West Midlands Care Association News

WMCA Newsletter

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 10:08:13 GMT

Share Your Experience - Help the Sector Understand Real Cyber Incidents

Care Roadshows Midlands 2026

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:38:49 GMT

www.wmca.events

Save the date

Care Roadshows Midlands 2026: Event Listing

Care Roadshow Midlands is back for 2026! We’re ready for another year of bringing care professionals together for fresh insights, networking with sector leaders and to discuss key industry challenges. Since 2011, Care Roadshows has offered free access to CPD seminars, the latest industry solutions and peer-to-peer networking in Midlands. Hear from local organisations and regulators such as Care Quality Commission, Housing 21 and Radfield Home Care.

Midlands – Villa Park Stadium, Birmingham | 14 ^th May 2026

Event Snapshot

What : Free-to-attend exhibition and CPD event for social care leaders and professionals.

When : Thursday 14th May 2026

Where : Birmingham, Villa Park Stadium

Who for : Care Home Owners & Directors, Care Providers, Senior Leadership Teams, Social Care Professionals.

Cost : Free Entry. Register online to secure you place.

Register Here : https://tinyurl.com/care-roadshows-wmca

What’s in Store?

-Expert-Led Discussions – Gain insights from industry leaders on care reform, wellbeing in dementia care, and workforce management.

-Exclusive Product Demos – Explore 60+ exhibitors showcasing innovative solutions to support care providers.

-Peer-to-Peer Networking – Build upon session insights with professionals who share your challenges and goals.

-Regulatory Support – Attend sessions from CQC speakers to stay up to date on compliance and practice developments.

-CPD-accredited Seminars – Join in on free CPD sessions for a day of learning and skill development.

Free Training & Practical Support

Attend free CPD-accredited seminar to stay ahead of the latest industry developments, covering key topics from the latest regulation updates and operational reality to wellbeing in dementia care and workforce recruitment and retainment. Listen to leading care experts and gain valuable insights and practical solutions to support your growth.

Join the Community

Come join us at Care Roadshow Midlands 2026 to discover new insights and resources and become a part of a supportive community of care professionals.

Register for free today at https://tinyurl.com/care-roadshows-wmca

WMCA Newsletter

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:02:33 GMT

Escorting Residents and Service Users to Hospital - Updated Guidance

WMCA Spring Providers Conference - Is your Digital Health in Check?

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:00:15 GMT

www.wmca.events

Save the date

WMCA Spring Providers Conference:
Is your Digital Health in Check?

16 April 2026

9.30am - 3.30pm

Venue:

Bescot Stadium

Bescot Crescent

Walsall

WS1 4SD

Presentations
Click on the titles below to access the slides and session recordings

Pleanary Sessions:

Moving from Self Assessment to Mandatory Compliance
Keiron Broadbent
West Midlands Care Association

The Do's and Don'ts of using

AI in Social Care
Katie Thorn

Digital Care Hub

Managing the right to privacy (and the related CQC requirements) in an increasingly digital age

David Hall

HCR Law

Care Home Sessions:

The Medication Cycle - Digitised, Demystified and Done Right!

Mandeep Khaira

Pharmacy Express

The benefits of uninterupted sleep
Marie Hawkes-Smith
Ally Cares

Home Care Sessions:

Technology enabled care
Anita Brennan
Birmingham City Council

Tatyana Bulkina

Coventry City Council

Will Hallt
City of Wolverhampton Council

Embedding virtual care into everyday homecare practice
Antoni Kostas
City of Wolverhampton Council

Lindon Layton Best

Coventry City Council

WMCA Newsletter

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:54:29 GMT

WMCA Upcoming Events

WMCA Newsletter

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:50:35 GMT

Calling All Activity Co-ordinators – Pimp My Zimmer Is Back!

WMCA Newsletter

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:16:56 GMT

Join us at Care Roadshow Midlands - 14th May 2026, Villa Park

Financial resilience and Legal Strategies

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:45:06 GMT

Financial Resilience and Legal Strategies

9 April 2026

10.00am - 12.00pm

Online

WMCA Members Only

A two part webinar giving you the tools to stay financially sustainable and understand the latest legal changes, featuring speakers from Quality of Care and HCR Law

Chris Briggs from Quality of Care will share how smart cost control protects your profit margin, why a strategic, systemised approach saves money, and how to review your fees before April's rises so you can justify any increases with confidence
Oliver Brown from HCR Law will outline the legal tools providers need to secure sustainable fee uplifts, challenge unfair retendering and negotiate confidently, followed by a Q & A on real world scenarios

WMCA Newsletter

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:59:48 GMT

Are you evidencing ESG in your supply chains?

WMCA Newsletter

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 09:53:21 GMT

Continued Government Funding for Oliver McGowan Training in 2026–27

WMCA Newsletter

Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:53:11 GMT

DBS Made Simple: Understanding International Recruitment

WMCA Newsletter

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:12:45 GMT

FREE Digital Health Checks

WMCA Newsletter

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 12:24:17 GMT

Webinar: Financial Resilience & Legal Strategies

Learning Development Support Service to continue in 2026/27

Sat, 21 Mar 2026 10:34:25 GMT

Learning Development Support Service to continue in 2026-27

Funding for 2026/27 to support workforce development

The Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) will continue in 2026/27, helping adult social care employers in England fund eligible staff training. Funding is limited, so claims will close once the funding pot is exhausted. Funded by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and administered by NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA), the LDSS supports the non-regulated workforce, including deputy and registered managers, and agency staff. Employers need an up-to-date Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) account to claim.

More details

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/adult-social-care-learning-and-development-support-scheme

International Recruitment: The Employment Rights Act (part 2)

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 16:36:56 GMT

www.wmca.events

International Recruitment: The Employment Rights Act (part 2)

19 March 2026

10.00am - 11.15am

Virtual

This is the second of two interactive Legal & HR Webinars, focusing on the Employment Rights Act, designed specifically for care providers and local authorities.

This session will explore the practical implications now that the Bill has passed, and what the changes mean for employers in the care sector.

WMCA Events Newsletter

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:16:38 GMT

Upcoming Events - March/April

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:05:31 GMT

Spring Conference - is your digital health in check?

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 12:00:19 GMT

Research regarding "The Hidden Costs of Hospital Discharge"

WMCA sends its condolences on to Gloucestershire Care Providers Association on the passing of its Chief Officer Riki Moody

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:02:18 GMT

WMCA sends its condolences to Gloucestershire Care Providers Association on the passing of its Chief Officer Riki Moody

Everyone here at West Midlands Care Association sends their condolences to our colleagues at Gloucestershire Care Providers Association on the passing of its Chief Officer Riki Moody on Sunday.

Riki was increadibly passionate about the care sector and a leading light within the Care Association Alliance.

It was a terrible shock to hear the news that we have lost someone so young

Our thoughts are with his friends and family and his colleagues at GCPA

Rest in peace Riki.

DBS Processing

WMCA Newsletter

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:00:01 GMT

Excellent Feedback on WMCA Training Courses

WMCA Response to Baroness Casey's remarks on Adult Social Care

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 09:28:51 GMT

WMCA Response to Baroness Casey's remarks on Adult Social Care

Baroness Casey - who is heading up a Government commission on the state of Adult Social Care, recently addressed the Nuffield Trust Summit. Here is our response to what she said:

As the West Midlands Care Association, we welcome Baroness Casey’s frank assessment: adult social care is underfunded, undervalued, and too often a political football, being kicked around Westminster.

The problems she outlines are all too familiar to our members — they leave too many people facing obstacles to timely, appropriate care in a system that encourages fragmentation, short-term decisions, and instability.

When it works well, adult social care helps people live independently, safely, and with dignity. It supports families, strengthens communities across the West Midlands, and reduces pressure on the NHS and other public services. Despite this - and the fact that the care sector employs more people than the NHS - it continues to be overlooked by national policy makers in both funding and other resources

It is early days for the Casey Commission but we hope as it's work progresses it translates into solid recommendations for reform. particularly sustainable (and fair) funding, more consistent commissioning and recognition of our amazing workforce

We and our colleagues at the other local care associations in England, are ready to work with the the Casey Commission and national and local government to build a fairer and more sustatinable care system that benefits both our members and those who use it in the West Midlands

Keiron Broadbent

Chief Executive Officer

West Midlands Care Association

DBS Processing

WMCA Newsletter

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:28:49 GMT

April's Cost Rises - are you ready?

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 11:00:49 GMT

Could you benefit from the DWP Grant?

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 10:36:19 GMT

DBS Made Simple: A reminder about DBS Portal security & your legal responsibilities

International Recruitment: The Employment Rights Act (part 1)

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:32:02 GMT

www.wmca.events

International Recruitment: The Employment Rights Act (part 1)

19 February 2026

10.00am - 11.15am

Virtual

This is the first of two interactive Legal & HR Webinars, focusing on the Employment Rights Act, designed specifically for care providers and local authorities.

This session will explore the practical implications now that the Bill has passed, and what the changes mean for employers in the care sector.

This event is delivered by West Midlands International Recruitment Partnership.

West Midlands Care Association is part of this partnership and is providing the event administration services.

Employment Rights Act 2025 Hub is now live!

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:47:34 GMT

Employment Rights Act 2025 Hub is now live!

The Employment Rights Act 2025 is now law — and some of the biggest changes start landing from April 2026. Now’s the time to get ahead and start preparing.

As an employer, staying on top of HR and compliance is essential - especially with the Employment Rights Act 2025 introducing major changes over the next two years.

To help, our Partner Citation has created a FREE resource: The Employment Rights Act 2025 Hub – a one stop shop that brings together all the key updates, timelines, and practical steps employers need to prepare. It summarises what’s changing, what’s coming first, and the essential actions businesses should be considering now.

Inside, you’ll find insight on:

Unfair dismissal – what’s changing and what to review in your processes
Zero-hours reforms – emerging requirements and how to prepare ahead of Regulations
SSP reforms from April 2026 – what’s changing and what to budget for
Harassment prevention duties – increased expectations on “reasonable steps” and managing third-party risk
Fair Work Agency – stronger enforcement powers and what that means for compliance
A clear timeline of expected changes across 2026–2027

Click the button below to explore the Hub for FREE.

Citation’s HR, Employment Law, and Health & Safety experts support thousands of UK businesses to stay compliant, reduce risk, and save valuable time. Call 0345 844 1111 or click here to find out how Citation can help. Don’t forget to mention West Midlands Care Association to access your preferential rates.

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 10:54:28 GMT

DBS Made Simple: The Barring List & Adult Firsts

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:20:37 GMT

DBS Made Simple: Barring Checks on Adult and Child Workforce

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:08:12 GMT

DBS: Do you really need a Barring Check?

Ask the Experts: IR Changes & Workforce Compliance

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 17:25:34 GMT

www.wmca.events

Ask the Experts: IR Changes & Workforce Compliance

29 January 2026

10.00am - 12.00pm

Virtual

J oin our legal experts for an interative Legal & HR Webinar designed specifically for care providers and local authorities.

With major changes reshaping international recruitment, and following the overwhelming engagement in our last session, we’re opening the floor for a live, interactive Q&A. This is your opportunity to raise the questions and challenges that matter most to your organisation.

The session will centre on international recruitment and compliance, but you’re welcome to bring any Legal or HR queries. If time allows, we’ll address those as well.

Join us to gain clarity, hear sector-wide insights, and leave with practical guidance you can apply immediately.

This event is delivered by West Midlands International Recruitment Partnership.

West Midlands Care Association is part of this partnership and is providing the event administration services.

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 13:51:38 GMT

DBS Made Simple: Exclusive WMCA Member Rates

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 20 Jan 2026 10:57:46 GMT

Managing Digital Risk: Using and Sharing Information Safely

FREE Specialist Nutrition Guide from Wiltshire Farm Foods

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 14:27:46 GMT

FREE Specialist Nutrition Guide from Wiltshire Farm Foods

FREE HR and Health & Safety Compliance Checklist

Wed, 14 Jan 2026 12:14:05 GMT

FREE HR and Health & Safety Compliance Checklist

Keeping on top of HR and Health & Safety compliance is an ongoing challenge for UK employers, especially with legislation and best practice constantly evolving.

