What's New Bulletin 262 - 21 August 2025
This is edition 262 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 Provider Focus Groups – Opportunity to Feedback to Birmingham City Council (Information for all Care Providers that Support Citizens Funded by Birmingham City Council)
2. Birmingham City Council Public Health - Headache and Migraine Resources for Pakistani Communities (Information for all Providers)
3. Care Quality Commission (CQC) – Livestream with Dr Arun Chopra, the CQC's first Chief Inspector of Mental Health 1 September 2025 (Information for all Providers)
4. Care Quality Commission (CQC) - Working to Rebuild Good Regulation (Information for all Providers)
5. Capacity Tracker Engagement North of England Commissioning Support Unit (NECS) -
What's New to Capacity Tracker (Information for all Providers)
6. REMINDER Skills for Care Updates for August 2025 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
7. REMINDER NHS Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) Training Hub July 2025 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
8. REMINDER Skills for Care - Delegated Healthcare in Action: Local Voices, Shared Solutions (Information for all Providers)
9. Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) Nurses and Clinical Leads Network for Nurses working in Social Care - Virtual Network Meeting 16 September 2025 (Information for Care Homes with Nursing in Birmingham and Solihull)
10. REMINDER Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) NHS Foundation Trust - Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) quarterly IPC Champions Forum 18 September 2025 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes
1. REMINDER Provider Focus Groups – Opportunity to Feedback to Birmingham City Council (Information for all Care Providers that Support Citizens Funded by Birmingham City Council)
We are arranging four Provider Focus Groups in August and September (18 August / 20 August / 28 August / 2 September 2025) via Microsoft Teams. Each session will run for 90 minutes - they are open to all Care Providers that support citizens funded by Birmingham City Council. You only need to attend one session (please select either Provider Focus Group A, B, C or D – please pick only one – all sessions are the same). The purpose of the Provider Focus Groups is to give you an opportunity to feedback on how you think the Council is performing in key areas – Social Work / Occupational Therapy / Safeguarding / Commissioning / Communication & Relationships.
Use the links below in order to register to attend one of these sessions:
Register here BCC Provider Focus Group C 28th August 2pm-330pm
Register here BCC Provider Focus Group D 2nd September 10am-1130am
Some attendees have had difficulty using the break out room functionality. Please ensure your companies firewall policy or your Teams license doesn’t prevent you from using break out rooms in Teams. You may also experience difficulty if you join by phone.
For further information, please use this link operationalcommissioning@birmingham.gov.uk
2. Birmingham City Council Public Health - Headache and Migraine Resources for Pakistani Communities (Information for all Providers)
The Birmingham Culturally Intelligent Approach to Chronic Headaches & Migraines (BCIAHP) project is a Public Health project that explores the impact and prevalence of headaches and migraines within Birmingham’s Pakistani communities.
We’ve created information resources with Pakistani communities and healthcare professionals to offer practical advice on explaining your symptoms to a GP, healthy lifestyle guidance, and more.
Visit the project's webpage (see link below) to learn more about the project, view our co-produced videos, posters, community guides, and healthcare professional guides in both English and Urdu. You can review the full terms and conditions on the surveywebpage using the link below:
BCIAHP Resources Feedback Survey webpage
3. Care Quality Commission (CQC) – Livestream with Dr Arun Chopra, the CQC's first Chief Inspector of Mental Health 1 September 2025 (Information for all Providers)
The CQC are holding a livestream event with their first Chief Inspector of Mental Health - Dr Arun Chopra on Monday 1 September 2025 at 12:00 pm.
Sign up here and get your questions in for Dr Arun.
4. Care Quality Commission (CQC) - Working to Rebuild Good Regulation (Information for all Providers)
Please see below a link to an update on how the CQC is improving to deliver good regulation, in particular:
- Delivering more assessments
- Working in partnership
- Strengthening leadership
August update on what the CQC are doing to improve - Care Quality Commission
5. Capacity Tracker Engagement North of England Commissioning Support Unit (NECS) - What's New to Capacity Tracker (Information for all Providers)
As part of NECS’s continuous improvement programme, they have made some changes to Capacity Tracker. Unless otherwise stated, these took place on Wednesday, 20 August 2025.
