What's New Bulletin 287 - 26 February 2026
This is edition 287 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. Care Quality Commission (CQC) Updates for Adult Social Care Providers (Information for all Providers)
2. Care Quality Commission (CQC) Update for Adult Social Care Providers (Information for all Providers)
3. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reporting tool and response process for Acute Respiratory Infections in adult social care (Information for all West Midlands Care Providers)
4. Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) - Access to the Care Home App (Information for Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country Care Homes)
5. REMINDER NHS Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) Training Hub February 2026 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Providers)
6. Skills for Care ASC-WDS Workshops – March 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)
7. REMINDER Skills for Care – The Managers Conference 2026 – 9 to 10 March 2026 (Information for all Providers)
8. Birmingham Hospice and Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) - SPUR – The Specialist Palliative Urgent Response Service (SPUR) (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
9. Birmingham City Council - Learning Disabilities, Autism and Mental Health Provider Forum – 12 March 2026 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
10. Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) - Achieving Excellence Together – Quality Webinar 25 March 2026 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes with Nursing)
1. Care Quality Commission (CQC) Updates for Adult Social Care Providers (Information for all Providers)
The CQC will continue leading the Independent Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews (ICETRs) programme until March 2028, following two years of collaboration with NHS England. Commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), ICETRs provide independent assessments for autistic people and those with learning disabilities in long-term segregation, helping improve oversight and support. The initiative, led by Rebecca Bauers, has already enabled more individuals to move out of segregation and will keep shaping person-centred, high-quality community care through ongoing thematic insights and feedback.
Read the full update on the CQC website for more details
Digital Care Hub welcomes the Government’s renewed focus on making health and care data accessible to authorised roles. To be considered fully digitised, providers must now achieve ‘Standards Met’ on the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT). DSPT adoption has risen sharply—from 15% in 2021 to 76% in 2025—reflecting the sector’s commitment to secure digital record-keeping.
Digital Care Hub, alongside the Cyber Centre of Excellence (CCOE) and Care England, warns that weak passwords and public Wi-Fi leave organisations exposed to cyber threats. Experts urge providers to:
Strengthen password policies
Train staff on cyber risks
Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Learn more
2. Care Quality Commission (CQC) Update for Adult Social Care Providers (Information for all Providers)
Please use the link below for the regular CQC update for providers working in adult social care.
CQC update for adult social care providers
3. UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reporting tool and response process for Acute Respiratory Infections in adult social care (Information for all West Midlands Care Providers)
An online Outbreak Risk Assessment Tool for Care Settings (Care OBRA Tool) is available should you need to contact UKHSA WM HPT (West Midlands Health Protection Team).
Use this service to report:
- a new outbreak of an acute respiratory infection (ARI) - 2 or more people in your setting with symptom onset within 5 days of each other
- a single confirmed case of flu in your setting
ARIs include COVID-19, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or unknown respiratory infection including chest infections.
This web-based tool enables care settings to report ARI outbreaks directly to UKHSA via the following web-link without the need to call or email the UKHSA HPT. You will automatically receive guidance on immediate actions required to reduce the spread of infection at your care home.
If you are not able to complete the form, please dial 03442253560 and press option 2.
Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
4. Black Country Integrated Care Board (ICB) - Access to the Care Home App (Information for Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country Care Homes)
Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk. This includes information on the NHS ICB Black Country Care Home App which replaces the BSOL Care Home app for Birmingham and Solihull providers. Please note FREED stands for Frailty, Recognition, End of Life & Escalation of deterioration and includes a range of tools to assist staff with these issues.
5. 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:
3 March 2026 Medication Management 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
3 March 2026 Completing the Data Security and Protection Toolkit for the first time 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
4 March 2026 Catheter Care 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
5 March 2026 Birmingham and Solihull Registered Managers Network End of Year Celebration 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
5 March 2026 ReSPECT Forms 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
5 March 2026 Continuing Health Care (CHC) Checklist Training (March 2026) 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
10 March 2026 Wound Care Educational Event 9:30 am - 3:00 pm
10 March 2026 Discover Cyber PATH: Free Cyber Resilience Services for the Care Sector 10:30 am - 12:00 pm
10 March 2026 Review and Republish your DSPT 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
11 March 2026 Person Centred Care 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
6. Skills for Care ASC-WDS Workshops – March 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)
Birmingham has one of the lowest uptake rates nationally for the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) (see link below) –- a free service commissioned and funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) - currently ranking as 130 out of 152 LA’s. 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)
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
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.