Falling behind can expose businesses to enforcement action, fines, claims, and reputational damage.

That’s why our Partner, Citation, has created a FREE HR & Health & Safety Compliance Checklist to help you:

Understand your core HR and Health & Safety obligations
Identify potential compliance gaps
Reduce risk and avoid common pitfalls
Take practical steps to stay legally compliant
Feel confident you’re meeting regulatory requirements

Click the button below to download your FREE Guide.

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 11:26:17 GMT

Last Chance to join our "Well Led" Conference!

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 11:31:02 GMT

January Conference — Limited Places! Meet the Speakers

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 10:57:58 GMT

Happy New Year from WMCA

WMCA Registered Managers, Deputies and Seniors Conference - Is your care service Well Led?

Sat, 27 Dec 2025 11:20:49 GMT

www.wmca.events

WMCA Registered Managers, Deputies and Seniors Conference:
Is your Care Service Well Led?

22 January 2026

9.30am - 3.30pm

Venue:

Bescot Stadium

Walsall

WS1 4SA

Well Led

There is an inclusive and positive culture of continuous learning and improvement. This is based on meeting the needs of people who use services and wider communities, and all leaders and staff share this. Leaders proactively support staff and collaborate with partners to deliver care that is safe, integrated, person-centred and sustainable, and to reduce inequalities.

Presentations

Click on the titles below to access the slides and session recordings

Unfortunately we had issues with the audio quality with the recordings in the Main Auditorium but we have posted them anyway

Pleanery Sessions

WMCA:

OPening session including Lifted and Business Growth West Midlands

Keynote:

Are we a well led sector

Citation:

What care providers should focus on with CQC in 2026

Skills for Care:

Embedding Wel Led working in your teams

Sweeping the Sheds: Building a Well Led team

Care Home Sessions

Managers Q and A Discussion:

What does Well Led mean to you?

Home Care Sessions

Managers Q and A Discussion:

What does Well Led mean to you?

Exhibitors:

(click on logos to visit websites)

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 10:41:31 GMT

Merry Christmas from WMCA

Extending our FREE local digital support offer to adult social care providers

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 09:04:48 GMT

Free Digital Support

We’re excited to announce that we have been successful in securing further funding from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) via the Better Security Better Care (BSBC) programme to extend our FREE local digital support offer to adult social care providers. This includes a number of resources allowing us to support and work with you, to strengthen your data protection and cyber security capabilities.

To celebrate this new phase of support, we are delivering a series of specialised virtual workshops dedicated to providing transitional and enhanced support to embed good data protection and cyber security practices into your daily operations. This additional support will help you work towards embedding data safety as a routine part of your everyday delivery of quality care.

This next stage of the programme is built upon the national success of the 2021 2025 programme which has seen the significant achievement of 76% of care providers now using the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT), up from just 15% in 2021.

Watch this space

We are still providing our popular 1-1 virtual support sessions for providers who need help for to register or complete their DSPT for example, while offering a range of resources including templates, to help you pull together those essential policies, processes and procedures.

Additionally, and new to the programme, we will be offering FREE face-to-face health checks – details of which will be landing soon, so keep any eye out for your invite and further information.

We have a series of four workshops covering all aspects of managing digital risk with tips on how to secure your IT devices and Systems. These will begin in the new year and will run weekly thereafter.

You can pre-book by clicking on the relevant link(s) below:

Staffing & Roles

7 January 2026 10.00 am

Policies & Procedures

14 January 2026 10.00 am

Data Security

21 January 2026 10.00 am

IT Systems and Devices

28 January 2026 10.00 am

Staffing and Roles

Your staff are both your strength and weakness. Inexperienced or untrained employees are a very frequent cause of data breaches.

In this workshop we will look at how you can manage digital risk by ensuring your staff are trained in accordance with regulation(s) and legislation highlighting best practice, policies and procedures.

Policies and Procedures

All organisations need to keep certain documents and have specific policies and procedures in place that supports best practice and where appropriate reflects national polices that underpin your organisation’s data and cyber security.

In this workshop we will look at some key policies such as Privacy Notice, Data Protection Policy and explore why you need to have these in place.

Data Security

Technology has changed the way we work. Sharing data digitally and communicating with others remotely are just a couple of examples of how we now use technology in social care.

As we continue to use technology in this way, we must do it safely and put steps in place to reduce the risk and impact of a data breach or cyber-attack. Phishing, for example, has been identified as the most common type of incident care providers are at risk from, with ransomware being the costliest.

In this workshop we will look at how to recognise and respond to a potential data breach and highlight measures you can take to ensure your data is secure.

IT Systems and Devices

There’s a growing trend of allowing digital devices (e.g. phones, laptops, tablets) to perform job related tasks in the care sector, particularly amongst home care staff. This practice brings benefits to both provider and staff members; however, it also creates challenges and vulnerabilities.

In this workshop, we will explore the pros and cons of allowing your staff to use their own mobile devices for work purposes, and look at what you need to have in place to mitigate the associated risk.

Are you a fully digitised social care provider?

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 14:39:31 GMT

Are you a fully digitised Social Care Provider?

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has set out an ambition for all care providers to be fully digitised by the end of this parliament.

A fully digitised care provider is a Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered care provider that is:

using an assured digital social care record (DSCR) solution
meeting the ‘standards met’ level on the data security and protection toolkit (DSPT)

Benefits of being fully digitised

Being fully digitised helps care providers to:

keep accurate, secure records
meet regulatory standards
reduce time spent on manual tasks
improve care quality and safety
access core GP information and, in the future, will help care professionals to access essential real-time information from across health and care settings

What is a digital social care record?

Digital social care records (DSCRs) are software solutions for recording a person’s care information. They replace paper records. This is sometimes called an electronic or digital care plan, care record or care management system.

Benefits of using a DSCR

Using DSCRs will help you to:

share up-to-date information more easily
reduce time spent on admin tasks
improve the safety and quality of your care records
provide person-centred care

Benefits of using an assured DSCR

What is the Assured Solutions List? 

The assured solutions list is a list of recommended digital social care record software solutions. Solutions on the list have been assured by NHS England.

All solutions on this list offer the core functional capabilities social care providers need from a DSCR.

NHS England will continue to develop these standards based on the needs of social care providers. Some DSCR solutions may be removed from the list if they do not continue to meet them.

View the assured solutions list for digital social care records.

Current benefits

You can trust that assured solutions:

offer the minimum required features to meet the basic needs of social care providers, such as generating reports and seeing changes to records 
comply with national standards for safety, security and interoperability
can help meet CQC regulations on good governance 
For example, through assured DSCRs, appropriate staff can access core patient information for the people in their care via GP Connect.

Future benefits

In the future, assured DSCR solutions will be able to connect to other systems across health and social care.

For example, assured digital social care records are an essential part of the vision for the Single Patient Record. This will give people a single, secure and authoritative account of their data and a single record across health and care settings to enable more co-ordinated, personalised and predictive care.
Key information about an individual’s care contained in an assured digital social care record would be shared through the Single Patient Record, with appropriate governance and controls.

This means care professionals would have real-time access to essential information, enabling better assessment and planning for individuals. 

Unassured solutions may not be able to share data in this way.

What is the Data Security Protection Toolkit?

The data security and protection toolkit (DSPT) is a free online self-assessment that helps you check and improve how you keep people's information safe.

It's not just about digital records. The DSPT covers any information you hold about anyone – including paper records – relating to:

The people who use your services
Your staff
Funders and partners
Visitors

The DSPT helps you assess your data security and protection policies, procedures and processes. It's widely recognised by the CQC, local authorities and the NHS as evidence of your commitment to information security.

All CQC-regulated adult social care providers in England must complete the DSPT. This is a legal requirement under the Health and Social Care Act 2012, as amended by the Health and Care Act 2022.

Find out more about the Data Security and Protection Toolkit on the Digital Care Hub.

Data security benefits

The data security and protection toolkit will help your organisation to check and improve how you keep information safe. This includes information about:

people drawing on care and support
their friends and families
people who work in your organisation

Once you've achieved 'Standards Met', you become eligible to access:

NHS.net Connect (formerly known as NHS Mail)
GP Connect
Proxy Access
Shared Care Records

The DSPT is widely recognised across the CQC, local authorities and the NHS. It shows both commissioners and the public your organisation’s commitment to data security.

How can the West Midlands Care Association help?

We are part of the national Better Security Better Care Program and as such we can offer free support to all CQC registered care providers to complete the DSPT. More details here

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 12:16:46 GMT

Important Notice – Hoax CQC Inspection Calls

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 11:59:45 GMT

WMCA New Training Courses

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 11:54:35 GMT

Is your Care Service "Well-Led"?

Understanding the 20-Hour Rule: What Care Providers Need to Know

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 08:36:43 GMT

www.wmca.events

Understanding the 20-Hour Rule: What Care Providers Need to Know

27 November 2025

11.00am - 12.15pm

Virtual

With many providers employing staff through international recruitment, understanding the 20-hour rule is vital to ensure compliance and effective workforce management.

This session will explain what the rule means in practice, how it impacts sponsored workers, and what steps care providers should take to stay compliant and support their teams. Gain clear, expert guidance to help you navigate this complex area with confidence and ensure your organisation remains on the right side of regulation.

This event is delivered by West Midlands International Recruitment Partnership.

West Midlands Care Association is part of this partnership and is providing the event administration services.

WMCA Review of 2025 & Looking Ahead to 2026

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 13:16:52 GMT

WMCA Review of 2025 and Looking Ahead to 2026

As I write this on the day of the Autumn Budget, we once again find ourselves navigating a political environment where social care remains a perennial football.

Despite the hope that 2024’s turbulence would pave the way for meaningful reform, we end 2025 much as we began it, with change on the horizon but little structural certainty beneath our feet.

This year has brought a further rise in the National Minimum Wage, following the uplift in April, alongside increases in Employers’ National Insurance Contributions. While these measures are welcome for our workforce, they place growing financial pressure on care providers already operating in an exceptionally challenging environment.

The government’s flagship Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) has now begun its consultation period, and the Employment Rights Bill is starting to reveal its wide-reaching implications. The Bill, due to come into effect next April, represents the most substantial change to employment law in decades. While many provisions will strengthen protections for the workforce, others, such as sick pay from day one and mandatory union recognition may have significant financial and administrative consequences for care providers, particularly SMEs.

The FPA itself promises to reshape our sector more profoundly than anything in recent memory. It will effectively create a mandated minimum wage for social care, set above the National Minimum Wage. Although we wholeheartedly agree that our workforce deserves better pay, the government’s current commitment of £500 million must be seen as a starting point, not a full solution. Sustainable implementation requires sustainable funding, something that remains unclear.

Alongside this, the government has commissioned Baroness Casey to conduct a review of Adult Social Care, reporting in 2028. Whether her findings will differ from the numerous reports already gathering dust in the Department of Health and Social Care remains to be seen.

International recruitment has also undergone significant disruption. The closure of the route for Carers and Senior Carers removed what had become a vital lifeline for many providers over recent years. International recruits have made an enormous contribution to our sector, and the sudden shift, coupled with ongoing uncertainty around wider immigration policy has left many providers struggling to fill vacancies domestically.

Through all of this, WMCA has worked tirelessly to ensure the voices of our members are heard. As a founding member of the Care Association Alliance (CAA), we are represented nationally in discussions with Westminster, ADASS, the LGA, and unions. The CAA represents more than 10,000 members and continues to ensure that the needs of smaller providers are heard as clearly as those of larger organisations. Locally, we continue to collaborate closely with authorities, advocating for our members on both strategic and individual issues.

