TCS Complex newsletter Q1 2024
Welcome to the second edition of the Thornbury Community Services (TCS) Complex quarterly newsletter.
In this edition, we reflect on the last couple of months and celebrate the incredible work you and your colleagues have achieved and the high-quality care and support you have delivered to our clients in the community.
We have added a few new additions to this newsletter to ensure you are getting all the information you need to support you in your role.
You’ll find a dedicated awareness campaigns section highlighting the key campaigns we’ve supported this year and the upcoming ones we will celebrate.
Another segment we have included in this newsletter is a section dedicated to Compass. This new area explains what Compass is, where to find it, how to use it in your role at TCS, and new items within your Compass portal. Keep reading to find out more.
Quicklinks
A message from our Head of Service
Hi there, I’m Gemma, Head of Service for TCS Complex.
I want to thank you for your dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional care and support to our clients in the last few months.
I am honoured to work alongside you and witness your incredible contributions and the impact you make in our clients’ lives. Together, we will continue to set the standard for Outstanding CQC-rated care and positively impact the lives of those we care for.
Your ability to work collaboratively, adapt to challenges, and maintain the highest level of service excellence is inspiring. Your hard work, attention to detail, and passion for what you do makes TCS ‘Outstanding.’
We continue to review and update Compass and the newsletter to support your TCS career and ensure you have access to everything you need. We have already received some great feedback on the newsletter. Please take the time to share your thoughts and feedback using the feedback forms to help share future editions.
I hope you enjoy this edition of the TCS Complex newsletter, and I look forward to reading your feedback.
Celebrating you and your role
After a very successful quarter 1 in 2024, we want to take this opportunity to reflect and celebrate the care you delivered to our clients and share with you a good news story about one of our TCS complex clients.
Hours of care delivered to our clients
Last quarter, we delivered 129,994 hours of care to 88 clients and 6 new clients in the community.
Thank you for being a part of this success. You were instrumental in making this happen, and we hope to see this number grow every quarter so we can continue supporting more individuals to receive care in their own homes and communities.
How would you like to be celebrated in your newsletter?
If you have any ideas on how we can develop this section of the newsletter, please click the button below to share your feedback.
Or, if you’d like to shout out a fellow colleague or clinical lead and even share a recent achievement of the client you care for, click the button below.
The difference you make
We’re delighted to share with you a client story about Robyn and her care journey.
Until the age of seven, Robyn had repeated hospital admissions due to an unsafe swallow, which led to initially a nasogastric tube and then a gastrostomy tube being inserted. A year later, the gastrostomy was removed when her swallow improved enough to eat orally.
Following this, Robyn experienced more issues with her health, including being diagnosed with Arnold Chiari Malformation and being put on a BIPAP machine at home during the night. She also had a surgical procedure known as Posterior Decompression surgery, and the first two vertebrae (C1 and C2) were removed to release pressure from the brain stem and replaced with pins to stabilise her neck.
In 2015, Robyn’s health, physical strength, and balance deteriorated. It was decided that frontal compression surgery should be carried out to attempt to prevent any further deterioration. Before the frontal decompression surgery, Robyn’s cardiologist decided that she needed to have a stent and valve replacement in preparation for the surgery.
In February 2016, at the age of 13, Robyn had decompression brainstem surgery, and one day post-surgery, Robyn lost all movement on her right side. Between February and April of that year, Robyn deteriorated drastically and was moved back to intensive care.
During this time, she lost all of her movement from the shoulders down, her ability to swallow, and eventually her ability to breathe independently – she then had a tracheostomy inserted.
Robyn’s parents had to decide whether to put their daughter in for further surgery or transfer her to a hospice for end-of-life. Her parents chose surgery. Robyn was left quadriplegic with a cuffed trachy. Therefore, she had no voice and was only able to move her eyes, but most importantly, she survived.
In October 2016, Robyn was transferred to Tadworth Children Trust for rehabilitation and discharged to home at the end of February 2017 with just a tiny movement in her left thumb.
Robyn now resides at college Monday – Thursday. She has a fantastic team and has made a great friendship with her Clinical Lead, Ceri.
Our Head of Service, Gemma, recently met Robyn with her Clinical Lead, Ceri, and shared her experience:
I had the pleasure of meeting Robyn with Ceri, and she truly is amazing; she lets nothing get in her way, and she is a typical 21-year-old girl who loves her Gin, makeup, pranking her nurses and support worker, and posting this all over TikTok!
Supporting your wellbeing
As part of our commitment to prioritising your wellbeing at TCS, we offer confidential wellbeing calls and 24/7 access to our Employee Assistance Programme. Keep reading to learn more.
Employee Assistance Programme
Our EAP is available 24/7, all year round, and gives you access to speak to professionally trained advisors who are available to help with family problems, marital concerns, financial and legal matters, stress, depression, and other issues affecting your personal or work life.
Learn moreConfidential wellbeing calls
As part of our wellbeing support at TCS, we offer confidential wellbeing calls with our Supervisions and Appraisals Team, who are registered nurses that have worked in the same setting as you for some time and are fully aware of what support we can provide and the challenges of working within the complex care setting.
All calls and personal details will be confidential unless there is a risk to your safety or others. If you would like to book a confidential wellbeing call with the team, please click the button below.
Book a wellbeing call2024 Awareness Campaigns
At TCS, we’re committed to supporting awareness events throughout the year that celebrate inclusivity and showcase the diversity of our clients, healthcare professionals, and employees.
We recently supported Learning Disability Week and its theme, ‘Do you see me?’ by asking a few of our support workers how they ensure our clients are seen, heard, and valued at TCS and what our clinical leads enjoy most about working in the Learning Disabilities, Autism, and Mental Health Service as a clinical lead.
Take a look below to see if you recognise any of your colleagues or clinical leads or visit your new awareness campaigns section of Compass to see the upcoming campaigns we’ll be supporting this year.
To continue the Learning Disability Week celebrations and celebrate our incredible teams, we’ll be introducing more of our Learning Disabilities, Autism and Mental Health Services teams over the upcoming weeks on our TCS LinkedIn channel. Don’t forget to like, comment and share the posts with your connections.
I love my role as an RNLD Clinical Lead because it allows me to support our clients in the community and oversee their care delivered by our passionate healthcare professionals. I witness our clients lead a better quality of life under the supervision of the TCS teams, and it’s incredibly rewarding.
What makes me proud to be a Learning Disability Nurse and an RNLD Clinical Lead at TCS is that I play an active role in changing people’s lives. My role allows me to take a holistic view of our clients and create bespoke action plans to enable them to maximise their full potential.
By listening to our clients, we can communicate more effectively to ensure he has the best quality of life. Over the past year, our clients has visited the cinema every month. We have taught him the months of the year and that he can go to exciting and fun places. We manage any obstacle together to ensure it is an enjoyable experience. We now have a movie board in his home for all the films that come out for the year.
An important part of my role at TCS is ensuring our client has a voice. This means finding creative and bespoke ways to share their thoughts and feelings. We use many tools to support this, including written language dictionaries, social stories, and creating a video for the client around communication. It is incredible how much the client’s communication has improved during my time caring for him, and I cannot wait to find new ways to help him communicate more and share his thoughts with us.
Your Compass portal
This new section of your newsletter explains Compass, where to find it, and how to use it in your role at TCS.
What is Compass?
Compass is a dedicated hub that helps you navigate your career with TCS. Compass hosts all the key information, resources, guidance, and contacts you need throughout your journey.
From accessing the DNL video guide and timesheet guide to viewing your employee handbook, policies and procedures, key contacts, CPD training courses, and your TCS newsletter, we’ve got you covered.
How can I access Compass?
You can access Compass on any device by clicking the button below.
Visit CompassHow to use Compass in your role
Compass contains the key resources and information you need to support your TCS career.
Our quarterly newsletters are housed within Compass, so you can access them anytime by selecting the first tile on your Compass portal.
We have a dedicated Digital Nurse Logs (DNL) section that contains the complete DNL user video guide, mini clips that walk you through each step of using DNL during your shifts, and the form to complete when you encounter an error with DNL or eMAR.
To support you before, during, and after your shifts, we have a dedicated preparing for shifts section and a timesheet guide area containing a video guide that walks you through the steps to complete and send your timesheets.
What is coming soon to Compass?
In our next newsletter, we will introduce a new area of Compass that will be created to support you with the latest clinical governance guidance, information, and resources.
This new area will be reviewed by our clinical teams and updated regularly. So don’t forget to keep an eye out for more information in the upcoming newsletter.
Latest guidelines and updates
We have created this dedicated section of the newsletter to ensure you have the latest guidance, updates, and information to support you in your role.
Your safety and the safety of our clients are our top priority. That’s why we’re committed to providing you with the latest industry and safety information and guidance.
There have been several new updates from the following sources. Please read the information below to learn about the latest updates.
TCS updates
Whistleblowing policy
As a care provider, we recognise the importance of allowing employees to disclose information that they believe shows malpractice, unethical conduct, or illegal workplace practices without being penalised.
This includes protecting staff from any detriment or discrimination if they do report (i.e., ‘blow the whistle on’) improper or illegal conduct within the organisation.
In the policies and procedures section of Compass, you can access the Whistleblowing policy and all policies and procedures that fall into the following categories:
- Clinical and care
- Clinical standards of practice
- General Policies
- Incidents and complaints
- Safeguarding
- Information standards and data protection
Industry updates
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) update
The NICE has released an update recommending more targeting of antibiotics to those at the highest risk of Sepsis to ensure people are receiving the right treatments.
View update from NICECare Quality Commission (CQC) updates
The CQC has published an update on Integrated Care System assessments. This follows the discussions with the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC), which has agreed to a short delay in starting ICS assessments to allow for further refinements to their approach.
View update from CQCThe CQC has added three new items of best practice and guidance relating to the Assessing Needs quality statement to provide a benchmark for what good looks like in the following area:
- Proportionate assessment approaches a guide from the Chief Social Worker for Adults, principal social workers, and principal occupational therapists.
- The Care Act and Whole-Family Approaches
- “No Wrong Doors” for Young Carers
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) update
At the Royal College of Nursing annual congress for 2024, members voted in favour of a motion asking the union to lobby the government on regulating the nursing support workforce.
The nursing support workforce, often known as healthcare assistants (HCAs), nursing support workers, or healthcare support workers, are normally on Agenda for Change bands 2 or 3 and are not currently regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
View article from RCNNursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) update
Following the emergency registration of nurses and midwives, which officially ended 31 March 2024, the NMC wanted to thank every professional who stepped forward to support essential health and care services during the COVID-19 outbreak.
View article from NMCThe NMC has launched a new engagement forum for international nursing and midwifery associations (INMAs), organisations that provide wellbeing and career support for internationally educated and diaspora professionals working in the UK.
View article from NMCSafety updates
Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) updates
For the latest updates regarding medicine and medical devices, please visit the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) website using the button below.
MHRA updatesBritish National Formulary (BNF) updates
The British National Formulary has released several updates in January, February, and March of this year; click the buttons below to view the updates.
Learnings from incident trends
The key incident trend across TCS Complex from quarter 1 of 2024 was skin integrity (Tissue viability). Skin integrity is vital to nursing as it directly impacts our clients’ overall care.
Below are several key reasons why tissue viability is important in nursing:
Preventing Pressure Ulcers:
Nurses play an important role in preventing pressure ulcers (bedsores), which can develop in clients with limited mobility. Regular assessment of tissue viability supports early identification of risk factors and allows for preventive measures, such as repositioning and using pressure-relieving devices.
Wound Healing Management:
Managing tissue viability ensures the best conditions for wound healing. This may include choosing appropriate dressings, maintaining a moist wound environment, and preventing any infection, enabling faster and more effective healing.
Reducing Risks of Infection:
Effective tissue viability management helps prevent infections that could result from open wounds or compromised skin integrity. Healthcare professionals should monitor for any signs of infection and intervene promptly to prevent complications.
