Category: General News

News and Resources

*** IMPORTANT UPDATE – Somerset Health and Care Academy***

Progress is going well in relation to this work, a new Academy Director (Sarah Green) in post, through various fora, RCPA conferences, SFC RMNs (latest, this week 4/2), development of a co-creation group, thanks to ASC providers, we now have a good foundation with which to work and commence next steps. The challenges faced by providers i.e. finding quality assured and bespoke specialised training for different needs and services further supports a ‘one stop’ place.  It’s important to keep the momentum going and we are now at the point in this work where we need to mobilise these ideas into action; this means securing a commitment from ASC providers, to be able to convince senior financial decision makers that the Academy will be the ‘go-to place’ for training provision across health and care. The site of the Academy in Bridgwater is just one feature of the training provision as a place for colleagues, along with options to scale remote/satellite training across the county affording equitable access to all. As members of the Academy Programme Delivery Group, the RCPA and SFC are proposing an ‘ASC Providers’ Charter’ to encompass this. Holly Stockdale (SFC) and Hilary Robinson (RCPA) would like to invite providers to discuss what this will look like and help compose the Charter. As we approach financial year end, this will be in the next few weeks. We need to submit to Board by 16^th March.  Please look out for more details soon – your input is vital to make this work. Thank you.

 

Level 2 Care Certificate – Somerset Health & Care Academy-Co delivery Expression of Interest

Following feedback from care providers, including the RCPA Conference in December 2025, we are proposing a new co-delivery model for the Level 2 Adult Social Care Certificate via the Somerset Health & Care Academy.

• Care providers would act as Associate Trainers for the Academy.
• The Academy retains responsibility for all assessment and accreditation.
• The rationale would be to have smaller cohorts of 10 learners, with flexible start dates to ease release and backfill.
• Delivery would be largely remote or at the workplace and not require learner travel to Bridgwater for most sessions.
• Blended learning model delivered over 8 weeks
• This would be reimbursable through the ASC Learning & Development Support Scheme

If you are interested in taking part in design/assessing/training, more details click here

 

Spotlight on Safeguarding and MCA

Aside from making positive progress with SWASFT colleagues and working with SG alerts (bulletin – Thursday 29^th January), we are aware of concerns and frustration around delays regarding timely responses to SG alerts generally (previous bulletin, Christmas time). Please find attached Somerset Council’s latest guidance. The target for a PW1 decision is two working days from when the concern is received by the Adult Safeguarding Service. SC report that most decisions are meeting this target. If this is not the case and if you are experiencing delays of more than two days, we need to collect evidence to take to SC- ie anonymised, how many delays and days from reporting to when you receive a response, the impact this is having on your service etc– please can you contact hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk. Would members like this included, hear from SC, for future MNM?

 

Multi-agency MCA Forums

The SSAB is running bi-monthly multiagency MCA forums in 2026 via Teams. Please see attached ‘keep and save’ doc for more details, dates and how to join.

• Fluctuating capacity
• Who should assess capacity
• Deprivation of liberty in the community
• IMCA – What is their role and what are the criteria for appointing one?

 

CQC

How can we help CQC to be a better regulator? Last week we shared insights around the national picture for total care service assessments. We caught up with our sponsor RWK Goodman recently, to see how Somerset compares. Total of 76 assessments for 2025 for both home care and care homes-these figures direct from CQC reports. Just trying to gauge how many members have asked for assessments and have you received any responses regarding indicative timeframes? As above for SG, potential item for MNM, working with local CQC Ops team?

 

Neighbourhoods

Following on from last week’s bulletin item re neighbourhoods, Skills for Care published a joint position statement on adult social care’s contribution to the Neighbourhood Health Service in England. The statement, published on behalf of organisations from across adult social care, health and education who came together to develop the Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care in England, outlines how adult social care can help bring the government’s vision for the Neighbourhood Health Service to life. You can read the position statement here.

The position statement recognises adult social care’s contribution to neighbourhood health through the essential expertise of social care professionals, the prevention of health needs and its role as a partner in healthcare. Neighbourhood health services

 

SASP – Somerset Activity and Sports Partnership

Please find attached a flyer, ’What we offer’, with more information about this important preventative and well-being support-inclusive events for everyone in your neighbourhood or place for all abilities across the county. Please can members print and circulate far and wide-staff rooms, service notice boards, payslips, residents/clients and family meetings, to activities coordinators…..

 

Events

RWK Goodman seminar – Employment Law & Immigration Update for Care Providers

RCPA is delighted to invite you to an in-person employment and immigration law seminar with the specialist employment and immigration solicitors in RWK Goodman’s Health & Social Care team.

What can you expect?

The Employment Rights Bill is the most significant reform of employment law in over 50 years, aiming to rebalance employer-employee relations. As changes begin in 2026, care providers should prepare for their impact and implementation. The seminar will outline major changes affecting the sector and how to prepare for them:

Managing the financial risk of changes to statutory sick pay eligibility from April 2026 and how to effectively manage sickness absences

Reform of ‘fire and rehire’ and new restrictions on making changes to employment contracts from April 2026

An update on the new Fair Pay Agreement for care workers and increased rights for trade unions in 2026

Getting ready for the new requirements to (i) take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment and (ii) prevent harassment (on any grounds) by third parties (including residents/service users) by Autumn 2026

International recruitment continues to be a key challenge for care providers with sponsor licence revocations and civil penalties increasing. We will share our experience on common mistakes made by sponsors, strategies to reduce non-compliance and guidance on conducting right to work checks.

Who should attend?

HR professionals, directors, business owners, executives, managers, team leaders and anyone with responsibility for HR, people management and sponsor licence compliance within an organisation that delivers adult social care services.

Agenda

9.30am          Arrive for registration, refreshments and networking

9.45am          Part 1 and Q&A

10.45am        Tea and coffee break

11.00am        Part 2 and Q&A

12.00pm        Networking

Event details 

Date: Tuesday 17^th March 2026

Venue: Edgar Hall, Somerton, TA11 6SB

Time: As above

Cost: £10 for RCPA members; £20 for non-members

To register for this event, please email admin@rcpa.org.uk with delegate names, organisation name and email address for invoice.

 

Member Network Meeting – 17^th March 2026, Somerton

We will be holding our next RCPA in-person Member Network Meeting at Edgar Hall, Somerton on Tuesday 17^th March 2026 at 1.00pm until 4.00pm. We will be holding a joint session with NHS Somerset ICB (Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism (MHLDA) and Health Equity (Quality) and colleagues from Madalba – a partnership providing award-winning innovative solutions that bring about meaningful, impactful change and outcomes. Join us for a unique opportunity for providers to help shape work around the Annual Health Checks (AHC) and resources to support staff and carers delivering health action plans, improving the lives of individuals, i.e., how does an AHC translate into quality care and guidance for providers.

The meeting will also include the launch of our member consultation, giving RCPA members the opportunity to help shape our future service offer.

Date: Tuesday 17^th March 2026

Venue: Edgar Hall, Somerton, TA11 6SB

Time: 1.00pm until 4.00pm

This session is free to attend.

To book please email admin@rcpa.org.uk with delegate names, organisation name, and email address.

 

From our Partners

RWK Goodman

Navigating the Coroner’s Court: A Mock Inquest for Care Providers

Thursday 19^th March 2026

For many care providers, the possibility of a coroner’s inquest feels remote, something that happens to other organisations. Yet when a death occurs and care is scrutinised, providers can find themselves unprepared for the intensity, formality and consequences of the coroner’s court.

Decisions that felt reasonable at the time can be examined in minute detail. Records, risk assessments and professional judgment may be tested in public, often months or years after the event, by people with no prior knowledge of the service or the individual.

So how does a coroner’s inquest really work – and what does it mean for care providers when things go wrong? RWK Goodman has designed this Mock Coroner’s Inquest to confront these questions head-on.

This in-person session is designed for care providers who want to understand what actually happens in the coroner’s court. Rather than a lecture, this event will walk you through a dramatised inquest scenario, showing how care decisions, documentation and organisational systems are examined, and where lessons are often drawn.  There will also be a Q&A so you can ask the legal experts – including a barrister with extensive experience of the coroners courts – about the practical and strategic considerations for your services.

Programme:

This is a live simulated inquest, which will include:

• The role of the coroner and the scope of an inquest
• How care providers and staff are called as witnesses and questioned
• The scrutiny of care records, policies and risk management
• An interactive discussion about strategy, potential pitfalls and ramifications

Featuring:

• Alexander West | Barrister, Albion Chambers
• Keara Bowgen-Nicholas | Senior Associate, RWK Goodman Health and Social Care Team
• Gemma Nicholas | Senior Associate, RWK Goodman Health and Social Care Team
• Anna Fee | Senior Associate, RWK Goodman Health and Social Care Team
• Mei-Ling Huang | Partner, RWK Goodman Health and Social Care Team

Date: Thursday 19 March

Time: 11am – 1pm

Venue: RWK Goodman, One Castlepark, 63 Tower Hill, Bristol, BS2 0JA

Book your space here

Please note: There are limited spaces, RSVP now to avoid disappointment. 