Despite the political noise, WMCA remains focused on supporting providers to thrive. We’re excited to announce the return of our conference themes from January 2026, centred on the five CQC KLOEs: Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, and Well-Led. These events are consistently popular, and we look forward to welcoming a range of inspiring speakers and exhibitors.

We are also launching a suite of in-house training courses, including Care Certificate-focused programmes and the Oliver McGowan Training (Tiers 1 and 2), delivered by our experienced team and supported through LDSS funding. Combined with our many member benefits, including a free legal helpline, free HR helpline, and discounted DBS checks, we continue to ensure our members can spend their time doing what they do best: delivering exceptional care.

On a much brighter note, our 2025 Excellence in Care Awards were our biggest and most uplifting yet. With record nominations, 13 category winners, and a truly celebratory gala evening at the Copthorne Hotel in Dudley, it was a powerful reminder of the dedication, compassion, and professionalism that define our sector. Planning is already underway for next year’s awards and we hope to surpass even this year’s achievements.

As we look forward to 2026, we do so with determination, optimism, and a firm belief in the strength of our members and our sector. On behalf of the West Midlands Care Association, I wish all our members a Merry Christmas and a prosperous year ahead — one that brings opportunities, growth, and perhaps even a few pleasant surprises.

Keiron Broadbent

Chief Executive Officer

West Midlands Care Association

DBS Processing

Key Highlights from 2025

Events:

2025 was certainly a busy year for us. Our events have not only become larger in scale but have also significantly enhanced in terms of content and impact. This has been instrumental in supporting our members in elevating their care businesses and fostering a strong sense of community.

Throughout the year, we have hosted a series of conferences, workshops, and networking opportunities that have brought together industry leaders, innovators, and care providers from all corners of the globe. These events have provided invaluable insights into the latest trends, best practices, and emerging technologies within the care sector.

Conferences

Our popular conferences have continued to focus on critical aspects of care services. We kicked off 2025 with our January Conference “ Are you effective?” with some wonderful speakers and a (wonderful to see) high level of attendance.

We returned in May focused on the question “Is Your Business Ready for CQC's New Environmental Assessment?” with valuable input from a speaker from Birmingham council.

This was followed up with our Summer Conference in June based around the CQC theme of “Responsive” which included a speaker from CQC alongside panels split into two streams, one for Dom care and one for Residential.

Finally, our (virtual) Autumn Conference in October included fascinating insights into how to recruit our future workforce alongside useful 'state of the market' deep dives.

All of these conferences were well attended with valuable insights provided by the expert speakers. The events offered a platform for knowledge sharing and networking opportunities.

.

Workshops

2025 has seen us continue and expand our in-person and online workshops for our members which has significantly enhanced the learning experience and engagement of our members. The following are just a selection of the workshops we offered:-

HCR Law Legal Drop-in Surgery (online) – these drop-in workshops were by our law firm partner, HCR Law and focused on addressing legal queries from our members as well as addressing CQC queries / concerns.
Nutrition Good Practice in Care Homes – this was a very well attended online workshops focusing on nutrition and how to improve / support residents dietary needs.
Fire Prevention In Your Care Home - A detailed and informative discussion covering safety and good practice.
International Recruitment
Safeguarding

Upcoming events can be found here

Support for our members

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We are committed to sustaining this momentum by continuously improving our event offerings and creating more opportunities for our members to thrive. We are already planning an even more ambitious line-up for 2026, with the aim of reaching new heights and making an even greater impact on the care sector.

Obviously the budget from Chancellor Rachel Reeves had some worrying headline figures for the care sector. However, despite these worrying and challenging times for social care, we will continue to support our members through our lobbying activities both local and national, and with training events, webinars and conferences offering continued support to ensure they can deliver sustainable excellence in community, nursing, special needs and residential home settings.

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Birmingham City Council - Market Positioning Statements 2026

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:14:05 GMT

Birmingham City Council Marketing Positioning Statements

BCC have published their Market Positioning Statements

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/info/50173/information_for_care_providers/2669/commissioning_strategies/2

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 16:15:16 GMT

Last Chance to Enter our Christmas Card Competition!

Skills for Care - Dementia Resources for Care Staff and Families

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 11:47:48 GMT

New Range of Dementia Resources for Care Staff and Families

Skills for Care have launched a new range of dementia resources to enhance care and support for people living with dementia and their carers.

These resources have been developed to support the adult social care workforce including home care workers, care home staff, community teams and family carers. They aim to make dementia information more accessible, person-centred and practical for carers, professionals and community members.

Click below to find out more.

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 11:25:07 GMT

Oliver McGowan training available through WMCA

HCR Law Legal Update

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 14:26:06 GMT

www.hcrlaw.com

Autumn Legal Update

11 November 2025

11.30am - 12.30pm

This webinar from longstanding WMCA partner HCR Law on legal updates for the care sector offers essential insights into recent regulatory changes and legal challenges faced by providers.

It covers the current top legal issues care providers must be aware of.

We are also aware that CQC are taking more enforcement action against providers lately, so attendees will learn practical steps to prepare and respond effectively if the CQC initiates enforcement action.

The session aims to equip care providers with the knowledge to navigate legal complexities confidently, ensuring compliance and safeguarding their operations.

Perfect for care managers and owners, this webinar promotes a proactive approach to legal challenges in the care sector.

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 11 Nov 2025 11:58:31 GMT

Entries now open for the WMCA Christmas Card Competition

Training Matrix: How Much Time do you Lose Managing Staff Training

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 14:26:35 GMT

Training Matrix:

How Much Time Do You Lose Managing Staff Training?

Staying on top of the training needs of your staff is quite simply, hard. It’s a real challenge.

In fact, it can be utterly overwhelming when you consider all the mandatory training your different staff teams require as well as the additional specific training your clinical staff need to meet the needs of your clients.

Then there is the compliance angle. Every organisation must ensure that staff receive and maintain mandatory training to keep residents safe and services compliant.

Of course, you want your staff to be well trained, but you also need to be able to show CQC and LAs when they inspect that your carers (and nurses) are qualified to be delivering care.

It’s easy to lose track of who’s due training and when, especially when training received can be valid for one, two or three years.

To check just one person’s status - what training they’ve completed, what’s overdue, and what training they are already booked onto – can take a long time of digging through their files.

You also need to plan how many training sessions to run to cover all due or overdue that training.

This all adds up to hours of time and cost every month, unnecessary stress, and a constant risk of missed renewals.

Not anymore…

Introducing the Training Matrix — The Smarter Way to Stay Compliant

Our new Training Matrix is built specifically for care providers who want a stress-free, time-saving way to manage staff training.

With the Training Matrix, you can:

And it eliminates the stress of hoping your teams are compliant and able to deliver the service your clients need.

The Training Matrix goes live on 10th November.

50% off your first-year subscription.
Priority access to new features.
Extra onboarding support.

Join the early bird list now

To find out more, contact Chris Briggs - chris@qualityofcare.co.uk .

www.qualityofcare.co.uk

Nutrition Good Practice in Care Homes

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 12:57:59 GMT

www.wmca.events

Nutrition Good Practice in Care Homes

4 November 2025

2.00pm - 3.30pm

Onlin e

Join our engaging webinar on nutrition in care homes!

This session provides valuable insights to boost resident health and satisfaction. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay updated on latest nutrition guidelines, proven techniques, and team collaboration tips. Sign up now to make a meaningful difference in the lives of your residents through better nutrition!

Hear practical advice from an actual care home chef on how to improve residents' well-being through tailored meal plans, nutritional assessments, and innovative approaches. Discover best practices for enhancing food quality, managing special dietary needs, and fostering a positive dining experience.

�� Free to members to attend | Online | Register today to reserve your spot!

Agenda

2.00pm. Introduction

2.10pm. Welcome from WMCA

2.15pm. Wiltshire Farm Foods

2.40pm. Butts Croft House - Practical advice to care homes

3.05pm. The REFRESH program

3.30pm. Close

Unfortunately due to a technoical issue we are unable to post the video of the recording

Slides

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 11:27:37 GMT

Book your place at our January Conference "Is your Care Service "Well Led"?

CQC - Updated guidance on the use of CCTV in care settings

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 09:10:58 GMT

Updated guidance on the use of CCTV in care settings

CQC updated their guidance on the use of CCTV in care settings in the Summer (August 2025) and it may have escaped your notice

The regulations are tighter than before and we are getting reports of providers being picked up for not following the new guidance

The new guidance can be found here:

https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/all-services/how-we-check-use-surveillance

The Changing Landscape of International Recruitment: Legal and HR Essentials

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 13:05:47 GMT

www.wmca.events

The Changing Landscape of International Recruitment: Legal and HR Essentials

30 October 2026

11.00am - 12.15pm

Virtual

The landscape of international recruitment in social care is changing fast. While opportunities remain to recruit international care workers already in the UK, keeping up to date with the latest legislative shifts is vital.

Edward O'Brien, Senior Associate at Lester Aldridge, will provide a clear recap and practical checklist to help providers stay compliant, ethical, and effective when it comes to international recruitment.

This event is delivered by West Midlands International Recruitment Partnership.

West Midlands Care Association is part of this partnership and is providing the event administration services.

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 16:43:56 GMT

What a Night! Celebrating Excellence in Care 28 October 2025

CQC - The state of health care and adult social care in England 2024/25

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 12:15:11 GMT

The state of health care and adult social care in England 2024/25

In our annual State of Care report, we have warned that the health and social care system remains fragmented and under severe strain as it prepares for a major shift from hospital to community care.

While there is some encouraging evidence of innovation, community services need significant investment in both capacity and capability to deliver the transformation in people’s care called for in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan for England .

Without more support to help community services deliver the vision of the plan, there is real risk of erosion in care quality, with people struggling to get the care they need. The most vulnerable groups are likely to be hit hardest through longer waits, reduced access, and poorer outcomes.

Read the report

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:58:36 GMT

Webinar: Nutrition Good Practice in Care Homes 21 October 2025

Improved safeguarding and protections for vulnerable people

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:33:52 GMT

Improved safeguarding and protections for vulnerable people

Protections for people lacking mental capacity to be strengthened through major changes planned by the government to improve safeguarding
Changes expected to address deep-rooted issues within the system by reducing the need for intrusive processes, providing better support for families, carers and health professionals
Comes as Supreme Court reviews what counts as a deprivation of liberty in a case put forward by Northern Ireland

Vulnerable people lacking the mental capacity to make decisions about their care are expected to benefit from major changes to safeguarding and protections, following a consultation announced by the government today

The proposed Liberty Protection Safeguards aim to deliver improved protection and an easier and improved system to allow carers, psychologists, social workers and families to provide care to vulnerable people in circumstances that amount to a deprivation of liberty

The current Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards system is bureaucratic and complex, leading to poor understanding and application of the law by professionals, unacceptable distress for families and a backlog of 123,790 individuals, putting pressure on the social care system

The implementation of these new safeguards is expected to streamline processes and reduce the backlog of applications – focusing on those most vulnerable. A consultation on the Liberty Protection Safeguards will be launched in the first half of next year, seeking the views of those affected such as families, carers and practitioners including social workers, nurses, psychologists and occupational therapists. It will be jointly run by the Department of Health and Social Care and the Ministry of Justice

This delivers on calls from organisations including the Care Quality Commission, MENCAP and Mind for the implementation of new Liberty Protection Safeguards to replace the outdated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards

For example, under the current system

A lady in the advanced stages of dementia, who for over three years has had no concept of place, person or time and cannot walk, talk or chew, is required to have an assessment every year
The assessment involves a GP, social worker, care home staff, admin staff and her advocate, and results in a long, report to determine whether she should be deprived of her liberty and if the care home is the best place for her
Part of this assessment includes a GP visit who asks her a string of questions, despite this vulnerable individual having no indication of understanding or even awareness of anyone being there and cannot give any response
This repetitive process is distressing for her family to witness every year and to be told they are depriving their loved one of liberty. Many other people have conditions like this which are unchanging

Liberty Protection Safeguards will allow for existing assessments to be reused, or for assessments to last for longer than one year. This will reduce the need for intrusive processes, which can be harmful or distressing for individuals and their families, and will allow for better focus on people who most need support and protection

Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock said

“Safeguarding the vulnerable and protecting their rights is our absolute priority of this government – this is about fixing a broken system by hearing directly from those with lived experience and their families

“There is currently a shameful backlog in the system of unprocessed cases under the current system which means that people’s rights are not being protected. At the same time, we know that many people in the system and their families find these intrusive assessments distressing

“This is about ensuring we are fully focused on the most vulnerable people in our society and their families – understanding their needs, ending the maze of referrals and paperwork, and delivering the best protections and safeguards possible."”

