What's New Bulletin 105 - 4 August 2022
This is the one hundred and fifth weekly provider bulletin, containing information on guidance, procedures and new initiatives. Very urgent or high priority communications may still be issued on an ad hoc basis, but we will try to keep these to a minimum.
- During the Commonwealth Games - Letter For Carers To Park Vehicles – details of disruption to bus services (information for all providers delivering services in Birmingham)
- Capacity Tracker: Ensure your alerts are switched on so you do not miss out on automated email reminders when the mandatory data sets are due (information for all providers)
- Capacity Tracker refresher sessions – including mandatory data completion (information for all providers)
- Care Quality Commission (CQC) and system oversight: have your say by 14 August 2022 (information for all providers)
- Care Quality Commission: Proposed change to registration (information for providers who support citizen with learning disabilities)
- Care Quality Commission (CQC) annual update on the safe management of controlled drugs (information for all providers)
- REMINDER Please ensure your current insurance documents are uploaded to the CareMatch Portal (information for all Birmingham City Council contracted providers)
1. During the Commonwealth Games - Letter For Carers To Park Vehicles – details of disruption to bus services (information for all providers delivering services in Birmingham)
During the Commonwealth Games, which are ongoing until 8 August 2022, there will be a number of road events which will result in road closures and overall increases in demand for public transport for the duration of the games. Business continuity plans should have already been reviewed and updated if needed to reflect any disruption to travel. Below is a reminder of the information that has been shared.
Slides (BCCAdultSocialCare_040422) which show the events that will impact on the routes along with other information, and slides that include hotspot grids showing the busiest areas in the city by time of day and types of transport (Hot Spot Grids), have been circulated to providers. If you do not have copies, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
Details of all of the bus disruptions during the Commonwealth Games are now available via the weblink below, which may also be useful to share with staff as they start to plan their public transport journeys:
Travelling by bus or tram during the Commonwealth Games
If you have any staff who may be interested in cycling during the Games, please make them aware of the fantastic offer from West Midlands Cycle Hire where people can access two free 30-minute cycle hire rides each day during the Games:
Below is a link to the Commonwealth games website, which gives further details about road closures and parking restrictions for all the venues and events.
How could my area be affected? (birmingham2022.com)
We have circulated a letter for Carers who deliver home care, which they should display on their Cars when they are parked in any Common Wealth Games Parking Control Areas while they are delivering care to Birmingham Citizens, so they will not receive a Parking Penalty Notice. If you do not have a copy of the letter, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
Please ensure all Carers and Drivers display their ID Badges so they can access Roads which will be closed during the Games thus ensuring the Traffic Marshalls allow them entry into those streets. This Letter doesn’t allow Vehicles to Park on No Stopping Routes, it is only for Control Parking Zones where Carers either cannot park on Citizen Driveways or Citizen has not given them a Visitor Parking Permit for the street.
2. Capacity Tracker: Ensure your alerts are switched on so you do not miss out on automated email reminders when the mandatory data sets are due (information for all providers)
The start date for submissions of the DHSC Mandatory Data Set is fast approaching (14 August 2022) and it is worth checking you are set up to receive email notifications from Capacity Tracker and have not opted out by de-selecting this option in the system. Attached is a list of Birmingham providers not set up to receive emails. To help providers stay on track with the mandatory data submissions email alerts have been set up in the Capacity Tracker to systematically remind providers when submission dates are due to help avoid any unnecessary fines for non- submission.
How to check whether your alerts are switched on;
- Accessing Capacity Tracker in My Details page, at the bottom of the page tick to "receive communication emails"
- Or you can contact the Support Centre
The latest guidance was sent out to providers on 27/07/22. If you do not have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
If you have any queries or questions around data submissions or re-instating communication emails please contact the Support Centre on 0191 691 3729 or email necsu.capacitytracker@nhs.net.
It is really important that you continue to update capacity tracker at least weekly, if not daily, to ensure we have up-to-date information on the crucial service you provide.
