What's New Bulletin 296 - 30 April 2026
This is edition 296 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 2026/27 Fee Increase Process and Methodology Summary (Information for all Contracted Providers)
2. Birmingham City Council – Supporting Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing (Information for all Providers)
3. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Home Support and Supported Living Market Intelligence Questionnaire DEADLINE 6 May 2026 (MIQ) – (Information for all Providers Holding the Home Support 2024 and Supported Living 2023 Contracts)
4. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Supporting Care Home Residents to Vote on 7 May 2026 (Information for Birmingham Care Homes)
5. West Midlands-Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (WM-ADASS) - Skilled Worker Toolkit - International Care Workers (Information for all West Midlands Providers)
6. Capacity Tracker Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Updates - What's New to Capacity Tracker (Information for all Providers)
7. Skills for Care Updates for May 2026 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
8. REMINDER Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) NHS Foundation Trust - Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) - Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) Risk assessment and Guidance Sheet (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
9. REMINDER Birmingham and Solihull Training Hub – Training dates in May 2026 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
10. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Modern Slavery Lunch & Learn Series, May 2026 dates (Information for all Birmingham and Contracted Providers)
11. REMINDER Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) NHS Foundation Trust - Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) - WHO World Hygiene Day Event – 5 May 2026 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
12. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Home Support and Supported Living Providers Online Forum 13 May 2026 (Information for Home Support and Supported Living Providers)
1. Birmingham City Council 2026/27 Fee Increase Process and Methodology Summary (Information for all Contracted Providers)
We have communicated, in previous bulletins and via our website, details of the fee increases payable to contracted care providers from 6 April 2026. We have now circulated a fee increase update briefing which was presented to the Strategic Provider Forum on 13 April 2026. The document sets out the background, process, methodology and factors which were taken into account by the Council to reach its fee increase decision this year. if you haven't received a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
2. Birmingham City Council – Supporting Staff Mental Health and Wellbeing (Information for all Providers)
Following feedback from a Provider asking for support for their Staff’s mental health and wellbeing, please see below items which may be of use.
Mental Health Foundation (MHF) - Mental Health Awareness Week 11 – 17 May 2026
This Mental Health Awareness Week the MHF are asking people to join them in taking action to support good mental health. Even small actions can help you feel hopeful and less powerless. And while your individual actions matter, when we come together, we are even more powerful. Please use the link below for further information.
Mental Health Awareness Week | Mental Health Foundation.
Become a workplace supporter - This site also includes information on becoming an official supporter of Mental Health Awareness Week and will gain you access to everything you need to get involved with the week, show your support and make a meaningful impact. Please use the link below for further information:
Championing Mental Health in the Workplace 2026
Birmingham City Council Mental Health and Wellbeing Pages
Birmingham City Council has a range of information and resources to support people with mental health and wellbeing needs. This includes guidance on crisis support, getting professional support and supporting your own mental health and wellbeing. Providers may find it helpful to familiarise themselves with these pages to better understand how local support is structured in Birmingham and how their services fit within the wider system. The information may also be useful for signposting people to appropriate support. Although some of the information is aimed at Birmingham residents, much of it is universal. Please use the link below for further information.
Mental health and wellbeing | Birmingham City Council
The NHS Every Mind Matters
This NHS website provides wellbeing tips and advice and support for mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and stress. Please use the link below for further information.
3. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Home Support and Supported Living Market Intelligence Questionnaire DEADLINE 6 May 2026 (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 Wednesday 6 May 2026
A pdf copy of the questionnaire has been circulated for reference, and to assist in collecting the data required. It must not be used to submit your answers to us. The questionnaire is issued quarterly. A briefing has also been circulated, giving details of the questions, information about our approach, and how the data we are asking for will be used. If you don't have copies of these documents, 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.
4. 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
You can find more information about the different ways service users can vote on our how to vote pages.
5. West Midlands-Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (WM-ADASS) - Skilled Worker Toolkit - International Care Workers (Information for all West Midlands Providers)
WM-ADASS, in partnership with Citizens Advice Shropshire, have created a Skilled Worker Information Pack for the West Midlands Region which has been circulated to care providers. If you don't have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk - it is hoped that international care workers will find the information helpful. It will also be published to their refreshed IR West Midlands Hub in May.
