Our adult social care services have been assessed as ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), following an inspection at the end of last year.

The CQC inspectors met with social care colleagues, people who draw on care and support, people involved in co-production, and partners, to get a full picture of the quality of adult social care provision and people’s experiences across the county.

Do you look after someone? Nottinghamshire Carers Association organises carers’ roadshows with partners and community organisations across the county. You can find local organisations and community groups, information and support services at these events.

The next carers’ roadshow will take place on Thursday 23 April, from 10am to 1pm at Rushcliffe Arena, West Bridgford, NG2 7HY.

The event will provide information to help improve the lives of carers and people living with dementia. No need to sign-up, just come along.

For details about further roadshows taking place through to December, visit the Carers Space Notts website to find out what is happening in your area.

24 – 30 April is World Immunisation Week.

In Nottinghamshire, vaccinations have protected children and young people for generations and they remain one of the most powerful ways to keep them safe and healthy. From babies through to teenagers, routine vaccinations protect against serious diseases like measles, polio, whooping cough, meningitis, and HPV, and give the best start in life.

Keeping vaccinations up to date doesn’t just protect individual children, it helps keep classrooms, families and communities healthier too. Parents and young people can play an important role by checking vaccination records and making appointments when invited.Together, we can help every child in Nottinghamshire grow up healthy and protected.

And it’s not just children, vaccinations are important for adults and older people as well, helping protect against things like flu, Covid-19, pneumonia, and shingles, keeping us healthier as we age.

April is Stress Awareness Month. This year’s theme is ‘be the change’ and encourages us to take action to help reduce stress. Whether it’s making a small change in our daily routine or offering support to someone who needs it, every action counts.

The Five Ways to Wellbeing are small steps you can take to reduce stress and look after your mental wellbeing:

• connect with people - sharing problems and stressful situations with others makes them easier to deal with
• be active - make time to do activities you enjoy
• keep learning - set goals and challenges to build confidence
• give to others - offer support if you think someone is struggling
• be aware - notice your feelings and get help if you need it.

Visit our website for more information and for details on local mental health support services, including NottAlone. 

April is also Bowel Cancer Awareness Month. Knowing the symptoms helps spot bowel cancer early when it’s more treatable. Symptoms can include:

• bleeding from your bottom
• blood in your poo
• a change in how often you poo
• regular diarrhoea or constipation
• losing weight for no reason
• feeling very tired all the time
• a pain or lump in your tummy.

If you have any of these symptoms, contact your GP.

Bowel screening can detect bowel cancer before symptoms start. If you receive a free bowel cancer screening test, it’s important to complete and return it as soon as possible.

Meningitis and septicaemia can develop suddenly and progress very quickly so it’s important to know what to look out for. Symptoms can appear in any order, and some may not appear at all. A rash doesn’t always develop so don’t wait. Look out for:

• a rash that doesn’t fade under a glass
• sudden high fever
• severe headache
• stiff neck, joint and muscle pain
• vomiting and diarrhoea
• dislike of bright lights
• very cold hands and feet
• seizures
• drowsiness or confusion
• extreme fatigue or difficulty waking
• babies may have a high pitched cry, refuse feeds, or have a bulging soft spot.

If someone is very unwell or showing these symptoms, call 111 for urgent medical advice. Call 999 or go to A&E in an emergency. Trust your instincts, symptoms can worsen quickly.

If you have a child under 5 years old, please take part in our survey to help us better understand how young children learn at home and in the community.

By sharing your experience, you can help us create resources and activities that make learning fun and accessible for all families.

The survey only takes around five minutes to complete, and you could win a £20 Amazon voucher for taking part. Closing date is 30 April 2026.