A 2014 Supreme Court ruling, known as Cheshire West, established an ‘acid test’ which broadened the definition of what it means to be ‘deprived of liberty’ and led to an increase of 300,000 referrals between 2013-14 and 2023-24 – in addition to a backlog of 125,000 cases

Each case represents an extremely vulnerable person who needs comprehensive care and support and does not have the mental capacity to make decisions about their care alone

In August, Northern Ireland put forward a challenge to the Supreme Court about the Cheshire West ‘acid test’ and what is considered a ‘deprivation of liberty’. This is a challenge to the current Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, with any ruling having a UK wide impact

The UK government has been granted permission by the Supreme Court to intervene in this case – as it recognises the issue within the current system and sought to be part of this vital conversation and put forward a UK wide solution. The responses from this consultation will be used to inform a final Mental Capacity Act (2005) Code of Practice which will be laid in Parliament

The revised Code of Practice will incorporate changes in case law, legislation, organisational structures, terminology, and good practice since 2007 addressing critical challenges in the existing Deprivations of Liberty Safeguards framework

The last time the Mental Capacity Act Code of Practice and Liberty Protection Safeguards were consulted on was in 2022 which did not lead to any changes

If you have any further queries or plan on commenting publicly, please reach out to dhscexternalaffairs@dhsc.gov.uk

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 11:36:30 GMT

New In-House Training Courses from WMCA Launching January 2026 14 October 2025

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 10:31:01 GMT

Fair Pay Agreement - Consultation Process is now open and Government announces £500m in funding towards it 7 October 2025

WMCA Autumn Providers Conference: Taking your social care business forward in an uncertain world

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 19:51:25 GMT

WMCA Autumn Providers Conference:

Taking your social care business forward in an uncertain world

2nd October 2025

10.00am - 2.00pm

Discover strategies to elevate your social care business in an ever-changing landscape.

Join us at "Taking Your Social Care Business Forward in an Uncertain World" to gain insights, best practices, and networking opportunities that will empower you to navigate challenges and seize new opportunities.

Don't miss this chance to future-proof your organization and make a positive impact.

Register now!

These meetings are an opportunity for leadership teams to learn from other colleagues and to share good practice

Agenda:

10.00am - 10.30am

Welcome

West Midlands Care Association

10.30am - 11.15am

State of the Market

Christie & Co

11.15pm - 12.00pm

Business Planning and Energy Grants

Business Growth West Midlands

12.00pm - 12.30pm

LUNCH/BREAK

12..30pm - 1.15pm

Cost Control

Quality in Care

1.15pm - 2.00pm

Recruiting your future workforce

The Kings Trust

2.00pm

Conference Close

West Midlands Care Association

Agenda may be subject to change

Presentations

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 13:21:50 GMT

Calling all Registered Managers - Would you like to share your experiences to help others? 30 September 2025

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:06:55 GMT

Last Chance to book for our Autumn Conference! 23 September 2025

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 11:54:21 GMT

Limited Spaces left for our Autumn Conference Have You Booked Your Place Yet? 16 September 2025

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 09 Sep 2025 11:46:01 GMT

Have you booked your place at our Autumn Conference? 9 September 2025

International Recruitment: Get ready for the Employment Rights Bill (Part 3)

Thu, 04 Sep 2025 12:07:58 GMT

www.wmca.events

International Recruitment:

Get ready for the Employment Rights Bill (part 3 of 3)

4 September 2025

11:00am - 12:15pm

Virtual

Get ready for the Employment Rights Bill (Part 3)

As part of our broader employment law series, we will continue to look beyond international recruitment to explore the other key changes being introduced. These include bereavement leave, paternity leave and unpaid paternity leave, collective redundancies, flexible working, enhanced maternity dismissal protection, adult social care negotiating bodies and trade union rights.

We will be taking a look at the most common questions that we’ve been asked in previous webinars and over the international recruitment legal helpline, and explaining the answers to these. This will include TUPE regulations (the Transfer of Undertakings - Protection of Employment).

This event is delivered by West Midlands International Recruitment Partnership.

West Midlands Care Association is part of this partnership and is providing the event administration services.

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 12:38:20 GMT

Our Autumn Providers Conference is only one month away! Have You Booked Your Place Yet? 2 September 2025

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 09:47:34 GMT

New CAA Language Training Webinar

International Recruitment: Get ready for the Employment Rights Bill (Part 2)

Thu, 21 Aug 2025 12:04:52 GMT

www.wmca.events

International Recruitment:

Get ready for the Employment Rights Bill (part 2 of 3)

21 August 2025

11:00am - 12:15pm

Virtual

Get ready for the Employment Rights Bill (Part 2)

As part of our broader employment law series, we will look beyond international recruitment to explore key developments in workplace rights.

This session will focus on the new and upcoming duties to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, including responsibilities around third-party harassment. You'll also receive practical guidance on how to prepare for these changes and ensure compliance with the new legislation.

We will be taking a look at the most common questions that we’ve been asked in previous webinars and over the international recruitment legal helpline, and explaining the answers to these. This will include TUPE regulations (the Transfer of Undertakings - Protection of Employment).

This event is delivered by West Midlands International Recruitment Partnership.

West Midlands Care Association is part of this partnership and is providing the event administration services.

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 10:20:40 GMT

How will the Fair Work Agency impact your business? 19 August 2025

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 15:31:27 GMT

Member access to FREE legal support from our partner, HCR Law 12 August 2025

FREE Toolkit from Citation to prevent harassment in the workplace

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 09:46:37 GMT

Tackling Workplace Harassment - a FREE Toolkit

In October 2024 the Worker Protection Act 2023 introduced a legal duty for employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent harassment in the workplace. Now, the Employment Rights Bill is set to extend that duty further to include harassment from third parties like customers, clients and contractors.

If your employees interact with the public in any way, this change directly affects you.

To help, our Partner Citation has created a free toolkit that explains what the new rules mean for employers and the legislation around it.

It includes:

Risk assessment guidance – everything you need to know to create both your sexual harassment and third-party harassment risk assessments
Third-party harassment cheat sheet – a quick rundown of your new duty under the Employment Rights Bill
A guide to the Worker Protection Act – preventing sexual harassment in your workplace

Citation is here to help with hands-on support for HR & Employment Law and Health & Safety making it easy to stay on top of regulations. For more information call them today at 0345 844 1111 or click here to get started. Don’t forget to mention ‘West Midlands Care Association’ to access preferential rates!

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 10:57:52 GMT

Helping WMCA Members stay Cyber Secure 5 August 2025

Healthcare Employment specialist legal support

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 13:47:32 GMT

Healthcare Employment specialist legal support

Care providers are subject to a number of staff resourcing pressures due to high attrition rates and stringent regulatory requirements. Unfortunately, these pressures sometimes lead to employee disputes.

The impact of lengthy and costly employment tribunal claims on your care business increases cost pressures on providers and distracts from your service delivery. Our longtime legal parterners HCR Law's Healthcare Employment specialists are experienced in defending all types of Employment Tribunal claims, from straightforward wage disputes through to complex discrimination cases and whistleblowing action.

The employment team is 35-strong and based across 10 offices, meaning we can appoint the right lawyer for you to add maximum value at optimal cost. Combining our specialist Healthcare and Employment expertise, we’ve devised a dedicated tribunal claim service to help health and social care providers manage costs associated with defence litigation.

For more information click the button to download their brochure

Don't forget WMCA member's benefit from reduced rates and our free legal helpline

How will the Fair Work Agency impact your business – Download your FREE guide

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 13:38:16 GMT

How will the Fair Work Agency impact your business

Download your FREE guide

The new Fair Work Agency (FWA), part of the Employment Rights Bill, is set to overhaul how employment rights are enforced – and it’s not just talk. With inspection powers, the ability to charge enforcement costs and the ability to bring Tribunal claims, the FWA will be one of the most powerful regulators UK employers have seen.

So, to help you cut through all the noise, our Partner Citation has put together a FREE checklist to explain exactly what you need to know and do to stay compliant.

This simple, actionable free checklist covers:

Get expert-backed advice in a quick, easy-to-follow format.

Citation’s expert team helps businesses across the UK strengthen HR and Employment Law, Health & Safety and Employment Law compliance – so you can focus on what matters most. Call Citation on 0345 844 1111 or click the link above to learn more. Don’t forget to mention West Midlands Care Association to access your preferential rates!

Ally Cares win HSJ Digital Award 2025

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 11:20:35 GMT

Ally Cares win HSJ Digital Award 2025

 Join Ally Cares in transforming residents’ lives

Ally Cares believes in the power of technology to improve the lives of care home residents. Their partnership with WMCA is a significant step towards achieving this goal.

If you’re looking to enhance care quality, improve operational efficiency, and achieve better outcomes for your residents, discover how Ally can help. Contact them today to learn more about their innovative Resident Monitoring System and why it’s receiving such widespread acclaim.

For more information about Ally Cares and their cutting edge AI technology, visit https://www.allycares.com or book a virtual demo by calling 0203 026 4506 or email info@allycares.com .

********************

As part of Digital Transformation Fund (DTF) there is funding available for allocation to CQC registered homes to support Care Homes to introduce falls technologies to help identify and prevent falls and to engage in small pilots of other technology enabled care (TEC).

If you are interested to learn about your eligibility, what funding is available, and how the WMCA can support you through the selection and purchasing process, please click here .

Launch of our annual 'The Size and Structure of the Adult Social Care Workforce report'

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 16:27:37 GMT

Published July 2025 (data correct as at 2024/25)

Skills for Care have launched their annual report on the size and structure of ythe care workforce

This provides the most up-to-date and comprehensive overview of the size and structure of the adult social care sector and workforce in England. A short, written report is available: download a copy of the report here.

The methodology for this year’s report has changed from previous years. Adult social care related roles employed by the NHS are no longer included in the headline statistics for the size of the adult social care workforce. This change has been applied retrospectively to previous years, so the trends in this report are consistent. Comparing figures from this report to previous reports will not produce a valid trend.

Also, our estimates for the number of filled posts in the independent sector now come from our automated data pipeline. This has resulted in substantial improvements to our estimates over time and some figures have changed as a result from previous versions of this report. For further information, see our statement.

To download the data behind the visualisation below, including trended information, please see the Workforce estimates page.

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 29 Jul 2025 11:21:54 GMT

Windows 10 obsolete in October and Support for Nursing Placements 29 July 2025

Student nurses set for skills boost through new adult social care placements

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 12:00:41 GMT

Student nurses set for skills boost through new adult social care placements

Government launches strategy to embed adult social care placements in nursing degrees.
Move aims to encourage more students to pursue career in social care and give them valuable skills in community
Adult social care nurses will be critical part of neighbourhood health services launched under the government’s Plan for Change

Student nurses will have more routine access to adult social care training placements in their nursing degrees, as part of a new national strategy launched today (Wednesday 23 July).

The move aims to encourage more students to pursue a career in adult social care and give them valuable skills in care closer to patients’ homes, as the government shifts care from hospital to community under its Plan for Change.

