News and Resources
CQC updates and insights
We meet with the local operations team in Somerset on a quarterly basis, recently, this week. From 3rd November, the inspection teams across the country will be sector specific with inspectors experienced in their field of expertise i.e. ASC, primary care, acute care etc. The Somerset team have been operating with just four inspectors for appx 280 regulated locations across the county. Priority focus is on services whose inspection dates are overdue, at risk of breach and requires improvement. They have now increased the team to eight inspectors thereby increasing capacity to catch up.
Insights from CQC –
- challenges with supported living services with one manager, across different locations.
- older style buildings that prove problematic to deliver services.
- undertaking one inspection per month per inspector, on average.
- very few regulated services have exited in Somerset.
Our next meeting will be January 2026. If you have anything you would like to share with other members/raise with CQC, please contact hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk.
PDoC and CoP
If there are any members caring for individuals with prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDoC), where clinically assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH) is in place, and need support to ensure care aligns with best interests, addresses the person’s individual needs and is within the legal framework, (recent COP judgment), please let us know. NHS Somerset can offer guidance around this.
Meeting with ICB/LA senior leads 10th October
We’re due to meet with senior leads this Friday; anything around winter pressures and practical support required, please let us know – hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk. We’ll update you soonest following actions and progress from the last meeting.
Financial impact of the Employment Rights Bill
Raised at the last MNM – have any members calculated the cost of impact of the day 1 SSP rights? Whilst this is a positive move for employees, not to be underestimated- the impact of significant costs for employer. We encourage members to complete the following Care England survey, which closes 16th October. The government’s impact assessment labels social care as the sector which is likely to be most heavily affected by the largest policies in the ERB. But they have not confirmed how much this bill will cost to implement, and there is no sign of social care receiving the support required to make the changes manageable. CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE SURVEY.
At a recent MNM and following our bulletin – Supreme Court judgment which determined that “sex” as used in the Equality Act 2010 means biological sex and not gender identity.
Implications of the Supreme Court (2025) Interpretation of “Sex” as “Biological Sex”. We have approached SRG – our policy and procedure provider for specific guidance – and they have updated their policies to reflect this. Please contact admin@rcpa.org.uk for the latest.
DWP’s Findajob service
The DWP’s adult social care recruitment campaign – Make care your career – is live from today! They will be running advertising from now until March 2026 (although activity will be light in December) across video on demand, outdoor posters, radio, social media and online. They also have eight care champions who’ll be showcasing real experiences on social and a media partnership with LADBible, which will launch in November/December. The campaign encourages the target audience (adults aged 18-39 in lower socio-economic groups with the right values) to apply for roles on their website.
How you can help – from the DWP
‘We would really appreciate your help in making sure the campaign is as successful as possible. Here are three ways you could support the campaign between now and March:
- Encourage the sector to upload their job vacancies to Find a Job to maximise exposure of available roles during the campaign.
- Cascade campaign assets to help to promote the campaign.
- Share our social media posts across your channels on Facebook and Instagram.’
Casey Commission update
We recently met representatives from the Casey Commission – Baroness Louise Casey is heading up the commission into reforms for the ASC sector. Summary of discussion – the TORs will be in two parts -2026- 1) report with reform ideas and quick wins in the short term and 2) more visionary by 2028, a more wholesale look at what a national care service will look like in the future. They are keen to listen to people with lived experience, absorb information, ascertain a broad perspective eg housing and benefits linked to working and vice versa. In November there will be a roundtable discussion planned for several months with a cross-system debate. In 2026 a national conversation with the public is planned – what the public would like to see, what is possible, fair, and just. Looking at contextual factors in different counties. We have asked them to let us know when they intend to visit Somerset (have contacted them directly) as we would like to be at the round table in addition to any other discussions with sector stakeholders.
Call for evidence 10 yr workforce plan
The government has launched a call for evidence for the 10 Year Workforce Plan. The 10 Year Workforce Plan will build on the 10 Year Health Plan (10YHP) published in July this year and will set out how the government will deliver a new, sustainable workforce model in line with the three shifts identified in the 10YHP: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention. We encourage members to contribute to the call for evidence and share your insights. Your input will be essential to shaping a practical and deliverable plan for the decade ahead. The consultation will be open for six weeks and will close on 11.59pm on 7 November 2025.