If you have any questions please email us at events@rwkgoodman.com, or get in touch with your usual contact.

 

Digital News

Please see details for this upcoming cyber security event hosted by Weston Hospicecare

Join us at our next Business for Care Collective event: The Cybersecurity Conversation, where we’ll be joined by globally recognised expert on AI and cybersecurity and co-founder of ramsac, Rob May.

📆 Monday 2nd March
🕒 3pm-6pm
📍 DoubleTree by Hilton Cadbury House

During the event, Rob will share practical insights into cybersecurity, helping leaders understand the real risks and opportunities so they can make confident, informed decisions. We’ll also hear from Paul, one of our inspirational patients who after six battles with cancer, is determined to fundraise for Weston Hospicecare.

Get your tickets here: https://bit.ly/4ryGxqm

Dear Member,

Amid the gloomy weather and news, here at the RCPA we’re keeping our spirits up as we continue to work behind the scenes on behalf of our members-we’re very well connected! Please see the latest for just a sample of what we have been up to in just the first few weeks of the new year, and where we continue to be active. If you spot something we have missed or news/info/issues you want to share/celebrate.. or escalate, please let us know! Also, not forgetting the WhatsApp exclusive members’ forum..

 

News and Resources

• Members Network Meeting 20th January – follow up

Thanks to those who were able to join last week. Items discussed:

-Apologies from our partner, Howden, who could not join – planning a future meeting (general overview of insurance market, new cyber insurance tool)

–Launch of Lingly app – As part of our support for providers, the RCPA is trialling a new tool/application to support international workers and care providers in Somerset. Using a language development tool called Lingly, it’s much more than English language training. Lingly is a bespoke AI language programme unique to Somerset. The RCPA can offer a fully funded version of the Lingly app to providers employing international and displaced workers.

This 6-week course starts by gauging the learner’s understanding of the English language and then creates a bespoke course, building in local phrases and colloquialisms that are commonly used in Somerset.

Please contact daniel.plummer@rcpa.org.uk if you would like to sign up. Limited number of licences available on a first come, first served basis.

–System engagement quick round up and insights.. following on from the RCPA conference, thinking about neighbourhood planning (NNHIPs – National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Plans) moving at pace, operational workshops planned for this year – encouraging members to get involved as early as possible. First wave/tranche nationally, across 42 sites (Somerset not included in tranche 1); Health and Well Being Board to submit plans by March, NHS by mid-Feb, pressing for increased ASC sector input and formal discussions during this early phase, raised at recent Board workshop – agree ‘footprints’ with PCNs (Primary Care Networks**) being a good place to start (appx 10-12 across Somerset), with integrated neighbourhood teams; agreed consistent terminology can be a barrier across system e.g. ‘place’ or ‘neighbourhood’. Four shifts underpin Somerset’s future:

1) Institution to community: aligning behind neighbourhood-based delivery.

2) From patient to person: focusing on wellbeing, independence, and what matters most to individuals.

3)From centralisation to localised decision-making: devolving power, resources, and accountability to neighbourhoods.

4)From specialisation to generalism: enabling integrated, multi-skilled teams to meet complex, long-term needs.

Consensus not just about ‘health’, a rising demand for services and inequalities (think/focus on management of long-term health conditions), rurality challenges, need to be more proactive rather than reactive, empower communities and give back control, devolve decision making. Likely a hub and spoke model. Review of GP access, improve primary and secondary interface, remodel OPDs. Care providers are already doing a lot of this work through community engagement and initiatives! Men’s Sheds, hair salons, ‘wishing’ lines for hyper local recruitment.. support for digital access.. community signposting.. how this may be scaled and joined up, offer business opportunities for providers as well as those drawing on support or perhaps excluded due to digital poverty, remoteness, and accessibility. More updates planned and how we may support members with daily operations. How do members see ‘place’ in their respective areas – is this by location e.g. PCN, or by service type, for example?  hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk

–Academy progress – we’re more than three years on since inception and UKSPF funding being announced – the RCPA has been in right from the start with all the twists and turns a large-scale project brings! A new Academy Director has been appointed; Sarah Green commenced in post 5^th Jan. Sarah will be at the at the next SFC RMN along with RCPA team – she is looking forward to meeting and hearing from care providers and the sector’s dedicated champions (OPMH, residential, nursing, day and domiciliary care, supported living) from the co-creation group; 4^th Feb – Bookings for Somerset RMN 04.02.26 1.30-3.30PM at Albermarle Taunton – Fill in form, also see attached. (Somerset Council rep now also appointed to the Academy Programme Delivery Group along with current RCPA, SFC, NHS ICB members).

–Sourcing Care resources being reviewed to address demand with a need for improved oversight with out of county placements, expected in Feb..

–Safeguarding training for ASC providers, has been escalated, along with delays in follow ups with SG alerts…creating anxiety and uncertainty for members and those they support.

–CQC – Somerset local ops team have been invited to join future F2F MNMs – working with them and ‘how we can help CQC become a better regulator’ Thinking about, how can we support providers – ‘When an Inspector calls!’ Please also see attached insights and latest stats, with thanks from our partner, Keara Bowgen-Nicholas, Senior Associate at RWK Goodman.. more about this soon. Headlines – 2019/20 assessments by all service types – 15,800, compared to 2023/24 – 6,700. Focus by CQC currently on SAF consultation outcomes, use of AI, fixing the provider portal, moving away from risk based to an informed approach and focus on assessments for non-registered providers. CQC aligning LA assessments with provider assessments.

Social Care notional allocation – mentioned in last bulletin – the UK Govt has announced on 21^st January https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-priorities-for-local-authorities/annex-b-methodology-for-calculating-local-authority-notional-funding-allocations-for-adult-social-care. (NB-Statement on website- ‘While these will not be formal spend expectations, notional allocations provide an illustration of the change in adult social care spending in each local authority, assuming adult social care spend reflected wider changes in overall available funding’ and ‘LAs will be starting from a position of current spending on adult social care’)

Provider uplifts 26/27 disappointingly at time of writing we don’t have any indication of % increases; for context, some of our neighbouring counties have announced ranging from 2-4% appx; followed up re dates for provider meetings, expected early to mid-February, but no dates set yet; SC advise still working on envelope for funding. We’re keeping process and next steps under review..

Equipment policy – follow up for provider meetings re draft policy TBC.

**Primary Care Networks (PCNs) are a key part of the NHS Long term plan (https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/) with general practices being a part of a network, typically covering 30,000-50,000 patients. The networks will provide the structure and funding for services to be developed locally, in response to the needs of the patients they serve. Contacting the Clinical Directors/Chairs of the PCNs/GP Federations on our members behalf to kick start discussions, see where they are at. If you are already linked in your area and have representation on any of these fora, I’d be interested to hear more. hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk

SWASFT insights from recent inaugural COP meeting – 13 LAs in the southwest region, 5 police forces, 5 fire services, covering a fifth of the country. In 2023/24 a million calls were made to 999, exemplifying the high volume. Exploring ways to connect and build relationships with SWASFT colleagues e.g. some care providers offer stand by points to paramedic crews on the road, offer refreshment pit stop. Positive first meeting, building on some new initiatives, problem solving approaches.

 

Coming up soon..

Your opinion matters! We’re undertaking a 360 review of our service offer to members and will be launching our largest ever consultation with members in Spring. More details soon..

 

Other:

• LeDeR – (Learning from lives and deaths – people with a learning disability and autistic people) insights from AHC Board.

38.5% of Annual Health Checks completed for last quarter

Deaths for autistic people – checking if an AHC completed prior to death; whether people on LD register – challenges arise when people move in and out of area, lack of consistency and evidence of onward referrals-gaps; looking more at whether an AHC leads to a health action plan. Also, focus on shift from activity to quality, outcomes, and impact.

Please look out for details around our AHC consultation coming up at the RCPA F2F event on 17^th March, how does an AHC translate into quality i.e. health action plans – more details soon.

Date: Tuesday 17^th March 2026

Venue: Edgar Hall, Somerton, TA11 6SB

Time: 1.00pm until 4.00pm

This session is free to attend.

To book please email admin@rcpa.org.uk with delegate names, organisation name and email address

 

• IR/Displaced worker insights

Seeing more people unable to secure employment… funding from central govt will reduce for 26/27…likely to support workers already in UK. Our sponsor, RWK Goodman, continues to support providers.

RWK Goodman offers an immigration helpline service, funded by the South West 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.

