What's New Bulletin 136 - 16 March 2023
This is edition 136 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.
1. NHS England industrial action: guidance and support for care colleagues (information for all providers)
2. UPDATED GUIDANCE COVID-19 vaccination: spring 2023 booster resources (information for all providers)
3. Funded nursing care rate increased (Information for all nursing homes)
4. Capacity Tracker Provider Training Sessions (information for all providers)
5. REMINDER Call for Infection Prevention and Control Champions (information for all Birmingham Care Homes)
6. REMINDER Level 2 Cold Weather Alert (information for all providers)
7. REMINDER Home Support and Supported Living - Business Continuity Plans Due to Adverse Weather (information for all Birmingham and BCC contracted providers)
8. Final Market Sustainability Plan – Birmingham (Information for all providers)
1. NHS England industrial action: guidance and support for care colleagues (information for all providers)
As many of you will know, further days of industrial action by NHS colleagues are planned for later this month. Claire Armstrong, Director of Adult Social Care Delivery, at the Department of Health and Social Care, has written to the sector again about the possible impact the strikes may have on the care system and to highlight important advice.
Continued industrial action affecting adult social care
She asks that Directors of Adult Social Care Services and Principal Social Workers continue to engage with their integrated care boards (ICBs) to coordinate support. She also points to NHS England’s guidance for further help in minimising disruption in these uncertain times.
NHS England » Industrial action – planning for future industrial action
2. UPDATED GUIDANCE COVID-19 vaccination: spring 2023 booster resources (information for all providers)
This guidance covers information on the spring 2023 booster dose for eligible individuals. An updated guide has been added for the 2023 spring booster.
The full guidance can be found below:
COVID-19 vaccination: spring 2023 booster resources
3 Funded nursing care rate increased (Information for all nursing homes)
The Government will increase the funded nursing care rate (the fee paid to care homes for residents who need care from a registered nurse) by 5% from 1 April 2023. The new standard fee is £219.71 per resident, per week, and the higher rate £302.25 per resident, per week. More information in the statutory instrument
4. Capacity Tracker Provider Training Sessions (information for all providers)
These sessions are aimed at Adult Social Care CQC regulated Providers. Colleagues of all levels will benefit from attending, no prior experience of using Capacity Tracker is required and the training is suitable as a refresh for existing providers.
By the end of the session, you will know:
- How to get set up on Capacity Tracker
- What Capacity Tracker is and its general functionality
- Tips & tricks to make your service stand out
- Current government policy and guidance, related to Capacity Tracker
- How Capacity Tracker is used to source vacancies
- How Capacity Tracker benefits the health & social care system
Click on the dates below to join the meeting:
Wednesday 22 March 2023 at 1pm
5. REMINDER Call for Infection Prevention and Control Champions (information for all Birmingham Care Homes)
Are you someone who is passionate and enthusiastic about safe infection prevention and control (IPC), constantly striving to protect residents/service users, staff and visitors from infection? Are you a role model and able to influence colleagues practice with integrity, innovation and trust? Then we would like to hear from you.
Birmingham City Council has teamed up with our NHS partners at Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to develop and support a network of IPC champions. This currently includes annual face to face training as well as access to IPC nurses for advice and guidance and a range of IPC materials to use across your service. The attached sets out the role of an IPC Champion and the support you will receive. We already have a network of over 120 care home IPC Champions and we need you!
To register as an IPC Champion, please email: ipcdata@nhs.net.
If you would like to join our next virtual IPC Champions forum on 22 March 2023 at 11am, please use the link below:
Join on your computer, mobile app or room device
Click here to join the IPC Champions meeting
Or call in (audio only)
+44 20 3794 0272,,664557113# United Kingdom, London
Phone Conference ID: 664 557 113#
6. REMINDER Level 2 Cold Weather Alert (information for all providers)
A Level 2 Met Office Cold Weather Alert has been issued for the West Midlands. There is a 70% probability of severe cold weather/icy conditions/snow between Monday the 13th of March and Thursday the 16th of March. This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable patients and disrupt the delivery of services.
Please share the following information and attached guidance with your staff, service users, communities and partner networks to help ensure that citizens - particularly those who are most vulnerable - are adequately prepared:
West Midlands - Level 2 (Yellow) - 70% Risk - Turning much colder with snow showers and ice on Tuesday. Rain and hill snow arriving later on Wednesday.
In addition, please be aware that you can sign up to the Met Office email alert service via the following link:
7. REMINDER Home Support and Supported Living - Business Continuity Plans Due to Adverse Weather (information for all Birmingham and BCC contracted providers)
In view of the adverse weather conditions and potential difficulties around carers being delayed in delivering personal care calls, can you please ensure that you have put into motion your Adverse Weather Care Plans.
Please contact your Area Commissioners and seek advice and guidance if you are struggling to deliver home care calls and discuss what options you would like to implement. Area Commissioners are here to provide guidance and advice so please ensure you alert them as a priority.
You can find your Area Commissioners contact details on the following link;
8. Final Market Sustainability Plan – Birmingham (Information for all providers)
As you will be aware, the Market Sustainability and Fair Cost of Care Fund grant conditions required the Council to make an assessment of the sustainability of its older adult care home and adult home support markets, and produce a Market Sustainability Plan. We previously published the draft version of the plan in October 2023. This has now been finalised to take into account changes made by the DHSC to the template and the delays to social care reform announced in November 2023. You can view the Final Market Sustainability Plan on our webpage using this link below:
Cost of care exercise 2022 | Cost of care exercises | Birmingham City Council