For further information on the Department of Health and Social Care mandatory data collection see Item 3 of our previous bulletin No 104;
What's New Bulletin 104 - 28 July 2022 - Care services providers' bulletin (birmingham.gov.uk)
3. Capacity Tracker refresher sessions – including mandatory data completion (information for all providers)
30 minute Demonstration Q&A Sessions are available for those new to the Capacity Tracker, or in need of a refresh. The sessions will include how the Capacity Tracker updated screens will look following the introduction of mandatory completion.
To find dates and links to attend the Demonstration Q&A sessions, please log into the Capacity Tracker (link below), go to the Help menu, select 'Resource Centre', then 'Events, and then 'Provider Training Sessions'
If you have questions or queries regarding how to update the data and where to report specific scenarios, please contact capacitytracker-guidance@dhsc.gov.uk
If you are experiencing technical issues with Capacity Tracker, please contact necsu.capacitytracker@nhs.net or the Capacity Tracker Support Centre on 0191-691-3729.
4. Care Quality Commission (CQC) and system oversight: have your say by 14 August 2022 (information for all providers)
Under the Health and Care Act, we have new responsibilities relating to the reviewing and assessing of local authorities and integrated care systems. We have been engaging on our approach to system oversight and have received some valuable insight which has informed our methodology. We're keen to ensure as many people as possible have had the chance to comment on our approach. We're currently running a series of activities on our online participation platform, which is your opportunity to help shape our approach to this new area of regulation.
All activities are open until 14 August 2022.
To have your say, please follow the link below;
Project: CQC and system oversight - have your say (citizenlab.co)
5. Care Quality Commission: Proposed change to registration (information for providers who support citizen with learning disabilities)
We want to introduce a change to registration which will strengthen our ability to assess proposed services for people with a learning disability and autistic people against Right support, Right Care, Right Culture (see link below) before the provision of specialist care, support or treatment commences.
Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture
Please take a few minutes to read our proposal and complete the short survey below with your feedback:
Survey - Regulation of services for people with a learning disability and autistic people
6. Care Quality Commission (CQC) annual update on the safe management of controlled drugs (information for all providers)
The CQC have published their annual update on the safe management and use of controlled drugs. The report shares important insight on the use of controlled drugs in health care and adult social care services. The annual update draws on prescribing data, feedback from controlled drug local intelligence networks, and the CQC’s wider inspection and regulatory work. The report will help people working with controlled drugs to strengthen the arrangements for their safe management and use.
News story: Our annual update on the safe management and use of controlled drugs
Report: The safer management of controlled drugs: Annual update 2021
7. REMINDER Please ensure your current insurance documents are uploaded to the CareMatch Portal (information for all Birmingham City Council contracted providers)
It is an important part of your contractual obligations to Birmingham City Council, and a legal requirement, to ensure you have valid insurance at all times. It is important that when you renew your insurance documents you remember to upload a copy to the CareMatch Portal following the instructions in Section 8.8 of the Care Match Portal User Guide;
If you are experiencing technical issues uploading the documents, please contact market.intelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
Reminder alerts were added to the CareMatch Portal in December 2020 to inform you when your insurance documents were coming up to their expiry date and when they had expired to assist you to remain compliant with your contractual obligations around insurance. For further information about this CareMatch Portal functionality and how to ensure you are receiving these alerts, please review the following previous provider bulletin items on this topic;
No evidence of current insurance cover on the CareMatch Portal at the levels mentioned below will be treated as a breach of contract until evidence of cover is provided
The levels and types of insurance required by the Framework Agreement for the Provision of Home Support for Children and Young People with Disabilities and Home Support for Adults and the Flexible Contracting Arrangements for the Provision of Care Homes With and Without Nursing Services and Care and Support (Supported Living) are as follows;
- Employers Liability (including volunteers) Insurance - to be as a minimum in accordance with statutory legislation (currently £5m)
- Public Liability Insurance (including loss or damage to service user’s personal effects) - Minimum £10m
For nursing homes only: Professional Indemnity / Treatment Cover, which must be a minimum of £5m and Negligence which must also be a minimum of £5m
Providers are finding the cost of insurance has risen as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and as such it is important you allow enough time for finding an alternative insurance provider, if needed, before your current insurance expires. Please contact your Care Association to see what support and advice they can offer. It is important that you inform you area commissioners if you are having difficulty arranging future cover before the expiry of your current insurance.