You will need to include your name and contact details, summary of query, your provider details, and a member of the team will contact you.

 

• Mental Health Support

From a recent SG Adults Board meeting – death by suicide – the highest risk period is when someone leaves services/support and on their own in the community, the longer the period without support, risk increases. Open Mental Health offer 24/7 support for providers and individuals – an alliance of local voluntary organisations, the NHS and Somerset Council.

https://openmentalhealth.org.uk/

Mindline via 111 option 2

Or call 01823 276 892

To find out more (non-emergency) please email Kamal.Ali-Merkhabi@rethink.org

 

Events

People Strategy 2026: Essential Employment Law & Immigration Update for Care Providers

RCPA is delighted to invite providers to an in-person employment and immigration law seminar with the specialist employment and immigration solicitors in RWK Goodman’s Health & Social Care team.

What can you expect?

The Employment Rights Bill is the most significant reform of employment law in over 50 years, aiming to rebalance employer-employee relations. As changes begin in 2026, care providers should prepare for their impact and implementation. The seminar will outline major changes affecting the sector and how to prepare for them:

• Managing the financial risk of changes to statutory sick pay eligibility from April 2026 and how to effectively manage sickness absences
• Reform of ‘fire and rehire’ and new restrictions on making changes to employment contracts from April 2026
• An update on the new Fair Pay Agreement for care workers and increased rights for trade unions in 2026
• Getting ready for the new requirements to (i) take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment and (ii) prevent harassment (on any grounds) by third parties (including residents/service users) by Autumn 2026

International recruitment continues to be a key challenge for care providers with sponsor licence revocations and civil penalties increasing. We will share our experience on common mistakes made by sponsors, strategies to reduce non-compliance and guidance on conducting right to work checks.

Event details 

Date: Tuesday 17^th March 2026

Venue: Edgar Hall, Somerton, TA11 6SB

Time: 9.30am – 12.00pm

Cost: £10 for RCPA members; £20 for non-members

To register for this event, please email admin@rcpa.org.uk with delegate names, organisation name and email address for invoice.

Spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend reserving your place as soon as possible to ensure availability.

**********************************************************

Following the RWK Goodman Employment Law & Immigration update seminar…

The RCPA will be holding a joint session with NHS Somerset ICB (Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism (MHLDA) and Health Equity (Quality) and colleagues from Madalba – a partnership providing award-winning innovative solutions that bring about meaningful, impactful change and outcomes. Join us for a unique opportunity for providers to help shape work around the Annual Health Checks (AHC) and resources to support staff and carers delivering health action plans, improving the lives of individuals, i.e., how does an AHC translate into quality care and guidance for providers.

Date: Tuesday 17^th March 2026

Venue: Edgar Hall, Somerton, TA11 6SB

Time: 1.00pm until 4.00pm

This session is free to attend.

To book please email admin@rcpa.org.uk with delegate names, organisation name and email address

Upon booking, please also confirm if you are booking onto the morning seminar, afternoon meeting session, or both.

 

From our Partners

Howden

How care homes build claims defensibility and trust

Insurance claims can be stressful, but they don’t have to be chaotic. In their latest podcast episode, our partner Howden discuss what you need to do from the first hour after an incident, how to manage CQC scrutiny and the importance of staff training. The conversation then moves to outline the insurance considerations you need to make.

A must listen that offers practical steps to help care providers to reduce risk and protect your residents.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1980426/episodes/18331680

 

RWK Goodman

Please see attached for their latest bulletin – CQC inspection numbers: falling short of even modest ambitions

 

Digital News

Lingly

The RCPA is trialing a new application to support international workers and care providers in Somerset. Using a language development tool called Lingly, it’s much more than English language training. Lingly is a bespoke AI language programme unique to Somerset. You can see more about Lingly at Lingly.ai

The RCPA can offer a fully funded version of the Lingly app to providers employing international and displaced workers.

This 6-week course starts by gauging the learner’s understanding of the English language and then creates a bespoke course, building in local phrases and colloquialisms that are commonly used in Somerset.

Please complete the following form to express an interest in using Lingly – Lingly language development course   – expression of interest

There are a limited number of licences, and these will be allocated on a first come first serve basis.

 

Events

Difficult conversations series – as the world of technology changes, how do we effectively communicate this new reality.

• Difficult conversations: People’s right to privacy vs home sensors – Online Wednesday 11th March – 12:00 – 13:30
• Difficult conversations: consent: what does, “agreeing to tech” really mean? – Online Tuesday 17th March – 12:00 – 13:30
• Difficult conversations: robots vs carers: replacing in-person care workers with tech – Online Tuesday 31st March – 12:00 – 13:30

Online webinars:

• Cyber in Care : Resilience, Recovery & Incident Response – Online Wednesday 25th February – 12:00 – 13:30
• Smarter Social Care: AI in Action – Online Wednesday 4th February 11:00 – 12:45

 

In-person events:

Free Workshop in-person  – Cyber Security and AI: Safeguarding Your Business (not social care specific)
Date: Wednesday, 11 February
Time: 12:00–13:00
Venue: Firepool Centre for Digital Innovation (FCDI), Taunton.
Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way we work, but with rapid innovation comes new risks. Are you ready to protect your business in an AI-driven world?
Join us for a free lunchtime workshop led by Alistair Whiteley, founder of Alistair Whiteley Web Design Ltd and a Cyber Essentials-certified specialist.
To reserve your spot, contact: fcdi@somerset.gov.uk

 

In person summit – Somerset AI Summit (not social care specific)

Date: Tuesday 10^th March

Time: 08:30 – 16:30.

Venue: Firepool Centre for Digital Innovation,  Taunton, TA1 1FH

Hosted by Somerset Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the University of Exeter this full day event will explore how AI is transforming organisations today, what the future holds and where business can access practical local support. Click here to book – Somerset AI Summit – Somerset Chamber

 

 

Make an impact with your data security in 2026

Data and cyber security aren’t static elements that you think about once per year. It’s an evolving space that requires attention. Whether that’s when you’re implementing some new technology, scanning the horizon for cyber threats, or simply reviewing that policy you’ve been meaning to get around to. There’ s always something to do in this space.

 

Learning

Learning and being informed is a key part of data security. These upcoming online and in-person events are a great opportunity to stay ahead.

Cyber in care series – a jargon free, practical series that’ll help open up the world of cybercrime:

• Cyber in Care: The Deep, the Dark and the Hidden Dangers – Online Wednesday 21st Jan – 12:00 – 13:30
• Cyber in Care : Resilience, Recovery & Incident Response – Online Wednesday 25th February – 12:00 – 13:30

Difficult conversations series – as the world of technology changes, how do we effectively communicate this new reality.

• Difficult conversations: People’s right to privacy vs home sensors – Online Wednesday 11th March – 12:00 – 13:30
• Difficult conversations: consent: what does, “agreeing to tech” really mean? – Online Tuesday 17th March – 12:00 – 13:30
• Difficult conversations: robots vs carers: replacing in-person care workers with tech – Online Tuesday 31st March – 12:00 – 13:30

Care led innovation and AI usage in social care. See how technology has transformed innovative care providers. Understand AI, common myths and explore how it can support quality, efficiency and outcomes in care services.

• Care-Led Innovation: Celebrating Home-Grown Technology in Social Care – Online Wednesday 28th Jan – 13:00 – 14:30
• Smarter Social Care: AI in Action – Online Wednesday 4th February 11:00 – 12:45

 

Please see below for an upcoming free in person cyber security and AI workshop. (Not adult social care specific)

Free Workshop in-person – Cyber Security and AI: Safeguarding Your Business (not social care specific)
Date: Wednesday, 11 February
Time: 12:00–13:00
Location: Firepool Centre for Digital Innovation (FCDI), Taunton
Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way we work, but with rapid innovation comes new risks. Are you ready to protect your business in an AI-driven world?
Join us for a free lunchtime workshop led by Alistair Whiteley, founder of Alistair Whiteley Web Design Ltd and a Cyber Essentials-certified specialist.
To reserve your spot, contact: fcdi@somerset.gov.uk

 

Informed

Do you want to stay informed but don’t want to attend events?

Sign up for Digital Care Hubs newsletter to receive regular social care updates. Signup here

Listen to the CTRL + CARE podcast. The weekly Digital Care Hub podcast that gives you all the relevant tech news in 30 minuets. CTRL + Care | Podcast on Spotify

 

Practical steps

Ready to put that learning into practice and make changes in your organisation?

Free data security health check

Try a free data security health check. This in-person visit will review your approach to data and cyber security in a no-strings attached approach. Providing you with clear simple advice and guidance.

The health check also includes a voluntary cyber security technical assessment that confirms basic IT security settings on your Windows devices.

