Are you making the most of the support available during this hot weather? Please visit our web page which contains helpful advice and resources.

We do our best to keep the content and structure of our PEN website up-to-date in these fast-changing times and your suggestions on how to improve the website are always welcome.

Important update: Engagement on the Care Home Contract – ASC (All Ages) and the proposed Older Persons’ Care Home Fee Model (65+)  

Following the provider engagement event on 5^th August the council heard that providers would welcome more information and time to consider the engagement on:

• The (all ages) ASC Care Home Contract
• The proposed fee model for Older Persons (65+) care home placements

In response the council is extending the engagement period until midnight on Sunday 21 September 2025.

A positive and constructive working relationship has been established between the Council and Care homes since COVID 19. We are keen to work in partnership with all providers and the Devon Care Home Collaborative to deliver the proposed model. We would therefore like to invite you to a face-to-face session to inform final decision making and jointly develop the implementation pathway to enable us to all transition safely to the new system.  We invite all providers to put forward ideas and questions before the meeting to enable a fruitful discussion on the day.  This session is being planned for the second week in September and details will be shared as soon as meeting venue has been confirmed.

Upcoming Webinar Tuesday 19 August, 14:00–15:30 A space had always been held for a webinar and this session will go ahead. This will provide an informal drop in space where providers can meet the team to better understand any of the engagement documents shared to date and consider how they can apply some of the proposals to their business to inform their engagement feedback. This session will also be where providers can help shape the face-to-face meeting in September.  A registration link will be emailed shortly—please register in advance.

Helpful Resources: Don’t forget to review the FAQs and Q&As from the February–March 2025 engagement period as they may help answer common queries.

Please visit ASC Care Home Contract & Older Persons’ Fee Model - August Engagement 2025 - Provider Engagement Network for all the information including how to feedback.   

For all other questions or queries please email socialcarebusinessrelationsmailbox@devon.gov.uk with the subject line: ‘Care Home Engagement’.

Exciting New Apprenticeships in Social Care: A Pathway to Rewarding Careers!

The social care sector is buzzing with new opportunities as several apprenticeships have been introduced, offering a structured pathway to rewarding careers. Here’s a closer look at these exciting programs:

Health and Social Care Foundation Apprenticeship

This Level 2 apprenticeship is designed for health and care support assistants working in diverse settings such as care homes, hospitals, General Practices, community teams, and individuals' homes. With a duration of just 8 months and maximum funding of £3,000, this program is perfect for those looking to make a swift entry into the social care field.

Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship

This Level 2 apprenticeship spans 12 months and offers maximum funding of £4,000. It focuses on providing frontline care for vulnerable adults, ensuring they receive the support and care they need in various settings.

Lead Adult Care Worker Apprenticeship

This Level 3 apprenticeship lasts 18 months with maximum funding of £4,000. It prepares individuals to lead frontline care for vulnerable adults within their own homes, day care centres, residential and nursing homes, and other healthcare settings.

These apprenticeships are not just about gaining qualifications; they are about making a real difference in people's lives. Whether you’re starting your career or looking to advance, these programs offer the training and support needed to thrive in the social care sector.

Stay tuned for more updates and get ready to embark on a fulfilling career in social care! 🌟Learn more here https://www.devon.gov.uk/providerengagementnetwork/workforce-development/apprenticeship-levy/

Good News Stories – Summer Fun Events in two Care Homes Heaton Summer BBQ Heanton Nursing Home put on a feel-good summer event for its residents and their relatives with a summer BBQ. The event, hosted in the home’s beautiful garden, was a great success, with many relatives taking time off work to be there. The BBQ served up some seriously tasty, locally sourced meats thanks to Reeds Butchers in Braunton, a real hit. This wasn’t just a one-off either, as locally sourced meats have been added to the main menu There was also a great selection of alcohol-free drinks on offer and  plenty of lawn games for everyone to enjoy. The Home Manager Abigail Denford said “It was such a lovely afternoon. Seeing families enjoying time together, sharing food, and having a few laughs in the garden. It reminded me just how important the simple, everyday things are, like having a BBQ on a sunny day. If you were in your own home and the sun was shining, you’d probably do exactly that. So why shouldn’t we do it here, too? This is our home, our family." To find out more about Heaton Nursing Home - please click here Edenmore’s Surf-Themed Garden Party Edenmore Nursing Home recently celebrated the warm weather with a summer garden party, complete with inflatable instruments, a colourful array of decorations and a hula skirt or 2! The Ilfracombe Nursing Home hosted the Beachboys themed garden party in the outdoor space in front of the home, with team members spending the morning decorating it with flags, balloons, wetsuits and surfboards (before adorning their best Hawaii outfits) for family members to be surprised when the party started in the afternoon! As well as being treated to mocktails under parasols, there was inflatable limbo that some family members chose to join in with, all while enjoying the music from DJ Ricky. Home Manager Gayle shared ‘we had an absolutely amazing afternoon, the weather, BBQ, DJ Ricky were fab, thank you to everyone who helped set up and celebrate with us!’ To find out more about Edenmore - please click here.

Remember to share your good news stories in this newsletter

Has your support helped transform someone’s life? Have you got innovative practice to share? Send us your celebratory photos and words and we will help share good practice.

Revisit previous good news stories

Issue 235 14 August 2025

DCC COVID-19 updates

Coronavirus advice to the public

National COVID-19 guidance updates

The GOV.UK website

The NHS.UK website

National vaccination publication collection

The national government page contains vaccination guidance, training resources, consent forms, letters, leaflets, posters and more.

PEN newsletter archive

View previous issues

NICE newsletters and alerts sign up

Keep up to date with the latest news and guidance that may impact on your service and clients via the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

Sign up to receive NICE newsletters here.

Summer Heat Alerts and Resources reminder

Remember that a range of advice and resources for dealing with hot weather are available on our Provider Engagement Network website, including a link to sign up to the Heat-Health Alerting System.

Click here to view the resources

Maximise Your Training Budget with LDSS Fund Claims

Businesses looking to optimise their training budgets should take full advantage of the LDSS fund. Claiming money back for training is straightforward, but it’s crucial to upload the correct evidence to ensure a smooth and quick process. Here’s what you need to know:

Evidence of Payment

• Your evidence of payment must include:
• Course/Qualification Name
• Training Provider/Learning Centre
• Amount Paid
• Payment Date
• VAT Number
• Number of Learners per Claim

You can upload up to four documents, such as receipts, invoices, receipted invoices, and/or bank statements.

Evidence of Completion

• Your evidence of completion must include:
• Date of Completion
• Course/Qualification Name
• Learner Name
• Training Provider
• Awarding Body

The document to upload would be the certificate of completion.

Claiming Process

You can claim either:

• 100% of the course cost or
• 60% upon enrolment and 40% upon completion

There is a full list of providers to choose from who are experts and can provide all this information on one invoice.

Investing a little time in submitting these claims will ensure you receive the funding back, allowing you to reinvest in other areas of your business. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to maximise your training budget and enhance your workforce!

Check out this video Click here to view video for more info.

Want to know more, take a look at this webpage hClick here to view webpage

Reminder - Work for Yourself?

Microproviders are self-employed, local people offering all kinds of good quality, reliable, professional care and support to others in their community. Almost anyone can do this but often they benefit from support to get started or to check they are legal and getting the key things right. Simon Tickner is the Microprovider Project Worker for Devon and can offer free support if you are keen to know more. Check out the website PA/Microproviders - Disability Focus to read more or make an enquiry if you’d like Simon to contact you