What's New Bulletin 283 - 29 January 2026
This is edition 283 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 Increases April 2026 Update (Information for all Providers)
2 REMINDER Home Support and Supported Living Market Intelligence Questionnaire (MIQ) – January 2026 (Information for all Providers Holding the Home Support 2024 and Supported Living 2023 Contracts)
3 REMINDER Ensuring Care Plans and Risk Assessments are Attached to Requests for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Assessments (Information for all Birmingham Contracted Care Homes)
4 Capacity Tracker Engagement North of England Commissioning Support Unit (NECS) – Latest Guidance and Tips – January 2026 (Information for all Providers)
5 NHS Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) Integrated Care Board (ICB) - Launch of Digital ReSPECT Forms Within the Shared Care Record (Information for Care Homes with Nursing in Birmingham and Solihull)
6 REMINDER QUESTIONNAIRE - Birmingham City Council Public Health - Learning Disabilities Housing Needs and Solutions Appendix – DEADLINE 6 February 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)
7 REMINDER Skills for Care Updates for February 2026 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
8 REMINDER Digital Care Hub and Care England - Upcoming Digital Care Hub Webinars: 4 and 25 February 2026 (Information for all Providers)
9 REMINDER NHS Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) Training Hub February 2026 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Providers)
10. REMINDER Skills for Care - Midlands Regional Conference - Evolving Together – 10 February 2026 (Information for all West Midlands Care Providers)
11. Alcoholics Anonymous Awareness for Professionals Awareness Events – 20 February 2026 (Information for all Providers)
12. Birmingham City Council - Powered by People – Your Support Needed for the 26 February 2026 Summit (Information for all Birmingham Providers)
1 Birmingham City Council - Fee Increases April 2026 Update (Information for all Providers)
The Council is still working through its processes to determine care package fee uplifts which will be paid to contracted care providers from 6 April 2026. The process is closely aligned to the Council’s budget setting process which will not be concluded until it is approved by Full Council (expected late February/early March 2026). As in previous years we aim to inform care provider organisations of fee increases as soon as we are able to do – this is likely to be after the Council has approved its 2026/7 budget.
We shall communicate details of the fee increases via the usual methods - our weekly Communications bulletin and on our website -
Care fees | Care fees, invoicing, variations and top ups | Birmingham City Council
2 REMINDER Home Support and Supported Living Market Intelligence Questionnaire (MIQ) – January 2026 (Information for all Providers Holding the Home Support 2024 and Supported Living 2023 Contracts)
If your service holds either or both of the Home Support 2024 and Supported Living 2023 contracts, you are requested to complete and submit this questionnaire by clicking this link:
Home Support and Supported Living MIQ – January 2026
The deadline for completion is 3 February 2026
The questionnaire is issued quarterly Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
Completion of the questionnaire is part of the terms of the Home Support 2024 and Supported Living 2023 contracts
The purpose of the questionnaire is to collect information to assist our market shaping and development role, the production of our Market Position Statements, fulfil our Care Act duties around ensuring a quality and sustainable market, to help us direct resources, identify areas of risk, and monitor progress towards our strategic aims. It has been co-produced with health colleagues to reduce duplication in data collection, and has been streamlined so that we are only collecting information that is not available to us from elsewhere e.g. the Capacity Tracker.
3 REMINDER Ensuring Care Plans and Risk Assessments are Attached to Requests for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) Assessments (Information for all Birmingham Contracted Care Homes)
Can providers ensure they attach care plans and risk assessments in every instance when requesting a DoLS assessment via the portal;
Please also ensure you complete all relevant parts of DoLS Forms 1 and 2 with as much information as possible. This will help Birmingham City Council’s DoLS Team to prioritise the referrals and carry out the assessments accordingly.
4 Capacity Tracker Engagement North of England Commissioning Support Unit (NECS) – Latest Guidance and Tips – January 2026 (Information for all Providers)
Please find below a link to this month’s summary of Capacity Tracker updates, along with an overview of key initiatives currently relevant to providers.
20260127 latest guidance and tips - January.pdf
5 NHS Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) Integrated Care Board (ICB) - Launch of Digital ReSPECT Forms Within the Shared Care Record (Information for Care Homes with Nursing in Birmingham and Solihull)
From 30 January 2026, the ReSPECT (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment) form will be digitally integrated into the Shared Care Record (SHCR) Using digital ReSPECT forms will support Birmingham and Solihull healthcare professionals involved with palliative and end of life care to access, view and edit vital patient preferences and recommendations quickly and securely.
What does this new change mean for you?
Digitalising the ReSPECT form does not replace the paper version, therefore we encourage adopting a dual working approach of utilising a paper version of ReSPECT alongside maximising use of the digitally available up to date copy on the SHCR for a patient.
Need help?