If you’d like to know more, please email RCPA’s Project Lead, Daniel Plummer, at daniel.plummer@rcpa.org.uk

 

RCPA’s Caldicott Guardian service

Have you appointed a Caldicott Guardian in your care setting? Do they have the time, knowledge, and resources to completely fulfill that role?

RCPA’s Daniel Plummer can be appointed to act as your Caldicott Guardian with our third-party support.

This service can support your organisation is handling complex data sharing issues, giving clear Caldicott Guradian decisions in line with the Caldicott principles and the NHS 10 data security standards.

This service can also support in data breaches, policy reviews, DPIAs and other complex data security issues.

If you’d like to know more, please email RCPA’s Project Lead, Daniel Plummer, at daniel.plummer@rcpa.org.uk

 

A very happy 2026 to all our members! We’re off to a gallop since fully returning to work last week and no doubt you are too! Lots on the radar, so please keep in touch and stay united! Thank you to members who have renewed their 2026 registrations, a courtesy reminder if not already done so, it’s not too late! Our fees have consistently remained the same for the past several years as we’re conscious of financial pressures for our members, but we’re also working on bringing added value to your membership.

 

News and Resources

• Routes of support for care providers

Please see attached doc, members may find useful to cascade to their teams, post somewhere handy, regarding urgent care and supporting clinical needs, from a variety of professionals.

 

• The FPA consultation ends today, Friday 16^th January at 11.59pm!

Please take time to have your say! Find it here – https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/fair-pay-agreement-process-in-adult-social-care

 

• Conference 2025… commenced plans for 2026!

It’s not too late to give feedback, please submit here – thank you to those who have already submitted. It’s useful for some steer for this year’s conference.. the date is already locked in so please add to your calendars!

Thursday 3^rd December 2026 @ Taunton Racecourse

Currently collating themes from tabletop discussions, aiming to circulate these by end of January.

 

Events

• Members network meeting

Date: Tuesday 20^th January

Time: 2:00 – 3:00pm

TEAMS link – Join the meeting now

-We will be joined by LINGLY. As part of our support for providers, the RCPA is trialling a new tool/ application to support international workers and care providers in Somerset. Using a language development tool called Lingly, it’s much more than English language training. Lingly is a bespoke AI language programme unique to Somerset. The RCPA can offer a fully funded version of the Lingly app to providers employing international and displaced workers.

This 6-week course starts by gauging the learner’s understanding of the English language and then creates a bespoke course, building in local phrases and colloquialisms that are commonly used in Somerset.

To be the first and hear more about Lingly and the trial project, please sign up for RCPA’s upcoming members network meeting on 20^th January 2-3pm.

-Also hear from our sponsor, Jason Adcock @ Howden Insurance. Jason will give a general overview of the insurance market; also hear about an exciting new cyber insurance tool that Howden is launching where they look inside a business to identify potential cyber threat and how to defend against attack.

-Updates from recent system engagement meeting – LA/ICB.

-CQC – how can we help CQC to be the regulator we need?

-Fees – including impact of ERB costs on providers, as well as NIC, NLW, inflationary costs

-SWAST – safeguarding, progress updates

-Safeguarding generally, access to resources and training

-What’s coming up for members in 2026

-AOB from members

 

• Somerset Registered Manager Network.

Date: 4^th February 2026
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Location:  Albemarle, Albemarle Road, Taunton, TA1 1BA

The RCPA will be in attendance for this RMN and hope to see many of you there!

What’s on the agenda (see attached):

• Step into care sector-based work academy programme – Colleagues from Strode College will introduce SWAPs, share learning from the initial cohort and advise how you can get involved in the next to support recruitment.
• Skills for Care – Key sector developments including funding for Oliver McGowan.
• Networking with peers
• Somerset academy for health and social care – latest updates from ICB colleagues, meet the new director and hear from colleagues who are championing provider input.

👉 Book your place now: Bookings for Somerset RMN 04.02.26 1.30-3.30PM at Albermarle Taunton – Fill in form

 

From our Partners

• RWK Goodman – Care fee seminars

The RCPA will be joining the event in Bristol, and we encourage our members to attend too, if you have time.  Please note there are just a few tickets left.

For too long, the care sector has been under-funded. Care providers are faced with the unenviable choice of either terminating placements, creating instability for the people they support, or allowing prolonged underfunding to continue, resulting in instability for a service or organisation overall.

What can be done when you don’t wish to destabilise people’s care, but you also can’t continue to accept under-funding?

RWK Goodman and 39 Essex Chambers have designed this seminar to meet this conundrum head on. In the past, judicial review has mostly been used to challenge the setting of fee uplifts for elderly care, but decisions of public bodies as to fee rates for working age adults can also be challenged using judicial review. If you are a care provider for working age adults and are frustrated by static fee levels and rising costs, this seminar is for you.

Programme: 

Our employment experts will first examine the pressures on the cost side, specifically increasing employment costs. Our commissioning specialists will then discuss the legal mechanisms available to resist the stagnation of fee rates. Although the sector is under-funded, local authorities and ICBs’ duties to fund care appropriately have not changed. These duties can be harnessed to resist the downward spiral in fee rates.

Featuring:

James Sage | Partner, Employment & Immigration and Health & Social Care, RWK Goodman

Mei-Ling Huang | Partner, Dispute Resolution and Health & Social Care, RWK Goodman

Steve Broach KC | 39 Essex Chambers

Eleanor Leydon, | 39 Essex Chambers

Jake Thorold | 39 Essex Chambers

Bristol

Date : Tuesday 10 February

Time: 11am – 1pm

Venue: RWK Goodman, One Castlepark Tower Hill, 63 Tower Hill, Bristol BS2 0JA

What3words: ///wrong.nobody.with

Register here

London

Date: Wednesday 11 February

Time: 11am – 1pm

Venue: 39 Essex Chambers, 81 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1DD

What3words: ///pouch.flight.prop

Register here

Please also see below link from RWK Goodman – The health and social care sectors have seen a rise in licence revocations. Read on to find out why and how to mitigate against this. Revocation of Sponsor Licences | RWK Goodman

 

• Howden

Delegated healthcare tasks and the impact they are having on care providers

Delegated healthcare tasks are becoming increasingly common across the care sector, but they bring with them important considerations around risk, responsibility, and insurance.

Read the latest article from Howden to understand the key risks and liability issues providers should be aware of – https://huk.howdenprod.com/uk-en/delegated-healthcare-tasks

 

• Borderless webinar

Care providers are heading into one of the most complex years we’ve seen.

In 2026, care businesses will face:

• tighter Home Office compliance and sponsorship rules
• increased enforcement and higher fines
• major changes under the Employment Rights Act 2025
• the introduction of the Fair Work Agency

To help you prepare, Borderless and Peninsula are hosting a free, live webinar:

Biggest challenges to care businesses in 2026 & how we can help

Date: Thursday, 22 January 2026

Time: 11:00am (GMT)

Speakers

• Chelsea McKiernan, Employment Services Training Manager, Peninsula
• Matthew Bond, CEO & Co-Founder, Borderless

We’ll cover:

• how to navigate tighter Home Office compliance rules
• how to protect your business from stricter sanctions
• what the Employment Rights Act 2025 and Fair Work Agency mean in practice

Register here

 

Digital News

FREE Workshop – Cyber Security and AI: Safeguarding Your Business

Please see below for an upcoming free in person cyber security and AI workshop. (not adult social care specific)

Date: Wednesday, 11 February
Time: 12:00–13:00
Location: Firepool Centre for Digital Innovation (FCDI), Taunton

Artificial Intelligence is transforming the way we work, but with rapid innovation comes new risks. Are you ready to protect your business in an AI-driven world?

Join us for a free lunchtime workshop led by Alistair Whiteley, founder of Alistair Whiteley Web Design Ltd and a Cyber Essentials-certified specialist.

Places are limited – reserve your spot now: fcdi@somerset.gov.uk

Please see below link from our sponsor, RWK Goodman – The health and social care sectors have seen a rise in licence revocations. Read on to find out why and how to mitigate against this.

Revocation of Sponsor Licences | RWK Goodman

 

Also, an update on Employment Rights Bill. Apologies – in our bulletin before Christmas we mentioned that the ERB was awaiting Royal Assent at the end of the year. At the time of posting, it became law, receiving Royal Assent on 18^th December.

Our final bulletin for 2025!  We may have been a bit quiet recently with circulating bulletins but mindful a very busy time for all. However, in the background, we continue to work on the issues that concern you. Please note that the central team will be working limited hours over the festive period, checking any urgent emails only, with normal service resuming Monday 5^th January 2026.

May we take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas, hoping you manage some rest and relaxation and time with family. ‘Looking forward to seeing you next year!

In the meantime, the following may be of interest..

