What's New Bulletin 142 - 27 April 2023

This is edition 142 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.REMINDER Important update about the tendering of care homes, supported living and home support sensory services for Birmingham City Council (information for all providers)

2.UPDATED GUIDANCE Infection prevention and control in adult social care: COVID-19 supplement (information for all providers)

3.Coronavirus assurance scheme extended to September 2023 (information for all providers)

4.Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Future-proofing social care with digital technology blog (information for all providers)

5.REMINDER NHS mail Weekly Drop-in Sessions, Hosted by The NHS mail team at NHS Digital (information for all providers)

6.Help with Hoarding – Drop-in sessions for professionals and citizens 30 May 2023 (information for home support and supported living providers)

7.Six Big Moves Consultation – We want your Views deadline 5 May 2023 (information for all providers)

8.Care Home Provider Training: Using Capacity Tracker dates for May and June 2023 (information for all providers)

9.REMINDER Infection Prevention Control Champions Book Launch drop in sessions – Last few dates in April remaining (information for Birmingham Care Homes)

10. REMINDER Infection Prevention Control Care Homes Champion Training 5 May 2023 (information for all Birmingham Care Homes)

1.REMINDER Important update about the tendering of care homes, supported living and home support sensory services for Birmingham City Council (information for all providers)

Further to the tendering for care homes, supported living services, we can confirm that contract award letters have now been issued in relation to care homes and supported living.These contracts started on 24 April 2023 and fee increases for successful providers will be backdated to 3 April 2023.

Applications and reapplications for the 2023 care home and supported living contracts are now able to be made through the CareMatch Portal;

Welcome to CareMatch Portal

Please see further information for previously unsuccessful applicants below.

For successful providers that also have a 2018 care home or supported living contract, please take note of the interim brokerage process running the week commencing 24/02/2023 as detailed below.

Successful providers

A gentle reminder that successful providers will need to sign and return documents to Adultsocialcare2023@birmingham.gov.uk by 14 May 2023.

If you have both a 2018 and a 2023 contract, please take note of the following;

  • The current Care Homes 2018 and Supported Living 2018 contracts expire on 30 April 2023
  • The replacement contracts Care Homes 2023 and Supported Living Services 2023 will be starting on 24 April 2023
  • There will be a short crossover period between 24 April and 30 April 2023 when both the current and the replacement contracts are operational
  • During 24 April to 30 April 2023, brokers will be sending referrals out on CareMatch Portal to both the current and the replacement contracts
  • When submitting bids on referrals, if you have been successfully registered on both the 2018 and 2023 contracts please ensure that you bid on the 2023 contract only e.g.  if you are registered on both the Care Homes 2018 contract and Care Homes 2023 please submit your bid on the Care Homes 2023 contract only
  • Shortlisting of offers will continue to be via quality ranking during this period.

Unsuccessful providers

For those care homes and supported living providers who have been unsuccessful, feedback has been provided in your decision letter.  Should you wish to re-apply to join the Flexible Contracting Arrangement, you will need to address the feedback given, before you can submit a new application. We are expecting to open the Flexible Contracting Arrangement for care homes and supported living applications from 24 April 2023. We will send a further email alert once this re-opens, but you may wish to check using the below link:

Tender opportunities | Tender opportunities | Birmingham City Council

Some unsuccessful applications were awaiting updated insurance documents only at the time of contract award. These providers have been contacted directly previously and their applications will have a status of In-Review rather than Rejected or Approved. Please refer to Section 3.3 of the Care Match Portal User Guide for instructions on how to upload documents to a submitted application form. The User Guide can be found in the link below:

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/downloads/file/10486/user_guide_for_providers_v03

If you have any queries in relation to your tender outcome letter, please send any correspondence directly to Adultsocialcare2023@birmingham.gov.uk

Home support sensory loss

For providers who applied for a home support sensory loss contract, the evaluation period remains ongoing at this time and we will advise you once this has concluded.

2. UPDATED GUIDANCE Infection prevention and control in adult social care: COVID-19 supplement (information for all providers)

This guidance sets out how to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in adult social care settings in England. It has been updated to removed digital reader information from ‘COVID-19 supplement to the infection prevention and control resource for adult social care’.

The full guidance can be found in the link below:

Infection prevention and control in adult social care: COVID-19 supplement

3. Coronavirus assurance scheme extended to September 2023 (information for all providers)

The NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme (see link below) provides financial support for the families of eligible social care and health staff who died performing frontline work during the peak of the pandemic. The scheme closed to new claims on 31 March 2022.

NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme

Through the scheme, a lump sum payment of £60,000 is made to the colleague's estate, regardless of their salary. The scheme is non-contributory, meaning there is no cost or liability to staff or employers.

