1. Care Homes Market Intelligence Questionnaire (MIQ) – January 2024 (information for all Birmingham and contracted care homes)
2. Managing Medicines in care homes e-learning courses (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
3. Amber Cold Health Alert (Information for all Providers)
4. REMINDER The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) – The new Learning and Development Support Scheme (information for all providers)
5. REMINDER UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) - Increased Norovirus Risk in Care Homes (Information for all Care Homes)
6. Care Quality Commission (CQC) update for adult social care providers – Scam warning (Information for all Providers)
7. Care Quality Commission (CQC) update for adult social care providers – Share for Better Care week (Information for all Providers)

1. Care Homes Market Intelligence Questionnaire (MIQ) – January 2024 (information for all Birmingham and contracted care homes)

All care homes holding the Care Homes 2023 contract with Birmingham City Council are required, as a condition of that contract, to complete the quarterly Market Intelligence Questionnaire. Care homes in Birmingham, but not under contract, are invited and encouraged to complete the questionnaire, to assist the Council and NHS in their oversight and support of care home services in the city.

Please note that, due to the holiday period, the issue of the questionnaire has been delayed until Thursday 9 January with a completion date of 24 January. Look out for more information in the 9 January bulletin.

2. Managing Medicines in care homes e-learning courses (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)

To support care homes in ensuring their staff are appropriately trained in medicines use, NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB has purchased an updated ‘Managing Medicines in Care Homes’ e-learning course. This is available for staff working in care home settings with residents registered with Birmingham and Solihull practices.

Managing Medicines in Care Homes is a three part course developed by PrescQIPP and must be completed in order (Course 1 first, then Course 2, and finally Course 3).

Managing Medicines in Care Homes - Course 1

Managing Medicines in Care Homes - Course 2

Managing Medicines in Care Homes - Course 3

These bespoke e-learning courses support training for care home staff involved in any aspect of medicine use. Each e-learning course has a variety of modules, case studies and final exams with a pass mark of 70% and can be completed by staff over several sittings. Once each course is passed a certificate of completion will be issued. More information on accessing the courses can be found on each of the flyers linked above or on PrescQIPP e-learning platform once registered.

PrescQIPP e-learning

In order to make sure we are utilising NHS resources effectively, participants are expected to fully complete all aspects of the course when registration has been granted.

3. Amber Cold Health Alert (Information for all Providers)

An Amber Cold Health Alert has been issued by the Met Office for the West Midlands (and other parts of the UK) and is in effect between 12PM on 02/01/2025 until 12PM on 08/01/2025.

Met Office

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. The 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.

Region	Overall Risk Score	Expected Impacts at Regional Level
West Midlands	Matrix score 12 (Amber)	Forecast weather is likely to cause significant impacts across health and social care services, including: •a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. We may also see impacts on younger age groups •a likely increase in demand for health services •temperatures inside places like hospitals, care homes, and clinics dropping below the levels recommended for assessing health risks •challenges keeping indoor temperatures at the recommended 18°C leading to more risk to vulnerable people •staffing issues due to external factors (such as travel delays)•other sectors starting to observe impacts (such as transport and energy)

In addition, please be aware that you can sign up to the Met Office email alert service below:

Met Office email alert service

Additional useful links to guidance include:

Weather-Health Alert Dashboard

BCC Guidance on staying safe during severe weather

NHS Vaccination and Winter Health Guidance

Age UK guidance on keeping warm in winter

Health Protection Team, Public Health Division, Partnerships, Insight and Prevention Directorate
Birmingham City Council, The Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BB

4. REMINDER The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) - The new Learning and Development Support Scheme (Information for all providers)

The DHSC has published a new guidance document on the funding available for learning and development for the adult social care workforce. This fund is called the Learning and Development Support Scheme.

Learning and Development Support Scheme for the adult social care workforce: a guide for employers

The Learning and Development Support Scheme is administered via a new digital online claims service that allows adult social care employers to claim funding for certain training courses and qualifications on behalf of eligible care staff. Funding is available for eligible courses and qualifications that have been both paid for and started between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 (inclusive).  

In order to manage the roll-out, for the first few months access to the service will be via invite only but providers can complete an expression of interest form to be onboarded onto the new system.

Expression of interest form

If you have questions about the Learning and Development Support Scheme you can get in touch with the team by emailing ascreimbursement@dhsc.gov.uk 

5. REMINDER UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) - Increased Norovirus Risk in Care Homes (Information for all Care Homes)

The 2024/2025 season has seen a high level of norovirus activity, which began earlier than usual. This is expected to result in increased outbreaks in care homes this winter. A letter from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) outlines the implications and recommendations for care homes. This includes information on infection and prevention control (IPC), reporting outbreaks to Health Protection Teams, supporting resident health and wellbeing and guidance for supported living settings.

Letter from the UK Health Security Agency

6. Care Quality Commission (CQC) update for adult social care providers – Scam warning (Information for all Providers)

The CQC are aware of a scam where a company that claims to be CQC is emailing registered providers selling in-house training for staff on CQC inspections and how to get a rating of outstanding. The email includes information copied from the CQC website and a fake CQC logo. The CQC never charge a fee for any guidance, webinars and other face-to-face engagement events and they do not offer training for staff. If you are considering investing in training for your staff, you should make sure the training provider is advertised as independent from CQC and let the CQC know of any examples of training companies that claim otherwise.

7. Care Quality Commission (CQC) update for adult social care providers – Share for Better Care Week (Information for all Providers)

Get ready to make a difference from 24 February 2025 as the CQC launch Share for Better Care Week, a national week of action about helping more people have a stronger voice in their care. Mark your calendars and sign up for our Share for Better Care briefing call on 21 January to find out how you can support their campaign! Let's come together and ask our communities, "Will you share for better care?".

Sign up for our Share for Better Care briefing call