PMA Blogs

Guiding Principles ‘High-quality care and support that is safe, consistent and person-centred’ is what we would all aim to achieve. They are also the stated guiding principles for the ‘Delegated healthcare activities’ from the Department of Health and Social Care and Skills for Health. The delegation of some activities undertaken by regulated professionals, such as nurses, to care workers, is not new. In fact, it has been happening [...]

Priorities for the CQC’s Local Authority AssessmentsAs the Health and Care Act 2022 required, the priorities for the Care Quality Commission’s Local Authority Assessments have been set out.It is agreed that the quality and person-focused nature of care provided can have a major impact on wellbeing and quality of life of those receiving it. Consistency in the provision of this is also key, crossing sector and provider boundaries with [...]

After years of working for a bank supporting clients in the healthcare sector, I have a great understanding of how successful practices structure themselves. The practice structure can be considered from both an internal and external viewpoint. Internal - looks at the day-to-day operations - staffing and utilisation of skills. External - takes a step back from the business and looks at the wider picture – examining how [...]

Staff recruitment and retention are a challenge. This a statement most would agree with, and some may think it a major understatement. In June 2022 the Health and Social Care Workforce Committee reported that a further 490,000 jobs would be needed in the care sector by 2030 to meet demand. Yet by August vacancy rates rose above pre-pandemic levels at 8.2%. Add to this the doubled levels of [...]

As the Kickstart Scheme finishes, PMA has been reflecting on one of its biggest success stories that has been life-changing for one young Kickstarter. Matthew Cornish, 27, has cerebral palsy. After many disappointments, he was beginning to think he would never get a job – or even an interview – when he managed to secure a role via the Kickstart Scheme at West Pottergate Surgery in Norwich in [...]

Just 3 months ago, I was yet another university graduate spat out into society and unable to find a job.  Living off Universal Credit, applying for everything relevant that popped up on Indeed, subscribing to hundreds of company websites and eagerly awaiting a job opening, yet finding no luck at all.  Luckily, my UC work coach told me about a government scheme called 'Kickstart'. I’d not heard of [...]

Whilst those who know me well would probably describe me as somewhat opinionated it is rare that I feel so animated, angry, desperately saddened and motivated to the point that I feel compelled to put my thoughts into writing, this however is such a time. Having watched and listened along with the majority of Britons and many others around the world to the tragic events unfolding before our [...]