Please use the link below for other Capacity Tracker updates.
20250808 august whats new final.pdf
For support with the Capacity Tracker, please see details below:
- For system support and guidance - please contact NECS Capacity Tracker Support Centre - 0191 691 3729 or necsu.capacitytracker@nhs.net (Open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, excluding public holidays)
- Changing registration, closing, change of ownership – please contact the CQC - T: 03000 616161, E: enquiries@cqc.org.uk, CQC Provider Portal (Open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm, excluding public holidays)
If you receive an enforcement notice – please contact the NHS Business Services Authority Enforcement Team (NHSBSA) – T: 0300 330 2088, E: enforcement@nhsbsa.nhs.uk (Open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm
6. REMINDER Skills for Care Updates for August 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
7. REMINDER NHS Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) Training Hub July 2025 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
The Birmingham and Solihull Training Hub Website is for those working in a primary or social care role in the Solihull / Birmingham area. The information is for students looking for support with career development or a visitor wanting to find out more.
Please use this link for training, further information and booking:
Social Care – BSol Training hub
All training events are listed in the calendar section. You can also contact the training hub by email bsol.traininghub@nhs.net.
The next sessions are:
- 3 September 2025 – Catheter Care - 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
- 4 September 2025 - Continuing Health Care (CHC) Checklist Training (September 2025) - 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
- 10 September 2025 HoBS - Caring for the Human Spirit - 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
- 10 September 2025 Nursing placement strategy: Connecting locally to meet the recommendations of the strategy - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
- 11 September 2025 Mental Capacity Act Awareness Training - 9:30 am - 12:00 pm
- 11 September 2025 Registered Managers Forum and Skills for Care: Working together with Registered Managers in Solihull - 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm
- 12 September 2025 IPC - Mouth Care Matters - 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
8. REMINDER Skills for Care - Delegated Healthcare in Action: Local Voices, Shared Solutions (Information for all Providers)
Skills for Care are hosting in-person, regional roadshow events to explore how delegated healthcare activities are supporting people and adult social care providers. The roadshow events will bring together everyone involved in delegated healthcare activities, ranging from registered professionals who delegate healthcare activities and commissioners, to providers and people who draw on care and support.
The events will draw on local insights and address common challenges to promote safe and personalised delegation. They are an opportunity to network with others delivering delegated healthcare activities in your region. You’ll also be able to find out what’s new and innovative and share with others what’s working well in your area.
The roadshow is open to anyone interested in delegated healthcare activities across adult social care.
Find out more and register for the roadshow nearest you
The event for the Midlands will be as follows:
Wednesday 3 September 2025 | 10:00 am - 4:00 pm, Coventry Novotel Wilsons Ln, M6, Longford, Coventry CV6 6HL
9. Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) Nurses and Clinical Leads Network for Nurses working in Social Care - Virtual Network Meeting 16 September 2025 (Information for Care Homes with Nursing in Birmingham and Solihull)
Birmingham and Solihull Nurses and Clinical Leads Network for Nurses working in Social Care would like to invite registered nurses to the next virtual network meeting for Tuesday, 16 September 2025 2:00 - 4:45pm
The meeting agenda will include relevant clinical nursing issues:
- NMC- An introduction to Employer Link Service Advisor
- Tissue Viability Update 2025
- Infection prevention – winter planning 2025
- Respecting choice and managing risk – Dysphagia Research
- Birmingham Community SALT Team – Swallowing Matters
- Falls Team Toolkit Overview
There will be an update from BSOL Integrated Care Board, Skills for Care and West Midlands Care Association on support/resources for nurses.
To find out more about the meeting, and to book your place, follow this link:
Nurses and Clinical Leads Network
10. REMINDER Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) NHS Foundation Trust - Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) quarterly IPC Champions Forum 18 September 2025 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
IPC will soon host your quarterly IPC Champions Forum. Join (virtually) via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, 18 September 2025 between 10.00am – 11.15am.
click here to join the meeting
For comments/queries, infection control advice, and training requests please contact