What's new
We're pleased to announce the February 2025 Access Policies & Procedures update for England, containing the following revisions.
England Community
Major Changes
Restraint & Physical Intervention
Revised formatting throughout. The scope now reflects "least restrictive" in much greater detail. Two new key points: an equity assessment, and monthly reviews.
Policy Statement refers to least restrictive principle. Definitions, Chemical Restraint, now includes reference to STOMP. Technological Surveillance refers readers to the CCTV policy and has a second more extensive paragraph referring to monitoring equipment.
Accessible Communication Tools is now included in the definitions section.
References: The SCIE link removed (dead), and five new references were added to the bottom of the list.
Working with Other Care Providers
KLOEs removed. Major overhaul of formatting. Key points start with six new bullet points and finish with one new point. MDT section has changed the example from epilepsy medication to diabetes medication and has strengthened the language around training and supervision post-training of any specific techniques.
Information Sharing with Other Providers: a lot more information is now included in this section about why and how are we sharing data.
The reference list contains six new references: the 2x NICE and the COVID supplement remain.
Moderate changes
Menopause
KLOEs removed. Scope expanded. Revised formatting throughout.
Key points have one new point and a revised point. The following sections have been strengthened in this review: Policy Statement, Definition, Menopause and Well-being Champions, and Reasonable Adjustments.
A new section called "Employers' Legal Obligations".
Pressure Ulcer Prevention
KLOEs removed. Key points expanded.
Additional safeguarding reference added in Policy Statement. Reporting of Pressure Ulcers section has been expanded.
Record Keeping
KLOEs removed. Revised formatting throughout.
Under "Managing Records", the terminology has been simplified to refer to the "individual" rather than the formal "data subject". Under "Transparency Procedures" a link to the ICO's templated Privacy Notice has been added.
"Procedures for Individuals Making Requests About Their Data (UK GDPR individual data rights)" has been updated to refer to the UK GDPR. The personalised field "network security policy" has been removed, as a Network Security Policy is now provided within AP&P.
Sexuality & Relationships
KLOEs removed. Revised formatting throughout.
Scope first paragraph replaced with new text. Policy Statement first paragraph updated with new text. In the Definitions, LGBT has been updated to LGBTQIA+. In the Policy, an additional bullet point for staff to have an understanding of "LGBTQIA+".
Promotion of Equality and Diversity: contains grammatical improvements. Assessment, Risk Assessment and Care Planning: additional paragraphs on activities of daily living, further description on understanding new users to the service, their care planning and any associated risk assessments.
Staff Skills, Awareness and Values: new content on this. Staff Practice: new first paragraph under this subheading, new final bullet on the relation to the MCA. Working with Sexual Disinhibition: new first paragraph.
Absence Management (All of England)
KLOEs removed. New section on Bereavement Absence.
Minor changes
Carers Leave (All of England)
The KLOEs have been removed.
Diabetes - Blood glucose monitoring
The policy has been reformatted. QS added, all hyperlinks checked and updated.
Under 'common mistakes' some minor wording adjustments were made. Under 'continuous glucose monitoring, a paragraph on the Dexcom CGM system was added with a training link. Some minor changes to grammar throughout the document.
Network Security
The policy has been reformatted.
New
Nurse Revalidation
A new policy for any nurses working in community settings.
Supporting Trips, Short Breaks and Holidays for Service Users
A new policy for community settings.