An active ASC-WDS account is a requirement for accessing training reimbursement schemes such as the Learning & Development support scheme (LDSS). This service helps employers reclaim costs for care staff training, including qualifications, diplomas, and short courses. Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
Providers have until the end of March 2026 to apply for LDSS.
7. REMINDER Skills for Care – The Managers Conference 2026 – 9 to 10 March 2026 (Information for all Providers)
Monday 9 March to Tuesday 10 March 2026 | Wyboston Lakes Resort, Bedfordshire
The Managers Conference, hosted by Skills for Care and the National Care Forum, is back for another year — a dedicated event for social care managers to connect, learn and solve everyday challenges.
The conference features a packed programme of keynote speakers, workshops and panel sessions plus a bustling exhibition featuring quality suppliers showcasing key solutions to support social care managers.
With a dynamic and creative programme, this is a valuable opportunity to share experiences and gain fresh ideas to help you and your teams deliver the highest quality care.
This event is always a sell-out -
8. Birmingham Hospice and Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) - SPUR – The Specialist Palliative Urgent Response Service (SPUR) (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
The Specialist Palliative Urgent Response Service (SPUR) has been officially launched across Birmingham and Solihull. This is a brand‑new 24/7 service designed to ensure people can quickly and easily access specialist end‑of‑life and palliative care in the comfort of their own homes, surrounded by the people and places that matter most.
Launched on Monday 12 January, SPUR is here to transform how urgent palliative care is delivered. Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the service is available to patients, families, and healthcare professionals. Whether offering expert advice, signposting to the right support, or arranging a home visit within two hours, SPUR ensures help is always just a phone call away.
Patients already supported by an NHS or hospice service should continue contacting their usual team during daytime hours. Anyone not currently under an existing service, or anyone needing urgent help when their usual service is unavailable, can contact SPUR for timely specialist support.
Please use this link for further information
Specialist Palliative Urgent Response Team (SPUR) - Birmingham Hospice
Throughout March there will be drop‑in sessions, where you can learn more about SPUR, meet some of the team, and ask any questions you may have. Please see links below.
SPUR Drop-in Session 10 March 2026 10:00am-11:00am
SPUR Drop-in Session 17 March 2026 10:00am-11:00am
SPUR Drop-in Session 25 March 2026 2:00pm-3:00pm
For further information, please contact kellie.owen@birminghamhospice.org.uk
9. Birmingham City Council - Learning Disabilities, Autism and Mental Health Provider Forum – 12 March 2026 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
You are invited to the upcoming Learning Disabilities, Autism and Mental Health Provider Forum on:
Date: Thursday 12th March 2026
Time: 12:00pm – 2:30pm
Location: Sutton Coldfield Rugby Club
160 Walmley Rd,
Sutton Coldfield
B76 2QA
Questionnaire:
As part of the forum, can you please complete a short anonymous questionnaire prior to attending. Please see link -
Learning Disability, Autism and Mental Health Provider Forum questionnaire
Feedback from the questionnaire will be shared at the forum to facilitate discussions.
Forum Registration:
To book a place at the forum (first come first served, maximum two attendees per provider), please fill in this form:
There is ample parking at the Rugby Club and light refreshments will be provided.
For any questions, please contact Rebecca.claridge@bimingham.gov.uk
10. Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) - Achieving Excellence Together – Quality Webinar 25 March 2026 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes with Nursing)
A targeted webinar to improve quality, safety and clinical leadership. A one‑hour webinar supporting care home quality improvement.
- Date: Wednesday, 25 March 2026
- Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
What you’ll gain:
• Key resources for Nurse Managers
• Staying connected across BSOL
• Access to networks & library services for social care nurses
• MSc Community SPQ opportunities
• Direct links to services: CHC, IP&C, Training Hub, Falls, Tissue Viability, End of Life, Dementia, Urgent Care & more
Please use the link below for further information and to join
BSOL ICB Clinical Quality Assurance Team – Achieving Excellence Together – BSol Training hub