What's New Bulletin 235 - 13 February 2025
This is edition 235 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. Birmingham City Council - Fee Increase for Contracted CQC Regulated Care Provision 2025/26 – Update (Information for all Contracted Providers)
2. Birmingham City Council - Contractual requirement to use secure email (Information for all Providers Holding Contracts with Birmingham City Council)
3. West Midlands Care Association (WMCA) - Funding for first time adoption of Digital Social Care Records (DSCR) (Information for care providers in Birmingham and Solihull)
4. Birmingham City Council - Infection Prevention Control (IPC) Service Extension (Information for all Birmingham Care Homes)
5. Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) - Digital technology: a serious game calling for more players (Information for all Providers to bring to the attention of people who use their services)
6. REMINDER Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) ‘Make care your career’ Launch 3 February 2025 (Information for all Providers)
7. Care Quality Commission (CQC) update for adult social care providers – Share for Better Care Week 24 February – 2 March 2025 (Information for all Providers)
8. Birmingham and Solihull Community Care Collaborative (CCC) – Connect Newsletter January/February 2025 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
9. Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) NHS Trust - The Tissue Viability Team - BCHC provision of ARJO mattresses into Nursing Homes (Information for Care Homes with Nursing in Birmingham and Solihull)
10. Skills for Care Midlands - Access to eLearning Modules on Skills for Care’s New Learning Management System (LMS) (Information for all Midlands Care Providers)
11. Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) Clinical Learning Alert (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
12. REMINDER Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) – Skills for Care Updates (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
13. CANCELLATION Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) – Training 14 February 2025 (Information for Care Homes and IPC Care Home Champions)
14. REMINDER Continuing Health Care (CHC) Fast Track Training Events 2025/2026 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
1. Birmingham City Council - Fee Increase for Contracted CQC Regulated Care Provision 2025/26 – Update (Information for all Contracted Providers)
The Council has received a number of recent enquiries about its position on fee increases in April 2025, and we fully understand the need for clarity to enable organisations to carry out business planning. We have noted concerns raised by care providers in relation to the general rate of inflation, changes to national living wage legislation and, also changes to Employer National Insurance contribution rules.
Unfortunately, we are not able to share full details of the fee increases proposed for April 2025 until after the Council has approved its 2025/26 budget on 25 February 2025. The Council’s commitment to increasing fees annually is set out in its contracts and, despite the significant pressure on the Council’s finances, the Commissioning Team have continued to implement that contractual methodology and to incorporate fee increase proposals for the sector into this year’s budget setting process.
We remain committed to informing the care market of the fee increases as soon as we are authorised to do so, however in the meantime you can view further details in the Council’s budget report which is scheduled to be discussed by the Council’s Cabinet on 11 February 2025 and Full Council on 25 February 2025:
2. Birmingham City Council - Contractual requirement to use secure email (Information for all Providers Holding Contracts with Birmingham City Council)
All care providers holding contracts with Birmingham City Council are required to use NHS-approved secure email accounts for all correspondence which includes citizens’ personal data. NHS mail accounts are available free of charge to all CQC registered providers. As an alternative, providers can apply to NHS to have their mail systems approved as secure
Use of any other email account is not compliant with Birmingham City Council contracts.
More information on NHS mail accounts for care providers is available here:
If you already have an NHS mail account but are experiencing difficulties with it, you can use the NHS mail contact form usimg the link below. This doesn’t in itself resolve the matter, but by using the drop-down menus, it identifies the issue you are experiencing, and provides guidance. You then receive an email with the required information to send to the NHS mail helpdesk for resolution.
More information about how to use the Contact Form can be found here
NAS contact form – NHSmail Support
You can also phone the NHS mail helpdesk on 0333 200 1133.
Please note that if you don’t use your NHS mail account for 90 days it stops working.
3. West Midlands Care Association (WMCA) - Funding for first time adoption of Digital Social Care Records (DSCR) (Information for care providers in Birmingham and Solihull)
West Midlands Care Association are pleased to announce that, despite the closure of the Digitising Social Care (DiSC) programme, they have a small surplus of funds to support CQC registered providers in Birmingham and Solihull with their first-time adoption of a Digital Social Care Record (DSCR). However, funds are limited so they encourage you to act now.
Contact their dedicated Digital Team at West Midlands Care Association (WMCA). They are available during normal office hours (Mon - Fri 9.00am - 5.00pm)
Phone01384 943000 opt 1
Email enquiries@wmca.digital
4. Birmingham City Council - Infection Prevention Control (IPC) Service Extension (Information for all Birmingham Care Homes)
The Council are pleased to confirm that the Infection Prevention Control Service for Birmingham Care Homes has been extended until 31 March 2026.
The team will continue to provide specialist IPC advice to care homes as well as ensuring our growing network of IPC Champions are supported with training and materials to continue to develop their knowledge and skills. They will also continue to provide support during any outbreaks of infectious diseases in care homes.
If you are interested in becoming an IPC Champion or require any other IPC support, email:ipcdata@nhs.net.
To learn more about the IPC resources available, visit:
infection prevention and control webpages
5. Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) - Digital technology: a serious game calling for more players (Information for all Providers to bring to the attention of people who use their services)
Social Care Future (see link below) is a movement led by people who use adult social care services. Its members want others to join them in growing a future where everyone can live in the place they call home, with the people and things that they love, and in communities where everyone looks out for each other, and they can do things that matter to them.
