What's New Bulletin 285 - 12 February 2026
This is edition 285 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 Healthwatch Birmingham and Solihull – Ensuring Citizen’s Voices are Heard (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
2. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) - Burkholderia Stabilis Infections Associated with Non-Sterile Alcohol-Free Wipes: Ongoing Risk to Patients (Information for all Providers)
3. Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) Quality Team – Web Page (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
4. Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) NHS Foundation Trust - Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Updates (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
5. REMINDER SURVEY Health Innovation Network (HIN) and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) - Technology Deployments Survey – DEADLINE 18 February 2026 (Information for all Providers)
6. REMINDER Skills for Care Updates for February 2026 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
7. REMINDER Skills for Care ASC-WDS Workshops – February and March 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)
8. REMINDER NHS Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) Training Hub February 2026 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Providers)
9. REMINDER Alcoholics Anonymous Awareness for Professionals Awareness Events – 20 February 2026 (Information for all Providers)
10. REMINDER Digital Care Hub and Care England - Upcoming Digital Care Hub Webinar: 25 February 2026 (Information for all Providers)
11. REMINDER Birmingham City Council - Powered by People – Your Support Needed for the 26 February 2026 Summit (Information for all Birmingham Providers)
1. REMINDER Healthwatch Birmingham and Solihull – Ensuring Citizen’s Voices are Heard (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
Healthwatch Birmingham and Solihull is here to make sure patients’ voices are heard by the services they use. By supporting citizens to share their feedback, using Healthwatch’s online feedback centre or the details on the attached poster, you can help Healthwatch ensure services listen, respond, and improve care for everyone.
Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
The online feedback centre is available here;
Share Your Views - Healthwatch Birmingham & Solihull
2. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) - Burkholderia Stabilis Infections Associated with Non-Sterile Alcohol-Free Wipes: Ongoing Risk to Patients (Information for all Providers)
The UKHSA are providing an update to previous advice regarding contaminated non-sterile alcohol-free wipes in response to continuing detection of cases and a recent death attributable to Burkholderia stabilis infection. Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
3. Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) Quality Team – Web Page (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
Central resource hub for care homes with updated clinical support materials.
BSOL ICB Quality Team Web Page
which includes information on:
• Falls resources
• Dysphagia & swallowing resources
• Continence resources
• Clinical Learning Alerts
• Quality Improvement tools
• Best practice guidance
Contact: nhsbsolicb.qualitychc@nhs.net
4. Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) NHS Foundation Trust - Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Updates (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
For the attention of Care home managers and IPC Champions, please click here
Care Homes Workbook - Google Drive
or
to download the updated IPC Care Homes Workbook.
Are you an IPC Champion? Please join Infection Prevention and Control at your quarterly IPC Champions Forum. This event will take place on MS Teams on Thursday, 19 March 2026 between 11.00am – 12.15pm - Click here to join
Tuesday, 5 May 2026 is WHO World Hygiene Day, IPC are looking for volunteers from care homes to take part in this year’s event. Please contact bchc.ipcdata1@nhs.net to register your interest.
Please remember to check your Local Authority’s Care Service Providers Bulletin and/or Newsletter for IPC updates.
If you have comments/queries regarding the above, require infection control advice/support, training, etc please contact the team via bchc.ipcdata1@nhs.net or 0121 466 6550
5. REMINDER SURVEY Health Innovation Network (HIN) and National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) - Technology Deployments Survey – DEADLINE 18 February 2026 (Information for all Providers)
The SyNAPSE project, via the HIN and the NIHR, is building an evidence base of past technology initiatives in older adult social care. Providers are asked to submit details of any tech projects they have led. If your organisation has led technology initiatives, whether or not the HIN was involved, please share details via the survey.
Evaluation or learning reports and case studies should be emailed to: jessica.ligreci@mft.nhs.uk
Deadline to respond: Wednesday 18 February 2026
6. 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
7. REMINDER Skills for Care ASC-WDS Workshops – February and March 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)
Currently, Birmingham has one of the lowest uptake rates nationally for the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) see below –- a free service commissioned and funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Skills for Care are holding workshops for providers to create an ASC-WDS account and access funding.
Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS)
The Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) is a free online data collection service that covers the adult social care workforce in England. Data from ASC-WDS is used by key decision makers and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) when planning, funding and monitoring the sector.
The next sessions are:
Tuesday, 17 February 2026 – 11:00am -12:00pm
Wednesday, 4 March 2026 – 10:00am -11:00am
Friday, 27 March 2026 – 10:00am -11:00am
Contact attiya.kausar@skillsforcare.org.uk for more information.
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 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:
18 February 2026 Tier 3 Free Education Offer – Pressure Ulcer Prevention
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
19 February 2026 Dysphagia Safety 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
19 February 2026 Continuing Health Care Fast Track Pathway Training (February 2026) 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
19 February 2026 Mental Health Awareness 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
23 February 2026 Recording and Reporting 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
24 February 2026 Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism – in person training – tier 2 9:30 am - 4:00 pm
24 February 2026 Tier 3 Free Education Offer – Intro to End of Life 10:30 am - 11:30 am
25 February 2026 Tier 3 Free Education Offer – Intro to Dementia 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
9. REMINDER 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
10. REMINDER Digital Care Hub and Care England - Upcoming Digital Care Hub Webinar: 25 February 2026 (Information for all Providers)
Cyber in Care: Resilience, Recovery & Incident Response, 25 February 2026,12:00 pm, Zoom. Gain templates and checklists for continuity planning and incident response. Please use this link to book a place:
Cyber in Care : Resilience, Recovery & Incident Response - Digital Care Hub
11. REMINDER 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
Can you please bring this to the attention of people using your service.
Whilst the event is open to citizens only, organisations that wish to participate can contact Atrin.Conway@birmingham.gov.uk directly for further information.