The new strategy will embed adult social care placements into nursing degrees, giving students first-hand experience of working with services that help prevent unnecessary hospital admissions. Social care placements are currently not routinely offered to students.

Placements could be in a range of settings including residential care, supported living or home care, so that student nurses learn more about the prevention of ill health through early intervention.

Speaking at the launch event, Minister of State for Care Stephen Kinnock said:

“Nursing is a skilled, challenging, and deeply rewarding profession that plays a central role in the delivery of modern, compassionate, person-centred care.

“Too few student nurses currently consider a career in adult social care.

“That’s not because the work isn’t valuable, quite the opposite. It’s because the profession hasn’t always been visible.

“And for too long, outdated perceptions and limited exposure during training have made it harder for students to see what’s possible.

“This new strategy aims to change that.”

Developed with Skills for Care and the Council of Deans for Health, the Undergraduate Nursing Strategy aims to create stronger connections between students, universities, colleges, care providers, employers and the social care workforce

This will be driven by clear expectations of Higher Education Institutions, Care Providers and system leaders to offer the placement. Guidance will support universities and providers to co-design the placements that meet course requirements and offer real-world practice.

Students will get experience in supporting people with complex or chronic conditions such as learning disabilities, frailty or mental health needs, helping them manage symptoms and maintain quality of life in familiar settings.

Their community-based placements could include working with digital monitoring tools that help someone to stay safely at home, or work with families and community teams to put early support in place.

Working with people with chronic and acute conditions, students will learn to spot changes early and put in place interventions that help people stay well at home. This could be technology such as sensors, alarms or remote monitoring, which help to prevent falls.

Chief Nurse for Adult Social Care, Deborah Sturdy said:

“I am pleased to see the work of many colleagues from across Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), the social care sector, and many others come together to produce today’s placement strategy for social care.

“A placement in social care provides a rich opportunity for learning. Students will gain real insight into the breadth of care across the system and it opens up opportunities for their future careers.”

Through the Plan for Change, the government will deliver three fundamental shifts in healthcare from sickness to prevention; hospital to community; and analogue to digital.

The new national strategy will help to embed these shifts in education to support the delivery of the 10 Year Health Plan.

Social care nursing will play a vital role in these shifts, and delivering on this strategy will create a more integrated, sustainable, person-focused social care workforce – benefitting patients in improved community care.

Oonagh Smyth, Chief Executive of Skills for Care said:

“We are delighted to have worked with the Chief Nurse for ASC and the Council of Deans of Health to collaboratively develop this strategy to see social care as a nursing placement of choice for all undergraduates.

“I believe the ambition of this strategy will highlight the contemporary nursing opportunities in social care and align with the vision of the 10 year plan for health in England.

“Meeting the recommendations contained within the strategy will see care and education providers working in partnership to address the health and well-being of our population now and in the future.”

So far in 2025 there have been around 30,000 applicants for undergraduate nursing degrees.

The government will set out further details on the structure of clinical placements [in England] in the Professional Strategy for Nursing and Midwifery currently being developed by the Chief Nursing Officer for England (CNO), due to be published later this year.

This will ensure every nurse spends sufficient time across a range of clinical settings to create a meaningful placement experience that reflects modern practice.

Background:

Strategy to enable social care placements for student nurses and nursing associates

Skills for Care - Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 15:11:31 GMT

What is happening with the Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care webinar

On Tuesday 15 July 2025, Skills for Care was joined by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to share an overview of the Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) for adult social care.

During the webinar, colleagues at DHSC explained what a FPA is, why it is being introduced and what this means for the sector. Details about the Employment Rights Bill and how this provides the legislative framework for FPAs were also shared. The webinar explored how the Government has been engaging with the sector so far, and ways in which those working in adult social care can get involved, including plans for a public consultation later this year.

The event concluded with a Q and A

A recording of the webinar is now available for you to view.

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 14:07:42 GMT

WMCA Excellence in Care Awards - Just 1 week to go until the nomination window closes 22 July 2025

International Recruitment Compliance Changes: LIVE Webinar for care providers

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 09:33:38 GMT

www.wmca.events

International Recruitment Compliance Changes:

LIVE Webinar for care providers

22 July 2025

2.00pm - 3.00pm

Virtual

As part of our ongoing partnership with WM-ADASS to deliver the International Recruitment Programme 2024/25, we invite you to join an important webinar focusing on recent Sponsorship Compliance changes.

Rachael Crook, CEO and Co-Founder of Lifted, will be joined by her expert immigration team to discuss the upcoming changes that take effect from 22nd July 2025.

The session will include plenty of time for questions to address any concerns you may have.

This event is delivered by West Midlands International Recruitment Partnership.

West Midlands Care Association is part of this partnership and is providing the event administration services.

ADASS Spring Survey 2025

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 10:46:52 GMT

ADASS Spring Survey 2025

ADASS (the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services) have published the results of their Spring Survey. It paints a disturbing picture of how the decison makers within Local Authorities see the challenges facing social care including a collective overspend on social care of £774m this finacial year.

It highlights what we have been saying as a care association for years. The Sector needs to be adequately funded if it is to further relieve pressures on the NHS and deliver the quality of care that everyone deserves

A DASS Spring Survey 2025 Highlights

The 2025 adult social care survey highlights ongoing challenges and emerging opportunities in the sector. As government funding for social care remains tight amidst new reforms, the report underscores the pressing need to shift the narrative around adult social care—focusing on people, their independence, and well-being.

Despite the vital role adult social care plays in supporting individuals’ lives, issues such as underfunding, workforce undervaluation, and increased demand are intensifying pressures on councils and unpaid carers. These challenges hinder the sector's ability to fully implement government initiatives like hospital-to-community care, prevention strategies, and digital transformation.

Investing in preventative measures and early intervention is recognized as crucial for maintaining independence and reducing long-term care needs. However, budget constraints mean that funding for these approaches is at its lowest since 2021/22.

Looking ahead, the survey emphasizes the importance of involving those with lived experience in designing care solutions, exploring cost-effective policy changes, and making targeted investments to lay the groundwork for future reform. The ADASS community remains committed to working alongside policymakers, care providers, and service users to improve adult social care in the face of these challenges.

https://www.adass.org.uk/documents/adass-spring-survey-2025/

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 15 Jul 2025 12:48:35 GMT

WMCA Excellence in Care Awards - Just 2 weeks to go until the nomination window closes! 15 July 2025

International Recruitment: Get ready for the Employment Rights Bill (Part 1)

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 11:44:10 GMT

www.wmca.events

International Recruitment:

Get ready for the Employment Rights Bill (part 1 of 3)

10 July 2025

11:00am - 12:15pm

Virtual

Although this webinar is produced as part of our international recruitment programme, the next three sessions will take a broader focus.

During the next three sessions, Lester Aldridge will look beyond international recruitment and explore the significant changes being introduced by the Employment Rights Bill.

Our first session will cover:

Unfair dismissal rights
Fire and rehire practices
Limitation periods
Join us as we unpack these important developments and what they mean for employers.

Answers to frequently asked immigration and sponsorship questions

Law firm, Lester Aldridge, will be taking a look at the most common questions that we’ve been asked in previous webinars and over the international recruitment legal helpline, and explaining the answers to these. This will include TUPE regulations (the Transfer of Undertakings - Protection of Employment).

Data (Use and Access) Act 2025

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 14:12:50 GMT

Data (Use and Access) Act 2025

The Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 became law in June, introducing wide-ranging reforms to how personal data is used and protected across the UK. The Act affects all organisations that process personal data—including adult social care providers.

To help care services understand what’s changing, Digital Care Hub has published adedicated briefingexplaining how the Act applies to adult social care and what providers can do to prepare.

Pimp My Zimmer 2025

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 14:49:11 GMT

Pimp My Zimmer 2025

Congratulations to this year's winner

Woodlands Quaker Home - Wolverhampton

Zimmer Frames are a part of life for many older people but sometimes - particularly if they have dementia - they don't like using them as they cannot associate with them.

Research has shown that you can encourage your residents and service users to use their Zimmer Frame by decorating them with items or a theme that means something to them.

We've beenrunning the competition for many years now and each year we are astounded by the creativity from our members and their residents

This years competition was won by Woodlands Quaker Home in Wolverhampton (for the second time) with a Race Around the World Theme of over a dozen decorated Zimmer Frames .

Our CEO - Keiron Broadbent - went to present their prize hamper and to see their handywork for himself

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 12:50:29 GMT

Do you know a fantastic Activity Co-ordinator? Nominate them for a Care Award! 8 July 2025

Survey - Extreme Heat Risk Assessment Tool

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:38:56 GMT

Survey - Extreme Heat Risk Assessment Tool

Extreme heat can have a significant impact on people’s health and wellbeing. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is seeking feedback on a risk assessment tool they are developing, to support ASC providers to assess and respond to risks of people overheating during extremely hot weather. The draft tool is available through this survey, which can record your feedback and should only take 10 minutes to complete. The deadline for feedback is 14 ^th August 2025.

To complete the survey please use this link: https://snapsurvey.phe.org.uk/snapwebhost/s.asp?k=175092685713

Bespoke advice to take your business forward

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:30:37 GMT

Bespoke advice to take your business forward

Oxford Innovation Advice are proud to support the West Midlands Care Association by support business owners and the care sector to enhance their growth potential.

Our team of local, experts provide one-to-one coaching tailored to your unique funding journey. We go beyond mundane seminars to offer a dynamic, personalised experience.

We can help your business thrive financially and make sense of cash flow forecasts and profit and loss statements without the stress. With us, finance becomes clear, manageable, and a catalyst for your success.

Funded by West Midlands Combined Authority and delivered by Oxford Innovation Advice, the Business Growth West Midlands in Dudley and Investment Readiness Programme leverages over 30 years of experience supporting businesses like yours. We assist both new and established companies, as well as high-growth businesses seeking investment.

These programmes are fully funded and requires no financial commitment from you – just your time and energy. In return, you’ll receive comprehensive support and be connected with specialists who actively engage in your business to achieve financial fitness and growth potential. We don’t just present information; we roll up our sleeves and work alongside you.

Coming soon… Business Growth West Midlands and Investment Readiness - Webinars Social Care Sector

https://www.businessgrowthwestmidlands.org.uk/our-service/

https://www.investment-readiness.co.uk/contact/

Why Hiring Apprentices Can Transform Your Care Setting and Why Quality of Care Limited Should Be Your Training Partner

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 09:25:10 GMT

Why Hiring Apprentices Can Transform Your Care Setting and Why Quality of Care Limited Should Be Your Training Partner

In today’s fast-evolving care sector, the importance of a skilled, compassionate workforce cannot be overstated. As employers, you want your team to deliver the highest quality of care, encourage positive relationships with service users, and uphold the values that make your setting a trusted place for those in need. One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by investing in apprenticeships — a proven pathway to developing dedicated, competent, and motivated staff.

The Benefits of Apprenticeships in Care Settings

Bringing apprentices into your care setting offers numerous advantages. First, apprenticeships provide a structured pathway for developing practical skills alongside theoretical knowledge, ensuring that staff are well-prepared to handle the complexities of care work. This approach not only enhances the quality of care but also boosts staff confidence and job satisfaction.

Second, employing apprentices helps encourage a culture of continuous learning and professional development. Young people and career changers alike bring fresh perspectives and enthusiasm, which can invigorate your team and inspire innovative approaches to care. Additionally, investing in apprentices demonstrates your commitment to community engagement and workforce sustainability — crucial factors in an industry facing staffing challenges.

What’s more, apprenticeships can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your care setting. With the right training provider, you can ensure that your apprentices develop the skills and values that align with your organisational goals, ultimately leading to better outcomes for your service users.

Why Choose Quality of Care Limited?

