We are pleased to update that we have asked the Care Provider Alliance (CPA), chaired by Professor Vic Rayner OBE, to work with Professor Sir Mike Richards on his review of the single assessment framework and its implementation.
The CPA is a coalition of the 10 main national associations that represent independent adult social care providers in England. It advocates for the sector and ensures a co-ordinated response to the major issues that affect it. Members take it in turns to lead the CPA and there is a new Chair each year.
Members of the CPA will focus on giving an operational perspective on the single assessment framework from an external care provider’s viewpoint. The review will explore aspects such as how the new approach works in practice, its effectiveness, and how providers are experiencing the process. It will also give a view on changes providers would like to see.
The first stage of the review will focus on providers’ experiences of the single assessment framework, either in preparing for it or during inspection. Any managers, deputy managers, senior managers, nominated individuals, quality or compliance leads working in a regulated care service is able to respond to the online survey. Feedback from this survey will inform a second stage, which will look more closely at what people want from CQC for the future.
On behalf of the CPA, Vic said:
“This is a key opportunity for the CPA to give a voice to managers working in direct care-giving roles. It is important that provider experiences are reflected, particularly given the diversity of services in the sector. I’d encourage everyone to share their views – not only about how the new approach is feeling so far, but also to influence change and improvements for the future”.
James Bullion, CQC’s Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care said:
“I am delighted that the Care Provider Alliance will be supporting Sir Mike in his review of the single assessment framework and its implementation. Members of the CPA will bring their considerable knowledge and experience in adult social care to ensure we get a well-rounded view across all the sectors we regulate”.
Professor Sir Mike Richards added his support, saying:
“As I continue my review, I want to make sure people feel listened to and heard. Vic and the Care Provider Alliance have a key role in making sure that happens, and I particularly welcome the support and perspective this work can offer in defining what good looks like in adult social care”.
 Illustration of a medical professional standing inside a stethoscope and a older woman with a walking a stick. Objects surrounding them include: pill, edge of a laptop, medicine, clipboard and pen.
Earlier this year we commissioned Ipsos to undertake research with more than 2400 adult social care providers. The project was to understand what support providers are receiving to ensure medicines are managed safely, how the support impacts the quality of care that providers are able to deliver, and future support needs.
The research shows that adult social care services have access to a wide range of different types of medicines support from a variety of sources, including community pharmacy and a range of healthcare professionals. However, just under half of those accessing support from community pharmacies say it fully meets their needs, with making contact with pharmacies a key issue where support didn’t meet their needs.
 Photograph of older people having tea
Claims from the care sector are highly unlikely to be eligible for research and development (R&D) relief. However, colleagues at HMRC have advised that the care sector is being targeted by some agents who are persuading businesses to make ineligible claims.
These agents often promise a ‘100% success rate’ and guarantee ‘no HMRC investigation’. Once the claim is paid, they take their fee and often become unreachable once HMRC begins investigating.
If you are contacted by an agent offering to make an R&D claim, please think carefully. Don’t give them your HMRC log-in details. Read the R&D tax relief guidance and review the R&D Guidelines for Compliance.
Anyone who has a concern about an R&D claim they have made, or may have been made on their behalf, should email: rd.incentivesreliefs@hmrc.gov.uk and title the email ‘For the attention of the R&D Anti Abuse Unit’.
 An open laptop with a blank notebook resting open upon it. Reading glasses and a pen rest upon the notebook.
The Department of Health and Social Care has recently published a new guidance document on the funding available for learning and development for the adult social care workforce. This new fund is called the Learning and Development Support Scheme.
The Learning and Development Support Scheme is administered via a new digital online claims service that allows adult social care employers to claim funding for certain training courses and qualifications on behalf of eligible care staff. Funding is available for eligible courses and qualifications that have been both paid for and started between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 (inclusive).
The new guidance document provides details about the funding, including what learning and development is eligible for reimbursement.
In order to manage the roll-out, for the first few months access to the service will be via invite only but providers can complete an expression of interest form to be onboarded onto the new system.
If you have questions about the Learning and Development Support Scheme you can get in touch with the team by emailing ascreimbursement@dhsc.gov.uk
 A illustration of people, all with speech bubbles above their heads
The Institute for Employment Studies are researching workforce inequalities in health and social care and want to hear from you. They want to understand how employees with certain characteristics are unequally treated while at work, including discrimination, bullying or harassment, not being fairly considered for promotion, or not being able to get issues like these recognised or resolved when they arise.
The online survey takes 20 minutes to complete and will provide evidence of how workforce inequalities are experienced and observed in the health and social care sector, providing a better understanding of the frequency and types of workforce inequalities. If you have any questions, please contact workforce-inequalities@employment-studies.co.uk.
|
