Care services providers' bulletin

What's New Bulletin 299 - 21 May 2026

This is edition 299 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. Yellow Met Office Heat-health Alert 9:00 am on 22 May 2026 Until 5:00 pm on 27 May 2026 Across the West Midlands (Information for all West Midlands providers)

2. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Rationalising shared inboxes within Birmingham City Council Commissioning – Regulated Care 22 May 2026 (Information for all Providers)

3. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Mandatory Information Required on Invoices (Information for all Contracted Home Support and Supported Living Providers)

4. Capacity Tracker Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Updates - What's New to Capacity Tracker (Information for all Providers)

5. Care Quality Commission (CQC) Update for Adult Social Care Providers (Information for all Providers)

6. NHS England, NHS.net Connect, What’s changing and what’s staying the same (Information for all Providers)

7. Care Quality Commission (CQC), Emerging Safety Risk (Information for all Providers)

8. Skills for Care – Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) Virtual Tour 16 June 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)

9. SURVEY West Midlands-Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (WM-ADASS) – Oxford Project: The Responsible Use of Generative AI in Care (Information for all West Midlands Care Providers)

10. 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)

11. REMINDER The Birmingham Autism and ADHD Partnership, Requesting Applications for the Chair Position DEADLINE 1 June 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)

12. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Residential and Nursing Providers Online Forum 22 May 2026 (Information for Residential and Nursing Providers)

13. REMINDER Birmingham and Solihull Training Hub – Training dates in June 2026 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)

1. Yellow Met Office Heat-health Alert 9:00 am on 22 May 2026 Until 5:00 pm on 27 May 2026 Across the West Midlands (Information for all West Midlands providers)

A Yellow Met office alert has been issued for the West Midlands and is in effect between 9:00 am on 22 May 2026 until 5:00 pm on 27 May 2026 across the West Midlands.

This weather could increase the health risks to vulnerable people and disrupt the delivery of services. Please share the following information and guidance with your staff, service users, communities and partner networks to help ensure that citizens – particularly those who are most vulnerable - are adequately prepared.

Met Office Heat-health Alert

Region
West Midlands

Overall Risk Score
7

Expected Impacts at Regional Level
Significant impacts are possible across the health and social care sector, including:
A rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups
A likely increase in demand for health services
Internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment
The heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
Indoor environments overheating increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings.

The UKHSA provide action cards for a range of professional groups:

Heat-Health Alert summary action card for services delivering care to people in their homes

Additional useful links to guidance include:

BBC guidance on staying safe during heatwaves.

  • Managing Heatwave Conditions

AGE UK advice for older adults staying safe in hot weather.

UK-AIR daily air pollution forecasts and associated health advice.

2. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Rationalising shared inboxes within Birmingham City Council Commissioning – Regulated Care 22 May 2026 (Information for all Providers)

As of the Friday, 22 May 2026 the following emails will no longer be monitored:

From that date, if you email the above inboxes you will receive a message asking you to redirect your email as per below, unless you have already copied the recipients into your original email, in which case no further action is needed.

The following inboxes will remain and should be used in the following circumstances:

Area commissioners for enquiries from contracted providers (except those relating to the use of CareMatch Portal). You can find contact details for your area commissioners here;

Brokerage – via the CareMatch Portal for referrals open for offers and the individual broker managing the referral or service agreement thereafter.

  • ComplexPlacements@birmingham.gov.uk for providers supporting individuals with complex needs to respond to requests from commissioning for information, including responses to pen pictures

Payment queries should be directed as follows:

Home Support/Supported Living/Extra Care Sheltered Housing Home.Support.Payments.Team@birmingham.gov.uk. If a service agreement is in place but no payment has been received or a service agreement is in place but has the wrong start or end date Home Support Invoice Queries.

3. REMINDER 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;

4. Capacity Tracker Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Updates - What's New to Capacity Tracker (Information for all Providers)

Some changes are to be made to Capacity Tracker. These will take place on Wednesday, 27 May 2026. Please use the link below for further information

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

5. 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

6. NHS England, NHS.net Connect, What’s changing and what’s staying the same (Information for all Providers)

NHSmail is now NHS.net Connect. It’s same secure service you already use to email, share files and collaborate, with a simpler design and easier access to your everyday tools.

What changes?

When your organisation moves to NHS.net Connect, you will see:

  • A new homepage called the Launchpad, replacing the NHSmail Portal
  • A clearer, faster layout that helps you find what you need quickly
  • Direct links to Outlook, Teams, OneDrive and other NHS tools
  • Access from any device, wherever you work

What stays the same?

  • Your net email address and Microsoft 365 applications
  • The same familiar tools for checking email, updating your profile, and sharing files
  • Help from the same support team, when you need it

Why this matters?

NHS.net Connect makes everyday tasks quicker and simpler, giving you one place to reach all your tools securely. It helps you save time, reduce effort, and make collaboration across the NHS even easier.