An additional period, for claims in respect of deaths which occurred on or before 31 March 2022, has been extended to 30 September 2023. Employers have an active role in submitting claims and are urged to do so for the benefit of families, partners and dependants and as a way to honour their colleagues' memories.

Please use the following link for scheme information for employers;

Scheme information for England employers | NHSBSA

Sailing for All – Disability Sailing at Edgbaston Reservoir

Adults with a wide range of physical disabilities, learning disabilities, blind and visually impaired can take part in sailing, windsurfing and paddleboarding at Edgbaston Reservoir as part of Midland Sailing Club’s ‘Sail Birmingham’ initiative.

The activities are FREE OF CHARGE through the prevention & communities Programme and open to citizens from across Birmingham. No prior experience is required and participants do not need to be able to swim.

Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk

Please share as appropriate with all who could benefit.

4. Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Future-proofing social care with digital technology blog (information for all providers)

Three years ago, at the start of the pandemic, an ambitious project began to send thousands of iPads out to care homes, to make sure staff and residents could stay in contact with health professionals, friends and family.

Fast forward to now, and a major programme is underway, with a commitment from the Government to invest at least £150 million which can be found in the link below:

digital transformation of the adult social care sector in England

Alice Ainsworth, Deputy Director for Social Care Technology Policy in the Department of Health and Social Care, looks ahead with optimism in her latest blog.

Read Alice’s post on the DHSC Social Care blog here;

Future proofing care - Social care (blog.gov.uk)

5.REMINDER NHS mail Weekly Drop-in Sessions, Hosted by The NHS mail team at NHS Digital (information for all providers)

The NHS mail team now offer care providers a weekly drop-in session to support with NHS mail queries. There will be no agenda or slides, this is an open session to give care providers the opportunity to ask questions about NHSmail, directly to the NHSmail team, just pop in, ask your question and leave once you have your answer. No registration is required to attend but please note this session is for care providers only and not those in supportive roles for NHS mail.

Please click on the link below to join the session on the day.

Every Wednesday between 11am and 12pm. Click the link below to join the meeting

NHS Mail drop-in session

6.Help with Hoarding – Drop-in sessions for professionals and citizens 30 May 2023 (information for home support and supported living providers)

Does your agency come into contact with people who display hoarding behaviour?

Join us for the first session of our brand new 'Hoarding Help'. It is run in conjunction with Clouds End CIC and Birmingham City Council Adult Social Care. It is an opportunity to discuss any issues you may be having working with citizens who have hoarding behaviour. We can offer information on next steps, multi-agency approaches and training to further your understanding.

Clients are also welcome if you feel this could be benefit their own understanding of the services available.

  • Tuesday 30 May 2023 10-11:30am, West Midlands Fire Service Headquarters, 99 Vauxhall Rd, Birmingham B7 4HWFurther information about this subject has been circulated to providers.
  • Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk

7.Six Big Moves Consultation – We want your Views deadline 5 May 2023 (information for all providers)

Transport for West Midlands (tfwm) would really like to hear views on the polices and actions required to implement their new Core Strategy. These polices and actions are focused on 6 big moves that will need to take place to improve accessibility and encourage behavioural changes.

Tfwm are really keen to hear from a wide an audience as possible, so please share with citizens and partners as appropriate.

Full details can be found at the link below:

6 Big Moves | Transport for West Midlands (tfwm.org.uk)

The survey closes at 9am on Friday 5 May.

8. Care Home Provider Training: Using Capacity Tracker dates for May and June 2023 (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'

Capacity Tracker

Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
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.

9. REMINDER Infection Prevention Control Champions Book Launch drop in sessions – Last few dates in April remaining (information for Birmingham Care Homes)

The IPC Care Home Team are excited to announce the launch of their IPC Workbook. It will be a valuable training resource, and a perfect recap of the knowledge and skills you developed from your Champions Training. Please come along to one of the drop-in sessions to collect your copy.

For further information please see the leaflet attached or contact ipcdata@nhs.net or call 0121466 6550, Option 5.

10. REMINDER Infection Prevention Control Care Homes Champion Training 5 May 2023 (information for all Birmingham Care Homes)

To celebrate World Hand Hygiene Day the Infection Prevention Control Team are holding an interactive IPC Champions Training Event.

Does your Care Home have an IPC Champion?

We would like to have a Champion in every Care Home. If you are interested in making a difference within your workplace, creating a positive change for your residents, staff, and visitors, then make sure you book early to secure a place. Previous IPC Champions do not need to attend.

To book a place, call 0121 466 6550 or email Ipcdata@nhs.net


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