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UNISON NURSING - HEALTH CARE ASSISTANTS CONFERENCE 2010

UNISON has announced it will be holding its next healthcare assistants conference on 21 September at the TUC in London.

The conference is for and about HCAs working in all settings and will cover a range of themes including:

• What are HCAs doing in the service today?


• What is the future of the role?


• What lessons can we learn from the devolved countries?


• What competencies should all HCAs have irrespective of where they work?


• What is the difference between skill levels and pay bands?


• What should HCAs do if are asked to undertake something they do not feel they can do safely and effectively?


• How might HCAs be regulated in the future?


• Why are HCAs fundamental to patient care?

How to register

Registration is open to anyone, if you are a UNISON member you should speak to your local branch about attending this conference as they may be able to assist in your travel and accommodation if needed.

Download a registration form (PDF) and return it with payment to Gail Adams, head of nursing, at the address detailed.

ON CALL REVIEW

Latest documents from the National 'on-call' payments review.

http://www.nhsemployers.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/OnCall_Draft_Principles_ap150710.pdf

http://www.nhsemployers.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/On-Call_Key_Findings_ap150710.pdf

The Grapevine

The latest issue of our newsletter 'The Grapevine' is out now. Available from your local rep or the union office.

ISA UNDER REVIEW

Home Secretary, Theresa May, announced on 15 June that the rollout of the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) Vetting and Barring Scheme (due to start 26 July 2010) has been halted to allow the Government to “redraw the Scheme to common sense levels”.

UNISON has sent a letter (on behalf of a joint TUC coalition) to the Home Office seeking a meeting to discuss the government’s ideas, the timescale for the review and to raise our concerns including the impact of the cost of ISA registration on individuals, the duplication with existing regulation by professional registration bodies, and the need to ensure that individuals have the right to a fair hearing. At the moment we do not know how far the review may go toward addressing these concerns.

The announcement of the review does not alter the current process. Existing requirements for criminal record checks remain in place and employers are still legally obliged to refer information to the ISA if an individual has harmed or demonstrated a risk of harm to a child or vulnerable adult. The ISA continues to investigate relevant information which is referred to it. The ISA will write to individuals who are under investigation and inform them whether it is ‘minded to bar’. If branches become aware of any members who receive a letter from the ISA, please inform your regional office and UNISON’s Professional Registration - Representation Unit.

Further details of the process for remodelling the Scheme will be announced shortly and we will provide Branches with this information as soon as it is available.

INDEPENDENT SAFEGUARDING AUTHORITY

Copies of the presentations given at the popular Vetting and Barring Focus Group at UNISON Health Conference 2010 are now available.

Download them here:

Presentation from John Brown, Policy Officer, Independent Safeguarding Authority

Presentation from Gail Adams, Head of Nursing, UNISON

Newsletter for Health Conference delegates on Vetting and Barring issues

ADMINISTRATIVE AND CLERICAL STAFF LEAFLET

A new leaflet for Administrative and Clerical Sector staff is available at www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/19067.pdf