Welcome to the Care Provider Alliance August 2026 newsletter |
| With Britain’s new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, announcing a new path to fix social care, and Baroness Casey launching The Big Conversation on Care, the spotlight is very much on our sector.
This is welcome news; since our formation in 2015, we have been lobbying successive governments for social care to be properly funded, and fully recognised for the vital part it plays in supporting the NHS, and our communities as a whole. Much of our work over the past few weeks has focussed on the fair pay agreement, and we have also been voicing our concerns following Supreme Court publishing a judgment changing the definition of deprivation of liberty. |
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Influencing policy |
| The Fair Pay Agreement
In the Department of Health and Social Care’s response to the Fair Pay Agreement consultation, it confirms the establishment of the Adult Social Care Negotiating Body and setting out the process for the first Fair Pay Agreement for the care workforce.
We have been appointed to coordinate employer representation on the Negotiating Body, and once we have the full details and briefing, we will update accordingly.
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| New appointments at Department of Health and Social Care
Since entering Downing Street, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has made a number of new appointments to DHSC. This includes appointing The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. We are looking forward to working with the ministers to help deliver on the government’s ambitions for health and care reform. |
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| Workforce strategy for social care
The Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care in England is two years old. Created by the sector, for the sector, the Strategy sets out a 15-year plan for the workforce adult social care needs.
As a partner organisation in the oversight and delivery, we’re proud to be part of the progress being made across the sector; two years on, around three quarters of its 56 recommendations are completed or in progress, with partners using the Strategy to support planning, policy and local delivery. |
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| Honours nominations wanted for Health and Care: Birthday 2027 list
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is looking for potential nominees from across health and adult social care to be considered for the Birthday 2027 honours list and beyond.
If you know someone who has made an outstanding contribution, at any level, then DHSC would like to hear from you! |
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Technology in care |
| TSA Formal Statement: Urgent action on Digital Migration
By 31 January 2027, all analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) lines will be permanently switched off. This change is already underway and progressing in phases across the country. With time running out, organisations must act now. Transition timelines are substantial: procurement can take six to eight months, installation of digital solutions can take weeks per scheme, and large-scale device replacement requires sustained operational capacity. Read more here. |
| Co-producing an AI Playbook for adult social care
Artificial intelligence is already shaping everyday life, including adult social care. In response to this, the West Midlands ADASS (alongside other partners) has co-produced an AI Playbook resource. The playbook has been collaboratively created, with the resource and content defined and led by people with lived experience, unpaid carers, professionals, digital leads and care organisations to support choice, control, confidence and safer digital decision-making. Read more here. |
| Find out what care services your community needs the most
Do you want to understand more about local population needs and what care services your local authority wants to commission? You can now sign up immediately to Get Adult Social Care Data (GASCD) which can help with this, and more.
GASCD is the new, free digital service from the Department of Health and Social Care for CQC-registered adult social care providers of all service types. Developed with input from providers, it gives you instant access to data and trends for your area, region and across England. |
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Future activities |
| As well as working on the Fair Pay Agreement negotiations process, we will be working in partnership with Skills for Care in the development of a guide to delegated health activities.
We will also be working with Skills for Care to support the uptake of the 2026 adult social care workforce survey, due to be launched in early September.
On 1 September 2026 our current chair, Ewan King, Chief Executive Officer of our member Shared Lives Plus completes his year-long tenure in post, and we will welcome our incoming Chair, Rhidian Hughes, Chief Executive of our member Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG).
As an association, we remain committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure a resilient, and sustainable care and support system that enables people to live the best life they can. |
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Consultations seeking feedback from the care sector |
| New consultation
Baroness Casy launches the Big Conversation on Care with the public Between now and April 2027, The Big Conversation will give people across England the opportunity to say what they want and expect from a future National Care Service, including on the tough questions on who it should support, what families should reasonably be expected to do, and how the country should pay for care in a fair and sustainable way. Details here.
Ongoing consultations
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Contact us |
| Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries or would like to give us feedback.
Contact us via the contact us form on our website or info@careprovideralliance.org.uk.
Please do forward this newsletter to colleagues, or they can sign up to our newsletter here. |
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Care Provider Alliance Members |