Call for evidence: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/10-year-workforce-plan Please also find attached a letter from Minister of State for Health and Secondary Care, Karin Smyth, inviting individuals and organisations to contribute to the call for evidence and help shape the 10 Year Workforce Plan.
Displaced workers and providers’ network
Following the event – 16th September – queries raised:
With thanks to our sponsor, Kate Benefer/RWK and Rhian Lloyd/UKVI who discussed and agreed an interpretation of the transitional period and what this means for current care staff / providers:
One of the key areas discussed at the event earlier this month was how the transitional period works and what happens to those working as care workers when we get to July 2028. Kate Benefer, from our sponsor RWK Goodman has discussed the point further with Rhian from UKVI and provided the following clarification:
The new rules mean that:
- Anyone who wants to switch to a skilled worker visa under SOC code 6135 or 6136 must apply to do so by 21 July 2028. At the time the CoS is assigned to them for this application, they must have been working for the sponsor for at least 3 months.
- Anyone who is already sponsored as a skilled worker under SOC code 6135 or 6136 or who switches into this category by 21 July 2028 can continue to be sponsored and there is currently no end date for extensions. The current rules do not say that an extension application must be made within the transitional period, and the period currently only relates to individuals switching into sponsorship. The position will be kept under review however so an end date may be introduced in the future.
Under the rules as they stand today, this means providers do not need to worry about sponsored staff suddenly losing their right to work in 2028. It also means sponsors should be able to continue to offer roles to sponsored care workers moving from other sponsors beyond 2028.
***Immigration helpline***
RWK Goodman offers an immigration helpline service, funded by the Southwest Councils. The helpline provides up to 30 mins of telephone advice on any immigration query.
The helpline can be used to ask questions about areas such as sponsorship, the recent legal changes, assigning certificates, right to work checks or using the SMS. If you have any questions or just want to double check something, please contact the team at immigrationhelpline@rwkgoodman.com and someone will be in touch to arrange a call. (Members report the service has been invaluable).
Recent Press releases from the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England:
- £500m for care workers through Fair Pay Agreement: In his recent conference speech, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, announced a £500 million investment in a Fair Pay Agreement to boost the wages of adult social care workers across England. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/500m-for-first-ever-fair-pay-agreement-for-care-workers
- NHS online hospital to give patients more control over their care: In his conference speech, the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, announced the launch of a new ‘online hospital’ NHS Online. It will use an innovative new model of care by not being based around a physical site, instead digitally connecting patients to expert clinicians anywhere in England (published 29 September).
Members Network Meeting – please note, due to annual leave, there won’t be an MNM in October. Next, 5th November, Wyvern Club, Taunton – SWAST and Safeguarding. Agenda to follow.
Training opportunity – please see attached – ‘Move More and Live Longer Better workshop’. An in-person workshop package has been developed by Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership (SASP) for workforces in the voluntary and community sectors, housing providers and social care around how to have meaningful and positive conversations about physical activity within their everyday roles. This session will be in person on Thursday 16th October 2025, 10am – 1pm at the SASP offices, Wellington.
For more information on the workshop content and to book your space, click below: https://www.sasp.co.uk/events/2025/10/move-more-and-live-longer-better-workshop31
Free Blood Pressure Checks for Care Staff – Part of the ‘Take the Pressure Off’ Campaign
High blood pressure affects an estimated 1 in 3 adults in Somerset, and many people have no symptoms at all. As a workforce providing vital care and support every day, care staff are at higher risk of raised blood pressure due to stress, shift work and limited time to access health services. As part of the joint Somerset Public Health and NHS Somerset “Take the Pressure Off” campaign, we are now extending our free workplace blood pressure checks to care providers across the county.
What we’re offering:
- On-site blood pressure checks for staff (quick, discreet and convenient)
- Advice and signposting for anyone with raised readings
- Printed and digital resources to help staff understand their risk
- Support to repeat sessions if there is demand
We have successfully delivered checks in a wide range of workplaces across Somerset, and we’re now keen to make this available to care homes, domiciliary care agencies and supported living providers.
