New Data Collection Guidance for Homecare Providers: Everything you need to know

Brand new guidance published by the Department of Health and Social Care has outlined new requirements for adult social care providers. This article will take you through the key findings and takeaways, covering what this means specifically for domiciliary care providers. By the end of this article, we hope you feel calm, confident and prepared for what is expected.

Let’s go!

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What has changed with Data Submission requirements?

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With this latest guidance, you’ll now be required to provide data via the NHS Capacity tracker each month. Providers have already been submitting this data, but this new guidance makes submitting key components of it mandatory.

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Why have Data Submission requirements changed?

Sharing insights - and understanding trends and impact - across the social care industry is essential. Not only does this data help bring more awareness to the pressures the sector faces - but it also reveals ways to better support home care providers and the people they look after.

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This is why the Department of Health and Social care is now keen to make the sharing of this critical data easier and faster. In accessing a more reliable and consistent source of data, they aim to further their ambitions for social care reform.

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What data needs to be submitted?

Domiciliary care providers now need to submit…

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Information on your organisation

• The number of people using your service today
• The number of staff in your organisation that have face-to-face contact with the people being supported
• The number of staff delivering care that are not working because of coronavirus

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Information on COVID-19 vaccination

• The number of your staff known to have had the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccination
• The number of your staff known to have had the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination
• The number of your staff known to have had the COVID-19 vaccination booster
• Please note: this data requirement is subject to change in September.

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Information on seasonal flu vaccination

• The number of your staff known to have received this season’s flu vaccination (seasonal: 1 September to 31 March)

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When do Domiciliary Care Providers need to submit new data?

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• The first submission is due by 14th August, by the end of the day.
• Care providers will need to collect and submit the data each month, following that initial submission. This deadline to submit data will then continue to be the 14th day each month, by end of day.
• Please note: if the submission deadline (14th) falls on a weekend or public holiday, the submission will be due the next day.
• The data submitted must be no more than a week old or out of date, meaning it was last updated on the 8th of each month.

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Where do Domiciliary Care Providers submit data?

This data will be submitted via the NHS Capacity Tracker.

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Where can you learn more?

We recommend you read the full guidance to ensure you are fully in the know of what this means and what to expect - which you can access and read here. You also should have received a letter from the Department of Health and Social care with more details.

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We’ll also continue to review and see how the Birdie Platform can help make finding this data a breeze. Stay tuned for more!

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Please note: we’ve done our best to ensure the accuracy of the above information, but we recommend that you do read the full guidance for full detail and requirements!

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