Guidance and training resources are available via the ICB website below:
The resources currently include a short training video (see below) explaining how to access, view and edit a digital ReSPECT Form on the SHCR:
and a PDF with general context:
Further ReSPECT resources can be found on:
Birmingham & Solihull End of Life Care Toolkit
What to do next
- Please save and share this communication with all relevant staff.
- On 30 January 2026 you can utilise the ‘End of Life Care’ and ‘Care Community’ tabs within SHCR, whether you only need to view and/or write ReSEPCT for patients.
- Think digital - We encourage the continued use and digital adoption of the ReSPECT form with staff supported to have and record ReSPECT conversations and advanced care planning.
Thank you for delivering care that enables patient choices to be respected at such a critical time in a person’s life. For any further queries or information please email the ICB's End of Life team.
6 REMINDER QUESTIONNAIRE - Birmingham City Council Public Health - Learning Disabilities Housing Needs and Solutions Appendix – DEADLINE 6 February 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)
The Evidence Team at Birmingham City Council Public Health are kindly requesting engagement with their BeHeard Professionals Questionnaire to inform their Learning Disabilities Housing Needs and Solutions Appendix. This report will explore the housing needs of citizens with learning disabilities in Birmingham and suggest potential solutions, to provide an evidence base to inform future commissioning.
The findings of the questionnaire will inform their report and the recommendations it provides to improve housing for citizens with learning disabilities in Birmingham.
The questionnaire can be accessed here:
(closing date: Friday, 6 February 2026).
If you have any questions or would like to further discuss the Learning Disabilities Housing Needs and Solutions Appendix, please contact Amy Coombs (amy.coombs@birmingham.gov.uk)
7 REMINDER Skills for Care Updates for February 2026 (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
8 REMINDER Digital Care Hub and Care England - Upcoming Digital Care Hub Webinars: 4 and 25 February 2026 (Information for all Providers)
Smarter Social Care: AI in Action, 4 February 2026,11:00 am, Zoom. Explore safe, practical uses of AI in adult social care and dispel common myths.
Cyber in Care: Resilience, Recovery & Incident Response, 25 February 2026,12:00 pm, Zoom. Gain templates and checklists for continuity planning and incident response.
9 REMINDER NHS Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) Training Hub February 2026 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Providers)
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:
5 February 2026 Positive Behaviour Support 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
5 February 2026 Identifying a Dying Patient 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
5 February 2026 Tier 3 Free Education Offer – IPC 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
5 February 2026 Registered Managers Forum and Skills for Care: Working together with Registered Managers in Solihull 1:30 pm - 4:00 pm
5 February 2026 Continuing Health Care (CHC) Checklist Training (Feb 2026) 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
10 February 2026 Midlands Regional Conference – Save the Date! 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
10 February 2026 (Dementia) Where Worlds Collide – Understanding Distress Behaviours 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
10. REMINDER Skills for Care - Midlands Regional Conference - Evolving Together – 10 February 2026 (Information for all West Midlands Care Providers)
This year’s theme centres on the Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy, exploring how we can attract, retain, train, and transform our workforce to meet the challenges ahead. You’ll hear from inspiring speakers across the sector, discover best practice from across the region, and connect with peers who share your passion for delivering high-quality care.
10 February 2026 – 10:00am – 3:30pm – Birmingham
Please use this link to book your place
Midlands regional conference - evolving together
11. Alcoholics Anonymous Awareness for Professionals Awareness Events – 20 February 2026 (Information for all Providers)
Venue: Midland Metropolitan University Hospital Smethwick
Date: Friday, 20 February 2026
Time: 9:00 am to 12 pm
or 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Do you witness alcohol problems as part of your work? Learn how AA and Al-Anon help recovery and experience a live Open Meeting with AA.
Do You Know the Real Face of Alcoholism? It’s not what you think.
Alcohol use disorder doesn’t always look like the stereotypes. It could be a patient, neighbour, or even a family member. Most people struggling with alcohol misuse go unnoticed. Often until it’s too late.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) are holding a series of events to raise awareness among professionals, like you, about the impact of alcohol misuse and the free life-changing support available through AA and Al-Anon.
For further details and to reserve a spot, click on your preferred option below:
Alcoholics Anonymous Awareness for Professionals Tickets, Fri, 20 Feb 2026 at 09:00
Alcoholics Anonymous Awareness for Professionals Tickets, Fri, Feb 20, 2026 at 1:00 PM
12. Birmingham City Council - Powered by People – Your Support Needed for the 26 February 2026 Summit (Information for all Birmingham Providers)
Powered by People: Birmingham’s Co‑Production Summit will take place on 26 February 2026 at the Council House Banqueting Suite and will launch the next phase of co‑production across the city.
This Summit forms a key milestone in Birmingham City Council’s commitment to putting lived experience at the heart of everything they do and brings together citizens, carers and families to help shape the future of Adult Social Care in Birmingham.
Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
Whilst the event is open to citizens only, organisations that wish to participate can contact Atrin.Conway@birmingham.gov.uk directly for further information.