What's New Bulletin 294 – 16 April 2026
This is edition 2934 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, Mandatory Information Required on Invoices (Information for all Contracted Home Support and Supported Living Providers)
2. Birmingham City Council, Home Support and Supported Living Market Intelligence Questionnaire (MIQ) – (Information for all Providers Holding the Home Support 2024 and Supported Living 2023 Contracts)
3. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Care Homes Market Intelligence Questionnaire (MIQ) – April 2026 – DEADLINE 24 April 2026 (Information for all Birmingham and Contracted Care Homes)
4. CONSULTATION Birmingham City Council – Ageing Well Strategy Consultation Survey - Closes 28 July 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)
5. Birmingham City Council, New Day Opportunities Brochure March 2026 (Information for all Providers)
6. Community Care Collaborative Update, Connect Newsletter, April 2026 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
7. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Supporting Care Home Residents to Vote on 7 May 2026 (Information for Birmingham Care Homes)
8. REMINDER Birmingham City Council - Contractual Requirement to Use Secure Email (Information for all Contracted Providers)
9. REMINDER Birmingham and Solihull Training Hub (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
10. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Modern Slavery Lunch & Learn Series, April – May 2026 dates (Information for all Birmingham and Contracted Providers)
11. Royal Collage of Nursing (RCN) Adult Social Care Listening Event 22 April 2026 (Information for all Care Homes with Nursing)
12. Birmingham City Council - Learning Disabilities, Autism and Mental Health Provider Forum (ONLINE via Microsoft Teams) - 23 April 2026 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
1. Birmingham City Council, Mandatory Information Required on Invoices (Information for all Contracted Home Support and Supported Living Providers)
Please ensure that when invoicing Birmingham City Council for home support or supported living services, the following mandatory information is included on your invoice. This will reduce delays in payment and invoices going into query. If possible, the below table can be pasted into your invoice templates.
The Citizen CF6 ID and your Provider Contract Reference is included on the service agreement you would have accepted through the CareMatch Portal. Services should not be started without a service agreement, in the exceptional circumstances when they are, you can gain the Citizen CF6 ID from the allocated social worker (this must be the CareFirst Citizen ID starting 60 or 00 and not the Eclipse Citizen ID).
Citizen Name
Citizen Address
Citizen CF6 ID (Beginning 60 or 0)
Provider Contract Reference (Beginning FSL, FHS)
Period Dates (In Line with published payment schedule)
The full list of information required on invoices submitted to Birmingham City Council, along with the payment schedules, is available on our Payment schedules and invoicing web page here.
2. Birmingham City Council, Home Support and Supported Living Market Intelligence Questionnaire (MIQ) – (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 – April 2026
The deadline for completion is Friday 1 May 2026
A pdf copy of the questionnaire is available for reference, to assist in collecting the data required. It must not be used to submit your answers to us. You can obtain a copy by emailingmarketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
The questionnaire is issued quarterly. A summary document is available that provides details of the questions, information about our approach, and how the data we are asking for will be used. Copies can be obtained by email The questionnaire is issued quarterly. A briefing is available that provides details of the questions, information about our approach, and how the data we are requesting will be used. Copies can be obtained by emailingmarketintelligence@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 Birmingham City Council, Care Homes Market Intelligence Questionnaire (MIQ) – April 2026 – DEADLINE 24 April 2026 (Information for all Birmingham and Contracted Care Homes)
Please click this link to access the questionnaire:
The deadline for completion is Friday 24 April 2026
This questionnaire is issued quarterly. Details of the questions are can be obtained by emailing marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk.
Completion of the questionnaire is part of the terms of the Care Homes 2023 contract, for contracted providers, but we ask all Birmingham care homes to take part in the process to help us meet our responsibilities to all Birmingham citizens.
Many thanks to staff at the care homes who completed the previous questionnaires. If this did not include your care home, please ensure that you complete this and subsequent editions.
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.
For further information about our approach and how the data we are asking for will be used. A PDF version of the questionnaire is available for review in advance of starting to complete the on-line the questionnaire, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.ukfor your copy.
Report possible abuse or neglect of an adult with care and support needs
4. CONSULTATION Birmingham City Council – Ageing Well Strategy Consultation Survey - Closes 28 July 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)
Birmingham Public Health have launched their Ageing Well Survey – and need your voice to help shape a Birmingham where everyone can age with dignity, independence and connection.
As our city’s older population grows, it’s vital that the services, spaces and support truly reflect what people need – and the best way to do that is by hearing directly from you. The survey is quick to complete, but your feedback will have a long‑lasting impact. Please use the link below to complete the survey.
Ageing Well Strategy Consultation Survey - Birmingham City Council - Citizen Space
If you want to find out where engagement events are taking place, please email: AgeingWell@Birmingham.gov.uk
5. Birmingham City Council, New Day Opportunities Brochure March 2026 (Information for all Providers)
We’re pleased to share the Day Opportunities Brochure designed to support colleagues, citizens, and carers to explore the wide range of day opportunities available across Birmingham and neighbouring areas. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
The brochure brings together information on council‑run services and commissioned external provision, supporting adults with learning disabilities, autism, physical and sensory disabilities, neurological conditions, dementia, and older adults. It highlights centre‑based, community, specialist, and culturally responsive options that promote wellbeing, independence, and social connection.
Each provider entry includes key details to support informed conversations about choice and personalised support. The brochure will be updated periodically as services develop.
6. Community Care Collaborative Update, Connect Newsletter, April 2026 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
The newsletter for the Community Care Collaborative, is now available. Please take a moment to read the newsletter.