 

News and Resources Rate rises for 26/27 We are writing to Somerset Council to outline the pressures for members and what would be the impact if you don’t receive a decent uplift. Any local insights/ anonymised examples you would like to share, would be useful to highlight in the letter, and interested to hear- hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk. Real world cases and scenarios bring to life the impact low rates will have. Meeting with Somerset Council and ICB leads early January, so again anything to raise, please let me know. An agenda item will include the insights/themes from the conference workshops.   Safeguarding Following our meeting with SWAST Safeguarding in November (MNM 5/11/25), pleased to say, positive steps made and we have now established a community of practice across the Southwest with a common goal for collaboration. Please continue to let us know about any issues as well as the good practice too hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk. Generally, hearing that some members experience delays in relation to SG referrals, reports that response times are slow, leaving providers uncertain around progress eg if these have been escalated to S42 enquiries etc. I have raised this week at the Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board Learning and Development Subgroup. There will be a Somerset Safeguarding Network meeting first week in February 26, via TEAMs – this presents an ideal opportunity for members – those who hold SG responsibility within their service, to join. Also raised the issue generally around SG comms to ASC providers and website navigation and accessibility for more support. More details, times and link will be circulated nearer the time. Insights from a recent SG Board meeting.. Management of SG referrals goes through four pathways with contact centre, Adult SG service, QA and ASC Operations team involved. For example, PW1 looks at S42 (i) of the Care Act, PW decision is made with a target of two working days, may proceed to a S42 (ii). The team has a target structure with some current vacancies which may explain some delays.   General workforce/recruitment updates Skills for Care – the LDSS – now allowing bulk uploads for claims following challenges raised around the process. Met with DWP (SW) – employer advisers have initiatives to help employers recruit with 74 job centres across the SW. Offering work trial initiatives where DWP can work with employers. If you would like to find out more – hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk. (Social care turnover of employees is 3x higher than NHS). Spotlight on T-Levels ( 2 year tech Level 3 qualification for 16-19 yr olds commenced in 2020 an alternative to A ‘Levels, more placement based-80% knowledge and skills, 20% placement, min 315hrs, appx 45 working days) are a great way to encourage and welcome young adults into the sector, our future workforce and leaders in social care. The placement model consists of day release, block, and mixed approach. An employer support fund exists to cover essential costs associated with admin, equipment, insurance, and training- https://employers.tlevels.gov.uk/hc/en-gb. To note that any student employed via this route is a legal employee, it’s not mandatory to pay them a wage – entirely discretionary but encouraged. Employers may want to look at projects within their organisation that a T-Level student can undertake e.g. digital projects. One of our priorities for 2026, we’re working with some local and national initiatives to drive recruitment for the ASC sector in Somerset. Fair Pay Agreement update – what is happening with the FPA for Adult Social Care? Some key points: Expecting to come into effect April 2028 Part of the ERB – expecting Royal Assent by end of 2025 Consultation closes 11.59pm 16th January 2026 with an easy read version closing 6th March (working to align these dates) – see more below Govt expected to financially contribute – recent spending review – £4b promised for ASC 2028/29 with £500 million earmarked for first part of FPA-NB this associated with ASC funded care, not those who self-fund – collectively we are asking if this money will be ring fenced. The consultation looking at process rather than outcome. It is very lengthy with specific and open questions – if responding in a professional capacity the Qs will be tailored to you. The focus is for England only. Self employed workers will not be in scope. The DHSC keen to engage with the ASC sector – we plan to invite to a future event. The consultation can be found here, encouraging members to complete – an opportunity to have your say. Please share far and wide – employees, individuals you support and their families etc Fair pay agreement process in adult social care – Department of Health and Social Care   POST FALL MANAGEMENT Do you work with older people living in care homes who experience falls? Care home staff and healthcare staff working in acute, community, primary and emergency care across England, are invited to take part in a short online survey. The survey will map processes and procedures used immediately after older people fall in care homes (known as post-falls management). The survey is part of a research programme at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust. The survey will help understand how falls are currently managed and identify barriers and facilitators to shared decision-making.  Findings will be used to inform principles for post-falls management in care homes, with the intention of improving care for residents. Taking part will involve completing a one-off survey, estimated to take no more than 15 minutes. The survey is open until 28 February.

 

Events

SASP – Free Move More Live Longer Better workshop

15^th January 2026

10am until 11.30am on Microsoft Teams

An online workshop package has been developed by 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. Please see the attached flyer for information.

You can find more information here: Training Opportunities – Somerset Activity & Sports Partnership

If you need any further information or would like to discuss the workshop in more detail, please feel free to get in touch – Dawn Jenkins DJenkins@sasp.co.uk

Click here to book

 

RCPA Member Network Meeting

Tuesday 20^th January 2026

2.00pm until 3.00pm via TEAMs

Agenda and meeting link will be circulated in the new year.

 

From our Partners

Borderless

CQC & Home Office Compliance Checklist for Care Providers

We’ve created a free checklist with Quality Compliance Systems (QCS), simplifying what providers need to stay compliant and protect their business, staff, and service users.

What’s inside:

• The latest CQC Single Assessment Framework updates
• Recruitment and staffing requirements
• Sponsor licence duties and Home Office reporting rules
• Common compliance risks and how to avoid them
• A joint, actionable CQC–Home Office checklist

Download here: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0ptFpj0

 

Howden

Navigating Policy Changes in the Care Sector

Policy shifts continue to reshape the landscape for care providers, bringing new challenges and risks. In this latest article, Howden explores the impact of recent changes on the sector, highlighting what they mean for providers and how to stay protected.

Read the full insights piece here: The impact of policy changes for the care sector

 

RWK Goodman

Please see link below for our latest blog –

CQC’s Consultation: Have your say on the future of assessments & ratings | RWK Goodman

 

Digital News

The Good Things Foundation

The Good Things Foundation have launched a new AI literacy learning offer – The AI Gateway. A free interactive tool to help demystify AI and support people to build confidence in use AI safely and responsibly.

You can access the AI Gateway here – https://learning.goodthingsfoundation.org/ai

 

Healthwatch Somerset Survey

Healthwatch Somerset are working with a variety of partners across Somerset to develop a data platform centred around population health management. This survey is designed to help understand data sharing and privacy knowledge within Somerset. While specifically designed for individuals, social care as a sector will form part of this work and your views are important.

Please see here for the survey – https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/SomersetHealthDataSurvey/

Survey closing date: 31 December 2025

 

Better Security, Better Care away day

Earlier this month, at the Better Security, Better Care away day with Digital Care Hub, RCPA welcomed the continued support of the programme along with the other 32 local support organisations. RCPA is proud to continue offering support for Somerset adult social care providers on your digital journey, ensuring you have the right tools to keep your data safe and secure. Please contact Daniel Plummer – daniel.plummer@rcpa.org.uk for more information.

Big Digitisation Announcements

The Department for Health and Social Care has set out a plan for all care providers to be fully digitised by the end of this parliament.

There are two criteria for a CQC registered provider to be considered fully digitised:

• Using an assured digital social care record solution*
• Meeting the ‘standards met’ level on the data security and protection toolkit (DSPT)

*you can view the list of assured solutions here –  Assured solutions for digital social care records | Digitising Social Care

What does this mean for you?

The good – The adult social care sector is in a really strong position and already a great case study for rapid digitisation. Nationally over 80% of care providers are using a DSCR and 69% of providers are DSPT compliant. This has been rapid transformation with the Digitising in Social Care (DiSC) programme introducing the assured solutions list 5 years ago. The announcement by the DHSC aligns closely with the direction that social care is already moving towards and ties into the NHS 10 year plan.

The bad – Being fully digitised means using an assured DSCR solution. Over 80% of providers are using a DSCR solution however that includes systems that are not on the assured supplier list. If you use a DSCR that is currently not a part of the assured supplier list, you should contact your supplier to understand their position and if they intend to apply to be included on that list. You may also want to look at your current DSCR contract length and consider if moving to an assured solution is a viable option.

The beautiful future – The entire social care sector will be in a position to fully integrate into a wider health and care framework. Access to services such as GP connect, proxy access, and shared care records will become more accessible and data will be more easily accessible between health, social care, and other related services.

The other thing to consider – Technically, this change means that every CQC registered provider is now legislatively required to complete the DSPT. “All CQC-regulated adult social care providers in England must complete the DSPT. This is a legal requirement under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, as amended by the Health and Care Act 2022.” However – please note that there is not currently any enforcement of this mandation or ability to penalise providers who do not complete the DSPT. This may change in time.

Further information on being a fully digitised provider can be found here:

• Becoming a fully digitised care provider | Digitising Social Care
• Legislative changes and mandatory Information Standards – NHS England Digital

Inside the Government’s Big Digitisation Announcement (Digital Care Hubs podcast)

 

Free Data Security Health Check

How do you know that your data and cyber security is good enough?