When selecting a training provider for your apprentices, quality matters. That’s where Quality of Care Limited comes in. With over 30 years of experience in the care sector, they understand the nuances of delivering exceptional care and translating that expertise into effective training. Their long-standing commitment to quality is evidenced by their recent Ofsted inspection, where they achieved an overall GOOD rating — a testament to their high standards and continuous improvement.

What sets Quality of Care Limited apart is their OUTSTANDING rating for the Behaviours and Attitudes component of the inspection. This highlights their dedication to encouraging not just technical competence but also the core values and compassionate attitudes essential in care work. Their approach ensures that apprentices are not only trained to meet industry standards but also embody the kindness, professionalism, and integrity that define excellent care.

Supporting Your Workforce for the Future

Partnering with Quality of Care Limited means investing in a training provider that genuinely cares about your success and theirs. Their tailored support helps apprentices thrive, empowering them to become confident, capable members of your team. This, in turn, leads to a more resilient workforce, better retention rates, and ultimately, higher quality care for your service users.

Get in touch today to discover how apprenticeships can benefit your care setting and learn more about working with Quality of Care Limited — your partner in fostering excellence in care. www.qualityofcare.co.uk

WMCA's response to the NHS 10 Year Plan

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 14:36:29 GMT

West Midlands Care Association response to the launch of the NHS 10 Year Plan

The government has today launched the NHS 10 Year Plan. This is expected to be a fundamental reset for NHS, putting people back where they belong at the heart of the care that they receive. We welcome this ambitious plan and its aims.

The West Midlands Care Association is pleased to have been part of the NHS Change engagement programme and to have had an input to the plan, but we’re disappointed there is no plan for social care either within or alongside the NHS 10 Year Plan.

One part of the plan is to improve people’s access to the NHS and to shift care out of hospitals and into the community through the Neighbourhood Health Service.

We welcome the move to a community-focused approach and look forward to working with our colleagues in the NHS to make it a reality. We believe that neighbourhood health services will only reach their full potential for frail elderly people and working age adults who use social care services if neighbourhood working includes social care as well as health. It is crucial that social care be regarded as a key part of Neighbourhood Teams delivery from the outset.

Another aim in the plan is the switch from analogue to digital. We welcome this aim, which will streamline communication and make it much simpler for us all to interact with NHS. However, technology and information sharing needs to embrace social care to make the most of the single patient record and technology-enabled care and improve outcomes for people.

As an integral part of the health and care system, it is essential that social care play its part in the changes envisaged in the NHS 10 Year Plan from the outset. We cannot wait until Baroness Casey completes her work and try to catch up.

For social care to play its part, funding must follow the work so that care providers can work with NHS colleagues to provide the care and support needed by each individual.

NHS Fact Sheet:

What the 10 Year Health Plan means for you
Patients
Summary

Our health system is in crisis. If we don’t act now, we risk the NHS ceasing to exist as a publicly funded service, free at the point of use.
But if we seize the opportunities provided by new technology, medicines, and innovation, then we can deliver better care for all patients - no matter where they live or how much they earn - and better value for taxpayers.
Our 10-year plan, backed by £29b, will get the NHS back on its feet and to make it fit for the future.

From hospital to community
Easier to see your GP and end the 8am scramble for appointments, through more GPs, longer opening hours and a guaranteed online appointment in 24 hours.
A Neighbourhood Health Centre in every community, open six days a week, 12 hours a day and staffed by GPs, nurses, care workers, physios, mental health workers and employment advisors.
NHS dental appointments thanks to new dental contracts tying newly qualified dentists to the NHS.
Faster referrals to specialists, prescriptions from your pharmacist and 24/7 neighbourhood mental health centres and dedicated mental health emergency departments.

From analogue to digital.
A digital single patient record will spare you repeating yourself and allow clinicians to design care around you.
AI-assisted doctors and self-referrals at your fingerprints through the NHS app, self-referral for talking therapies, and digitised therapies.
A digital red book will keep your children’s health information in one place.

From sickness to prevention.
A partnership with supermarkets to set new standards for healthy options - making the health choice the easy choice for families.
A ban on energy drinks and a smoke free generation.
Expansion of weight loss services and treatments to tackle obesity.
New screening programmes, including home kits to test for cervical cancer.
More financial support for those on low incomes to help give kids the healthiest start in life.
We will continue to roll out Mental Health Support Teams in schools.

Publication: Fit for the Future: The 10 Year Health Plan for England https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/10-year-health-plan-for-england-fit-for-the-future

Easy read version: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/10-year-health-plan-for-england-fit-for-the-future-easy-read

Announcement - Neighbourhood Health: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-launches-new-era-for-nhs-with-easier-care-in-neighbourhoods

Announcement – NHS App : Press notice i

Changes to Immigration Rules for Adult Social Care Workforce: Key Updates

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:31:04 GMT

Changes to Immigration Rules for Adult Social Care Workforce:

Key Updates. Care worker visa to end 22 July 2025

On the 1st July 2025, the Home Office published a major Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 997), which marks the start of the implementation of the immigration reforms set out in the Government’s Immigration White Paper, published in May 2025.

These changes will take effect from 22 July 2025, and include important updates for the adult social care sector, particularly around international recruitment and in-country visa switching.

The full documents are available here:

Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 997)
Explanatory Memorandum
Ministerial Written Statement

Summary of Key Changes for Adult Social Care

End of Overseas Recruitment

The updated rules confirm that overseas recruitment into adult social care roles will end on the 22nd July 2025. A transition period will remain in place to allow for in-country applications, for those switching from other visa routes, to continue until 22 July 2028.

Transitional Arrangements

During the transition period, individuals already in the UK may still switch into the Health and Care visa route, but only under the following conditions:

They must currently hold a Health and Care visa and have most recently been sponsored under:

SOC 6145 (or 6135 since April 2024): Care workers and home carers, or
SOC 6146 (or 6136 since April 2024): Senior care workers

Alternatively, they must be switching from another visa route and have been legally employed by the care provider sponsor in a relevant role for at least three months at the time of application (e.g. a student working part-time in care).

Ongoing Visa and Settlement Rights

International care workers who are legally sponsored and working in the UK on 22 July 2028 will continue to be eligible to:

Extend their visa
Switch sponsors
Apply for settlement (subject to the rules in place at that time)

The Government has confirmed that it will consult on settlement rule changes later in 2025.

Changes Effecting the Displaced Worker Pool

Whilst the requirement for care providers to evidence engagement with the regional pool of displaced international care workers has been formally removed, this remains a vital source of information about candidates who are already in the country and available to work in the adult social care sector.

None of the above changes the requirement for regional partnerships, including the West Midlands, to support displaced international care workers to find suitable employment opportunities.

For more information about the West Midlands pool of displaced international care workers and associated support please visit: www.irwestmids.co.uk/hire-sponsored-care-workers (please note: this web page is in the process of being updated)

Strategic Planning Required

Care Providers may need to:

Invest in domestic recruitment and training
Reassess workforce models
Engage with local partnerships to access displaced international care workers

We recommend that Care Providers read the Q & A paper below

Q & A Paper

Citation: Sexual harassment in care and your duty to your employees

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 12:20:01 GMT

Citation: Sexual harassment in care and your duty to your employees

In any workplace preventing sexual harassment isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s a legal responsibility. As of October 2024, the Worker Protection Act introduced a new proactive legal duty on employers to take reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment at work. But this duty shouldn’t be seen as a tick-box exercise. It’s about creating a safe, respectful environment where everyone can thrive – especially in care, where personal interactions are the norm.

To give you a hand, the experts at our partner Citation are here to break down your duties and how you can comply.

What is sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment means unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature, for example unwelcome sexual advances, comments, jokes and gestures, that makes someone feel intimidated, degraded or humiliated. It can happen between colleagues or between managers and staff. Plus, even though the legislation doesn’t yet specifically cover third parties, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (‘EHRC’) guidance clarifies that you should also be taking reasonable steps to stop sexual harassment between employees and third parties like service users or visitors.

Proactive steps every care provider should take

1. Strengthen your policies

Make sure your anti-harassment policy is clear, accessible and up to date. It should include:

That harassment (including sexual harassment) is unlawful
What behaviour counts as harassment, including third party harassment
How staff can report concerns
What support and procedures are in place if reports are made

2. Carry out regular risk assessments

Look for any situations that might put staff at greater risk – such as working alone, power imbalances or high-stress environments. Cover interactions with any external parties (like visitors or service users) as well.

3. Train your team

Ongoing training helps staff understand what constitutes harassment and what to do if it occurs. Tailor sessions to your care setting and include guidance for managers on how to respond to reports effectively and sensitively. Refresh this training regularly to keep the knowledge front of mind.

4. Encourage openness

Foster a culture of respect and where people feel safe to speak up. Anonymous surveys, regular one-to-ones and an open-door policy can all help staff feel heard and supported – and make sure your staff know that their concerns will be taken seriously and handled confidentially.

5. Review and monitor

Policies aren’t a ‘set and forget’. Regularly review how effective your reporting and response processes are, and record incidents to spot patterns or gaps in protection. If you do spot gaps, make sure you update your policies and processes to address them.

You’ll also need to keep an eye on developments in this area. The Employment Rights Bill is working its way through Parliament and makes some big changes. Under its proposals, employers will have to take all reasonable steps to stop sexual harassment happening. Plus employees will be able to bring a legal claim if they suffer any kind of harassment by a third party.

Why does it matter?

If harassment isn’t properly tackled, you could face tribunal claims and reputational damage. With the EHRC empowered to take enforcement action, care businesses that don’t take the right steps could face penalties – including a potential 25% uplift in compensation at Tribunal.

Citation – here to help.

For more detail about your duty to prevent sexual harassment, read our full guide here , or check out our full risk assessment template . As a partner of the West Midlands Care Association, we know about the unique challenges care businesses face on a day-to-day basis. We’re here to take Health & Safety and HR & Employment Law off your plate, so you can get back to what you do best. If you’d like to have a chat about how we can help, call 0345 844 1111 or click here and don’t forget to quote ‘WMCA’ to access your preferential rates.

Key update from Realise - Relaxed Residency Criteria for Funded HSC Staff Training

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 11:33:55 GMT

Key update from Realise

Residency Rules Relaxed – Huge Win for Overseas Care Professionals!

In a major breakthrough for the adult social care sector, the West Midlands Combined Authority has officially announced that it will be adopting the changes to residency eligibility set out by the Department for Education and that these changes will come into effect from 1 August 2025 for care professionals applying for funded training and qualifications.

Until now, staff had to prove they had lived in England for three consecutive years (not including time spent in the UK on a student visa) to access funded learning opportunities. This outdated requirement has been a significant barrier for many skilled and passionate overseas workers.

But things have changed. Care professionals in the West Midlands are now eligible for funded training without needing to meet the three-year residency rule – opening the door to qualifications, career development, and long-term progression.

This bold move empowers care organisations to invest in their workforce, boost retention, and ensure high standards of care through ongoing development.

Even better? The West Midlands joins all non-devolved regions and West Yorkshire , which have also dropped this residency requirement. We believe this marks the beginning of wider reform , with hopes that all devolved regions will follow soon.

We’re expecting further updates and refinements to the eligibility rules in the coming weeks – and Realise will keep you informed every step of the way.

Don’t miss out.
�� Contact Realise today to find out how you and your team can benefit from this game-changing update.

Email us at hscsales@realisetraining.com

www.realisetraining.com

Why You Need to Track Your Care Costs – Month by Month, Year on Year

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 10:46:54 GMT

Why You Need to Track Your Care Costs – Month by Month, Year on Year

Download: Care Fee Cost Comparison Tool

So, what about your current costs.

If you’re not yet tracking your monthly costs in detail and controlling your spend, our Running Cost Calculator can help.

It enables you to:

Record actual monthly costs
Set realistic monthly budgets
Stay in control of your spending
Build a clear, data-backed picture of your financial performance

In conversations with commissioners over recent months, one thing has become clear: the more detail you can show, the easier it is to have constructive discussions about fee levels.

