Staff productivity

Mark Topps explores the "Transform" element of the Skills for Care Workforce Strategy, with actionable steps for social care providers to enhance services and prepare for future needs.

Discover Part two of our series with Mark Topps on the Skills for Care Workforce Strategy. Learn key insights around 'Train' as Mark unpacks this strand, empowering you to level-up your team training.

Discover Part 1 of our series with Mark Topps on the Skills for Care Workforce Strategy. Learn key insights into 'Attract and Retain' as Mark unpacks this strand, empowering you to improve your recruitment and retention.

Mark Topps shares how to track and manage behaviour and cognitive decline in service users, with tips on tackling funding challenges and seeking extra support.

Mark Topps shares 10 tips to improving staff retention in social care, and how they can increase employee engagement to reduce turnover rates in a care service.

Mark Topps discusses 7 tips on how to support staff effectively in health and social care, with employee retention and well-being in mind.

Mark Topps discusses how to deal with challenging behaviour in adult social care settings, and shares 10 tips to managing service users and their relatives.

Mark Topps discusses the role and impact of having volunteers in social care, following the government's plan to extend the NHS Volunteer Responders Programme.

Mark Topps discusses the importance of diversity and inclusion in social care, and how to successfully promote it in the workplace.

To spotlight those caring for society's most vulnerable without pay, social care expert Mark Topps discusses the impact of unpaid caring and ways to offer support.

Mark Topps recommends six approaches to tackle cultural change to improve employee engagement, increase productivity, and create a better work environment.

Mark Topps discusses the pros and cons of having 'just a job' rather than a vocation in the care industry, and the difference between them both.

Mark Topps shares his top tips on creating an excellent plan induction plan for Registered Managers, and ways to continue developing post-induction.

Mark Topps reflects on the best benefits of goal setting, and how it can improve outcomes for the people you support, your teams and for yourself.

Mark Topps shares his top tips for creating an effective goal setting strategy without losing motivation.

Mark Topps explores some of the key steps for successfully onboarding new staff in your care service.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) carried out a snap poll of providers late last year to gauge current views on workforce challenges.

Workforce has the biggest impact on whether your services survive and thrive. Mark Topps reflects on how to motivate and empower teams.

Explore the vital role of training and monitoring in ensuring service compliance and staff retention.

In this blog, Mark Topps takes a deep dive into leadership. What makes you a leader and what skills do leaders need in 2023?

Mark Topps explores flexible working in social care. Is it possible and if not, what needs to change to make it a reality?

Mark Topps looks at the current recruitment trends and how we can survive and thrive despite the challenges in the employment market.

In a recent survey by Buffer, 30% of people found switching off after work incredibly difficult. The inability to switch off can lead to burnout, which is a growing issue in the care sector. In this week’s blog, I look at some tips to help you switch off after work.

Before sitting down to write this week's blog, I logged onto Facebook and came across a question from someone asking "What are the biggest problems you face as a manager?" In the comments, I was surprised to see how many managers were struggling with staff issues, low morale and a lack of teamwork, and instantly knew I wanted to write a piece to support managers going through this.

Mark Topps shares his advice for prioritising your workload and tasks when you work in social care.

Social care is heavily regulated and one of the downsides of this is the impact it has on service users’ ability to choose what they want to do. In this week’s blog, I look at the importance of taking positive risks.

As a frontline carer there may be a point in your career that you receive an allegation or complaint about your work. This could come from a disgruntled relative, a person you’re supporting or even from a colleague. This week, I look at sharing some top tips of how to cope and manage if a complaint is made about you, especially if it’s not true or out of context.

Teamwork is essential for every job and even more so for social care where we’re supporting one another to care for others. But, how can we work together effectively and build connections with colleagues?

Last week, I was contacted by Nicolas, a registered care manager, who asked me to share some tips on returning to work. Whether it’s planned or unexpected, coming back after having leave can be a real headache! So, what can you do to survive?

I was recently contacted by a staff nurse called Jackie, off the back of one of my mental health blogs, and asked to talk about emotional exhaustion. This week, I take a look at some of the symptoms of emotional exhaustion and the support tools available.

Mark Topps speaks to several unpaid carers to find out more about local authority and charity respite funding options, and potential barriers to accessing these.

A job in social care can be stressful, but how can you manage this? In his latest blog, Mark Topps investigates the symptoms of stress and their causes.

Struggling to sleep? Mark Topps investigates why we need sleep and what you can do to find that balance between working in care and hitting the hay.

Our partners, Grey Matter Learning, are working with the Multiple Sclerosis Society to raise awareness about multiple sclerosis through a free continuing professional development (CPD) short course.

For #WorldWellbeingWeek, Mark Topps looks at how you can encourage open conversations, conduct surveys and more, to support the mental health of your care staff.

Mark Topps defines what personal development means in social care and how you can create a career plan to help achieve your long-term professional goals.

This week is #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek and what a better time to write and raise awareness of how to achieve a better work-life balance.

Do you feel recognised? Are you satisfied with your job role? If you had more recognition, would you have more job satisfaction? Three good questions, and something to take some time to think about.

Mark Topps explains signs and symptoms of anxiety, ways of coping including self-help methods and mindfulness practices and how to support others.

Mark Topps reveals the signs and causes of burnout and ways you can tackle these to best support your team's mental health and your own wellbeing.

Mark Topps talks about how you can recognise the achievements of your carers, from compensation packages and life-work balance to peer-to-peer awards.

Mark Topps challenges you to make this year about your happiness, both professionally and personally.

We all know social care is a 24/7 role, but how do we strike a balance between our families and those we support? Fear not, Mark Topps has got you covered!

Well the short answer is yes. But we know that might not convince you, so have a read of this week's blog to find out how computerised care plans are making the lives of care managers across the UK easier.

Demands of social care often lead to high levels of stress, but how can you manage this? Mark Topps provides support, resources, & advice on what's worked for him & colleagues.

Expert Mark Topps gives his thoughts on increasing salaries for care and support workers, and how private companies can take the first steps to changing pay for the sector.

Mark Topps shares his advice on services, working hours, roles, development and other aspects to think about when joining the sector.

Mark Topps shares his tips for keeping social care teams motivated ahead of the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination deadline on November 11th.

In his latest Social Care Column, Mark Topps discusses the importance of delivering outstanding personal care to your service users.

In his latest Social Care Column, Mark Topps shares his tips for finding, hiring, and keeping talented staff.

Mark Topps's latest Social Care Column focuses on Duty of Candour and how honesty in care can benefit everyone involved.

New government restrictions have been announced to curb the spread of COVID-19. Staff movement in adult care settings is one area the government intends to restrict over the winter months. Check out this risk assessment framework from the Care Providers Alliance to help you prepare to minimise staff movement this season.

If you're thinking about how to improve your care management system, then care software could be a really effective and time saving option for you and your care home.

This week's post is on why training is important for the care sector and has been written by Dan from Your Training - Your Way.