What's New Bulletin 192 - 11 April 2024
This is edition 192 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) – April 2024 – DEADLINE 19 April 2024 (information for all Birmingham and contracted care homes)
2. Grants and support for solar PV installations for businesses – free webinar 18 April 2024 (information for Birmingham providers)
3. Health Innovation West Midlands Deterioration and Quality Improvement in Care Homes 14 March 2024 (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
4. Support to Care Homes Training May 2024 (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
5. REMINDER PLEASE READ Home Support Tender - Home Support and Quick Discharge Service Recommissioning Update – Tender Now Open (information for home support providers)
1.REMINDER Care Homes Market Intelligence Questionnaire (MIQ) – April 2024 – DEADLINE 19 April 2024 (information for all Birmingham and contracted care homes)
Please find the link to the April 2024 quarterly MIQ here:-
The deadline for completion is Friday 19 April 2024
This questionnaire is issued quarterly. Further information about this subject has 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 April 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.
Information about our approach and how the data we are asking for will be used has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
2.Grants and support for solar PV installations for businesses – free webinar 18 April 2024 (information for Birmingham providers)
Installing solar panels is a great way to save electricity costs but it can be complex. To demystify solar the Growth Hub in Birmingham City Council is offering a free webinar on Thursday 18 April 12.30pm to 1.30pm for businesses which will cover:
- Assessing Feasibility: Discover user-friendly online tools to accurately assess the potential benefits of a solar array for your premises, enabling you to craft a compelling business case.
- Financing Models and Payback Period: Learn about various financing options available for solar installations and how to calculate the payback period to ensure a sound investment.
- Unlocking Grant Funding: Explore local grant funding schemes that can significantly reduce the upfront costs of solar installations, making it even more financially attractive.
- Choosing the Right Contractor: Understand the essential questions to ask when selecting a solar contractor, ensuring a seamless installation process and optimal performance.
Sign up on Eventbrite:
3.Health Innovation West Midlands Deterioration and Quality Improvement in Care Homes 14 March 2024 (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSol ICB) are inviting care homes to a webinar event focusing on the management of deterioration and quality improvement in care homes across the Birmingham and Solihull region on 14 March 2024 02:00pm - 04:00pm
The online event will focus on deterioration and quality improvement in care homes in the West Midlands region. Join the event for insightful discussions, informative sessions, and practical tips to enhance the care provided in these crucial settings. Whether you're a healthcare professional, caregiver, or simply interested in the topic, this event is perfect for anyone looking to make a positive impact on the well-being of residents in care homes. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn, connect, and innovate in the field of healthcare!
Book your place via this link;
https://forms.office.com/e/snT4k5UBjq
4.Support to Care Homes Training May 2024 (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
Details of the Support to Care Homes Team virtual training for the month of May 2024 has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk. This is for all Care Homestaff across Birmingham and Solihull Care homes.
There are valuable informative training sessions this month on;
- Management of Deterioration
- Infection prevention
- Pressure Ulcer prevention
- Falls
- Dementia awareness
The training will be hosted by the Solihull Support to Care homes Team and is open to all Care Home staff across Birmingham and Solihull care homes and joining details can be accessed via the BSol Healthzone Care Home App.
Instructions on how to download the BSol Healthzone Care Home App have also been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk. 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)
5.REMINDER PLEASE READ Home Support Tender - Home Support and Quick Discharge Service Recommissioning Update – Tender Now Open (information for home support providers)
The Council’s Cabinet have now approved the Commissioning Strategy 2024 for Home Support and the Quick Discharge Service. A copy of the final Commissioning Strategy and the full report can be found here:
The tender for the replacement contracts Home Support and Quick Discharge Service 2024 has now gone live and you can apply now using the link below:
Legal tender notices have been published via the following links:
Contracts Finder;
Contracts Finder - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Finditinbirmingham;
The anticipated start date for the new contracts is 8th October 2024.
How do I ask questions during the tender period?
As the tender process has now launched, there will be restrictions on the contact Commissioners may be able to have. Please do not contact Commissioners in relation to any aspect of the tender.
To ensure the tender process is fair and transparent, support will need to be accessed as follows:
Procurement Support Step 1 – Check the Guidance Document
Should you have questions about the procurement exercise or how to complete the Questionnaire, you should check the relevant guidance document which is available from the list of dropdown documents under each contract heading on the CareMatch Portal here;
- For Home Support 2024 contract, please read document; 001 The Instructions P2170 Document for Potential Suppliers Invitation to tender (ITT)
- For the Quick discharge Service 2024 contract, 001 The Instructions P2170 Document for Potential Suppliers Invitation to tender (ITT)
Procurement Support Step 2 – check the Clarification Log
Check the Clarification Log to see if your question has already been asked and answered:
Tender opportunities | Tender opportunities | Birmingham City Council
Procurement Support Step 3 – raise a clarification question via the CareMatch Portal
Raise a clarification via the Questions function in the CareMatch Portal. See section 3.2 of the CareMatch Portal User Guide for how to raise Questions. The user guide can be accessed here;
User Guide for providers using Care Match Portal | Birmingham City Council
The answers to these questions will be published regularly here:
Tender opportunities | Tender opportunities | Birmingham City Council
How can I get support with the CareMatch Portal during the tender?
CareMatch Portal Support Step 1
Review the tender instructions document and any guidance in the CareMatch Portal by hovering over the “i” icon next to the question, to check you are entering the correct type of information.
CareMatch Portal Support Step 2
Review the CareMatch Portal User guide for instructions, which can be found here:
User Guide for providers using Care Match Portal | Birmingham City Council
Watch the recorded briefing session on
CareMatch Portal Support Step 3
Check the Clarification Log and bulletins, as we may have published some further information already to support you:
Tender opportunities | Tender opportunities | Birmingham City Council
CareMatch Portal Support Step 4
Only after you have attempted to resolve your technical issue using the above support, should you contact the Council’s Market Intelligence Team via email at:
marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
In your email requesting technical help, please include the email address you are using to log in to CareMatch Portal and, if applicable, the Registration number of the contract application you are having problems with (you can find the number on your Registrations page). Please ensure you give as much detail as possible in your email, including screenshots where possible and which stage of the process you are stuck at. The team will respond by email and will only contact you by phone if they cannot resolve easily by email.
Please be aware the Market Intelligence Team can only answer technical questions relating to the CareMatch Portal and not about any other aspect of the tender process. Please see guidance above for how to raise procurement/tender related questions.