These tools will give you the evidence to help you do just that — demonstrating both the pressures you're facing and the steps you're taking to run an efficient, cost-effective service.

Try the Running Cost Calculator free for 30 days.

��️ Ready to take control? Use our free tools to track, evidence, and engage with confidence.

Why This Partnership Matters

Through our partnership with WMCA, we will provide members with:

Financial training to help managers and owners navigate rising costs.
Care-specific training, apprenticeships and diplomas to develop skilled, confident staff
Business support to ensure care businesses are strong enough to succeed in this demanding sector.

By working together, Quality of Care and WMCA will equip care providers with the tools and knowledge they need to survive and thrive in this extremely challenging sector. We are committed to supporting care businesses across the West Midlands, ensuring they remain financially stable and continue delivering the high-quality care their clients depend on.

If you're a WMCA member , we invite you to explore how we can benefit your business. Get in touch today to learn more!

To find out more:-

�� support@q ualityofcare.co.uk
�� www.qualityofcare.co.uk
�� 01902 297873

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 09:49:54 GMT

How can the Kings Trust help you with the future of your workforce? 15th July - Last chance to book your place on this webinar 1 July 2025

Members Workshop- EDI & Culturally Appropriate Care

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 08:13:42 GMT

www.wmca.events

WMCA Members Workshop- Equality, Diversity & Inclusion & Culturally Appropriate Care

3 July 2025

9:30am - 1:15pm

VENUE:

P ortway Lifestyle Centre,

Newbury Lane,

Oldbury,

B69 1HE

Attending this workshop on equality, diversity, and inclusion is essential for fostering a respectful and welcoming environment both personally and professionally.

This workshop provides valuable insights into the experiences and challenges faced by different groups, helping participants develop greater empathy and awareness. It will also equip attendees with practical strategies to promote fairness, eliminate biases, and support a culture of acceptance. By participating, you contribute to creating more inclusive spaces where everyone feels valued and respected, ultimately enhancing teamwork, innovation, and community well-being.

This workshop is for WMCA Members Only

AGENDA:

9:30am - 9:45am

Registration

9:45am - 10:00am

Updates from WMCA

Keiron Broadbent

Chief Executive

West Midlands Care Association

10:00am - 11:30am

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion within your workforce and service users

Suzanne Petrie

Locality Manager

Skills for Care

11:30am - 11:45am- BREAK

11:45am - 1:15pm

What is Culturally Appropriate Care and how to deliver it in your service?

Judith Timmins

Compliance Coach

Presentation Materials

International Recruitment: FAQs and Understanding TUPE regulations

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 13:34:20 GMT

www.wmca.events

International Recruitment:

FAQs and Understanding TUPE regulations

26 June 2025

WM-ADASS and WMEmployers are working with law firm, Lester Aldridge, to hold a series of webinars on international recruitment issues

Autumn 2025 COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 12:41:02 GMT

Autumn 2025 COVID-19 vaccination programme .

In follow up to our email in November 2024, we can confirm that today, the Department of Health and Social Care has accepted JCVI’s advice on the Autumn 2025 COVID-19 vaccination programme . Vaccination will be offered in England in autumn 2025 to:

Adults aged 75 years and over
Residents in a care home for older adults
Individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed, as defined in tables 3 and 4 of the COVID-19 chapter of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Green Book on immunisation against infectious disease

Citation: Upcoming Employment Rights Bill Changes - FREE Guide

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:21:10 GMT

Citation: Upcoming Employment Rights Bill changes - FREE guide

The government’s Employment Rights Bill is being hailed as the biggest update to workers’ rights in decades – bringing around 30 changes.

Whether or not it gets passed in July, one thing’s clear: change is coming . And with new rights like day-one unfair dismissal, revamped zero-hours contract rules and changes to Statutory Sick Pay, it’s never been more important to stay ahead.

Our Partner Citation is here to help. Their experts have created a brand-new, jargon-free guide to help you stay informed and prepared.

What’s inside?

Day-one rights to unfair dismissal - no more two-year wait, making fair, compliant processes essential from the start.
A fresh look at zero-hours contracts - a ‘right to guaranteed hours’ and other new duties for greater shift security.
Increased SSP rights - SSP from the first day of sickness and scrapping the lower earnings limit.
What you need to do now - practical advice on how to prepare and stay ahead so you’re not caught out.

Download your free guide today: https://tinyurl.com/2z85jj9d

Citation is here to help with hands-on support for HR & Employment Law and Health & Safety compliance with ease. Call Citation today at 0345 844 1111 or click here to get started. Don’t forget to mention ‘West Midlands Care Association’ to access preferential rates!

NWG Exploitation and Transition into Adulthood Forum

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 13:12:20 GMT

NWG Exploitation and Transition into Adulthood Forum - FREE Event

Please see below details of a free event being organised by the Solihull Safeguarding Adults Board on 7th October.

NWG Exploitation and Transition into Adulthood Forum

Citation: Recruitment & Retention

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 12:54:41 GMT

Citation: Recruitment & Retention

With hiring challenges showing no signs of slowing down, now’s the time to sharpen your approach to recruitment and retention .

Our Partner Citation has created a free expert guide to help you attract the right talent, build strong teams, and keep your best people on board.

It’s packed with practical, actionable advice, including:

Writing effective job adverts
Interview tips to find the right fit
Onboarding that sets new hires up for success
Proven strategies to boost retention

Don’t let talent gaps hold your business back – download your free copy today and take the next step toward a stronger workforce.

DOWNLOAD HERE: https://tinyurl.com/4dtsydnt

With Citation’s expert support, businesses can build healthier, more resilient workplaces while navigating Health & Safety, HR, and Employment Law compliance with ease. To learn more, call Citation on 0345 844 1111 or click here to get started and remember to quote ‘West Midlands Care Association’ to access your preferential rates!

Moving and Handling in a Complex Dementia Care Home: Ensuring Safety and Compassion with Quality of Care Limited

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 12:46:28 GMT

Moving and Handling in a Complex Dementia Care Home: Ensuring Safety and Compassion with Quality of Care

Why Choose Quality of Care Limited?

With over 30 years of experience in the care sector, Quality of Care Limited has established itself in delivering high-quality training programs tailored to the complex needs of dementia care homes and all other care settings. Their comprehensive moving and handling training sessions are designed to empower staff with practical skills, confidence, and understanding. The training emphasises the importance of risk assessments, proper use of equipment, and communication strategies that foster trust and reduce anxiety among residents.

What sets Quality of Care Limited apart is their commitment to ongoing support and updates. Recognising that best practices evolve; they provide refresher courses and tailored training solutions that reflect current regulations and innovative techniques. Their trainers are industry experts with extensive hands-on experience, ensuring that staff learn from real-world scenarios and gain insights into managing challenging situations effectively.

Investing in high-quality moving and handling training yields numerous benefits. It enhances staff confidence, reduces the risk of injury for both residents and carers, and promotes a safer, more respectful environment. For residents, this means dignity, less distress, and a better quality of life. For the care home, it translates into improved compliance with health and safety regulations, fewer incidents, and a positive reputation for delivering exceptional care.

Invest in your team today with Quality of Care Limited’s expert training sol utions. Because when it comes to dementia care, safety and dignity are always worth prioritising.

www.qualityofcare.co.uk

Why This Partnership Matters

Through our partnership with WMCA, we will provide members with:

Financial training to help managers and owners navigate rising costs.
Care-specific training, apprenticeships and diplomas to develop skilled, confident staff
Business support to ensure care businesses are strong enough to succeed in this demanding sector.

If you're a WMCA member , we invite you to explore how we can benefit your business. Get in touch today to learn more!

To find out more:-

�� support@q ualityofcare.co.uk
�� www.qualityofcare.co.uk
�� 01902 297873

WMCA Summer Conference - another successful event!

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 12:19:52 GMT

WMCA Summer Conference another successful event!

Last Thursday, 19th June, we hosted our last Registered Managers, Deputies and Seniors CPD Conference of the first series at the Bescot Stadium in Walsall.

This time we focused on the CQC Quality Statement ‘Is your Care Service Responsive ? ’

It was an educational and informative day, with approx. 70 care providers attending! See below for details of the event.

A huge thank you to all the speakers and exhibitors who supported us with this event.

**************************************************

We are now busy planning our WMCA Autumn Providers Conference: Taking your social care business forward in an uncertain world which will be held at The Portway Lifestyle Centre on Thursday 2nd October. Click here to find out more and register your place.

Registered Managers Panel Discussion

After lunch, the managers then split into separate residential and domiciliary care breakout rooms where the managers selected for the panels shared their experiences of implementing the ‘ Responsive ’ Quality Statement in their service .

Each manager on the panel shared tips a nd tricks for the audience to use to enhance their service and we were very grateful for their participation in the Q & A session delivered by Keiron and Shirley.

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:04:41 GMT

EDI & Culturally Appropriate Care Workshop - 3rd July - Last chance to book your place 24 June 2025

WMCA Registered Managers, Deputies and Seniors Conference - Is your care service responsive? (Archive)

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 10:26:04 GMT

www.wmca.events

WMCA Registered Managers, Deputies and Seniors Conference:
Is your Care Service Responsive?

19 June 2025

9.30am - 3.30pm

Venue:

Bescot Stadium

Walsall

WS1 4SA

Responsive

People and communities are always at the centre of how care is planned and delivered. The health and care needs of people and communities are understood and they are actively involved in planning care that meets these needs. Care, support and treatment is easily accessible, including physical access. People can access care in ways that meet their personal circumstances and protected equality characteristics.

We hosted the latest in our popular series of Registered Managers, Deputies and Seniors CPD Conferences - Is your care service responsive in June 2025

The conference looked at the various ways that providers can meet this particular Quality Statement

Agenda:

9.30am - 10.00am

Registration and Networking

10.00am - 10.30am

Welcome

Keiron Broadbent - Chief Executive, West Midlands Care Association

10.30am - 11.15am

How can care services meet the ‘Responsive’ quality statement?

Helen Nicholls - Operations Manager, Carol Hill, Inspector - CQC

11.15am - 12.00pm

Responsive: A Practical Guide to CQC Readiness

Sarah McCormack - Business Development Manager - Delphi Care Solutions

12.00pm - 12.45pm

LUNCH

2.00pm - 2.30pm

BREAK

3.15pm - 3.30pm

Raffle and Conference Close

Presentations:

Care Home Stream:

Home Care Stream:

Exhibitors:

(click on logos to visit websites)

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 10:38:05 GMT

Nominate your staff for a WMCA Excellence in Care Award 17 June 2025

IHSCM Leadership Training

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 13:00:13 GMT

www.wmca.events

IHSCM: How to be an Influential and Compassionate Leader

12 June 2025

10:00am - 4.00pm

Venue:

Portway Lifestyle Centre

Newbury Lane

Oldbury

B69 1HE

Joining instructions and venue information

WMCA MEMBERS ONLY

These meetings are an opportunity for leadership teams to learn from other colleagues and to share good practice

As WMCA is the designated IHSCM Care Hub for the West Midlands, WMCA are fully funding places on this course for our members.

The condition is that attendees sign up for their fully funded membership with IHSCM here (please request your discount code by contacting enquiries@wmca.care)

Lunch is provided

AGENDA

Susan Jones, Director of Social Care at the Institute of Health and Social Care Management (IHSCM) will be delivering a workshop on developing managers to be influential and compassionate leaders.

Content covered throughout the workshop will include:

Exploring how you can effectively influence the people in

your team and wider network with compassion at the heart

Exploring how creating psychologically safe teams increases

effectiveness.

Tools on persuasive language/techniques.
Tools to help you manage conflict and expectations.
Learn how the circle of influence enables constructive

conversations with families.