This is a simple way to:
- Support staff wellbeing
- Reduce avoidable illness
- Spot early signs before they become serious
- Contribute to a healthier, supported workforce
If you would like us to visit your service, or to find out more, please email: andrea.osborne@somerset.gov.uk
Even a small number of checks can make a big difference – especially when so many people are unaware, they’re at risk.
Events
Members Network Meeting
Please note, due to annual leave, there won’t be an MNM in October.
Next meeting to be held on 5th November at Wyvern Club CIC, Taunton – SWAST and Safeguarding. Agenda to follow.
THE Care Conference for Somerset, hosted by the RCPA – Taking the Lead
We are delighted to announce this year’s ‘Care Conference for Somerset, hosted by the RCPA’ which will take place on Wednesday 3rd December at Taunton Racecourse.
Thanks to your feedback earlier in the year, we have made several changes to this year’s format, and we do hope you can join us!
We have pleasure in attaching the programme along with information about the day.
If you would like to book a place, please complete the booking form via this link – Booking Form.
From our Partners
Optimise Workplace Wellbeing
Mental Health First Aid Training (Level 3 Award in MHFA – accredited qualification)
16th and 23rd October 2025, 09:30-17:30, both days.
The Ibis Hotel, Bridgwater.
Lunch, refreshments and plenty of free parking included, as well as your qualification certificate
Cost £295 for RCPA members.
Contact Jo, for further info, to book, or to have a course overview sent to you.
07912 446261
jo@optimiseworkplacewellbeing.com
Digital News
Free Data Security Health Checks
How do you know that your data and cyber security is good enough?
You have already completed the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) so you can be assured that you do meet those requirements, right?
During the Data Security Health Check pilot that ran across the Southwest, of the providers who had DSPT completed to Standards Met, only 1.41% went through the health check process without needing recommendations for improvement. The DSPT is a fantastic tool for helping providers meet their obligations for data and cyber security, the health check process can give you the confidence on completing it to a higher standard.
A Data Security Health Check is a no strings attached process that reviews and provides feedback on all aspect of data protection and cyber security. A cyber security technical assessment is also carried out to confirm basic cyber security settings on your Windows computers.
If you are interested in a free Data Security Health Check, please contact Daniel Plummer at daniel.plummer@rcpa.org.uk
Information Commissioners Office (ICO) takes action against care home
The director of a care home in Yorkshire has been fined for refusing to respond to a request for a residents personal data. This kind of request is commonly known as a subject access request (SAR).
The director blocked, erased or concealed records held by the care home with the intent of preventing the information from being shared. This specific case saw the daughter, with lasting power of attorney, request to see incident reports, CCTV footage, and notes relating to her fathers care.
After failing to share this information the daughter made a complaint to the ICO and the director failed to respond to the complaint. Ultimately being fined £1,100 and additional costs of £5,440.
Subject access requests are a fundamental right that everyone has in relation to personal data about them. As organisations, it is your responsibility to ensure you have a clear process in place to spotting and responding to SARs.
RCPAs Daniel Plummer recently attended the Caldicott Guardian breakfast club where the topic of AI generated SARs was a topic of discussion. Health and care organisations are seeing an increased use in generative AI, such as ChatGPT, by the public to formulate SARs. The output from the generative AI tends to be more complex than the person requesting is actually needing. For example, asking the organisation to see full audit trails.
How should providers approach SAR that have been AI generated? Every SAR must be responded to, but you can consult with the person requesting to fully understand what information they are after.
AI in this context should not be seen as a negative, but rather an opportunity for the public to access their data. They may not have known about what data they can see or how to ask for it. We as organisations need to ensure our processes are equipped to handle any data requests.
Full news story – https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/media-centre/news-and-blogs/2025/09/care-home-director-found-guilty-of-ignoring-request-for-personal-information/
For more guidance on SARs, please see visit the ICO – https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/subject-access-requests/a-guide-to-subject-access/
Digital Care Hub also have resources on individual data rights, including access to data and can be found here – https://www.digitalcarehub.co.uk/resource/staff-guidance-on-sars-individual-rights/