What happens next?

You will start to see updates as NHS organisations move from NHSmail to NHS.net Connect. For further details, please visit

Introducing NHS.net Connect – NHSmail Support

We will continue to update this information regularly.

For further information, including a video, please visit;

What’s changing and what’s staying the same – NHSmail Support

7. Care Quality Commission (CQC), Emerging Safety Risk (Information for all Providers)

Colleagues in the NHS England National Patient Safety Team have shared information about an emerging safety risk related to the ingestion of denture cleaner tablets in both hospital and residential care settings.

This follows reported incidents of harm to residents and patients following inadvertent, and in some cases deliberate, ingestion of these products. Denture cleaner tablets can look and smell similar to mints, increasing the risk that they may be accidentally swallowed.

It is important that carers and staff recognise the corrosive effects of these products if they are left accessible to, and swallowed by, vulnerable patients, particularly those living with dementia.

Staff should also be able to recognise deterioration and promptly escalate care if it is suspected that someone has ingested a denture cleaner tablet. Further information is available in the accompanying guidance.

Poisoning Prevention

8. Skills for Care – Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) Virtual Tour 16 June 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)

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.

The service helps care providers run their business and manage their staff training needs. It can also provide access to funding for staff training.

The data collected is vital to the Government, the Department of Health and Social Care, local authorities and the Care Quality Commission as it allows them to plan, fund and monitor the sector.

Learn more about the ASC-WDS account benefits

The next ASC- WDS virtual tour is scheduled for the 16 June 2026 10:30 - 11:30am.

This session is designed to give social care providers who do not yet have an ASC- WDS account a demonstration of how the service works. Care providers who already use ASC- WDS may wish to join to be reminded of how they can make the most of their account.

Click below to register for the event.

Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set

9. SURVEY West Midlands-Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (WM-ADASS) – Oxford Project: The Responsible Use of Generative AI in Care (Information for all West Midlands Care Providers)

Are you using AI in your service? Or you are undecided if and how to use it? Martin Green at Care England and Caroline Green at the Institute for Ethics in AI at Oxford University, together with Palvi Dodhia, Director of Serene Care, are collaborating on a research project to understand how care providers are currently using AI in their services and what support they may need to feel confident with AI. The research includes a short survey with the opportunity to win a £100 voucher. If you are interested and willing to participate, please get in touch with Caroline or fill in the survey: ai-social-care@philosophy.ox.ac.uk

The governance and use of AI in Social Care – Fill in form

10. 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 below 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.

11. REMINDER The Birmingham Autism and ADHD Partnership, Requesting Applications for the Chair Position DEADLINE 1 June 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)

The Birmingham Autism and ADHD Partnership have opened applications for the Chair position. They are specifically looking for citizens with lived experience of autism and/or ADHD for this position. The position is a voluntary role, so is unpaid.&

To be eligible for the Chair position, you must:

  • Have lived experience of autism and/or ADHD (including dual diagnosis)
  • Be a resident of Birmingham
  • Have a good understanding of local health, social care and/or education services

Please pass this onto any citizens or next of kin who you feel maybe interested in applying.

For a copy of the Job Description, which contains more information about the position and the responsibilities of the Board Chair, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk

The deadline to submit your application is 9:00 am on Monday, 1 June 2026 (applications received after 9am on this date will not be considered).

How to apply:

Please email an expression of interest to AutismADHD@birmingham.gov.uk and include why you would like to chair the board, what skills you bring to the post, and how we can support you.

If you need help to do this, please reach out to the team at AutismADHD@birmingham.gov.uk and someone will support you as needed.

12. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, Residential and Nursing Providers Online Forum 22 May 2026 (Information for Residential and Nursing Providers)

You are invited to join our next online forum for Residential and Nursing 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: Friday, 22 May 2026
Time: 11:00am – 12:30pm
Where: Microsoft Teams

Join the meeting: Residential and Nursing Providers Online Forum 22 May 2026

Meeting ID: 356 307 074 697 195

Passcode: fZ276vP3

Agenda:

  • Workforce data update - Jamie Bloomfield (Locality Manager - Skills for Care)
  • Resources for Care / Nursing Homes – Louise Luckman (Clinical Programme Lead - BSol ICB)
  • How commissioners evaluate emerging risk
  • 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.

13. REMINDER Birmingham and Solihull Training Hub – Training Dates in June 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:

2 June 2026 Sage and Thyme 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

2 June 2026 Birmingham, Solihull and Black Country ICB Social Care & Independent Sector Faculty Relaunch event 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

2 June2026 Spiritual Care 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

9 June 2026 Adult social care nursing: Leading through innovation 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

10 June 2026 Management of Biofilms in non-healing wounds 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

This entry was posted by Stacy Jarrett on 22/05/2026.