You are likely to have already completed the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT). How confident are you that you’ve implemented all of the DSPT requirements effectively?

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

 

RCPA’s Caldicott Guardian Service

As part of your RCPA membership, you have the option to include the Caldicott Guardian service.

A CG is a specialist role that sits within the senior leadership of a health and social care organisation. The role represents and champions information governance and is sometimes referred to as the conscience of the company.

All health and social care organisations are required to have a CG. However, smaller organisations who don’t have the internal structure or budget to appoint one should have consideration for the CG principles or outsource the role.

If you would like more information about Caldicott Guardian and RCPAs service offer. Please contact Dan Plummer at daniel.plummer@rcpa.org.uk

 

Healthwatch Somerset Data Survey

Healthwatch Somerset are working with a variety of partners across Somerset to develop a data platform cantered around population heath management. This survey is designed to help understand data sharing and privacy knowledge within Somerset. While specifically designed for individuals, social care as a sector will form part of this work and your views are important.

Please see here for the survey – https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/SomersetHealthDataSurvey/

 

Events

Upcoming digital, data, and cyber events:

Completing the Data Security and Protection Toolkit for the first time – Digital Care Hub

Tuesday 6^th of January 15:00 – 16:00

Review and republish your Data Security and Protection Toolkit – Digital Care Hub

Tuesday 20^th of January 15:00 – 16:00

Cyber in Care: The Deep, the Dark and the Hidden Dangers – Digital Care Hub

Wednesday 21^st of January 12:00 – 13:30

Caldicott Guardian Learning Network – Digital Care Hub

Thursday 22^nd of January 12:00 – 13:00 – This is a recurring network meeting.

See Events | Digital Social Care for future dates.

Smarter Social Care: AI in Action – Digital Care Hub

Wednesday 4^th of February 11:00 – 12:45

Cyber in Care : Resilience, Recovery & Incident Response – Digital Care Hub

Wednesday 25^th February 12:00 – 13:30

Completing the Data Security and Protection Toolkit for the first time – Digital Care Hub

Tuesday 3^rd of March 15:00 – 16:00

Completing the Data Security and Protection Toolkit for the first time – Digital Care Hub

Tuesday 10^th of March 15:00 – 16:00

We hope this finds you well. Lots happening nationally currently, especially at the CQC. At this year’s conference on 3^rd December, we will be joined by CQC’s new Deputy Director for ASC in the southwest – Stefan Kallee, and Somerset’s Operations Manager, Paul Chapman.

 

News and Resources

CQC consultation – improving how to assess and rate providers.

We encourage members to submit their responses – due by 11^th December.

Project: Better regulation, better care | Care Quality Commission

 

CQC State of Care Report

Published 24^th October – https://www.cqc.org.uk/publications/major-report/state-care/2024-2025

CQC warns lack of investment in community services threatens shift towards care outside hospital – and risks ‘erosion’ of care quality.

Main headlines:

-Mounting pressures across mental health services

-Adult social care under strain

-Hospital discharge delays persist

-Primary and community care capacity challenges contribute to system-wide pressures

Also – Sir Julian Hartley is stepping down as Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) with immediate effect.  Sir Julian has made this difficult decision as he feels his current role as Chief Executive of CQC has become incompatible with the important conversations happening about care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, including during the time he was Chief Executive there. Dr Arun Chopra, Chief Inspector of Mental Health, is planned to assume the role of Interim Chief Executive until a permanent successor is appointed.  Further information can be found on our website: Sir Julian Hartley steps down as Chief Executive of CQC

 

Shape the Future of Social Care – Share Your Workforce Data Today – (ASC-WDS)

We encourage your participation in the Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) – the leading source of intelligence on our sector’s workforce. Your contribution is vital not only for your own service planning, but also for strengthening the voice of social care locally and nationally. The more providers use ASC-WDS, the better the understanding of the sector.

Why it matters for your organisation:

– Benchmark your service: Access tailored reports to compare pay, turnover, and vacancy rates with similar providers.

– Inform recruitment and retention: Use real-time insights to shape your workforce strategy and improve staff stability.

– Unlock funding and training: Many local and national initiatives use ASC-WDS data to target support — including access to funded training and development.

– Demonstrate compliance: Participation supports CQC inspections and evidences your commitment to quality and transparency.

Why it matters for the sector:

– Influence national policy: Data from ASC-WDS directly informs government decisions on funding, workforce planning, and reform.

– Strengthen our collective voice: The more providers who contribute, the more accurately we can represent the challenges and strengths of our workforce.

– Support fairer, more sustainable care: Your data helps build the case for better pay, recognition, and conditions across the sector.

Getting started is simple – and support is available. If you already have an account, please ensure your data is up to date. If not, you can register at https://asc-wds.skillsforcare.org.uk.

As part of the Care Association Alliance, the RCPA is working to build a stronger, more resilient care workforce. Your contribution matters.

ASC-WDS offers lots of benefits to providers, including:

• Access to funding for training staff​ (including Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training) through the Learning and Development Support Scheme
• Safe and free storage of staff records ​
• A place to store and manage training records​
• A benchmarking tool – allowing providers to compare themselves with local comparison groups on areas such a pay or recruitment and retention
• The ability to share data with CQC & local authorities ready for inspection
• Discounts and offers – through the ASC-WDS Benefits Bundle​

 

The ERB consultations have landed!

Today, as part of the Make Work Pay Plan, a number of public consultations on key measures in the Employment Rights Bill (ERB) have launched. These cover some areas of interest to the ASC sector, so we encourage members to respond.

The consultations provide an important opportunity to shape policy, and the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) want to hear from a broad range of voices. We in DHSC want to ensure that the adult social care sector’s voice is heard in this process and that is why it is important you contribute your views, thoughts, and questions on these issues as part of the consultation process. This will support our engagement with the relevant teams across government.

Here are the details of the consultations DBT have launched:

• duty to inform workers of right to join a union – closes at 11:59pm on 18 December 2025
  • These measures will a new duty on employers to give a written statement to their workers informing them of their right to join a trade union at the start of their employment and at other times.
  • This new duty will help to address an existing information gap by ensuring workers are better informed of this right and empower them to participate in collective bargaining should they choose to do so.
  • This consultation is seeking views on how this new duty can be implemented effectively while minimising the burden on employers.

• trade union right of access – closes at 11:59pm on 18 December 2025
  • These measures will introduce a new framework for trade unions to access workplaces physically, and to communicate with workers in person or digitally. The government is committed to ensuring any framework is proportionate and workable for unions, employers and workers.
  • This consultation is seeking views on:
    • how unions will request access
    • how employers respond
    • factors the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) will take into account when determining whether access should be granted and on what terms
    • how the CAC is to come to decisions on the values of fines issued for breaches of access agreements

• enhanced dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers – closes at 11:59pm on 15 January 2026
  • These measures will make it unlawful to dismiss pregnant women, mothers on maternity leave, and mothers who return to work for at least a 6-month period after they return – except in specific circumstances.
  • This consultation is seeking views on enhancing dismissal protections for pregnant women and new mothers, including:
    • the specific circumstances in which the dismissal of pregnant women and new mothers should still be allowed
    • when the protections should start and end
    • whether other new parents should be covered by the protections

• leave for bereavement including pregnancy loss – closes at 11:59pm on 15 January 2026
  • These measures provide the right to unpaid bereavement leave for employees who experience the loss of a loved one, including pregnancy loss before 24 weeks.
  • This consultation is seeking views on:
    • eligibility criteria
    • types of pregnancy loss in scope
    • when and how bereavement leave can be taken
    • notice and evidence requirements

Here you can find information on each of the other measures in the ERB – Employment Rights Bill: factsheets – GOV.UK

Here you can find information on the implementation roadmap for the ERB – Implementing the Employment Rights Bill – GOV.UK

 

Immigration White Paper- Q&A and Immigration Rule Changes

Following the immigration rules changes to end overseas recruitment of care workers and senior care workers, the Home Office and DHSC hosted a series of webinars for providers. Following these sessions, the Home Office has produced a Q&A document which responds to some of the questions asked by participants at those sessions. This will also be uploaded to Capacity Tracker Resource Centre.

On 14th October 2025, the Home Office laid rule changes to implement measures outlined in the Immigration White Paper. A summary of the full changes is attached. The changes include:

English language requirements: from 8^th January 2026, new applicants to the Skilled Worker route will need to meet the increased English language requirement of level B2. This change will only apply to individuals making their first applications. Those who have already obtained a permission where they were required to show a B1 level, will continue to be subject to a B1 level requirement where they are seeking an extension on the same route.

Immigration Skills Charge: as set out in The Immigration White Paper, the ISC will increase by 32% from 16^th December 2025. The Home Office is hosting a series of Town Hall events until the 4^th November to provide an overview of changes. Links are provided in attached document.

