What's New Bulletin 187 - 07 March 2024
This is edition 187 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
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Birmingham City Council Fee increases 1 April 2024 (information for all contracted providers)
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REMINDER - PLEASE READ Upcoming Home Support Tender - Home Support and Quick Discharge Service Recommissioning Update (information for existing and potential home support providers)
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Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) £25.5 million funding package: Energy grant (information for all providers)
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International Women's Day 2024, Have YOUR say on ending violence against women and girls: survey deadline 28 March 2024 (information for all providers)
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Care Quality Commission (CQC): Developing an approach to ‘learning culture’ (information for all providers)
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Care Quality Commission (CQC): Share for Better Care – new campaign launching soon (information for all providers)
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Skills for Care launch new dashboards to track recruitment and retention (information for all providers)
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Shared Lives are Recruiting Birmingham Shared Lives Carers (information for all providers)
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Infection Prevention Control virtual training dates for March 2024 (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
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Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) provider sessions on visiting and accompanying in care homes, hospitals and hospices – 19 March 2024 and 3 April 2024 (information for all care homes)
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REMINDER Birmingham and Solihull Nurses and Clinical Leads Network for Nurses working in Social Care 21 March 2024 (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
1. Birmingham City Council Fee increases 1 April 2024 (information for all contracted providers)
On 5 March 2024 Birmingham City Council approved its budget for the year 2024-25. Following this milestone the Commissioning Team are working through the necessary governance process to approve and then implement inflationary fee increases to care packages delivered by contracted CQC registered care providers. As soon as these have been agreed we shall communicate these via this Communications bulletin and on our website no later than 21 March 2024;
Care fees | Care fees, invoicing, variations and top ups | Birmingham City Council
We understand that publication of our fees is somewhat later than we have done in previous years, due to the exceptional nature of the Council’s financial position. We appreciate and thank you for your patience.
2. REMINDER - PLEASE READ Upcoming Home Support Tender - Home Support and Quick Discharge Service Recommissioning Update (information for existing and potential home support providers)
The Council’s Cabinet approved the Commissioning Strategy 2024 for Home Support, Adults and Children. A copy of the final Commissioning Strategy and the full report can be found here:
The current 2019 Home Support Framework Agreement and the 2019 Quick Discharge and Quick Intervention Service contracts are therefore due to end no later than 7 October 2024.
We are therefore writing to all existing providers (and any potential providers who receive this Bulletin) to update on the anticipated tender timescales.At present, the tender is likely to launch week commencing 8 April 2024 but certainly not before Easter 2024.
We will be publishing recorded briefing sessions ahead of the tender launch and these will again be communicated through the Bulletin and on the Council’s dedicate provider webpages at:
Should there be any changes to this timescale, further communication will be issued to assist providers. However, providers should be aware that the legal tender notices will be published via the following links:
www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Search
Please ensure you regularly check the Bulletin and tender notices in order to ensure you are aware of any updates or important information.
3. Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) £25.5 million funding package: Energy grant (information for all providers)
The DCMS is running a £25.5 million funding package to help voluntary, community, and social enterprise organisations in England improve their energy efficiency. Eligible organisations can apply for;
1) an independent energy assessment and
2) capital grants to install energy efficiency measures.
The scheme is open to frontline community organisations across England. Groundwork UK, who are delivering the scheme, are particularly keen to hear from small and medium organisations with significant concerns around energy who are directly supporting individuals and communities with critical needs, especially those related to the rising cost of living.
Organisations are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. You can find out more information here;
VCSE Energy Efficiency Scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
4. International Women's Day 2024, Have YOUR say on ending violence against women and girls: survey deadline 28 March 2024 (information for all providers)
Friday 8 March is International Women's Day 2024 (see link below) with the theme: Inspire Inclusion.
International Women's Day 2024
Birmingham City Council and Birmingham Community Safety Partnership are working to reduce and prevent the occurrences of violence and abuse against women and girls (VAWG), strengthen the support available for victims and survivors and improve responses to reports of violence and abuse – and we want your views.
Please have YOUR say HERE
by28 March 2024 and help us gain insight into the general public’s understanding of violence and abuse against women and girls. Some of the key themes the survey explores are:
- People’s knowledge and understanding of VAWG
- Feelings of safety in spaces across Birmingham
- Experiences of VAWG
- Experiences of different organisations, such as the police and specialist organisations
- Recommendations for a strategy to tackle VAWG in Birmingham.
