1. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, P3 D2A Pathway Pilot – Care Home Packages (Information for all Contracted Providers)

2. REMINDER Care Quality Commission (CQC) - Draft Assessment Frameworks – Deadline 12 June 2026 (Information for all Providers)

3. Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) - Clinical Learning Alert (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)

4. Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) - Reporting Clinical Incidents with Harm (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Nursing Homes)

5. Community Care Collaborative Update - Connect Newsletter (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)

6. Birmingham City Council - Better Care at Home – Going Live 1 June 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)

7. Birmingham City Council - Changes to Prescription Fees – What You Need to Know (Information for all Providers)

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

9. REMINDER CONSULTATION Birmingham City Council – Ageing Well Strategy Consultation Survey - DEADLINE 28 July 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)

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

11. Birmingham City Council - Learning Disability, Autism and Mental Health Provider Forum (In person) – 18 June 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)

12. Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) NHS Foundation Trust - Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) – Updates (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)

1. REMINDER Birmingham City Council, P3 D2A Pathway Pilot – Care Home Packages (Information for all Contracted Providers)

The Council and Birmingham and Solihull ICB has recently launched a pilot project to support the discharge of citizens from acute hospitals who are likely to require a long-term care home package – subject to a social work assessment of their long-term needs being carried out in a community setting. This is being referred to as the P3 D2A pathway pilot.

Care home packages under this pilot will be tendered via CareMatch Portal to contracted residential and nursing homes (as appropriate).

The care packages are tendered on the following basis:

• They are temporary placements in the first instance for 21 days to allow time for a Care Act social work assessment and to determine if a long-term care home package is required.
• Offers against referrals are required within 24 hours.
• By making an offer against a referral the care home agrees to assess the citizen and confirm the offer of an admission with 48 hours of being requested to do so.
• Following the confirmed offer, 72 hours is then afforded to citizens and their representatives to confirm their choice of home (where multiple offers are received).
• P3 D2A pathway placements will be funded at the Council’s standard older adult rate (residential or nursing as applicable). In the case of nursing home placements, the fee will include an element equivalent to the Funded Nursing Care payment (N.B. it is not necessary to apply for separate FNC funding).
• Funding of the placement is made on a ‘without prejudice’ basis until the citizen’s long term care needs are assessed.
• Following admission to the care home, a social work assessment will be arranged. If long term need for a care home is confirmed at the assessment, then we shall put in place a long-term service agreement either:
  • At the care home offering the P3 D2A pathway pilot bed should the citizen choose to remain there.
  • At an alternative care home if the citizen does not wish to remain.
• Long term placement agreements will be funded at the Council’s standard older adult rates. In the case of nursing placements, the home will have to apply separately to the ICB for the Funded Nursing Care element.

We hope this offers another source of referrals and encourage care homes to bid for these care packages where they have vacancies and can meet the criteria set out above.

2. REMINDER Care Quality Commission (CQC) - Draft Assessment Frameworks – Deadline 12 June 2026 (Information for all Providers)

The CQC’s proposals in their consultation ‘Better regulation, better care’ included moving away from a single assessment framework to separate frameworks that are more specific and relevant to the health and care sectors that they regulate. They have now developed an initial 4 draft sector-specific assessment frameworks for:

• adult social care
• mental health care
• primary care and community services
• secondary and specialist services (hospitals)

They would now like to hear your views about the draft frameworks. Your feedback will be used to further refine each framework ahead of testing this summer. Please use the links below to read the proposals and give your view. The period for sharing your feedback will close on Friday, 12 June 2026.

• Evolving Our Approach to Assessing and Rating Health and Social Care Providers

• Give your views on draft sector-specific assessment frameworks

3. Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) - Clinical Learning Alert (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)

The NHS BSOL ICB Social Care and Independent Sector Quality Assurance and Improvement Team are committed to sharing best practice, themes and trends, lessons learnt, and improving quality. To access the Clinical Learning Alert on recent themes and trends from clinical incidents, as well as recent learning from incidents developed with NHS Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust, please email: marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk

• Falls - New
• Repositioning
• Choking and Dysphagia

Further information can be found

Resources for professionals

4. Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) - Reporting Clinical Incidents with Harm (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Nursing Homes)

NHS BSOL require you to report clinical incidents for any unplanned or unintended event involving harm or potential harm to residents, for example, violence and aggression incidents, medication errors, development of pressure ulcers, resident falls resulting in harm. You can notify us of an incident by email nhsbsolicb.patientsafety@nhs.net the incident reporting form for a copy of the form, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk. Alternatively, please send a copy CQC notification form or safeguarding referral form containing relevant information to nhsbsolicb.patientsafety@nhs.net

Incidents will be screened to identify if they require reporting as a Serious Incident, follow up by the BSOL Social Care and Independent Sector Quality Assurance and Improvement Team and will contact you if further action is required. If no further action is required – this will be fed back to you, and we will close the incident on our systems. If you have any queries or require any support please contact the BSOL ICB Patient Safety Team on nhsbsolicb.patientsafety@nhs.net

5. Community Care Collaborative Update - Connect Newsletter (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)

The latest newsletter for the Community Care Collaborative, is now available below. Please take a moment to read the newsletter.