 

Funding for OMMT

£11.98m funding announced to support delivery of the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism (Oliver’s Training) and is now available to claim on the Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) digital platform. This funding is for adult social care (ASC) providers registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and for training completed between 1^st April 2025 and 31^st March 2026 eligible for reimbursement. The funding for Oliver’s Training is a separate pot to the overall LDSS funding already available for other training and qualifications.

LDSS guidance documents have been updated to include information on making claims for Oliver’s Training such as eligibility criteria, maximum reimbursement rates and evidence requirements. Please refer to updated FAQs which cover key questions around the funding for Oliver’s Training. As a reminder, to submit claims for Oliver’s Training, providers will need to:

• Be registered with the CQC as a provider of ASC services.
• Make sure their organisation has an up-to-date ASC workforce dataset account which can be set up here.
• Complete the Learning and Development Support Scheme onboarding form.
• Submit a claim once Oliver’s Training has been paid for and completed, providing evidence to demonstrate this.

Funding is only being provided for Oliver’s Training as it is the government’s recommended training package for CQC-registered providers to meet the statutory training requirement under the Health and Care Act 2022. Providers may choose to undertake an alternative training package,  which would need to meet expectations set out in the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice. On 13 November 2025, Skills for Care are hosting a webinar on Oliver’s Training  where DHSC will provide an overview of the Code and the support to deliver Oliver’s Training, and CQC will set out their expectations of providers. There will be opportunity for a Q&A.

 

Somerset Safeguarding Adults Board Organisational Abuse Summit.

09.30 -13.00hrs on 7^th November.

Please find attached details re an online event next week. This is open and relevant to care provider strategic leads.

Please follow the link:  Join the meeting now

 

RCPA Trusted Assessor service update

Following a successful bid via the ICB winter bid funding scheme, we are pleased to announce and welcome a new team member to the Trusted Assessor team – Angela Conway, RGN. Angela joins us from SFT Reservists and will support the service through winter pressures to the end of March 2026. Angela brings a wealth of experience in senior roles from both the NHS and independent adult care sector. We have seen our service develop from inception in late 2019, to a team of seven TAs (one team member currently on maternity leave), including four permanent TAs and three Reservists.

 

Events

Member Network Meeting – 5^th November

We are delighted to be welcoming Keara Bowgen-Nicholas, Senior Associate at RWK Goodman to our Member Network Meeting next week. Keara will be exploring the latest CQC State of Care report and the ongoing consultation with care providers about a new regulatory framework. The session will cover the main findings from the report, what changes are being proposed to the way care is regulated, and how providers are being invited to share their views. This is a chance to understand the direction of CQC’s approach and discuss what it could mean for care services in practice.

🗓 Date: Wednesday 5^th November 2025
🕐 Time: 1.30pm – 3pm

📍 Location: The Wyvern, Mountfields Rd, Taunton, TA1 3BJ

Please email us at admin@rcpa.org.uk if you would like to attend; this is a free of charge event for RCPA members and we would love to see you there!

Also joining us will be Daniel Dray, Deputy Head of Safeguarding at the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT), for an open and honest discussion about safeguarding, incident reporting, and the evolving relationship between care providers and ambulance services.

Our member meeting is an open meeting designed to foster mutual understanding and collaboration. You are encouraged to ask questions and share experiences. However, we kindly ask that no identifiable information about clients, residents, or individuals is shared, to protect privacy and confidentiality. If you would like to submit a question in advance, please do so by contacting Hilary Robinson hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk.

We look forward to your participation in what promises to be a valuable and constructive conversation.

 

THE Care Conference for Somerset, hosted by the RCPA – Taking the Lead

Bookings are coming in fast for our Annual Conference, so make sure you secure your place ASAP!

We’ve made it easier than ever to register with our new online booking form – and this year, we’ve reduced our fees to make the event as inclusive as possible.

This conference is open to all – not just RCPA members – so please do share the attached poster and programme with your Adult Social Care contacts across Somerset. We would love to see as many providers represented as possible!

Our 2025 theme is “Taking the Lead”, and we’re excited to introduce interactive tabletop discussions during the workshops – giving everyone the chance to engage and share ideas.

On a lighter note, expect a festive atmosphere as we approach Christmas – complete with a fabulous lunch, fantastic raffle prizes, and a touch of entertainment!

In the lead-up to the conference, we’ll be sharing spotlights on our workshops and speakers – so keep an eye out for our feature emails!

 

Upskill Your Health & Social Care Team – Free, Local Support

At Skill Up Somerset, we offer free, impartial advice and guidance to employers across all sectors, helping businesses find the right local training and apprenticeship opportunities to support workforce development.

This month, our focus is on the Health & Social Care sector. There are fantastic opportunities available for care employers who want to develop or retain their staff, including training in:

• Mental health awareness
• Dementia and end-of-life care
• Leadership and management in care
• Learning disabilities and autism support

Many of these programmes are fully funded or available at low cost, designed to fit around the demands of busy care settings.

There’s no pressure or commitment, just a friendly chat to explore what might benefit your team. If it’s helpful, we can connect you with trusted local training providers or colleges offering courses that best suit your needs.

To find out more or arrange a chat, visit: https://skillupsomerset.org.uk/contact-us/

Skill Up Somerset, Free, Impartial Training & Skills Advice www.skillupsomerset.org.uk

 

Digital News

Digital Care Hub Events

Identifying Critical Suppliers: A key to business continuity in social care

Thursday November 6^th 13:00 – 14:30. Click here to book

Cyber in Care: How much should you know?

Wednesday November 12^th 12:00 – 13:30. Click here to book

Green Code, Clean Conscience: Tackling AI’s Environmental impact

Thursday November 13^th 13:00 – 14:00. Click here to book

Caldicott Guardian Learning Network

Thursday November 27^th 12:00 – 13:00. Click here to book

Cyber in Care: The deep, the dark and the hidden dangers

Wednesday January 21^st 12:00 – 13:30. Click here to book

Cyber in Care: Resilience, Recovery & Incident Response

Wednesday February 25^th 12:00 – 13:30. Click here to book

NHS Cyber Associates Network – Beyond Phishing: The evolution of hacking humans

The Cyber Associates Network (CAN), which forms part of the NHS’s cyber security arm, hosted an NHS cyber threat analysis, Francis. Francis gave an insightful presentation on how phishing attacks are evolving.

The core of the presentation was that social engineering is still the primary weapon for phishing but with the use of AI, it has now become a more sophisticated landscape, making the traditionally ways of spotting phishing attacks less relevant.

 

Man in the middle attacks

A man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack, in its simplest form, is an attacker intercepting your data or connection, redirecting it or you somewhere else. An example of this would be you, the user, receives an email from your bank asking you to click on a link to log in, this email is a fake phishing email. Once you click on the link you are taken to the legitimate looking banking website but the details you enter will be sent in real time to the attacker.

There is a new and highly sophisticated version of this is called Tycoon 2FA which specifically targets two factor authentication. It is notable in that it can bypass 2FA. This attack works exactly as described above but with the additional step of being able to use the 2FA code that the user is sent and inputs.

Behind the scenes of this attack is an extremely complicated form of software that is using NHS.connect infrastructure. This attack is seeing a rise in data breaches within NHS.

This style of attack doesn’t have many ‘tells’ that users can be vigilant for. The best way to spot these is to check URLs that look suspicious and hyperlinks on the redirected page that don’t work.

 

Captcha attacks

Captcha is something that we’ll all be familiar with, being asked to prove that we’re human to enter a website by clicking on several images or answering a simple question.

An attack using Captcha is called click fix and sees the user inputting malicious code into the Windows Run dialog or terminal. The user will be presented with an initial seemingly genuine Captcha, like selecting buses, then a second captcha will ask the user to use keyboard shortcuts to open the Windows terminal and paste in the code that will deliver malware or a trojan.

This works because, as users we’re used to completing Captchas and many users are unfamiliar with the dialog and terminal boxes.

There is also a theoretical evolution of this that can use the Windows file explorer to achieve similar goals.

There are no simple ‘tells’ that users can be on the lookout for this style of attack. There are technical solutions to ‘lock down’ the terminal and dialog boxes but do require administration right and the technical know-how.

 

Deepfakes

Deepfakes use AI to create fake images, sounds, and video. In the context of phishing this is normally of people to try and gain trust and bypass security systems. Right now, we’re on the cusp of their capabilities and if you’re familiar with AI generated video and sounds, can be spotted. However, they are very quickly improving their abilities and becoming cheaper, lowering the barrier to entry. There have been many organisations and people that have fallen victim to phishing attacks using deepfakes, including a high-profile example of a UK-based energy firms parent companies CEO being impersonated (using AI voice) and stealing £243,000.