The survey is open to both residents and people working, living and studying in Birmingham. Male allyship is a powerful tool – so the team is also keen to hear from the men and boys across Birmingham, too.
5. Care Quality Commission (CQC): Developing an approach to ‘learning culture’ (information for all providers)
The CQC want to make sure the services they regulate have a stronger safety and learning culture. With the new quality statements, the CQC are checking how well providers promote 'learning for safety' and a positive learning atmosphere.
Your input in the survey below will help fine-tune how the CQC assess providers and give them helpful guidance on excelling in these areas.
6. Care Quality Commission (CQC): Share for Better Care – new campaign launching soon (information for all providers)
In the coming weeks the CQC will be launching their new campaign 'Share for Better Care' alongside Healthwatch England, the Race Equality Foundation, National Dignity Council, and the Royal Association for Deaf People.
The campaign, which aims to increase the range and volume of care experiences that people share with the CQC, builds on the success of their Because We All Care campaign which ran between 2020 and 2023.
The Share for Better Care campaign centres around research and audience insight and focuses on engaging people whose voices are seldom heard, especially people from;
- people from minority ethnic communities
- autistic people and people with a learning disability
- disabled people with physical or sensory impairments
- lower-income groups.
The CQC will provide a campaign toolkit for you to help support the campaign. If you’d like to get involved by sharing a story about the importance of feedback where you work:
7. Skills for Care launch new dashboards to track recruitment and retention (information for all providers)
Skills for Care has added two new quarterly tracking dashboards to their workforce intelligence (see link below). One gives an estimate of the number of people who have been recruited internationally to start a care-providing role. It shows trends and a breakdown across service types and regions. The other shows filled posts, starter rate, turnover rate and vacancy rate, broken down by integrated care board area.
two new quarterly tracking dashboards
Inside the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS), there is also a new place to track your individual data. The new look of the benchmarks area allows you to compare your workforce metrics against similar providers in your local area, or specifically those who are ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’. You can view data on pay rates for different job roles, vacancy and turnover rates and the percentage of staff still in their role after 12 months. There are lots of other benefits in using ASC-WDS too.
Find out more here;
Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (skillsforcare.org.uk)
8. Shared Lives are Recruiting Birmingham Shared Lives Carers (information for all providers)
The Birmingham Shared Lives scheme support adults with learning disabilities or additional support needs that make it harder for them to live on their own. The scheme matches someone who need care with an approved carer, through a series of visits. You will support someone who you have got to know and have chosen to care for, the citizen will also have chosen you.
Shared Lives is flexible and isn’t just a regular job in care. Be self-employed and receive tax breaks.
For more information:
Become a Shared Lives Carer………Make a difference to the lives of others!
Start your shared life today and become part of a family again (youtube.com)
9. Infection Prevention Control virtual training dates for March 2024 (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
The training is for staff working in Birmingham and Solihull care homes and can be accessed via the BSol Healthzone Care Home App.
Please see the previous bulletin item 3 here for further information about the App;
What's New Bulletin 184 - 15 February 2024 - Care services providers' bulletin (birmingham.gov.uk)
10. Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) provider sessions on visiting and accompanying in care homes, hospitals and hospices – 19 March 2024 and 3 April 2024 (information for all care homes)
In December 2023, the DHSC announced legislation to make visiting and accompanying a fundamental standard of care.
Visiting is crucial to the health and wellbeing of those receiving care as it ensures that people remain connected with loved ones and their community. They should also have people to support and advocate for them when they are at their most vulnerable.
The new legislation will come into force on 6 April 2024. The DHSC is running a series of online information sessions via Teams, with support from Care Quality Commission (CQC) colleagues. These will explain what the legislation requires you to do as a provider and you will be able to ask any questions you might have about the guidance.
Sessions take place on:
- Tuesday 19 March and Wednesday 3 April for care home providers
Use the form below to sign up for a session. Teams invites will be sent a few days before the session. For any queries, please contact the team on visiting@dhsc.gov.uk.
Teams invites will be sent a few days before the session. For any queries, please contact the team on visiting@dhsc.gov.uk.
11. REMINDER Birmingham and Solihull Nurses and Clinical Leads Network for Nurses working in Social Care 21 March 2024 (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 21 March 2024 02.00pm to 04.30pm.
The meeting agenda will include relevant clinical nursing issues
- Update on Dementia and End of Life
- Stop and Watch
- How to set up organisational learning meetings
- Update from the Social Care Advisory Board
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, please follow this link;