Birmingham and Solihull Community Care Collaborative

6. Birmingham City Council - Better Care at Home – Going Live 1 June 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Home Support and Supported Living Providers)

As part of Birmingham’s Better Care at Home approach, Occupational Therapists will be undertaking targeted reviews of care packages for citizens aged 65+. This will be going live on Monday, 1 June 2026.

These reviews are clinically led and focus on ensuring care remains:

• Safe and proportionate
• Promoting independence and dignity
• Reflective of updated moving and handling practice
• Supportive of citizen engagement and participation in their own care

Occupational Therapists will complete strengths-based, risk-assessed reviews and may identify opportunities where care arrangements can be safely adapted through updated techniques, equipment, or different approaches to supporting individuals.

This may include recommendations such as:

• Mixed single- and double-handed care arrangements
• Reduced reliance on support where appropriate
• Updated moving and handling techniques
• Greater citizen participation in daily care activities
• Single handed care maintenance or reduction from double handed care to single.

We recognise that changes to established practice can raise questions for providers and staff. Occupational Therapists will work collaboratively with agencies to support implementation, provide guidance around best practice, and discuss any training needs relating to safe single-handed care approaches where required.

We would appreciate your support in:

• Engaging positively with Occupational Therapist reviews and recommendations
• Working collaboratively to implement agreed changes
• Ensuring all staff are upskilled and trained in both double handed, and single handed moving and handling practices.
• Encouragement of our citizens promoting independence and participation in their care

Our shared aim is to ensure citizens receive care that is safe, enabling, and centred around maximising independence and wellbeing.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss individual cases further, please contact Danielle Wood, Senior Practitioner (Project Lead) Thank you for your continued support. Danielle.Wood@birmingham.gov.uk.

7. Birmingham City Council - Changes to Prescription Fees – What You Need to Know (Information for all Providers)

Recent national changes mean some people who previously received free prescriptions may now be required to pay. This follows the move from legacy benefits to Universal Credit, which has affected eligibility for support with prescription costs.

For Adult Social Care and Healthe services, this is particularly important for those supporting people with substance dependence or other conditions requiring regular medication. Some individuals may be unaware of these changes and could face unexpected costs when collecting prescriptions.

What you can do If someone you support is unsure about their eligibility:

• Encourage them to speak to pharmacy staff for advice
• Ask for an FP57 refund form at the time of payment if needed
• Signpost to them to the Low Income Scheme for further support

NHS Low Income Scheme

Please make sure you raise awareness of these changes with the people you support and incorporate this into your day-to-day conversations. Early advice and signposting can help prevent financial hardship and ensure continued access to essential medication.

8. 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.

Please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk for a copy Job Description, which contains more information about the position and what someone would be expected to do as the Board Chair.

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.

9. REMINDER CONSULTATION Birmingham City Council – Ageing Well Strategy Consultation Survey - DEADLINE 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

If you want to find out where engagement events are taking place, please email: AgeingWell@Birmingham.gov.uk

10. 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

11. Birmingham City Council - Learning Disability, Autism and Mental Health Provider Forum (In person) – 18 June 2026 (Information for all Birmingham Providers)

The next Learning Disability, Autism and Mental Health Provider Forum will take place on Thursday, 18 June 2026 in person 10:00am – 12:30pm kindly hosted at Precious Homes, 4 Ashfield Avenue, B14 7AP

Light refreshments will be provided. Full agenda to follow nearer the date.

If you would like to book a place, please book via the following form

Registration form

12. Birmingham Community Healthcare (BCHC) NHS Foundation Trust - Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) – Updates (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)

• IPC Champions Forum (Quarterly) - Friday, 3 July 2026 11.30am to 12.30pm

Have you completed an IPC Champions Training Day? Please join the IPC Team for your quarterly IPC Champions forum and updates.

Please click the following link to join - IPC Champions Forum | MS Teams - 11.30am to 12.30pm

• Friday, 24 July 2026 | IPC Champions Training Day - 09.00am - 17.00pm

Would you like to be part of the IPC Champions network for Birmingham and Solihull Adult Social Care Homes?

Staff who have previously attended one of our IPC Champions Day are not required to reattend.

Booking is mandatory.

Places are limited, and preference may be given to homes that do not currently have an IPC Champion.

Please click the link below to see the flyer for this event and/or book

IPC Champions Training Day

• IPC Champion of Champions Awards 2026 – Friday, 18 September 2026 - Nominations Now Open closing date Friday, 21 August 2026

IPC are looking for that person/s who has really taken on the IPC Champion role after completing their IPC Champions Training.

They would like to celebrate excellence and improvement in infection prevention and control (IPC) practice, recognizing new initiatives and champions who consistently promote best IPC standards.

• Nominate a colleague - Do you have an IPC Champion/s colleague who has demonstrated IPC excellence within your care home.
• Nominate yourself - Have you demonstrated IPC excellence within your care home, better still ask your line manager to nominate you

PC Champion of Champion Awards 2026 Nomination Form

If you have any queries about regarding any of the infection control related events above, please contact the team via bchc.ipcdata1@nhs.net or 0121 466 6550