News and Resources
- Spring Statement
In case you missed it today, all the information can be found in these links:
All the Spring Statement 2025 and supporting documents can be found at: Spring Statement 2025 in full.
- Improving outcomes for care homes
Research conducted by Birmingham University, for interest: Achieving closure’ – improving outcomes when care homes close – University of Birmingham
- From the UKSHA external team – Covid vaccinations
‘The NHS national booking system has now opened for 7.5 million eligible people to book in their spring Covid-19 vaccination, with appointments starting from Tuesday 1 April. Those eligible for this year’s spring Covid-19 vaccine include adults aged 75 years and over, residents in care homes for older adults, and people with a weakened immune system who are at a greater risk from severe illness. We have published a blog outlining more about who is eligible for this spring’s Covid-19 vaccine. Please see attached for a communications toolkit to support stakeholders to explain and promote the vaccination programme to eligible groups. It contains background information, communications assets, key messages, statistics and links to useful information. This has been jointly produced by NHS England and UKHSA. This is also available on the UKHSA External Affairs Team’s Google Drive. It will shortly be uploaded to the Campaign Resource Centre. We would be grateful for your support with encouraging eligible people to come forward for a vaccine. Please let us know if you have any questions about the vaccine programme and communications, eligibility, or the attached materials.’
- Information re Listeria outbreak
Here it is (FSA doc attached) in case you missed it last time.
- Quality of Care webinars
Last week we included some dates in March for members to access this free webinar- Beyond Survival – Key Steps to Financial Sustainability. Chris Briggs, Founder of Quality of Care, has now announced some dates for April, in case you missed it. Duration appx an hour via TEAMs. Beyond Survival: How to Prepare Your Care Business for April’s Cost Rises – April Dates . (Relevant tips re costing tools, as discussed at recent members’ meeting).
- Low pay commission
At the recent members’ meeting we discussed the forthcoming roadshow by the LPC with an event in Exeter. Please find below information on a regional visit by the Low Pay Commission to the Southwest and promote across your local networks. Useful and relevant re the rising minimum wage. If any member planning to attend the event, please let us know. The RCPA planning to attend the Exeter event.
Low Pay Commission – regional visits 2025
The Low Pay Commission published more information- the list of locations for the Low Pay Commission’s regional visits programme in 2025. This year they will be visiting the following locations:
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- London on 15-16 April
- Exeter on 11-12 June
- Newcastle on 6-7 August
- International recruitment and displaced workers
Following our recent bulletins, we are pleased to inform you that substantive work is now underway through RCPA and partners to support displaced workers in Somerset. We are currently scoping the best support in practical terms, however there will be a focus on pastoral care, helping to match displaced workers with provider vacancies whilst ensuring sustained community assimilation post recruitment.
A big ‘thankyou’ to members who have reached out to support displaced workers so far. This week’s spotlight on two care workers looking for work now, both with UK training and experience. Do you have care vacancies and can help? These care workers have already been working in the UK for a while now and have UK training and experience:
Care worker A
Male – seeking sponsor switch due to insufficient hours
Residential/nursing care homes, working through an agency, also supported living experience
Yeovil based but willing to relocate
Car driver
Care worker B
Male
Support worker (autism/LD), live in care, hospital, and residential care experience
Bridgwater based, willing to relocate
Full UK driving licence, own car
Please contact hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk. Many thanks.
Events
RWK Goodman Seminar: RWK Goodman Employment Law Update: All change!
Thursday 24th April 2025.
Edgar Hall, Somerton, TA11 6SB
Free onsite parking
£10 per ticket for RCPA members
RCPA and RWK Goodman are delighted to invite you to an in-person employment law seminar with the specialist employment solicitors in RWK Goodman’s Health & Social Care team.
What can you expect?
The Employment Rights Bill represents the biggest overhaul of employment law in over 50 years and sets to significantly rebalance the employer / employee relationship. The reforms are wide-ranging and will be consulted on and regulations made over the next year. Now is the time to start considering how the changes could impact your care business and how you are going to implement them. The seminar will cover the key changes in the Bill affecting care providers, as follows:
- Fair Pay Agreements for care workers
- Changes to zero hours contracts
- Unfair dismissal from day 1 and statutory probationary periods
- New rights for trade unions and changes to statutory recognition
- Sick pay reform
We will also discuss the challenges posed by the Budget reforms to Employer National Insurance contributions and increases to NMW rates and the impact this may have on providers including re-organisation, restructuring and redundancy.
To register please email admin@rcpa.org.uk with delegate names, organisation name and email address for invoice.
Places are on a first come first serve basis, so please reserve your place today to avoid missing out.