Category: Department of Health

Top tips for travelling safely in the UK

With ‘staycations’ becoming the new vacations, follow these top tips for your safety

UK Gov have highlighted 5 top tips for getting out and about in the UK:

  1. Know before you go – check whether the places you are visiting have any additional measure in place
  2. Follow advice on social distancing – keep your distance from people not in your household (2m if you can), avoid crowded places and try to avoid travelling on public transport at peak times
  3. Wash your hands regularly – take hand sanitiser with you in no washing facilities are available
  4. Check guidance on face coverings – ensure you travel with one and know where you will need to wear this
  5. Enjoy green spaces – remember to follow the Countryside Code

For more information click here.

Staying safe while travelling abroad

Keep up to date with health risks of your destination

The government has recently made changes to its travel policies, with the requirement to self isolate for 14 days being lifted for certain countries. Remember the current advice is to avoid all but essential international travel, however these countries are exempt from this advice.

Click here for advice and guidance about what to pack, what to do when you arrive at your destination and what you need to do on return to the UK.

Greenspaces

Compelling evidence shows that access to greenspaces really matters for our health

Now more than ever we are becoming more dependent on outdoor spaces to improve our health and wellbeing. Green environments are associated with reduced levels of depression, anxiety and fatigue and can enhance quality of life for both children and adults.

Access to good quality greenspaces, such as parks, allotments, woodlands and fields varies greatly on where we live. However, evidence suggests that the most economically deprived areas often have less available public greenspace, meaning people in those communities have fewer opportunities to reap the rewards.

The new report from PHE offers policy, practice and research recommendations. Click here to find out more.

Health profile for England: 2019

Department of Health and Social Care, September 2019

This report combines data and knowledge with information from other sources to give a broad picture of the health of people in England in 2019. It includes life expectancy, trends in mortality and morbidity, and inequalities in health.

Click here to view the full report.

Role and Responsibilities: Adult Principal Social Worker (PSW)

Department of Health and Social Care, July 2019

This guidance sets out the role, function and purpose of a PSW in adult services.It helps support employers when recruiting to the role of adult PSW and clarifies what social workers and other practitioners can expect from the PSW in their organisation.

Click here to view the guidance.

Capability Statement for Principal Social Workers in Adult Services

Department of Health and Social Care, July 2019

The capability statement sets out what a PSW in adult services should know and be able to do to ensure that effective professional social work practice is developed and supported within their organisation. It aims to support a move towards consistency in scope, autonomy, influence and impact of the PSW role across the whole sector.

Click here to view the statement.

Chief Social Worker for Adults' annual report: 2018 to 2019

Department of Health and Social Care, March 2019
This report sets out how social workers are taking a practice leadership role in delivering safe and best outcomes for people with health and care needs and the priorities over the coming year to further raise the quality and profile of adult social work across an integrated system.  It offers examples of social workers demonstrating leadership, professional oversight and co-operation with individuals, families and the wider health and care sector.  The report also looks at the way organisations collaborate across health, community and voluntary sectors to maintain people’s quality of life and independence.
Click here to view the full report.

Empowering NHS leaders to lead

Department of Health and Social Care, November 2018
This review was led by Sir Ron Kerr and explored 3 challenges faced by executive leaders across the NHS:

  • expectations and support available for leaders
  • alignment of performance expectations at the organisational and system level
  • level of administrative burden placed upon executive leaders

The review makes a number of recommendations to address these challenges.
Click here to view the full report.