What's New Bulletin 131 - 9 February 2023
This is edition 131 of the 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.
- Important information about the tendering of care homes, supported living and home support sensory services for Birmingham City Council (information for all providers)
- ACTION NEEDED Capacity Tracker: Data Collection Reporting Window for February 2023 deadline 14 February 2023 (information for all providers)
- Message from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC): Enforcement of information requirements under section 277A of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (information for all providers)
- Record Keeping Good Practice Guide Issued by the Local Government Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) (Information for all providers)
- Information about the Urgent Community Response (UCR) service (information for Birmingham Care Homes)
- Volunteers needed to help shape Birmingham City Councils ‘City Observatory’ website (information for all providers)
- It’s not too late! Project ECHO Core Competency Framework for Care Homes spaces still available 10 February 2023 (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
- The Birmingham and Solihull Nurses and Clinical Leads Network 9 March 2023 (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
1. Important information about the tendering of care homes, supported living and home support sensory services for Birmingham City Council (information for all providers)
The tender for the Framework Agreement for the Provision of Home Support Sensory Loss is now closed.
The initial tender period for the Flexible Contracting Arrangements for the provision of Care Homes with and without Nursing Services and Care and Support (Supported Living) is now temporarily closed pending the outcome of the initial procurement. The Flexible Contraction Arrangement application process is anticipated to reopen 3 April 2023 for the remainder of the contract term and new applications/reapplications can be made at this time. Providers will be notified when the tender reopens via the Tender Opportunities page on Shaping the Market and this weekly ‘What’s New’ provider bulletin, which is also published below;
Tender Opportunities page on Shaping the Market
Care services providers' bulletin (birmingham.gov.uk)
The indicative time tables for the assessment and award of each contract is included in the tables below. Please note that your application will continue to show the status “Awaiting Approval” or “In-Review” within the CareMatch Portal until contracts are awarded.
Please note that Commissioners and members of the Market Intelligence Team will not be able to respond to queries about individual applications whilst the regulated procurement process is ongoing.
|
Procurement Phase |
Anticipated Date |
|
Stage 1: Standard Selection Questionnaire - Complete |
|
|
Stage 2: Framework Agreement for the Provision of Home Support Sensory Loss Invitation to Tender |
|
|
Issue Framework Agreement ITT |
3 January 2023 |
|
Clarification Period |
4 - 31 January 2023 |
|
Submission of Tender |
Noon on 6 February 2023 |
|
Evaluation of Tender |
7 - 21 February 2023 |
|
Award Approval |
Mid-March 2023 |
|
Notification of Contract Award |
Mid-March 2023 |
|
Framework Agreement Issued |
March 2023 |
|
Stage 3: Framework Agreement |
|
|
Mobilisation Period |
April 2023 |
|
Framework Agreement Commencement Date |
April 2023 |
|
Framework Agreement End Date |
March 2027 |
|
Stage 4: Call Off Contracts |
|
|
Opportunity Advertised to Providers on the Framework |
As required |
|
EVENT |
TARGET DATE |
|
Stage 1 - Applications to Join the Flexible Contracting Arrangements (FCA) for the provision of Care Homes with and without Nursing Services and Care and Support (Supported Living) |
|
|
FCA open for Potential Providers to request to participate (1st Round) |
3 January 2023 |
|
Clarification Period |
4 - 31 January 2023 |
|
Deadline for receipt of initial Selection Questionnaire Stage |
Noon 6 February 2023 |
|
Anticipated Evaluation of initial SQs |
7 February – 8 March 2023 |
|
Anticipated Re-opening of the FCA for new applications (2nd Round) |
3 April 2023 |
|
Stage 2: Call Off Contract (individual packages of care) |
After FCA Re-opening |
|
Closure of the FCA |
|
|
Anticipated Closing date of the FCA |
April 2028 |
|
Option to extend for a further 2 years subject to performance |
April 2030 |
Please note the above are indicative dates only and providers will be kept informed of any changes via this weekly ‘What’s New’ provider bulletin, which is also published below:
Care services providers' bulletin (birmingham.gov.uk)
2. ACTION NEEDED Capacity Tracker: Data Collection Reporting Window for February 2023 deadline 14 February 2023 (information for all providers)
The deadline for the next mandated data submission of the National Capacity Tracker is Tuesday 14 February.
What you need to do:
Make sure you complete your updates on the National Capacity Tracker by the deadline each month. However, we are asking all our providers to please complete the National Capacity Tracker every time information changes. This is key to producing the most up to date overall picture of protection and needs across the sector and to enable the Department of Health and Social Care, working together with system partners in the NHS and in Local Authorities, to better manage the challenges and target additional support as needed. Thank you to all providers that are already regularly updating the National Capacity Tracker.
How much are the fines?
The level of the fines will be the same as a provider’s CQC registration fee, for example;
- a care home with 31-35 service users could be looking at a fine of £5,023
- a larger care home with 56-60 service users could be looking at a fine of £8,792
- a home care provider with 20 clients could be looking at a fine of £1,325
- a larger home care provider with 40 clients could be looking at a fine of £2,411
Who issues the fines?