Birmingham and Solihull Community Care Collaborative Newsletter
7. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Supporting Care Home Residents to Vote on 7 May 2026 (Information for Birmingham Care Homes)
Birmingham City Council are requesting the support of care home providers to enable service users to vote and take part in the upcoming election on 7 May 2026. The Electoral Commission have developed guidance to help care staff support the people they care for to vote;
IER - Supporting Applicants to Register
There are also resources available for voting in England in a number of different languages and aimed at people with different needs; including people who are blind and partially sighted, deaf or hard of hearing and people with learning disabilities and/or autism;
Resources to support specific groups | Electoral Commission
Important dates in the upcoming election are;
- Tuesday 24 March 2026 - poll cards will be sent to inform your residents where their polling station is
- Friday 10 April 2026 - the final list of candidates who are standing and will appear on the ballot papers will be published
- Monday 20 April 2026 - the deadline for residents to register to vote in this election
- Tuesday 21 April 2026 5:00pm - the deadline for residents to apply for a postal vote.
You can find more information about the different ways service users can vote .
8. REMINDER Birmingham City Council - Contractual Requirement to Use Secure Email (Information for all Contracted Providers)
All care providers holding contracts with Birmingham City Council are required to use NHS-approved secure email accounts for all correspondence which includes citizens’ personal data. NHS mail accounts are available free of charge to all CQC registered providers. As an alternative, providers can apply to NHS to have their mail systems approved as secured.Use of any other email account is not compliant with Birmingham City Council contracts.
More information on NHS mail accounts for care providers is available here:
If you already have an NHS mail account but are experiencing difficulties with it, you can use the NHS helpdesk contact form.
This doesn’t in itself resolve the matter, but by using the drop-down menus, it identifies the issue you are experiencing, and provides guidance. You then receive an email with the required information to send to the NHS mail helpdesk for resolution. More information about how to use the Contact Form can be found here:
NAS contact form – NHSmail Support
You can also phone the NHS mail helpdesk on 0333 200 1133.
Please note that if you don’t use your NHS mail account for 90 days it stops working.
9. REMINDER Birmingham and Solihull Training Hub (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
Have you visited the Birmingham and Solihull training hub website yet? You can view information as someone working in a primary or social care role in the Solihull / Birmingham area, as a student looking for support with career development or as a visitor wanting to find out more.
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:
20 April 2026 National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) – Researcher development programme for social care nurses 2:00 pm 3:00 pm
22 April 2026 Lunch & Learn: Criminal and Cuckooing Exploitation 1:00 pm 1:30 pm
27 April 2026 Advance Care Planning 9:30 am 12:30 pm
27 April 2026 Foundations in Adult Palliative and End of Life Care – 4-day programme 9 :30 am 24 June 2026 5:00 pm
27 April 2026 Assessment and Care Planning 1:00 pm 2:15 pm
27 April 2026 Care in the Dying Phase 2:30 pm 4:00 pm
29 April 2026 Palliative Care Emergencies 12:00 pm 1:30 pm
29 April 2026 Lunch & Learn: Understanding Sexual Exploitation 1:00 pm 1:30 pm
29 April 2026 Introduction to Loss and Grief 2:00 pm 3:30 pm
29 April 2026 Wellbeing/Caring for Each Other 3:45 pm 5:15 pm
10. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Modern Slavery Lunch & Learn Series, April – May 2026 dates (Information for all Birmingham and Contracted Providers)
We’re excited to launch a new series of 30‑minute Lunch & Learn webinars, developed in partnership with the West Midlands Anti‑Slavery Network (WMASN). These sessions dive into the specific indicators of different types of exploitation, the support available, and the referral pathways you need to know when responding to concerns.
These sessions are aimed at people in a frontline role, commissioning, housing, social care, community safety, or working with partner agencies.
Why attend?
• Quickly build confidence in spotting exploitation
• Strengthen your understanding of safeguarding duties
• Hear real‑world insights from WMASN experts
• Know exactly where to refer and how to get support
• Boost your professional knowledge over lunch
Upcoming Sessions:
- Criminal and Cuckooing Exploitation – 22 April 2026
- Understanding Sexual Exploitation – 29 April 2026
- Understanding Domestic Servitude – 5 May 2026
- Understanding Organ Harvesting – 14 May 2026
- County Lines – 20 May 2026
11. Royal Collage of Nursing (RCN) Adult Social Care Listening Event 22 April 2026 (Information for all Care Homes with Nursing)
The RCN is hosting online listening event to understand key issues affecting the adult social care nursing workforce, including pay, career progression, working conditions, and retention.
The session will be held on Wednesday, 22 April 2026 at 6:00pm via MS Teams, lasting approximately 1–1.5 hours. Insights gathered will support evidence‑based policy on recruitment, retention, workforce planning and integration. Please contact Sarah Seeley, Lead Nurse, IHSC if you would like to attend; sarah.seeley@rcn.org.uk.
12. Birmingham City Council - Learning Disabilities, Autism and Mental Health Provider Forum (ONLINE via Microsoft Teams) - 23 April 2026 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
The next Learning Disabilities, Autism and Mental Health provider forum will be taking place via Microsoft teams on Thursday, 23 April 2026, 10am-12pm. The agenda will focus on co-production/housing and there will also be a training session from Birmingham Community Healthcare NHSFT on UTIs symptoms and prevention.
If you would like to book a place, please use the following link to register
Learning Disabilities, Autism and Mental Health Provider Forum