What's New Bulletin 180 - 18 January 2024
This is edition 180 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 Care Homes Market Intelligence Questionnaire (MIQ) – January 2024 – EXTENDED DEADLINE 23 January 2024 (information for all Birmingham and contracted care homes)
2. PLEASE READ Upcoming Home Support Tender - Home Support and Quick Discharge Service Recommissioning Update (information for home support providers)
3. REMINDER Cold-Health Alert has been updated in the West Midlands (information for all providers)
4. Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC): Government sets out plans to boost domestic care workforce (information for all providers
5. Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC): Invitation to participate in research on the digital design of the Care Workforce Pathway 22 January – 1 February 2024 (information for all providers
6. REMINDER Department of Health and Social Care Made with Care campaign 2023/2024 (information for all providers)
7. Digital inclusion support: Good Things Foundation’s (information for all Birmingham providers)
8. REMINDER People for Public Services: Working together to improve air quality, for a brighter fresher future 23 January 2024 (information for all Birmingham providers)
9. REMINDER Hodge Hill Neighbourhood Network Scheme (NNS) Showcase event 30 January 2024 (information for providers in Hodge Hill)
10. REMINDER Carers Education Day: Bladder and Bowel Training for carers 2 February 2024 (information for West Midlands care homes)
11. Hall Green Neighbourhood Network Scheme (NNS) Younger Adults Showcase 22 February 2024 (information for providers in Hall Green)
1. REMINDER Care Homes Market Intelligence Questionnaire (MIQ) – January 2024 – EXTENDED DEADLINE 23 January 2024 (information for all Birmingham and contracted care homes)
Please find the link to the January quarterly MIQ below
The deadline for completion has been extended to Tuesday 23 January 2024.
Please note that this is the quarterly version of the questionnaire, with some additional questions added to the monthly question set. Details of the questions are included in the briefing that has previously been circulated to providers. If you don't have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk Completion of the questionnaire is part of the terms of our current contracts for contracted providers, but we ask all Birmingham providers to take part in the process to help us meet our responsibilities to all Birmingham citizens.
Many thanks to staff at the care homes who completed the previous questionnaires. If this did not include your care home, please ensure that you complete the January and subsequent editions.
The purpose of the questionnaire is to collect information to assist our market shaping and development role, the production of our Market Position Statements, fulfil our Care Act duties around ensuring a quality and sustainable market, to help us direct resources, identify areas of risk, and monitor progress towards our strategic aims. It has been co-produced with health colleagues to reduce duplication in data collection, and has been streamlined so that we are only collecting information that is not available to us from elsewhere e.g. the Capacity Tracker.
We will only be collecting data that we will use and at the frequency we need it. There is a shorter monthly questionnaire, a slightly longer quarterly questionnaire with some additional questions, and a slightly longer still annual questionnaire. Further information about our approach and how the data we are asking for will be used has been circulated to providers, together with a PDF version of the questionnaire for review in advance of starting to complete the on-line the questionnaire. If you don't have copies of these documents, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
2. PLEASE READ Upcoming Home Support Tender - Home Support and Quick Discharge Service Recommissioning Update (information for home support providers)
Please find below a reminder of the proposed dates for the upcoming Home Support and Quick Discharge Service. The time table and further information about the upcoming tender are included in the Market Briefing slides from the 22 December 2023 available below
Tender opportunities | Tender opportunities | Birmingham City Council.
A recording of the briefing will also shortly be made available on the same web page.
|
Activity |
Earliest Possible Dates |
|
Council Budget to Full Council |
27 February 2024 |
|
Fee Increases confirmed |
13 March 2024 |
|
Market Briefings – Application Process |
Late Feb – early March |
|
ITT Issued |
13 March 2024 |
|
Clarification Period (3 weeks) |
14 March 2024 – 4 April 2024 |
|
ITQ Return (allowing 30 days) |
12 April 2024 |
|
Evaluation Period (5 weeks) |
15 April 2024 – 19 May 2024 |
|
Award Approval (3 weeks) |
20 May 2024 – 9 June 2024 |
|
FCA Contract Award |
13 June 2024 |
|
FCA Standstill Period (10 working days) |
13 June 2024 – 27 June 2024 |
|
FCA Award Letters Issued |
28 June 2023 |
|
FCA Starts – Individual Contracts |
1 July 2024 |
3. REMINDER Cold-Health Alert has been updated in the West Midlands (information for all providers)
The Amber Cold Health Alert issued by the Met Office for the West Midlands between 14/01/2024 at 12:00 and 20/01/2024 at 12:00, has been updated.
