What's New Bulletin 197 - 16 May 2024
This is edition 197 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. PLEASE READ Home Support Tender - Home Support and Quick Discharge Service Recommissioning Update – Tender now closed (information for home support providers)
2. REMINDER Fee Increase 2024/25 (information for all BCC contracted Providers)
3. CONSULTATION Draft Domestic Abuse Prevention Strategy – Deadline 16 July 2024 (information for all providers)
4. Birmingham Community Healthcare Gloveless Campaign (information for all Birmingham providers)
5. Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL) Quality Team - New web page (information for all Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
6. Resilience-based Clinical Supervision (RBCS) (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
7. Support to Care Homes Training June 2024 (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
1. PLEASE READ Home Support Tender - Home Support and Quick Discharge Service Recommissioning Update – Tender now closed (information for home support providers)
The tender for the Flexible Contracting Arrangements for the Provision of Home Support and the Quick Discharge services is now closed.
The indicative time tables for the assessment and award of each contract is included in the table below. Please note that your application will continue to show the status “Awaiting Approval” or “In-Review” within the CareMatch Portal until contracts are awarded.
Please note that Commissioners and members of the Market Intelligence Team will not be able to respond to any queries about individual applications whilst the regulated procurement process is ongoing.
|
EVENT |
TARGET DATE |
|
Stage 1 - Applications to Join the Flexible Contracting Arrangements (FCA) |
|
|
FCA open for Potential Providers to request to participate |
8 April 2024 |
|
Clarification Period |
10 April – 2 May 2024 |
|
Deadline for receipt of Selection Questionnaire |
Noon 16 May 2024 |
|
Anticipated Evaluation Period |
17 May – 7 June 2024 |
|
Award Approval |
10 – 28 June 2024 |
|
Notification of Contract Award |
1 July 2024 |
|
FCA Standstill Period |
2 – 11 July 2024 |
|
FCA Contract Award |
12 July 2024 |
|
FCA Starts – Individual Contracts |
18 July 2024 |
|
Stage 2: Call Off Contract (individual packages of care) |
July 2024 |
|
Closure of the FCA |
|
|
Anticipated Closing date of the FCA |
July 2029 |
|
Option to extend for a further 2 years subject to performance |
July 2031 |
Please note the above are indicative dates only and providers will be kept informed of any changes via this weekly ‘What’s New’ provider bulletin, which is also published here;
Care services providers' bulletin (birmingham.gov.uk).
2. REMINDER Fee Increase 2024/25 (information for all BCC contracted providers)
Further to the bulletin item issued on 14 March 2024 which set out details of the fees payable from 1 April 2024 (see Link below)we hope you find the following clarifications useful.
Care fees | Care fees, invoicing, variations and top ups | Birmingham City Council
Where appropriate the Council will uplift existing packages of care to the rate applicable from 1 April 2024 in our systems which will then be reflected in payments.
- Care homes
- if you believe individual care packages have not been increased to the current rates and that this has not been reflected in payments then please contact operationalcommissioning@birmingham.gov.uk providing the CareFirst ID numbers of the citizens affected and the care home’s contract reference number. This will enable us to look into the cases and rectify any errors or oversights as appropriate.
- Care homes located outside of Birmingham with care packages commissioned at host local authority rates do not receive automatic uplifts – please contact operationalcommissioning@birmingham.gov.uk providing the CareFirst ID numbers of the citizens affected and the care home’s contract reference number, along with evidence of the host local authority’s fees for 2024/25. This will enable us to review individual cases and take appropriate action.
- For all other care home payment queries you should contact schadultspayments@birmingham.gov.uk
- Home support, supported living and extra care services – please ensure that you invoice at the correct fee rate and in line with the relevant invoicing schedules. N.B. Invoices for services delivered for period 25/02 between 1 April 2024 and 28 April 2024 should be sent to home.support.payments.team@birmingham.gov.uk by 20 May 2024. You can view the schedules on our website:
The previous bulletin item can be found here (item 1);
What's New Bulletin 188 - 14 March 2024 - Care services providers' bulletin (birmingham.gov.uk)
3. CONSULTATION Draft Domestic Abuse Prevention Strategy – Deadline 16 July 2024 (information for all providers)
Thank you if you participated in the BeHeard consultation on our new draft Domestic Abuse Prevention Strategy at the end of last year.
This strategy is crucial in driving how we will tackle domestic abuse, support survivors and hold perpetrators to account, and your feedback has been invaluable in focusing our city priorities and shaping the full draft.
We have just launched a public consultation on the full draft strategy, and we need both professionals and citizens to share their views. The consultation is open until the 16 July 2024. The online survey (see link below) should take about 10 minutes to complete and is completely confidential.
The full draft strategy can be found on the BeHeard page. Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
To discuss the consultation or strategy with us, or submit responses by email, please get in touch at DAteam@birmingham.gov.uk.
4. Birmingham Community Healthcare Gloveless Campaign (information for all Birmingham providers)
Are you gloveless when supporting residents with their hydration and nutritional needs? Good hand hygiene, before and after, and bare below the elbow is much safer for your residents and kinder to the environment.
Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
5. Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL) Quality Team - New web page (information for all Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
We are excited to introduce the new BSOL ICB Quality Team Web Page which includes useful information.
BSOL ICB Quality Team Web Page
- Quality support available
- How the team collaborate with partners
- Quality improvement resources
- Support for the social care work force.
- Best practice information
- Details of the Care Home App
If you would like more information about the BSol Quality Team, please contactnhsbsolicb.qualitychc@nhs.net.
6. Resilience-based Clinical Supervision (RBCS) (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
The Foundation of Nursing Studies (FoNS) is delighted to offer a programme that will enable nurses working in social care to experience RBCS with a view to becoming facilitators. This programme is free for participants.
This is a virtual programme which involves individual participation and reflection. To get the most out of it, your member of staff will require:
• A quiet, private space where they feel comfortable and safe to participate and share learning
• Access to a laptop/computer/iPad which can access Teams, and which has a camera and a .
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 require any further information, please email rbcs.socialcare@fons.org
7. Support to Care Homes Training June 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 with details of the Support to Care Homes Team virtual training for all Care Home staff 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
- End of Life
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 been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.ukare also attached.
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)