The National Capacity Tracker team is administering and enforces all aspects of the fines on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care. Local authorities are not involved in any aspect of this process. Please do everything in your power to make sure you do not receive a fine, as it could be significant. You may also want to ensure that more than one person in your organisation can update the National Capacity Tracker.
Help and support
If you require any assistance with refreshing or updating your information, please just call the Support Centre on 0191 691 3729 (Mon-Fri 8 am-5 pm) or send an email tonecsu.capacitytracker@nhs.net.
3. Message from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC): Enforcement of information requirements under section 277A of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (information for all providers)
The Adult Social Care Information (Enforcement) Regulations 2022 were commenced on 1 December 2022.
Adult Social Care Information (Enforcement) Regulations 2022
DHSC has published enforcement guidance setting out what will happen if a provider does not update their data monthly via Capacity Tracker, as outlined in the guidance on data collection. New guidance has also been added to the page detailing the non-mandated data items collected for operational support.
The Formal Notice of a mandate has also been updated to reflect the current list of mandated data items.
The enforcement process will focus on supporting providers to comply with the information requirements, with financial penalties normally a last resort.
Read more below;
The Adult Social Care Information (Enforcement) Regulations 2022 (legislation.gov.uk)
4. Record Keeping Good Practice Guide Issued by the Local Government Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) (Information for all providers)
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman regularly receives complaints about residential and domiciliary care, where at least part of the complaint hinges on the information kept by the care provider. Among the complaints we uphold, the common things we see going wrong are:
- not keeping comprehensive records
- not ensuring records are accurate, an
- not retaining relevant information for action.
At times these failures cause serious consequences. The LGSCO have developed a guide to share the learning from their investigations. This has been circulated to providers. If you don't have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
By highlighting some errors in real scenarios, they want to stress to care providers that not only does maintaining accurate records ensure compliance with the regulations – more importantly, it also saves people from real distress.
5. Information about the Urgent Community Response (UCR) service (information for Birmingham Care Homes)
UCR offers an alternative to calling an ambulance and helps to avoid unnecessary hospital admission or readmission. The Birmingham & Solihull Urgent Community Response (UCR) team provides a rapid response service to people in their own surroundings within two hours. The service is available to patients aged 17+ with complex care needs or whose health has suddenly deteriorated through a fall, infection, frailty or exacerbation of an illness. UCR can accept referrals from primary care, NHS 111, A&E/same day emergency care, frailty assessment units, ambulance services, self-referral, carer referral or community-based health and social care, including care homes.
Urgent Community Response Service
Reasons for referral: Falls, Skin change, Mobility, Observations, Pain, Fever, Breathing, Appetite, Behaviour, Elimination.
The UCR services are available to care home colleagues seven days a week 8am-8pm and can be contacted on: (t) 0300 555 1919 option 2 (Birmingham), (t) 0121 424 5666 (Solihull).
6. Volunteers needed to help shape Birmingham City Councils ‘City Observatory’ website (information for all providers)
Birmingham City Observatory is a website designed to unlock meaningful data in Birmingham for members of the public.
The City Observatory team would like input from the members of the public to help shape the website to make it useful and meaningful. You don’t need to be a data wizard to attend, we want people from all backgrounds and with various levels of IT skills.
We would really like you to join us. If you are interested, please take a look at the website below:
Have a think about the things you would like to see, and how the website can be designed to give you information without having to do too much.
To book a place, please click the link below:
People for Public Services meeting about Birmingham City Observatory - 28 February 2023
If you are unable to book a place, please do not hesitate to contact us via our email getinvolved@birmingham.gov.uk
7. It’s not too late! Project ECHO Core Competency Framework for Care Homes spaces still available 10 February 2023 (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
Places are still available for Core Competency framework Cohort 6 Day 3 at Sutton Rose Care Home on 10 February 2023 and at for Cohorts 8, 9 and 10.
Come and learn about;
- skin dressings
- falls prevention/management
- infection prevention and control
Please click the link below to register
Cohort 6 Day 3 10 February 2023
Cohort 8 – Venue Moseley Hall Hospital
Day 3 Thurs 2 March 2023 (still plenty of places left!)
Cohort 9 – Venue Saffron Centre
Day 2 Wed 15 February 2023 (still plenty of places left!)
Cohort 10 – Venue The Saffron Centre
8. The Birmingham and Solihull Nurses and Clinical Leads Network 9 March 2023 (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
Birmingham and Solihull Nurses and Clinical Leads Network for Nurses working in Social Care would like to invite registered nurses to the next virtual network meeting for Thursday 9 March 2023 2.00pm to 4.30pm.
The meeting agenda will include relevant clinical nursing issues
- How Hafod Nursing Home have introduced the deterioration tool, practical application, and benefits
- What are Schwartz rounds? How to introduce a Schwartz round. Schwartz Rounds provide a structured forum where all staff, clinical and non-clinical, come together regularly to discuss the emotional and social aspects of working in healthcare.
- Dementia and opioid training resources for care homes
There will be an update from BSOL Integrated Care Board, Skills for Care and West Midlands Care Association on support/resources for nurses.
To find out more about the meeting, and to book your place, follow the link below: