What's New Bulletin 222 - 07 November 2024
This is edition 222 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. SURVEY Department of Health and Social Care Survey on Secure Mail / NHSmail for Adult Social Care Providers – Closes 11 November 2024 (information for all providers)
2. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) – The new Learning and Development Support Scheme (information for all providers)
3. REMINDER NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) - Seasonal Vaccination Services for Autumn/Winter 2024/25 (AW24/25) (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
4. REMINDER NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) - Urgent Community Response (UCR) Birmingham and Solihull - latest information and resources (for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
5. Birmingham City Council - Cold Weather Alert Service Initiation 2024 (information for all providers)
6. REMINDER Birmingham City Council Route to Net Zero Team (information for all Birmingham and Solihull Small and Medium Sized Enterprises providers)
7. NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) - V300 Independent and Supplementary Prescribing Programme for Registered Nurses in February 2025 (information for care homes with nursing in Birmingham and Solihull)
8. NHS Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) Support to Care Homes Training November 2024 - 8 November 2024, 13 November 2024 and 22 November 2024 (for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
9. NHS Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) - Bladder & Bowel Health TENA Virtual Training Sessions – 11 November and 20 December 2024 (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes using Tena products)
1. SURVEY Department of Health and Social Care Survey on Secure Mail / NHSmail for Adult Social Care Providers – Closes 11 November 2024 (information for all providers)
The Better Security, Better Care team are leading a project to improve secure email/NHSmail for the sector. Secure email is a key tool in ensuring that the personal information of patients, clients and residents is stored, used, and shared securely between health and care services.
As part of the project Department of Health and Social Care are running a survey to understand the experience of Adult Social Care providers using secure email – the good and the bad. To access the survey, please use this link:
Survey on secure mail/NHSmail for adult social care providers | Digitising Social Care
The more responses they receive, the better evidence base they have to shape secure email options for the sector. The anonymised results will be used to drive forward improvements.
The surveycloses on 11 November 2024, so please respond as soon as you can.
2. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) – The new Learning and Development Support Scheme (information for all providers)
The DHSC has published a new guidance document on the funding available for learning and development for the adult social care workforce. (see link below) This fund is called the Learning and Development Support Scheme.
The Learning and Development Support Scheme is administered via a new digital online claims service that allows adult social care employers to claim funding for certain training courses and qualifications on behalf of eligible care staff. Funding is available for eligible courses and qualifications that have been both paid for and started between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 (inclusive).
In order to manage the roll-out, for the first few months access to the service will be via invite only but providers can complete an expression of interest form below to be onboarded onto the new system.
If you have questions about the Learning and Development Support Scheme you can get in touch with the team by emailing ascreimbursement@dhsc.gov.uk
3. REMINDER NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) - Seasonal Vaccination Services for Autumn/Winter 2024/25 (AW24/25) (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
The AW24/25 Covid Campaign guidance has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
The COVID campaign started on 3 October 2024 and ends on 20 December 2024, with some outreach vaccination continuing until 31 January 2025.
Please ensure to start the consent process prior to getting a date of visit confirmation, it will be helpful for the team visiting to vaccinate the residents to have those in hand prior to them visiting.
If the GP Practice you are aligned to is part of an active (vaccinating in phase) Primary Care Network (PCN) then they will arrange a date to visit the care home to vaccinate the residents. However, for those care homes that are not aligned to an active PCN, external providers will be contacting you to arrange a vaccination for your residents.
Please note, if you are unsure whether the external provider contacting you is the correct one, please contact the ICB Immunisations and Vaccinations Team nhsbsolicb.immsandvacs@nhs.net for verification. The team will be able to confirm the legitimacy of the external provider.
4. REMINDER NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) - Urgent Community Response (UCR) Birmingham and Solihull - latest information and resources (for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
Care Homes in Birmingham and Solihull are advised to contact the UCR in the first instance for receiving urgent care. The team can provide a rapid response service within two hours of your call. This referral service offers an alternative to calling an ambulance and helps to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions or readmissions. This service has highly skilled and dedicated clinicians who can deliver a rapid response to the urgent care needs of your residents or refer to the ambulance service if emergency hospital care is needed.