Amber alerts are triggered as soon as the weather described following a Yellow alert has occurred. It indicates that severe winter weather is now happening and an impact on health and health services is expected. (Met Office forecasts a 60% chance of severe winter weather (a mean temperature of 2°C or less and/or heavy snow and widespread ice), in one or more defined geographical areas for a period of at least 48 hours in the next 5 days.)
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 3 (Amber) - Severe impacts are possible across the health and social care sector due to forecast weather conditions, including: increased risk of mortality across the whole population with significant mortality observed in older age groups; significant increased demand on all health and social care services; impact on delivery of services due to poor weather conditions and staff access; maintaining indoor temperatures at recommended 18°c may become challenging for some, leading to increased risk of vulnerable people; national critical infrastructure failures – generators, power outages, gas supplies etc.
In addition, please be aware that you can sign up to the Met Office email alert service below:
Additional useful links to guidance include:
Weather-Health Alert Dashboard
BCC guidance on staying safe during severe weather
NHS Vaccination and Winter Heath Guidance
Age UK guidance on keeping warm in winter
4. Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC): Government sets out plans to boost domestic care workforce (information for all providers)
The DHSC has unveiled measures to reaffirm care work as a career, helping to recruit and retain talent by providing accredited qualifications, training and funded apprenticeships. For the first time, there will be a national care career structure (the Care Workforce Pathway), with defined roles and professional development. An accredited qualification (the Care Certificate) will be introduced to help recognise the work of 37,000 workers. Lastly, funding will be provided for apprenticeship places and digital training to embrace new technology.
The Care Workforce Pathway, Care Certificate and training packages were developed in close collaboration with valued sector partners. These included Skills for Care, Think Local Act Personal, the Chief Social Worker for Adults, her network of principal social workers, care colleagues, those with lived experience and the wider sector.
The development of the Care Workforce Pathway was informed by wide consultation, not just with care colleagues but also with people drawing on care services. To this end, the Department of Health and Social Care asked Think Local Act Personal (TLAP) to find out from individuals with lived experience what values they wanted to see in care colleagues supporting them.
Consultation on Care Workforce Pathway
5. Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC): Invitation to participate in research on the digital design of the Care Workforce Pathway 22 January – 1 February 2024 (information for all providers)
On10 January 10 2024 the Government published the first version of the Care Workforce Pathway for Adult Social Care Care workforce pathway for adult social care - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). This is the first time there has been a national career structure for the adult social care workforce, recognising the breadth, diversity and complexity of care.
Care workforce pathway for adult social care - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The DHSC have now begun designing a digital version of the Pathway, and your participation is crucial in making the digital journey for the Care Workforce Pathway as intuitive and impactful as possible.
Why participate?
Direct influence: Your experience and opinions will shape the design of the Digital Care Workforce Pathway
First look: Get an exclusive look at our ideas for features and provide feedback before others.
Collaboration: Work closely with Government on national policy
To express your interest or secure your slot, please respond to this invitation at your earliest convenience.
These sessions will last 45 minutes long and you can book the sessions in between 22nd January - 1st February - you can use the link below to book
Research sessions on Digital Care Workforce Pathway
If that doesn’t work, please reach out to James Hodge; james.hodge@hippodigital.co.uk
6. REMINDER Department of Health and Social Care Made with Care campaign 2023/2024 (information for all providers)
The next phase of the national recruitment campaign has now gone live and your brand-new resources (see link below) are now ready to download and use;
These resources enable you to use the national advertising to signpost potential applicants to your job vacancies. Following feedback from care providers, they feature new imagery designed to reflect more accurately the typical daily routines for care workers in both care homes and domiciliary settings.