 

AI use in other phishing attacks

AI is also being used to help generate and review phishing messages, making them more believable and without the usual trappings of poor grammar and spelling.

AI can be used for ‘market research’. Asking AI to research an organisation, it’s mission, projects, leadership structure etc. This research can be done in the fraction of the time it would traditionally take, giving the attackers access to greater information about your organisation.

AI generated code. AI LLMs can be used to create code and scripts such ask malware and other viruses. Cyber security is increasingly seeing a rise in cyber-attacks as a service, where attacks buy malicious content from the dark web that can be easily deployed with little technical knowledge. Meaning the attacker doesn’t always have the knowledge to undo the damage they cause, even if a ransom is paid.

A separate style of attack that also tries to bypass traditional technical solutions is the use of QR codes within phishing emails. Directing users away from your IT infrastructure and to somewhere the attack can control.

 

Are there any solutions?

These more sophisticated attacks do present some real challenges. While there are technical solutions, the reality is that cyber security is playing catch up with cyber attackers.

For users, the best way to reduce the likelihood of being a victim of a phishing attack remains the same as previously thought. Recognise the emotive element to phishing attacks.

Authority: Is the message claiming to be from someone official? For example, your bank, a solicitor, CQC or a government department. Criminals often pretend to be important people or organisations to trick you into doing what they want.

Urgency: Are you told you have a limited time to respond (such as ‘within 24 hours’ or ‘immediately’)? Attackers often threaten you with fines or other consequences if you don’t respond quickly.

Emotion: Does the message make you panic, fearful, hopeful or curious? Attackers often use threatening language, make false claims of support, or tease you into wanting to find out more.

Scarcity: Is the message offering something in short supply, like concert tickets, money, or a cure for medical conditions? Fear of missing out on a good deal or opportunity can make you respond quickly.

Current events: Are you expecting to see a message like this? Attackers often exploit current news stories, big events, or specific times of year (like tax reporting) to make their scam seem more relevant to you.

If you have any specific concerns or would like to discuss this topic further, please contact daniel.plummer@rcpa.org.uk

THE Care Conference for Somerset – Only 7 weeks to go!! 

Bookings are coming in fast for our Annual Conference, so make sure you secure your place ASAP!

We’ve made it easier than ever to register with our new online booking form – and this year, we’ve reduced our fees to make the event as inclusive as possible.

This conference is open to all – not just RCPA members – so please do share the attached poster with your Adult Social Care contacts across Somerset. We would love to see as many providers represented as possible!

Our 2025 theme is “Taking the Lead”, and we’re excited to introduce interactive tabletop discussions during the workshops – giving everyone the chance to engage and share ideas.

On a lighter note, expect a festive atmosphere as we approach Christmas – complete with a fabulous lunch, fantastic raffle prizes, and a touch of entertainment!

In the lead-up to the conference, we’ll be sharing spotlights on our workshops and speakers – so keep an eye out for our feature emails!

 

Events

Member Network Meeting

We are pleased to invite you to a unique opportunity to meet Daniel Dray, Deputy Head of Safeguarding at the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT), for an open and honest discussion about safeguarding, incident reporting, and the evolving relationship between care providers and ambulance services.

🗓 Date: Wednesday 5^th November 2025
🕐 Time: 1.30pm – 3pm

📍 Location: The Wyvern, Mountfields Rd, Taunton

Session Overview:
Like ships in the night, social care providers may seldomly or frequently interact with ambulance crews, often under challenging circumstances. System pressures, delays, and staffing issues affect us all. But what happens when something doesn’t go quite right? Or when the ambulance service questions the care being provided?

This session will explore:

• Referral patterns from care homes to SWASFT
• Themes in safeguarding referrals and incident reports
• Communication and culture: how perceptions of care are shaped
• Expectations and misunderstandings between services
• Creating a culture of safety: “It’s not personal, it’s professional”

Daniel will also share insights from SWASFT’s safeguarding improvement work, including:

• Enhanced training and supervision
• Locality aligned safeguarding specialists
• Improved referral processes and data sharing
• Real examples of learning and positive change

A Safe Space for Open Dialogue
This is an open meeting designed to foster mutual understanding and collaboration. You are encouraged to ask questions and share experiences. However, we kindly ask that no identifiable information about clients, residents, or individuals is shared, to protect privacy and confidentiality. If you would like to submit a question in advance, please do so by contacting Hilary Robinson hilary.robinson@rcpa.org.uk in advance of the meeting.

We look forward to your participation in what promises to be a valuable and constructive conversation. To book your space, please email admin@rcpa.org.uk.

 

OMMT Training     

DHSC have now provided a means by which adult social care providers can be reimbursed for Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism.

The Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme is now open and receiving for Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism.

This scheme helps remove barriers to training by offering reimbursement for eligible courses and qualifications including Oliver’s Training which supports adult social care staff to deliver quality service for autistic people and people with a learning disability.

The funding operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so we’d encourage employers to explore what’s available as soon as possible.

Staff work tirelessly to support some of our most vulnerable people, and they deserve high quality training.

Visit Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme or the Skills for Care website for full details.

 

From our partner, Colin Mackenzie at Northbrook:

I’m working on a project to launch Skills Bootcamps in 2026, which will use government funding to support skills-based learning and development in care.

There are two bootcamps I’d love to tell you about:

New to Care – 100% funded

This bootcamp is designed to attract people who are brand new to the care sector. They’ll enrol on our course and receive in-depth training covering topics like:

• Values and Standards
• First Aid
• Moving and Assisting People
• Mental Health
• Dementia
• Learning Disabilities
• Medication Awareness
• Communication
• Care Certificate (Theory)

…and more.

The goal is to get people job-ready, so they can hit the ground running.

What we need from you:
Just your buy-in and no, not financial! We simply need your time. To access the funding, we need to guarantee interviews at the end of the bootcamp. That’s where you come in: we’d ask you (or someone from your team) to attend occasional catch-ups, meet the learners, and offer interviews at the end with the potential for employment if they’re successful.

Inspire to Succeed – Either 90% or 70% funded (depending on size of organisation)

This one’s for new and aspiring managers in care. It’s all about supporting leadership development and will follow the Leadership Qualities Framework. Topics will include:

• Leadership & Management Skills
• Regulatory Requirements
• CQC Fit Person Interview
• Policies & Procedures
• Audits & Inspections
• Effective Supervision
• Culture

…and more.

As with the first bootcamp, attendees should have a genuine opportunity for promotion or added responsibilities in their role.

What do we need from you right now?

Please email me at Colin@Northbrook.org.uk if you’re interested in engaging with either New to Care, Inspire to Succeed, or both. No contracts or formal commitments at this stage.

This is needed as part of the application so we can access the funding.

 

From our Partners

RWK Goodman

Please find below links to our latest blogs –

Sick pay reforms – top tips for health and social care providers | RWK Goodman

Recent Changes to the Immigration Rules Affecting the Care Sector | RWK Goodman

 

Optimise Workplace Wellbeing

Congratulations to our wonderful partner, Jo at Optimise Workplace Wellbeing, who is a Finalist for 2 awards; One is for ‘Trusted Supplier’ at The South West Care Awards, and the other is for ‘Innovative Business of the Year’ at the Sedgemoor Chamber of Commerce Awards.

Both award nominations have been based upon the work they are doing in the care sector across the South West, not least for the 8 module Leadership and Management Programme we have developed and delivered to 39 Individuals, across 14 different organisations based in Somerset.

Based upon the positive feedback they have received from this; they are excited to take expressions of interest for the next cohorts for 2026!

Exciting times!

 

Digital News

 

 

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) annual review 2025

It’s time to act.

This year’s review puts into stark focus the need for UK organisations of all sizes to be aware and prepare for cyber incidents. Citing this year’s high-profile attacks: Co-op, M&S, Jaguar & Land Rover as examples of the significant impact a cyber-attack can have on an organisation.

“But any leader who fails to prepare for that scenario is jeopardising their business’s future”

The review puts heavy focus on senior leaders and board members, asking them to understand and appreciate the risk associated with a cyber-attack. This advice is not just for larger organisations but smaller organisations and your supply chains.

The NCSC Cyber Action Toolkit is a free service that can offer personalised advice for improving your cyber security. https://cybertoolkit.service.ncsc.gov.uk/. Reviewing and republishing your Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) will ensure you’ve reviewed necessary cyber security controls.

“Smaller organisations, or leaders in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, or education might ask “Why would cyber criminals attack us?” This reflects a behavioural theory called optimism bias”

The review also highlights the change in cyber-attacks with the rise and accessibility of AI. Which is being used by state sponsored attackers as well as less organised threat actors.

The full report is a worthwhile read and can be found here – https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/collection/ncsc-annual-review-2025