For further information, see the following video and further information on this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
Urgent Community Response service for referrers across Birmingham and Solihull
For latest information and resources, please see links below.
Urgent Community Response | Website
5. Birmingham City Council - Cold Weather Alert Service Initiation 2024 (information for all providers)
1 November 2024 marked the start of the Cold Weather Alert System and Plan for England (see links below), This plan aims to prevent the major avoidable effects on health during cold weather periods by raising awareness and sharing guidance to protect the most vulnerable.
Paying attention to cold weather is essential. Whilst it is a significant health risk for many people, simple preventative actions often could avoid many deaths, illnesses, and injuries associated with the cold.
See the links below for guidance from relevant organisations:
BCC cost of living support information
Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
6. REMINDER Birmingham City Council Route to Net Zero Team (information for all Birmingham and Solihull Small and Medium Sized Enterprises providers)
The Council is proud to be taking a leading role working with individuals, communities, businesses, and partners across the city to act now on the causes and impacts of climate change. On 11 June 2019 the Council declared a climate emergency (see link below) and made a commitment to reduce the city’s carbon emissions and limit the climate crisis. As part of this declaration, an ambitious target was set for 'the council and city to become net zero carbon by 2030, or as soon as possible thereafter as a just transition allows', going beyond the Government's own net zero by 2050 target.
Council declared a climate emergency
Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
7. NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (BSOL ICB) - V300 Independent and Supplementary Prescribing Programme for Registered Nurses in February 2025 (information for care homes with nursing in Birmingham and Solihull)
BSOL ICB have received confirmation that University College Birmingham can offer 10 funded places for the V300 Independent and Supplementary Prescribing Programme for Registered Nurses in February 2025.
This course is usually £2000. This offer is for Registered Nurses working in Social Care, Primary Care, Private, Independent and Voluntary sector organisations, who must be able to prescribe as a nurse prescriber within their Registered Nurse role, on completion of the programme.
Individuals must have support from their manager to undertake our 26-week degree (Level 6) or master's (level 7) programme starting in February, with protected learning time for 1 day per week (Wednesdays).
The eligibility criteria from the West Midlands Combined Authority is:
- Must live within the West Midlands Combined Authority postcode catchment area
- Must earn less than £32,000 pa
The individual must also meet the entry criteria for the programme, as detailed on University College Birmingham website below and complete the application form in full before 13thDecember, which will give time to assess the applications and ensure they have all the assurances they need to enrol the individuals onto their programme. For programme or application form queries please contact the Programme Lead, Antony Smith email: a.smith@ucb.ac.uk
A copy of the form has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
8. NHS Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) Support to Care Homes Training November 2024 - 8 November 2024, 13 November 2024 and 22 November 2024 (for Birmingham and Solihull care homes)
Details of the Support to Care Homes Team virtual training for all Care Home staff across Birmingham and Solihull Care homes has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
There are valuable informative training sessions this month on
- Infection Prevention Control – 8 November 2024
- Skin tears – 13 November 2024
- Falls – 22 November 2024
The training will be hosted by the Solihull Support to Care homes Team and is open to all Care Homestaff cross Birmingham and Solihull. Joining details can be accessed via the BSol Healthzone Care Home App.
Instructions on how to download the BSol Healthzone Care Home App are also attached. Please see the previous bulletin item 3 here for further information about the App;
What's New Bulletin 184 - 15 February 2024 - Care services providers' bulletin (birmingham.gov.uk)
Should you have an issue in accessing the link, please contact the Support to Care Home Service on 0121 705 0912.
9. NHS Birmingham and Solihull (BSOL) - Bladder & Bowel Health TENA Virtual Training Sessions – 11 November and 20 December 2024 (information for Birmingham and Solihull care homes using Tena products)
BSOL are holding continence training in bladder and bowel health along with best and safe practice in TENA Continence Pad usage.
11 November 2024 – 1:00pm – 2:00pm
20 December 2024 – 10:00am – 11:00am
Further information about this subject has been circulated to providers. If you don’t have a copy, please email marketintelligence@birmingham.gov.uk
To book your place Contact Darren Clothier Darren.Clothier@Essity.com Tel 07721 244420