You can add your logo and details to the assets – simply visit the following link or campaign page to get started;
New for this year, there’s also a Skills for Care webinar available to download and watch below. This provides useful background on the campaign, how to get involved with it and how it can support your recruitment.
7. Digital inclusion support: Good Things Foundation’s (information for all Birmingham providers)
Good Things Foundation’s National Digital Inclusion Network is made up of thousands of organisations that are all working to deliver digital inclusion support in their local communities. If you are supporting or want to support your community members to get online and access the benefits of digital, then joining the network will help you do exactly that. It is free to join and offers a range of free services, such as:
Access to the National Databank
Access to our online learning platform, Learn My Way
Free training and resources Networking opportunities, including online meet ups with other organisations
The National Databank is giving free mobile data to people who can’t afford an internet connection. By signing up to the National Digital Inclusion Network, you will be eligible to join and start giving free data to your community members.
Find out more and join below
Join the network | Online Centres Network
Alternatively email hello@goodthingsfoundation.org with any questions.
8. REMINDER People for Public Services: Working together to improve air quality, for a brighter fresher future 23 January 2024 (information for all Birmingham providers)
People for Public Services would like to invite you to its next meeting on: Tuesday 23 January 11.00am-12.30pm. This is an online meeting.
To book a place at the People for Public Services meeting
If you are unable to book a place, please do not hesitate to contact us via our email getinvolved@birmingham.gov.uk
Birmingham City Council (BCC) is the largest urban local authority in the UK and the largest council in Europe with a population of over 1 million residents, making it the most densely populated of the West Midlands’ local authorities. The city has a complex road network, four motorways, and many homes and businesses. Poor air quality in the city has a direct impact on health and the economy, contributing to hundreds of early, preventable deaths and making many existing health conditions worse. Poor air quality has the biggest impact on the poorest and most vulnerable in our communities, including children.
BCC wants everyone in the city to be part of the journey to improving the air we breathe. Our Clean Air Strategy outlines BCC’s commitment to work towards a greener future for the city and our communities. Our ambition is to create an environment where people can live and work to their full potential without the threat of this entirely preventable pollution.
In this meeting we want to hear your views and your ideas on:
- What does it mean for you to be living in a greener, fresher city
- How can we raise awareness of the impact of poor air quality to make it clear why action is needed
- How can we support communities and businesses to make healthy and active choices to improve their environment
- How can we work together to improve the air we breathe for a greener, fresher future
9. REMINDER Hodge Hill Neighbourhood Network Scheme (NNS) Showcase event 30 January 2024 (information for providers in Hodge Hill)
Following on from the success of last year, Hodge Hill NNS would like to invite you to our annual showcase and networking event, 2024.
This is a unique opportunity for community stakeholders to join together to create new partnerships as well as strengthen and maintain existing ones. Attendees will also have the chance to learn about the positive impact that Hodge Hill NNS has made within the constituency and how we plan to extend and further our support and offer.
Register through Eventbrite for a space
Hodge Hill Neighbourhood Network Scheme (NNS) Showcase event
10. REMINDER Carers Education Day: Bladder and Bowel Training for carers 2 February 2024 (information for West Midlands care homes)
The Association for Continence professionals is providing an education day for care home staff on Bladder and Bowel Care, Infection Prevention, Continence Management, Catheter Care, Continence assessment.
If you would like to attend, please contact. louise.patterson@clinisupplies.co.uk or westmidlandsaca@gmail.com
11. Hall Green Neighbourhood Network Scheme (NNS) Younger Adults Showcase 22 February 2024 (information for providers in Hall Green)
Join the Hall Green NNS for a showcase celebrating the work of community organisations supporting younger adults in Hall Green constituency.
This event is at The MAC, Cannon Hill Park, on Thursday 22 February 2024, 9:30 am – 1:00 pm. Please use the following link to book a place