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What's New Bulletin 158 - 17 August 2023

This is edition 158 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. REMINDER Yellow Heat-Health Alert (information for all providers)

2. REMINDER Cost of Care 2023 exercise launch - Action Required deadline 3 September 2023 (Contracted home support, care home, supported living and extra care providers located in ¶®ÒõµÛ and the West Midlands region)

3. NEW GUIDANCE Linen processing within adult social care: information sheet (information for all care homes)

4. Capacity Tracker: ASC Enforcement/Data Collection Reporting Window (information for all providers)

5. Care Quality Commission (CQC) Webinar recording now available: New regulatory approach and provider portal roll out (information for all providers)

6. People For Public Services invite you to ¶®ÒõµÛ’s new vision and approach for putting people first 5 September 2023 (information for all ¶®ÒõµÛ providers)

7. ¶®ÒõµÛ and Solihull Nurses and Clinical Leads Network 9 September 2023 (information for all care homes)

8. ¶®ÒõµÛ and Solihull Training Hub: Knowledge and Library Services Demonstration 19 September 2023 (information for ¶®ÒõµÛ and Solihull providers)

9. Infection Prevention Control (IPC) Champions Training - 22 September 2023 (information for all ¶®ÒõµÛ Care Homes)

10. Ladywood Neighbourhood Network Scheme (NNS) Awareness Day 26 September 2023 (information for all ¶®ÒõµÛ providers)

1. REMINDER Yellow Heat-Health Alert (information for all providers)

A Yellow has been issued for the West Midlands and is in effect between 16 August 2023 at midday and 19 August 2023 at 9:00am

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

Additional useful links to guidance include:

Translated “Beat the Heat” Posters

BCC guidance

Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. To request a copy, email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk

2. REMINDER Cost of Care 2023 exercise launch - Action Required deadline 3 September 2023 (Contracted home support, care home, supported living and extra care providers located in ¶®ÒõµÛ and the West Midlands region)

On the 18 July 2023 we launched our 2023 cost of care exercise. As in previous years the exercise requires you to submit a range of data in relation to the costs of delivering care and support services. The data we gather helps the Council understand costs across the care market and informs the fees we pay. We will not share your individual data without your permission, but we will aggregate the data received and will publish the outputs of the analysis ensuring anonymity.

Please submit your cost of care templates to costofcare@birmingham.gov.uk in advance of the deadline – 11:59pm Sunday 3 September 2023.

If you need to ask a question, email costofcare@birmingham.gov.uk

Home Support exercise – all locations holding a 2019 home support framework agreement must complete the exercise, which is a contractual requirement.

You are required to complete 2 cost of care templates – 1) the Home Care Costing Tool Tab I. – Standard (Cost +) only; and 2) the Home Support CoC 2023 Additional data template. Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. To request a copy, email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk

Submission deadline to costofcare@birmingham.gov.uk - 11:59pm Sunday 3 September 2023.

Care homes – all contracted care homes located in ¶®ÒõµÛ or in the West Midlands region (Coventry, Dudley, Herefordshire, Sandwell, Shropshire, Solihull, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton, Worcestershire) must complete the exercise, which is a contractual requirement.

We are seeking to collect a reduced amount of data compared to previous years and so you are only required to complete 1 template – the Care Home CoC 2023 Additional data template. Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. To request a copy, email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk

Submission deadline to costofcare@birmingham.gov.uk - 11:59pm Sunday 3 September 2023.

Supported Living and Extra Care – all contracted locations in ¶®ÒõµÛ or in the West Midlands region (Coventry, Dudley, Herefordshire, Sandwell, Shropshire, Solihull, Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton, Worcestershire) must complete the exercise, which is a contractual requirement.

We are seeking to collect a reduced amount of data compared to previous years and so are only required to complete 1 template – the Supported Living and Extra Care CoC 2023 Additional data template. Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. To request a copy, email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk

Submission deadline to costofcare@birmingham.gov.uk - 11:59pm Sunday 3 September 2023.

Thank you in advance for your participation and timely submissions.

3. NEW GUIDANCE Linen processing within adult social care: information sheet (information for all care homes)

This information sheet is aimed at adult social care providers in England. It outlines the national guidelines on the correct handling of linen.

The full guidance can be found here:

4. Capacity Tracker: ASC Enforcement/Data Collection Reporting Window (information for all providers)

A news letter from the Capacity Tracker Team and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) regarding the ASC Enforcement/Data Collection Reporting Window has been circulated. Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. To requesta copy, email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk

5. Care Quality Commission (CQC) Webinar recording now available: New regulatory approach and provider portal roll out (information for all providers)

The first webinar in the CQC’s transformation series is now available to view. This episode focuses on how the CQC will roll out their new regulatory approach and provider portal to all health and social care providers. They also let you know when they expect to start using their new regulatory approach and the steps needed to get there.

This one-hour webinar is led by Chris Day, Director of Engagement, and Amanda Hutchinson, Head of Policy, Regulatory Change. approach.

There were some technical issues during this webinar and unfortunately, some of the presentation slides were cut off.

Read further updates on 

A playlist of short videos can be seen on 

6. People For Public Services invite you to ¶®ÒõµÛ’s new vision and approach for putting people first 5 September 2023 (information for all ¶®ÒõµÛ providers)

People for Public Services would like to invite you to its next meeting on 5 September 2023 11:00am to 12:30pm. This is an online meeting.

¶®ÒõµÛ have set out a bold ambition for putting the public at the heart of everything it does. To make this ambition real, and for our vision to be more than words on a page, we will need to change how we operate across all services.

In this meeting we will share with you our vision and approach, our participation principles and our types of activity that you are able to get involved in.

We want to know if you feel you have enough opportunities to influence how the council delivers services that you benefit from.

To book a place, .

If you are unable to book a place, email us: getinvolved@birmingham.gov.uk

7. ¶®ÒõµÛ and Solihull Nurses and Clinical Leads Network 9 September 2023 (information for all care homes)

¶®ÒõµÛ and Solihull Nurses and Clinical Leads Network for Nurses working in Social Care would like to invite registered nurses to the next virtual network meeting for Thursday 9 September 2023 2.00pm - 4.30pm.

The meeting agenda will include the following clinical nursing issues;

  • Positive behaviour management
  • Governance in care homes at Sutton Rose and Meadow Rose
  • Learning from Quality Bishops Manor
  • Update from the Social Care Advisory Board
  • How to facilitate Nursing and Paramedic students in a nursing home
  • Medicines management update
  • Development of the Specialist Practice Course for Social Care Nurses

There will be an update from BSOL Integrated Care Board, Skills for Care and West Midlands Care Association on support/resources for nurses.

To find out more about the meeting and to book your place, visit the .

8.   ¶®ÒõµÛ and Solihull Training Hub: Knowledge and Library Services Demonstration 19 September 2023 (information for ¶®ÒõµÛ and Solihull providers)

At this event, knowledge and library services specialist Philip O’Reilly will:

  1. Demonstrate the free services and resources that are available
  2. Talk through worked examples of support provided
  3. Answer any questions about the service.

Date of Meeting: Tuesday 19 September 2023
Time: 12:30pm to 1:00pm
. You will need to create a Moodle account first.

9. Infection Prevention Control (IPC) Champions Training - 22 September 2023 (information for all ¶®ÒõµÛ Care Homes)

Are you or colleague interested in undergoing Infection Control training? Why not become an IPC Champion?

The IPC Team and ¶®ÒõµÛ will be holding a free training event for care home staff at the The Saffron Centre - Friday 22 September, 9:00am to 5:00pm.

To book your place please fill in the details below:

  • Name:
  • Surname:
  • Care Home:
  • Occupation:
  • Contact Number
  • Email:

You will need to confirm the above for yourself and all members of your party to guarantee your place. Please note at this time we can only offer 3-4 spaces per home.

Refreshments will be served during the event. If you or any members of your party have any food allergies please notify the team in your email. The IPC team will endeavour to ensure that any food/drink served is labelled clearly.

Free parking will be available on the day.

  • How To Get There

10. Ladywood Neighbourhood Network Scheme (NNS) Awareness Day 26 September 2023 (information for all ¶®ÒõµÛ providers)

Ladywood NNS are hosting an awareness day on the 26 September 2023 (11:30am to 2:30pm). It is an informal networking opportunity with the social work team, social prescribers and community network support team present, alongside special services and community organisations.

Join them at Ladywood Leisure Centre. Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. To request a copy, email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk


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