What's New Bulletin 263 - 28 August 2025
This is edition 263 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 – LAST DATE 2 September 2025 (Information for all Care Providers that Support Citizens Funded by Birmingham City Council)
2. Birmingham City Council Domestic Abuse Prevention Team: Upcoming nationwide emergency alert test, at 3pm on Sun 7 September 2025: being mindful of those facing domestic abuse (Information for all)
3. Care Quality Commission (CQC) – Update on improvements (Information for all)
4. NHS England Regional Frailty Programme - Draft Falls Response Guidance document for Care Homes - Request for Review/Feedback and for Expressions of Interest to pilot/test DEADLINE 5 September 2025 (Information for West Midlands Care Homes)
5. REMINDER Care Quality Commission (CQC) – Livestream with Dr Arun Chopra, the CQC's first Chief Inspector of Mental Health 1 September 2025 (Information for all)
6. REMINDER Skills for Care Updates for September 2025 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
7. REMINDER NHS Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) Training Hub September 2025 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
8. REMINDER Skills for Care - Delegated Healthcare in Action: Local Voices, Shared Solutions 3 September 2025 (Information for all Providers)
9. Birmingham and Solihull ICB Nurses and Clinical Leads Network meeting for nurses working in social care 16 September 2025 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
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 – LAST DATE 2 September 2025 (Information for all Care Providers that Support Citizens Funded by Birmingham City Council)
We have arranged four Provider Focus Groups in August and September via Microsoft Teams, the last one will be held on 2 September 2025. The session will run for 90 minutes and is open to all Care Providers that support citizens funded by Birmingham City Council. The purpose of the Provider Focus Group 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 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 Domestic Abuse Prevention Team: Upcoming nationwide emergency alert test, at 3pm on Sun 7 September 2025: being mindful of those facing domestic abuse ( Information for all)
A nationwide emergency alert test will be going out at 3pm on Sunday, 7 September – and colleagues in our Domestic Abuse Prevention Team are reminding us that this alert can put those experiencing domestic abuse in danger – especially if they have phones their partners are not aware of, or if they are in hiding.
Women’s Aid sent out the following reminder on social media…
The UK’s new emergency alert system will send a loud siren, message, and vibration to every compatible phone – even if they are on silent. Survivors of abuse with hidden phones could be put at risk if the device is discovered.
You can opt out in your phone’s settings to protect your safety:
iPhone: search “Emergency Alerts” in settings → Turn off Severe & Emergency alerts
Android: Search “Emergency Alerts” in settings → Turn off Severe & Emergency alerts (and other threat categories if listed)
3. Care Quality Commission (CQC) – Update on improvements (Information for all)
The CQC have published an update looking at their recent activities to improve the way they work and lays out progress on the target of publishing reports for 9,000 assessments between April 2025 and September 2026.
The update also covers engagement workshops that were run over the past couple of months. These events have helped develop proposals for how the approach will change. Chris Day, Director of Engagement, has written a blog about these sessions, what was heard, and what comes next.
Our August update on what we're doing to improve
Blog: Chris Day - Rebuilding regulation: What we’ve heard — and where we go next
Improving how we work: find out about our improvement plan and how you can get involved
4. NHS England Regional Frailty Programme - Draft Falls Response Guidance document for Care Homes - Request for Review/Feedback and for Expressions of Interest to pilot/test DEADLINE 5 September 2025 (Information for West Midlands Care Homes)
NHS England are sharing the following draft documents attached. These documents have been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
- A letter which outlines the regional approach which is being taken to reviewing the guidance and that of the request for expressions of interest to pilot/test this guideline
- The latest version of the regional guidance document to improve falls responses across services for those residents aged 65 or over who fall who reside in a care home.
Providers are invited to a) provide feedback on the content; and b) express an interest to pilot/test the guidance by emailing england.midlandsuecpmo@nhs.net or karen.edwards14@nhs.net by 5th September 2025.
If you have any questions or queries regarding the Falls programme, please contact england.midlandsuecpmo@nhs.net.
5. REMINDER 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.
6. REMINDER Skills for Care Updates for September 2025 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
Further 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 September 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
16 September 2025 BSol nurses and clinical leads network for nurses working in social care - 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
18 September 2025 Continuing Health Care (CHC) Fast Track Pathway Training (September 2025) 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
18 September 2025 Birmingham Registered Managers Network Meeting 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
8. REMINDER Skills for Care - Delegated Healthcare in Action: Local Voices, Shared Solutions 3 September 2025 (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 ICB Nurses and Clinical Leads Network meeting for nurses working in social care 16 September 2025 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
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 16th September 2025 2:00 pm - 4:45 pm.
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, please use 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 10.00 am – 11.15 am.
click here to join the meeting.
For comments/queries, infection control advice, and training requests please contact bchc.ipcdata1@nhs.net or 0121 466 6550.