Improving our clients’ quality of life
Correct tissue viability management enables faster recovery and rehabilitation, as it ensures the client’s skin and the underlying tissues remain healthy. This is important for clients recovering from surgery or having chronic wounds.
Enable early detection of complications
Conducting regular assessments of the client’s tissue viability supports nurses in detecting early signs of complications. This can include tissue necrosis or decreased perfusion. Early detection can prevent further deterioration and improve our clients’ outcomes.
Improve Recovery and Rehabilitation:
Correct tissue viability management enables faster recovery and rehabilitation, as it ensures the client’s skin and the underlying tissues remain healthy. This is important for clients recovering from surgery or having chronic wounds.
Reducing Healthcare Costs:
Successful prevention and management of tissue viability issues can help reduce complications, hospital readmissions, and the requirement for further medical interventions.
Compliant with Standards and Guidelines
Maintaining tissue viability standards and guidelines is essential for consistent, high-quality care and meeting regulatory requirements. Nurses are required to keep up to date with best practices and evidence-based approaches to ensure they provide the best possible care to clients.
Multidisciplinary Team Collaboration
Effectively managing tissue viability regularly involves collaborative working with other healthcare professionals. Nurses play an important role in coordinating care to ensure the correct treatment plans are implemented.
Client Education and Empowerment
Effectively managing tissue viability regularly involves collaborative working with other healthcare professionals. Nurses play an important role in coordinating care to ensure the correct treatment plans are implemented.
For further information about tissue viability, please visit the training courses below.
Please note that all RCN members have access to RNC Learn, which has a suite of e-learning modules on preventing and managing pressure ulcers.
Visit RCN LearnDigital Nurse Logs (DNL)
We want to thank you for effectively and professionally managing the implementation of Digital Nurse Logs (DNL) in your role and consistently delivering ‘Outstanding’ CQC-rated care to our clients in the community.
To support you during your shifts, please refer to the DNL resources below.
DNL video guide
If you require ongoing support using DNL, please refer to the DNL video guide which is available on Compass and can be accessed by clicking the button below.
The video guide takes you through each step of the digital recording system and how to use it during your shift, which includes:
Logging in and using the one-time use pincode
Documenting and recording your shift
The tasks you need to complete for your shift, including forms
Accessing the care plan and previous forms
How to raise a Datix
Completing your shift
Reporting DNL or eMAR errors
To enable us to capture errors in real-time so you can continue to deliver safe, effective care to our clients in the community, please report each DNL and eMAR error you encounter by clicking the button below to complete the short form. This will allow us to troubleshoot each issue and direct you to the relevant teams for support.
Our dedicated teams
Our teams are here to support you in your role at TCS. We have a dedicated operational and clinical 24/7 support service for you to contact at any time.
Our compliance, payroll, and supervisions and appraisals teams are also available during the week to support you.
To view the contact details for each of our teams, visit the help and support section of Compass.
Career opportunities
We have several career opportunities available at TCS in our Complex Care Service. Take a look below to learn more.
We’re currently recruiting paediatric and adult clinical leads in Surrey, Hampshire, and Hertfordshire.
Working as a clinical lead within our TCS Complex Service, you will be responsible for overseeing the care and support our clients receive, enabling them to achieve their full potential at home and in their local communities.
Share your feedback
Please share with us what you liked about our second quarterly newsletter and any ideas or suggestions of what you would like to see in your upcoming TCS quarterly newsletters.
We’d appreciate your feedback, which you can provide by completing the short anonymous form below. We look forward to reviewing your ideas and suggestions.
Newsletter feedback
We’d love to hear about your experience with TCS so far, key highlights from your TCS career, and examples of the positive impact you’ve had on our clients in the community. Please spend a few minutes writing a quick review on Google.
Navigate to Compass
Don’t forget Compass has all of the key information you need to navigate your world-class career with us. From finding out more about your TCS benefits to accessing your handbook, booking CPD courses, and preparing for your shifts, Compass has everything you need.