6. Capacity Tracker Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Updates - What's New to Capacity Tracker (Information for all Providers)
Some changes have been made to Capacity Tracker. These took place on Wednesday, 29 April 2026. This includes the changes to the Digital Social Care Records (DSCR) data collection in the Capacity Tracker.
Please use the link below for further information
20260415 - whats coming to capacity tracker - april.pdf
For support with the Capacity Tracker, please see details below:
- For system support and guidance - please contact NECS Capacity Tracker Support Centre - 0191 691 3729 or necsu.capacitytracker@nhs.net (Open Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, excluding public holidays)
- Changing registration, closing, change of ownership – please contact the CQC - T: 03000 616161, E: enquiries@cqc.org.uk, CQC Provider Portal (Open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 5.30pm, excluding public holidays)
If you receive an enforcement notice – please contact the NHS Business Services Authority Enforcement Team (NHSBSA) – T: 0300 330 2088, E: enforcement@nhsbsa.nhs.uk (Open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 4.30pm
7. Skills for Care Updates for May 2026 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
Skills for Care updates for May 2026 have been circulated to providers. If you don't have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
8. REMINDER Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) NHS Foundation Trust - Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) - Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) Risk assessment and Guidance Sheet (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
Enterobacterales are a large family of bacteria that usually live harmlessly in the gut. These bacteria are common causes of infections, including urinary tract infections and bloodstream infections. Carbapenemase-producing enterobacterales (CPE) are bacteria that are resistant to the carbapenem class of antibiotics, which are often considered the antibiotic of last resort for such infections. This resistance inevitably leads to an increase in difficult-to-treat infections. Most of the time CPE are harmless with no signs or symptoms, this is called ‘colonisation’. Residents colonised with CPE do not usually pose a risk to healthy people but may be a risk to those who are vulnerable such as the immunocompromised individuals or those with other risk factors such as chronic wounds, invasive devices/complex care needs.
Care home settings should not refuse admission or readmission of service users on the grounds that they are colonised with CPE. However, it is essential that care homes understand the potential risks associated with CPE.
The CPE guidance sheet and CPE risk assessment has been agreed for use within the Birmingham and Solihull Adult Social Care sector to enable assessors to understand if any additional requirements/precautions are required. Please use this link for further information
CPE Guidance and Risk Assessment Tool - Fast.io
Using the risk assessment tool will hopefully support the assessment process thereby helping to ensure patient/resident flow across our acute and community settings.
If you require further advice or support, you can contact the IPC team via email bchc.ipcdata1@nhs.net or telephone 0121 466 6550.
9. REMINDER Birmingham and Solihull Training Hub – Training dates in May 2026 (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:
5 May 2026 Lunch & Learn: Understanding Domestic Servitude 1:00 pm-1:30 pm
13 May 2026 T.I.M.E Wound Assessment 2:00 pm-3:00 pm
14 May 2026 Lunch & Learn: Understanding Organ Harvesting 1:00 pm-1:30 pm
10. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Modern Slavery Lunch & Learn Series, 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:
Understanding Domestic Servitude – 5 May 2026
Understanding Organ Harvesting – 14 May 2026
11. REMINDER Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) NHS Foundation Trust - Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) - WHO World Hygiene Day Event – 5 May 2026 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
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.
If you have comments/queries or require infection control advice/support, training, etc please contact the team via bchc.ipcdata1@nhs.net or 0121 466 6550
12. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Home Support and Supported Living Providers Online Forum 13 May 2026 (Information for Home Support and Supported Living Providers)
You are invited to join our next online forum for Home Support and Supported Living providers. This session will be an opportunity to share updates, raise any issues, and continue working together to strengthen support for people across the city.
When: Wednesday, 13 May 2026
Time: 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Where: Microsoft Teams
Join the meeting on the day using the link below:
Home Support & Supported Living Provider Forum
Meeting ID:384 039 178 653 8 Passcode:ru7xC6vj
Agenda:
- Service and commissioning updates
- How commissioners evaluate risk and assess quality
- Space for providers to raise questions and suggest items for the next forum
Your insight and participation are very much valued, and we hope you can join us.