What's New Bulletin 189 - 21 March 2024
This is edition 189 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 Birmingham City Council Fee increases – 1 April 2024 (information for all contracted providers)
2. NHS funded nursing in care homes is set to increase from April 2024 (information for all Nursing Homes)
3. Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) DHSC webinars March 2024 – International Recruitment health and care worker visa changes (information for all providers)
4. Launch of Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Skills for Care International Recruitment Toolkit (information for all care providers)
5. REMINDER West Midlands Social Care International Recruitment Support – Website, Free legal advice, and legal webinars (Information for all West Midlands Providers)
6. REMINDER West Midlands Care Association Buddying Scheme for international recruits – funding available (information for all Birmingham providers)
7. Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Social care careers: so many options to choose from (information for all providers)
8. NHS England webinar on The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism 27 March 2024 (information for all providers)
9.REMINDER Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) provider sessions on visiting and accompanying in care homes – 3 April 2024 (Information for all Care Homes)
10. Capacity Tracker training dates (information for all providers)
1. REMINDER Birmingham City Council Fee increases – 1 April 2024 (information for all contracted providers)
Following the Council’s approval of its budget on 5 March 2024, we are now able to confirm the increases to fees payable from 1 April 2024. Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk. This will shortly be available on our website using the following link:
Care fees | Care fees, invoicing, variations and top ups | Birmingham City Council
For the avoidance of doubt, the fee increases are only applicable to care packages delivered by care providers which have been awarded the most recent and current versions of our care home, supported living, and home support contracts. These are:
- Care homes and Supported Living – Flexible Contracting Arrangements [2023]
- Home Support for Sensory Loss – Framework Agreement [2023]
- Home Support for Prisons - Framework Agreement [2022]
- Home Support for Children, Young People with Disabilities and Home support for Adults [2019]
- Quick Discharge and Quick Intervention Home Support for Adults [2019]
The fee increases are not applicable to contract holders of older or expired versions of these contracts.
2. NHS funded nursing in care homes is set to increase from April 2024 (information for all nursing homes)
NHS funded nursing in care homes is set to rise by 7.4%; the standard weekly rate will increase from £219.71 to £235.88 as of April 2024. Those working at a higher rate will see an increase from £302.25 to £324.50.
Read more about increased funding for nursing in care homes here;
Increased 2024 funding for nursing in care homes - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
3. Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) DHSC webinars March 2024 – International Recruitment health and care worker visa changes (Information for all providers)
As of 11 March 2024, care workers and senior care workers are no longer able to bring dependants to the UK. Additionally, care providers in England are required to be registered with the Care Quality Commission to sponsor care workers and senior care workers.
The Home Office are hosting webinars to explain the changes to the Health and Care Worker visa, and what these reforms mean for care providers who are recruiting from abroad, or considering international recruitment. Providers can register for a session at the below links:
Friday 22 March 2024 at 11:00am -
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/healthcare-sector-engagement-with-dhsc-1-tickets-861477029987
Wednesday 27 March 2024 at 10:30am- ]
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/healthcare-sector-engagement-event-with-dhsc-2-tickets-861492004777
4. Launch of Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Skills for Care International Recruitment Toolkit (Information for all care providers)
We are very pleased to inform you that the DHSC, in collaboration with Skills for Care have now published the Toolkit for International Recruitment for Adult Social Care Providers.
This toolkit is a best practice guide, to support providers to ethically recruit care workers and senior care workers from overseas. The toolkit can be used by providers who are new to international recruitment to help support through the new processes, or by providers who are looking to refine their current international recruitment processes.
The toolkit has been written in collaboration with Skills for Care and is hosted on their international recruitment hub, alongside other key resources and information to support with ethical international recruitment (see link below). DHSC have also worked with gov.uk to create a summary version to highlight the key messages within the toolkit (see link below).
International recruitment (skillsforcare.org.uk)
International recruitment toolkit for adult social care providers - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
5. REMINDER West Midlands Social Care International Recruitment Support – Website, Free legal advice, and legal webinars (information for West Midlands providers)
WM-ADASS and WM Employers are working in partnership to develop a range of support and resources for care providers across the West Midlands which are recruiting internationally.
Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk. This sets out details of the International Recruitment Hub website (see link below), free legal advice from law firm Lester Aldridge (available to the end of June 2024) and a range of legal support webinars – you can book your place on each of the webinars directly on the International Recruitment Hub website.
6. REMINDER West Midlands Care Association Buddying Scheme for international recruits – funding available (information for Birmingham providers)
International Recruitment has a different set of challenges compared to recruiting from within the UK, particularly in ensuring that the new recruits feel welcomed and are able to access pastoral support. West Midlands Care Association has secured funding to support buddying activities for international recruits within your organisations. This is to allow you the time to provide the pastoral care that ensures international recruitment is a success.
Care providers located within Birmingham can apply for a small cash grant to support buddying activities within their organisation.
How will it work?
Care providers can apply for a small cash grant of £1200.This grant can be used for backfill to release a member of staff to provide pastoral care to overseas recruits within their organisations.
What is pastoral care?
International recruits very often don't know how life works in the UK. By having a 'buddy' they can turn to within their organisation who can give them guidance on how things work in our country ensures that they feel welcomed and integrate more quickly. Examples may be applying for driving licenses or signposting them to religious organisations.
Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
Funding is limited and on a first come basis.
For more details and to apply visit the webpages on the West Midlands Care Association website;
https://www.wmca.care/recruitment/international/resources
7. Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Social care careers: so many options to choose from (information for all providers)
‘Made with Care’, DHSC’s national adult social care recruitment campaign, is here to support you in filling vacancies. The campaign emphasises the rewarding nature of care work, whilst also addressing the barriers to applying which some candidates experience.
Maximise the effectiveness of your local recruitment with these:
They include useful tips on how to build a successful recruitment campaign.
To find out more:
and subscribe to the Made withCare newsletter for the latest updates. Details in the link below.
Sign up to the campaign newsletter here;
8. NHS England webinar on The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism 27 March 2024 (information for all providers)
NHS England and partners are hosting an all-stakeholder webinar on The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism on Wednesday 27 March 2024, 10.00am -12.00 midday.
The session will provide key updates from NHS England, DHSC, and Paula McGowan, and will include items on:
- Roll out
- Accreditation
- Code of Practice
- Oliver’s Campaign
To register, complete the registration form here;
Sign up: All stakeholder webinar - The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training (office.com)
9. REMINDER Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) provider sessions on visiting and accompanying in care homes – 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:
- 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.
10. Capacity Tracker training dates (information for all providers)
The following ‘top tips’ have been shared by the Capacity Tracker team to help ensure providers are regularly submitting the mandatory Department of Health and Social Care data within the monthly reporting windows;
- To update/refresh as soon as the window opens; less reminders/saves time chasing!
- To attend CT training sessions to get a better understanding of the system & how to quickly update their information.
- Care Home Training (April-May 2024):
- Click here
- Homecare Training (April-May 2024):
- Click here
- To have additional users registered on CT to cover periods of absence.
- To register for a CT account, click on the link below:
Support remains available to new and existing providers who may require assistance:
NECS Capacity Tracker Support Centre: necsu.capacitytracker@nhs.net or by calling the Support Centre (8am-5pm Mon-Fri, excluding public holidays) on 0191 691 3729