Qualified social worker and Convener at Social Care Future, Andy McCabe encourages a fresh perspective and innovative thinking when it comes to technology. While technology can support basic care functions, it also has potential to transform lives by enhancing wellbeing and fostering social connections. Andy advocates redefining technology in social care enabling individuals to connect, thrive and pursue their passions. Read more via the NHS Digitising Social Care website.
Digital technology: a serious game calling for more players | Digitising Social Care
6. REMINDER Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) ‘Make care your career’ Launch 3 February 2025 (Information for all Providers)
The new campaign, ‘Make care your career’ launched on 3 February 2025 to drive increased interest in care roles and support recruitment efforts across the adult social care sector. Designed to inspire individuals with the right values to consider a career in care, the campaign will showcase the diverse and flexible roles available and highlight that you don’t need formal qualifications to apply.
The campaign will feature across TV, radio, social media and digital advertising, and will be seen by millions of people over the coming weeks. Jobseekers will be signposted to the campaign website where they can find out more about working in care and search for vacancies in their local area using DWP ‘Find a Job’.
There are several ways care providers can make the most of the campaign:
- Post your vacancies on the DWP ‘Find a Job’ platform: it’s quick and easy to do and will make sure jobseekers who’ve seen the advertising can find your roles.
- Coordinate local recruitment activities: align your efforts with the campaign to capitalise on the increased awareness and interest it generates.
- Use the free, new campaign resources: use these assets to help attract high-quality candidates to your roles.
Visit the campaign resources page below from 3 February 2025 to download instructions on how to post your vacancies to DWP ‘Find a Job’ and access the new campaign resources.
www.adultsocialcare.co.uk/recruit
7. Care Quality Commission (CQC) update for adult social care providers – Share for Better Care Week 24 February – 2 March 2025 (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. If you want to find out more or get in touch about how you or your service could get involved? Contact Jay.Harman@cqc.org.uk.
8. Birmingham and Solihull Community Care Collaborative (CCC) – Connect Newsletter January/February 2025 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
Information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk.Connect is the monthly update on all things about the CCC – the programme of work where health, care, voluntary and community organisations work together to improve citizens health and care. This edition covers how teams are working with Heartlands and Good Hope Hospital colleagues on promoting our intermediate care services to colleagues, invite you to watch a virtual tour video of our new Same Day Emergency Care Respiratory Hub as well as tell the story of Cheryl Gillespie, one of the first patients to benefit from the Hub. Please take a moment to read the newsletter.
9. Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) NHS Trust - The Tissue Viability Team - BCHC provision of ARJO mattresses into Nursing Homes (Information for Care Homes with Nursing in Birmingham and Solihull)
Following the training that was undertaken in September 2024 notifying of a change in process relating to BCHC provision of ARJO mattresses into Nursing Homes, they would like to inform you that they are now in the position to go live with the new process as of week commencing 10 February 2025.
If BCHC provide an air mattress for one of your residents a notification email will be sent on day 14 to remind you that on the 28th Day ARJO will be collecting the mattress with the expectation that the Nursing Home will have sourced a suitable replacement within this period.
If you have any concerns regarding this, please contact the Tissue Viability Service on tissue.viability6@nhs.net.
10. Skills for Care Midlands - Access to eLearning Modules on Skills for Care’s New Learning Management System (LMS) (Information for all Midlands Care Providers)
Did you know that you can log in to Skills for Care’s LMS and access all the eLearning modules as part of your continuous professional development (CPD)? All the following are available to you to access:
- Introductory modules for managers
- Creating an inclusive organisation
- Learning from accidents and events
- Digital Skills eLearning.
If you experience any issues, please email LMSenquiries@skillsforcare.org.uk.
Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
11. Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) Clinical Learning Alert (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
The Integrated Commissioning Board (ICB) Clinical Quality Assurance Team are committed to sharing best practise, themes and trends, lessons learnt and improving quality, please use the link to see the Clinical Learning Alert recent themes and trends from Clinical incidents.
- Dignity and respect
- Modern Day Slavery
Further information can be found below:
BSOL ICB Quality Team Web Page
12. REMINDER Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) – Skills for Care Updates (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. This includes some updates on forthcoming training and development opportunities for frontline care staff.If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
13. CANCELLATION Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust - Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) – Training 14 February 2025 (Information for Care Homes and IPC Care Home Champions)
Please note that the virtual training session on Respiratory Infections that was to take place on Friday 14 February 2025 has been cancelled. For further information, please contact bchc.ipcdata1@nhs.net
14. REMINDER Continuing Health Care (CHC) Fast Track Training Events 2025/2026 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
You are invited to attend one of the CHC team’s friendly Fast Track training events taking place on the Third Thursday of every month 14:00pm – 16:00pm. Suitable for Allied healthcare and social care practitioners who could be involved in completing Continuing Healthcare (CHC) Checklists in relation to NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC).
Next date: 20 February 2025
Aims:
- To understand this element of the NHS Continuing Healthcare Process in line with Revised National Framework for NHS Continuing Healthcare 2022
- Understand the process of referral into the NHS Continuing Healthcare Fast Track Pathway by completion of the Continuing Healthcare Fast Track Tool.
Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk