CPA updates

• Learning network webinar Delivering Neighbourhood Health Services

Join us for an insightful session on 11 April, 11.00 to 12:30 how we turn the vision of neighbourhood health into a reality.

Chaired by Ewan King, Chief Executive of our member Shared Lives Plus and our incoming Chair in September 2025, this free online event will explore how we turn this vision of neighbourhood health into a reality through collective action in local neighbourhoods.

Speakers include:

• Tom Riordan, Second Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care, on the Government’s vision for Neighbourhood Health Services
• Professor Robin Miller, Improving Adult Care Together (IMPACT), who will look at supported neighbourhood approaches across the UK, including Leeds.
• Dr Luke Wilkinson, Clinical Frailty Lead at SWAGGA Primary Care Network (PCN) in Liverpool, who will look at their experience of providing integrated care services with care home providers.
• Melanie Weatherley MBE, Co-Chair of our member Care Association Alliance and Chair of the Lincolnshire Care Association, who will look at Neighbourhood Health Services from a provider perspective, and the experiences of integrated working in Lincolnshire.

Book here.

• Community of practice discussion forum

Join the conversation! Register or login to join our online discussions, engagement and consultations on topics affecting Care Providers. Join here.

Government/Regulation

• A new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth

An Action Plan setting out the government’s approach to regulation and regulators. This Action Plan sets out the next steps to our approach on regulation and regulators. It includes a range of pledges from regulators to support this effort. It will enable a regulatory system that supports innovation and economic growth while ensuring accountability for the quality of regulations introduced, as well as the way in which independent regulators implement and enforce them. Details here.

• Charity regulator warns about fraudulent letters sent on its behalf

Charity Commission warns charities about fraudulent messages recently sent to charities and trustees. The messages typically request action to be taken such as removing a trustee or chief executive from their position, releasing funds as part of a grant or supplying documents such as a passport or utility bill. They may be signed as coming from ‘the Commission,’ Chief Executive Officer and/or its Directors. Details here.

• Report, value for money – Immigration: Skilled Worker visas

The Skilled Worker visa route is a flexible mechanism which allows the government to adjust entry requirements to balance immigration policy with the need to address skill shortages in the UK. While the route continues to support many employers in recruiting overseas workers, the Home Office has made changes without a detailed understanding of potential impacts across different sectors and regions. Further, the Home Office and departments have not collaborated effectively on the role that immigration plays across different sectors of the labour market. Details here.

• Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme

Information for adult social care employers in England on learning and development support, and associated grant determination letters. More details here.

• The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) latest updates on Clade Ib mpox – Clade I mpox no longer considered a high consequence infectious disease

Clade Ia and Ib mpox will no longer be classified as a high consequence infectious disease (HCID) following a review of available evidence by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens, the UK Health Security Agency has confirmed today.

This decision has been taken because the evidence related to this clade no longer meets the criteria for an HCID, which includes having a high mortality rate and a lack of available interventions.

However, the decision should not be interpreted as clade I mpox no longer being of any public health consequence. The disease is still a public health emergency of international concern as defined by the WHO. Details here.

• Consultation: Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper

This consultation seeks views on the approaches government should consider around reform of the health and disability benefits system and employment support. This consultation closes at 11:59pm on 30 June 2025. Details here.

• Continuing healthcare previously unassessed periods of care: update 19 March

Guidance setting out the principles and processes for addressing NHS continuing healthcare previously unassessed periods of care requests. Change made: Added a link to the easy read version of the guidance. Details here.

• Dr Arun Chopra has been appointed as the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) first Chief Inspector of Mental Health.

Arun was previously Medical Director of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (2020-2024) and is one of the most recent recipients of the President’s Medal, awarded annually by the Royal College of Psychiatrists to individuals who have made a significant contribution towards improving the lives of people with mental illness. He recently returned to frontline clinical work as a Consultant Inpatient Psychiatrist at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital. Details here.

• NHS England names new executive team to lead transition

NHS England has today announced the incoming team who will help lead the organisation’s transition into the Department of Health and Social Care. Details here.

• The FSA and UKHSA have been following up on a Listeria outbreak in late 2024.

Investigation has traced the outbreak to some mousse puddings, that we understand are used in the NHS and some care settings.

The attached note is from FSA, setting out the background, state of play, and some relevant instructions.

This has been shared with NHS partners, plus local authorities. However, in the interests of getting the information into the right hands as soon as possible, we’d be grateful if you could cascade to your networks.

The note itself is comprehensive, if a little technical. But the top lines, which I have agreed with FSA, are that care homes should:

1. Withdraw from food service and sale all desserts at health care settings (regardless of the brand name), manufactured at B. & A. Susca Limited, Pine Street, Off Bennett Street, Hyde, Cheshire, SK14 4TG. This is a precautionary action whilst investigations are ongoing.
2. Place on hold/quarantine desserts removed from service/sale, until further advice is provided by the Local Authority and the Food Standards Agency. Disposal is not required.
3. Other Cool Delight brand desserts not from this manufacturing site are not affected. If you are unsure if the Cool Delights products were manufactured by the site listed above, place the products on hold, and contact your supplier to confirm where they were manufactured.

• REMINDER: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV): vaccination for older adults – updated resources

Earlier this month, the NHS announced that it was inviting around 1.3 million older people to get the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine. Invites have been issued to people not yet vaccinated against RSV who are aged 75-79 or turned 80 after 1 September 2024, encouraging them to book an appointment with their GP.

Announcement here.  Guidance here. Translated versions of the guide here.

• REMINDER: Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS)

The Department of Health and Social Care provides funding for learning and development for the adult social care workforce, via the new Learning and Development Support Scheme.

The funding is being delivered via a new online claims service, administered by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA).

In order to submit claims, you must have an account on the online claims service. To set up an account, sign up here via this short form. Once you’ve completed the survey, NHSBSA will contact you as soon as possible to book an onboarding appointment, and will support you to set up an account and submit your first claims. For this financial year, the deadline for claim submission is Friday 21 March (inclusive). Guidance here.

• REMINDER: Flu Vaccine Offer 2025 to 2026

The national flu immunisation programme 2025 to 2026 letter published on Thursday 13 February sets out guidance for flu vaccination for the 2025 to 2026 season.

The letter confirms that there are no changes to the eligible cohorts and that the offer of a flu vaccination for certain adult social care workers is also the same as last year. Further details on eligibility and the operation of the programme are included in the letter.

The programme is expected to start in October, with the majority of the vaccinations to be completed by the end of November, so that individuals are vaccinated for optimal protection during the highest risk period. Further communications will be announced in advance of the start of the programme. Correspondence here.

Other sector information

• The first step to transforming health and care: #StartwithStandards campaign

The #StartwithStandards campaign has been launched to highlight the importance of standards in health and social care and the significant impact they have on improving services.

Through this campaign, we aim to raise awareness of PRSB and the vital role our standards play in health and care improvement. We want to engage new audiences, spark meaningful conversations, and strengthen connections with our existing members and partners. Read more here.

• Access Social Care survey

Access Social Care has campaigned for three years for the UK government to disclose how it funds social care, believing that transparency is essential to create a system that works for everyone. Despite the Information Commissioner’s support for sharing this information, the government continues to withhold it. In 2025, Baroness Casey was appointed to lead an independent commission aimed at rebuilding the social care system. ASC is right now putting together evidence for this vital commission – and we want your views to help us demonstrate public opinion. So please take this short survey. We don’t have long. The Casey Commission starts its work in April. so please give your views now. It will make a real difference. Details here.

• Care professionals: Transform dementia care through music!

Live Music Now’s 4 FREE webinars offer skills, guidance, and evidence-based techniques; reduce anxiety and improve quality of life.

• Session 1 Mon 7th April 2-3pm. Why using music is a key element in dementia care.
• Session 2 Tue 6th May 4-5pm. Introduction to the Take Note Resources
• Session 3 Tue 4th June 4-5pm. Ways to set up, prepare for and deliver a singing session.
• Session 4 Thur 3rd July 4-5pm. Ways to set up, prepare for and deliver a percussion session.

Limited spaces – more details and sign up here.

Digital Care Hub

• Join the Upcoming Caldicott Guardian Learning Network – 3^rd of April 12:00 – 13:00

This session aims to bring together a range of Caldicott Guardians to learn, share and explore the growing role of a Caldicott Guardian in adult social care. CGs from both local authorities and care provider organisations are invited to join. In our upcoming session, we will delve into the vital aspects of Communications & Engagement. Insights from experienced speakers and the valuable contributions of our network members will enrich this discussion. Sign Up to Next Session – Click here