What's New Bulletin 315 - 10 September 2026
This is edition 315 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.
- Birmingham City Council – Introduction from the new Head of Service for Regulated Care, Adult Social Care Commissioning (Information for Contracted Providers)
- Birmingham City Council - World Alzheimer’s Month: Building a dementia-friendly Birmingham (Information for Contracted Providers)
- REMINDER Birmingham City Council - CareMatch Portal Key Messages – Password Resets (Information for Contracted Providers)
- REMINDER Skills for Care Updates for September 2026 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
- REMINDER Skills for Care - Upcoming Essential FREE Registered Managers Webinars September 2026 (Information for all Providers)
- REMINDER Birmingham and Solihull Training Hub – Training Dates September 2026 (Information for Birmingham and Solihull Care Homes)
- REMINDER Digital Care Hub - Digital Care Hub Summit 23 September 2026 (Information for all Providers)
- REMINDER Skills for Care - Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) - Midlands ASC-WDS Workshop on 20 October 2026 (Information for all Midlands Providers)
1. Birmingham City Council – Introduction from the new Head of Service for Regulated Care, Adult Social Care Commissioning (Information for Contracted Providers)
Hello, I’m Kimberley Hollins, the new Head of Service for Regulated Care, Adult Social Care Commissioning at Birmingham City Council. As I settle into my new role, I wanted to take the opportunity to introduce myself and say how much I look forward to working with our valued provider partners. Strong partnerships are key to delivering the best outcomes for people across Birmingham, and I am excited to meet many of you in the coming months and continue building on the important work we do together. I will communicate further over the coming months about our priority areas.
2. Birmingham City Council - World Alzheimer’s Month: Building a dementia-friendly Birmingham (Information for Contracted Providers)
September is World Alzheimer’s Month, raising awareness of dementia and encouraging open conversations, earlier diagnosis and better support for people living with dementia, their carers and families.
Adult Social Care & Health is committed to helping Birmingham residents affected by dementia stay informed, connected and supported in their communities. The council’s Dementia Hub offers trusted information on recognising the signs of dementia, accessing local support and finding advice for carers.
Please share the Dementia Hub with residents, families and community contacts, and to support local activity that helps reduce stigma and build a more dementia-friendly Birmingham.
Find out more, including local resources and ways to get involved.
3. REMINDER Birmingham City Council - CareMatch Portal Key Messages – Password Resets (Information for Contracted Providers)
For security reasons, users will be asked to periodically update their passwords for access to CareMatch Portal. Below are some tips to assist with this.
Tip One - For updating passwords that are due for renewal – CareMatch Portal will now ask Users to reset their passwords every 90 days. Please be aware that individual browser settings may auto-populate new password fields with passwords saved for other sites. To avoid difficulty logging in following a password reset, please delete all auto filled password fields and type in your new password from scratch.
Tip Two - If you are logging in but receive the message below, please contact the Market Intelligence Team for your account to be unlocked before using a new password. If the account is locked before you requested a new password, it will remain locked. Once unlocked, you can use your new password.
“You have been locked out due, as your logon credentials have been repeatedly entered incorrectly. Please contact marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk”.
4. REMINDER Skills for Care Updates for September 2026 (Information for all Birmingham and Solihull Providers)
Please find attached Skills for Care updates for September 2026.
Headlines include:
- The Training Hub by Skills for Care- NEW courses added
- NEW: Applications now open for the Care Workforce Pathway Care Provider Support Programme
- Birmingham and Solihull Registered Managers Network meeting
- BBCS ICS Social Care & Independent Sector Faculty information
- Skills for Care National and Regional Events in August
- Other Partner News
5. REMINDER Skills for Care - Upcoming Essential FREE Registered Managers Webinars September 2026 (Information for all Providers)
Myth busting delegated healthcare: Insurance - getting it right together
Wednesday 16 September 2026 | 2:30 - 3:30 | Online
Join Skills for Care’s latest national learning exchange on delegated healthcare activities. Exploring common myths and misconceptions about insurance and helping you understand the practicalities of managing delegated healthcare activities with confidence.
Book here:
Myth busting delegated healthcare activities: Insurance - getting it right together
Winter pressures - practical advice to refine your contingency plans
Tuesday 22 September 2026 | 11:00 – 12:00 | Online
Get ahead of winter pressures and join this webinar delivered in partnership with The Outstanding Society. Discover how to build an effective contingency plan, confidently manage operational risks and workforce challenges, and maintain high-quality care during periods of increased demand. You’ll learn proven approaches from high-performing services and gain the confidence and tools to be able to action immediately
Book here:
Winter pressures - Practical advice to refine your contingency plans
Help shape the future nursing workforce
Tuesday 29 September 2026 I 2:00 – 3:00 I Online *
Explore how your service can shape the future nursing workforce by joining the Skills for Care Strategy to enable social care placements for student nurses and nursing associates webinar for registered managers. You'll hear how student placements add value to social care nursing, strengthen links with universities, and support future recruitment. The webinar will explore the new placement strategy, practical steps to get involved, and the support available to help your organisation offer rewarding learning experiences. This opportunity will provide you with valuable insights, a space to ask questions, and help position social care as a placement of choice for nursing.
Book here:
6. REMINDER Birmingham and Solihull Training Hub – Training Dates September 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:
16 September 2026 Managing Dysphagia Workshops in 2026 9:30 am - 3:00 pm
17 September 2026 Dysphagia Safety 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
18 September 2026 IPC Champion of Champions Awards 2026 8:00 am - 9:00 am
23 September 2026 Syringe Driver Management 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
23 September 2026 Symptom Management 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
7. REMINDER Digital Care Hub - Digital Care Hub Summit 23 September 2026 (Information for all Providers)
The Digital Care Hub provides free information, guidance and support to enable adult social care providers to make the most of digital technology. They are an independent, not-for profit, Community Interest Company, guided by care providers. The Digital Care Hub works with NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care to inform and influence policy, guidance, and implementation plans. They are supported by the National Care Association.
The Digital Care Hub is hosting its first Digital Care Summit London on 23 September 2026, bringing together leaders from adult social care, health and technology for a practical day of discussion and shared learning. The summit will focus on digital transformation, partnership working and neighbourhood health, exploring how digital tools, better data sharing and stronger collaboration can support more joined-up, preventative and person-centred care.
You can apply:
Digital Care Hub Upcoming Webinars
Data Standards: Staying Compliant as the Home Office Goes Digital will take place online on 17 September 2026, 11.30am-12.30pm. Delivered by Borderless and the Digital Care Hub, this webinar will explore how the Home Office's move to digital immigration and sponsorship processes is changing compliance requirements for care providers. The session will examine where data protection and sponsor compliance overlap, and highlight risks that could lead to compliance breaches.
8. REMINDER Skills for Care - Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) - Midlands ASC-WDS Workshop on 20 October 2026 (Information for all Midlands Providers)
Skills for Care will be hosting a Midlands ASC-WDS workshop on 20 October 2026, 10am-11am on Microsoft Teams. To book please use this link:
Midlands ASC-WDS Webinar – Booking Form
Please also see the link below to the webpage with the benefits of having an account and also key messages from the CQC, Registered Nursing Home Association, an Individual Employer, the National Care Forum, Homecare Association and West Midlands ADASS on why Workforce Data is so important for Adult Social Care:
Useful links below:
Video to find out more and read case studies from other enrolled care providers, as well as register and set up an account, using this link
Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set
Eligible training courses and qualifications - GOV.UK
Learning and development funding for adult social care