thursday 18th March 2010 at the Kassam Stadium, Grenoble Road, Oxford, OX4 4XP.

Click here for further details or have a look at the conference's website
 

24.09.2009 Clusters in Milton Keynes (Employer Engagement Project)

Milton Keynes Council is working closely with PV Employers based on Cluster Groups.  In January 2009, Employers formed their own Clusters with three main aims:

• Collaborate on training activities
• Offer Peer Support
• Work together on workforce issues such as Recruitment and Retention initiatives.

The overall objective is for the clusters to become more self determining and in the process improve outcomes for service users.

The Cluster Groups are now up and running, and as each cluster has differing needs, they determine how they work, in a way that suits them and meets their objectives.

Some of the successes of the Cluster Group so far are…

Group 1 - Larger Care Homes (usually part of a group)
Has organised two training session on Tissue Viability, which have been highly evaluated

Group 2 - Smaller Care Homes (This group is subdivided into two geographical groups MK and Olney area)
Both groups have successfully received funding for a number of training events including activities training which is being sourced form two different providers.

Group 3 - Mental Health and Learning Disability
Commissioned a bespoke Dementia course that was especially designed for adults with a learning disability – an example of how Clusters can respond quickly to changing needs.

Group 4 - Domiciliary Care
Successfully organised a number of training events tailored to Domicialiary Care and is developing a pilot DVD for recruitment.

Group 5 - Voluntary and Specialist Interests
Has successful organised training including IT training – vital for many small charities that did not have the skills to maximise IT systems to support their work.

Group 6 Drug, Alcohol and Substance Misuse
Has identified specialist training required and is in the process of commissioning.

In addition, Milton Keynes Council has purchased six laptops for use by Clusters, whether that is for group training, using training materials (such as those provided by the Logontocare propject, or to assist staff who need access to a computer for their personal development.  

The Cluster groups have now all met for the third time (except for Cluster 3  - meeting on 5th October) and are busy compiling their bids for consideration by the Executive Forum on 9th October 2009.  It looks like there will be some very interesting bids including music therapy!

If any agencies in Milton Keynes have not yet signed up, you are encouraged to contact Suzanne Pangbourne, Project Coordinator  s.pangbourne@btinternet.com to discuss the benefits or who will direct you to one of the Cluster Leads.
 

 PCT meeting 25th February 2009

To download a report form this meeting click here