Care Provider Association Update – April 22nd 2025
- ARC England – AI Demo Sessions – 7th May, 10am – 12.30pm
We’re running five half-hour demo sessions exploring free AI-powered tools that could help adults with learning disabilities and/or autism in everyday life. These are informal, practical sessions for people receiving care and support — and those who support them. You’re welcome to come along to all five demos, or just pop into the ones that feel most useful to you.
The Five Free AI Tools We’ll Explore
| Tool | What it Does | Type of AI | Why it Matters |
| 10am Otter.ai (or Microsoft Copilot) | Turns speech into written notes and summaries | Speech recognition + NLP | Helps people capture and remember info from meetings, appointments, or support sessions |
| 10.30am Google Lens | Describes what’s around you and translates text | Computer vision | Great for independence – reading labels, translating signs, understanding surroundings |
| 11am Alexa (Amazon Echo) | Smart assistant that listens and helps | Voice AI + automation | Set reminders, ask questions, support routines or calm down with music |
| 11.30am Goblin Tools | Helps break tasks into steps, formalise messages, manage time | Adaptive NLP | Made for neurodivergent people – helps with executive functioning and planning |
| 12pm SymboTalk | Builds symbol-based communication boards | ChatGPT-based generation | Gives a voice to non-verbal people – now with AI to help build boards more easily |
Book your free places at Evenbrite The Teams link for the sessions will be in your email confirmation following booking.
Government/Regulation
- Patients get care closer to home as GP scheme expanded
Government confirms expansion of Advice and Guidance scheme, with more patients now receiving their care closer to home. Details here.
- Adult social care provider information provisions: data collection updated 15 April
Guidance for adult social care providers to comply with information provisions under Section 277A of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. 15 April 2025: Introduction section updated to remove reference to strategy and policy from the previous government. Annex A updated to include reporting windows until December 2030. Under Annex B, updated the operational support data items referenced to remove confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases in staff and residents. Also updated Annex B to include international worker visa and home care provider data setting items. Details here.
- Call for evidence: Preparing for an ageing society inquiry – Deadline for submissions: 27 Apr
The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee is conducting an inquiry on “Preparing for an ageing society” and is inviting written submissions from individuals and organisations. The inquiry is wide-ranging, covering topics such as work, health, housing, and pensions in later life, and seeks to inform how the UK can better support an ageing population. Read more here.
- Responding to challenge report and red flags tracker
A new research report, Responding to challenge, has been published by the Patient Experience Library. This report looks at how to identify ‘red flags’ (early warning signals) and harmful patterns of behaviour in health and social care. CQC commissioned the Patient Experience Library to analyse warning signals from 10 years of avoidable harm inquiries in health and social care. The report uses real-life examples to show the red flags for what could indicate a poor culture. Read more here. Use the Red Flag Tracker to find real-life examples of warning signals, drawn from ten years of official inquiries in UK health and care settings. More about the Patient Experience Library here.
- NHS public health functions agreements: updated 14 April 2025
Agreements setting out the outcomes to be achieved and the funding provided for NHS England to commission public health services. 14 April 2025 update: Added the publication ‘Public health commissioning in the NHS: 2025 to 2026’; and updated information on the collection page overview on the public health services currently commissioned. More details here.
- Patients urged to check packs of blood pressure medicine lercanidipine after labelling error
Patients who take the common blood pressure medicine Lercanidipine HCI 20mg tablets (lercanidipine hydrochloride) from the manufacturer Recordati Pharmaceuticals Limited, should, as a precautionary measure, urgently check if they have the batch number MD4L07 with an expiry date of 01/2028 on any packs they have at home. The batch number is printed on the foil of the blister strips. Details here.
- Mpox control: UK strategies
12-month plans for mpox control in the UK. Details here.
Other sector information
- The Carer To Produce Special V-E Day Digital Supplement – Call For Resident Stories
We are thrilled to announce that THE CARER will be producing a special digital supplement to commemorate Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day) on May 8. This historic occasion marks the unconditional surrender of Germany’s military forces to the Allies in 1945, bringing an end to the conflict in Europe during World War II. More details and how to make a submission here.
Digital Care Hub
- Sharing stories safely: how to protect privacy in social care communications
In adult social care, stories matter. Whether it’s a photo of a birthday celebration, a staff shout-out on social media, or a heartfelt success story in a newsletter, these moments help us build trust, show the human side of care, and attract new staff. But behind every post or picture is a real person — with a right to privacy and dignity. That’s why Caldicott Guardians, managers, and communications leads all have a vital role in making sure we get this right. With the right processes, we can share stories ethically and lawfully — and avoid causing upset or breaking the rules. Read more here.