Learn how the above links to CQC standards

Research engagement and delivery within a changing social care landscape

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 15:27:10 GMT

 Research engagement and delivery within a changing social care landscape

You are invited to the NIHR's ENabling Research In Care Homes (ENRICH) Event (free of charge) on the 17th June in Birmingham where the NIHR will share best practices and ideas for research, celebrate you and the work you undertake and of course, provide lunch and opportunities for networking.

You can register for the event using t he QR code below or by following the link here and please see the attached agenda for their exciting line-up of speakers on the day.

International Recruitment: research and updates

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 15:01:14 GMT

International Recruitment: Research and Updates

King's College is carrying out an independent evaluation of the support provided through the IR Fund and the researchers are keen to speak to care providers and international care workers.

Reflecting on International Recruitment: Share Your Experience

King’s College London has been commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care to conduct an independent national evaluation of the support provided through the International Recruitment Fund 2024–25. This is your opportunity to share your experience.

Care Providers

The researchers are keen to hear from care providers who have recent experience of international recruitment including direct recruitment from overseas or international workers already in the UK. They are particularly interested in hearing from employers who have sponsored displaced international workers (have had visas revoked).

International Care Workers

Researchers at King’s College London also want to hear from international care workers who came to the UK but had to find a new employer since arriving in the UK because their original employer had their sponsorship licence revoked.

The researchers want to understand the experience of international care workers. This will include:

A confidential chat online or by phone (30–45 minutes)
International care workers will receive a £20 gift voucher as a thank-you
Everything shared is private – individual names and employers will not be identified

If you have any questions or you’d like to take part in this research or know and international care worker who might, please contact: Carl Purcell, Policy Research Unit on Health and Social Care Workforce, King’s College London – carl.purcell@kcl.ac.uk

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 11:15:15 GMT

Find out about EDI & Culturally Appropriate Care 10 June 2025

WMCA and CPI announce new partnership

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:48:29 GMT

WMCA and Crisis Prevention Unit (CPI) announce new partnership

Introducing Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI): Supporting Safer, Stronger Care Environments

The Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) is proud to partner with the West Midlands Care Association (WMCA) to support care providers across the region in delivering safe, respectful and high-quality care. For more than 40 years, CPI has been a global leader in behaviour management and de-escalation training, with a strong presence in the UK’s health and social care landscape.

Our mission is to advance prevention-first practices that protect the safety and dignity of everyone involved: staff, service users and families alike. We are committed to a person-centred approach that prioritises empathy, proactive planning and meaningful outcomes.

CPI’s core training programmes include:

Essential Care and Support: practical skills for frontline workers delivering personal care, rooted in dignity and safety.
Verbal Intervention™ : strategies for recognising and responding to escalating behaviours using trauma-informed communication and early intervention.
Safety Intervention™: a comprehensive programme that teaches how to manage risk, de-escalate aggression and apply safe, respectful disengagement and physical interventions when absolutely necessary, that includes both restrictive and non-restrictive physical skills.

Our programmes are designed to help staff confidently support individuals with complex needs while minimising conflict, injury and distress.

Meet Your CPI Contacts

Our partnership with WMCA is backed by the dedicated support of two Senior Account Managers:

Max and Charlotte are here to guide WMCA members through every step of their CPI journey, from choosing the right training path to ensuring successful, sustainable imp lementation.

A Partnership That Makes Sense for Care Providers

CPI and WMCA have come together with a clear, shared purpose: to strengthen the quality of care across the West Midlands by empowering teams with the knowledge and tools they need to prevent and manage challenging situations safely.

This partnership is designed to reach providers of all sizes, offer practical and cost-effective training options and create space for open, two-way dialogue about what really works in today’s care settings. WMCA members will have the opportunity to act as a collaborative focus group, influencing future training innovations and thought leadership projects that benefit the wider sector.

What We Hope to Achieve Together

Through this collaboration, we aim to reduce incidents in care environments, boost staff morale and confidence and show care workers that they are not alone in managing difficult behaviours. Most importantly, we want to help build long-term, trusting relationships with providers, working together to raise standards and improve outcomes for those you care for.

Member Benefits

As a WMCA member, you will gain discounted access to CPI programmes, personalised support from Max and Charlotte and the chance to implement a sustainable Train-the-Trainer model within your organisation. Our training helps improve staff retention, support individuals with more complex needs and deliver care in ways that are safer, more confident and more compassionat e.

Let’s Connect

Reach out to Max or Charlotte to explore how CPI can support your services.

�� moerton@crisisprevention.com | charrison@crisisprevention.com

Let’s create safer care together, starting today!

www.crisisprevention.com

International Recruitment: Accessing the West Midlands Displaced Care Worker Pool

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 13:06:22 GMT

www.wmca.events

International Recruitment:

Accessing the West Midlands Displaced Care Worker Pool

3 June 2025

WM-ADASS and WMEmployers are working with law firm, Lester Aldridge, to hold a series of webinars on international recruitment issues

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 11:22:38 GMT

Last Chance to Book onto our Summer Conference 3 June 2025

Meet our Exhibitors at the Summer Conference

Thu, 29 May 2025 14:20:23 GMT

Meet our Exhibitors

WMCA Registered Managers, Deputies and Seniors Conference

19th June 2025

NMW and NIC changes: implications for healthcare providers

Wed, 28 May 2025 11:08:10 GMT

NMW and NIC changes: implications for healthcare providers 

Click on the link below to find out how our legal partner, HCR Law, can support our members with the latest employment changes.

NMW and NIC changes: implications for healthcare providers

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 27 May 2025 09:59:03 GMT

How to Keep Control of Costs through Effective Rostering 27 May 2025

Christie & Co - 2025 Care Market Review - Operator Sentiment Survey

Thu, 22 May 2025 13:20:30 GMT

Christie & Co - 2025 Care Market Review - Operator Sentiment Survey

Our partner, Christie & Co, have launched a sentiment survey for care operators, the results of which will feature in their annual Care Market Review due in the autumn.

They have asked us to share this with our members as the more responses they have, the more insight they can gather for the report. All responses are anonymous, and attached is a copy of the 2024 report so you can see how the data is used.

For more information, contact Nicole Jones, Associate Director - Marketing

M: 07732 601 747
E nicole.jones@christie.com

www.christie.com

IR - E-Bulletin May 2025

Thu, 22 May 2025 12:45:56 GMT

International Recruitment E-Bulletin - May 2025

WM-Adass have asked us to share with our members their May 2025 IR E=Bulletin.

It includes programme updates, local innovation, and signposting to support both care providers and international care workers.

This issue includes:

The extension of the International Recruitment Programme to March 2026, alongside new immigration rules
A round-up of Local Authority Enhanced Support Offers
Spotlights on Coventry’s Welcome Event and Staffordshire’s Cooking Guide

You can access this via the IR Hub here: http://irwestmids.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/WM-International-Recruitment-Bulletin-14-May-2025.pdf

For further information, contact:

Emma Price

WM-ADASS Associate International Recruitment Programme

Email: Emma.Price@wm-adass.org.uk

07876 505 340

www.wm-adass.org.uk

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 20 May 2025 10:02:23 GMT

Do you need help with Equality, Diversity & Inclusion & Culturally Appropriate Care? 20 May 2025

Dementia Action Week - 19-25 May 2025

Wed, 14 May 2025 14:26:38 GMT

Dementia Action Week - 19-25 May 2025

Dementia Action Week is an awareness raising campaign. Each year, Alzheimer's Society works with individuals and organisations across the UK to encourage people to act on dementia.

This year they are focusing on diagnosis and highlighting to audiences the most common symptoms of dementia.

Diagnosis is vital to give people access to the care, treatment and support they desperately need. Yet, incredibly, 1 in 3 people with dementia do not have a diagnosis.

If you're worried about yourself, or someone close to you, get help describing your symptoms to a GP by filling in the Alzheimer's Society symptoms checklist .

Help the Alzheimer's Society to spread the word

Download Dementia Action Week resources including posters, flyers and banners to help spread the word about making dementia diagnosis a priority.

Find out more about Dementia Action Week including how you can get involved and get support for yourself or a loved one on the Alzheimer's Society website .

Electrical Maintenance Courses for Care Home Staff

Wed, 14 May 2025 10:50:00 GMT

Electrical Maintenance Courses for Care Home Staff

The Programme Manager for Construction in the Adults Skills Team at Solihull College and University Centre have asked us to share details of courses which may be of interest to our members as they have already been approached by a few care homes who have maintenance staff.

Please click on the links below to find out more:-

For more information, please contact: Shamira Bolia, Sector Skills Lead at Solihull College & University Centre
Campus Line: 0121 678 7000 | Direct Line: 0121 678 7037
Email: Shamira.Bolia@solihull.ac.uk

Website: Solihull College & University Centre

IR Safeguarding & Wellbeing Directory

Tue, 13 May 2025 15:03:43 GMT

International Recruitment Safeguarding & Wellbeing Directory

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new Directory for Safeguarding and Wellbeing Services , featuring key services across the West Midlands and nationally.

This provides information about a range of services – from preventing ill health, abuse, and crime, to organisations that help people whose behaviour may be causing harm to others. It will help anyone who needs to find support for others (or themselves) particularly if they have been affected by any type of crime.

It was produced as part of the West Midlands International Recruitment Programme 2024/25 but can be applied much more widely. It is designed to provide quick access to help, advice, and action because safeguarding is a shared responsibility.

You can access the Directory via WM-ADASS here .

Further information and support regarding International Recruitment can be accessed on the WMCA website .

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 13 May 2025 12:48:12 GMT

Is your Care Service "Responsive"? 13 May 2025

Care recruitment from overseas to end - home secretary

Mon, 12 May 2025 09:23:44 GMT

The Home Secretary - Yvette Cooper - announced on Sunday (11 May 2025) that it is "time to end care worker recruitment from abroad". This was followed by the launch today by the Prime Minister of a Government White Paper on immigration

The Home secretary stated that rules will change this year - requiring firms to hire British nationals or extend visas of overseas workers already in the country.

I think all of us would agree that recruiting from within the UK workforce is a better and cheaper solution but as many of our members know too well, that is not as easy as politiicians seem to think.

It already looks like 2025 is turning out to be Social Care's 'Annus Horribilis' with both inflation busting increases in National Minuum Wage and Employers National Insurance Contributions, removing the option to recruit from overseas when there is not a large local pool to recruit from, feels like another twist of the knife

As always the devil is in the detail and we'll let you know more as infomation becomes available.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/restoring-control-over-the-immigration-system-white-paper

Care Sector News

Wed, 07 May 2025 13:03:38 GMT

Care Sector News

New NICE guidance: Falls: assessment and prevention in older people and in people 50 and over at higher risk

This guideline covers assessing risk of falling and interventions to prevent falls in all people aged 65 and over, and people aged 50 to 64 who are at higher risk of falls. It aims to reduce the risk and incidence of falls, and the associated distress, pain, injury, loss of confidence, loss of independence and mortality. Details here .

Workshop for care leaders: Understanding how older people can thrive in care homes: Wednesday 14th May, 12-2pm

Our ‘Thriving in Residential Care’ research is the UK’s largest qualitative research study of the experiences of older people living in care homes. In the research, we identified 6 key ways that older people can be supported to thrive in care homes.

We’re running a dedicated workshop to support care services in taking this research forward! Join us for 2 hours online, and find out how you can use the research in your care service to enhance quality of life! More here .

Age UK’s new campaign ‘Act Now, Age Better’ hopes to start a national conversation about how becoming more physically active in our 50s and 60s can ensure a happier, healthier and more independent later life.

New research by Age UK shows that three quarters of midlifers (adults aged between 50 – 65) equivalent to 10 million - worry about staying healthy as they age.

Age UK has launched its new preventative campaign ‘Act Now, Age Better’, which hopes to start a national conversation about how becoming more physically active in midlife can ensure a happier, healthier, more independent later life. Details here .

Is your Care Business now at least 10% worse off?

Wed, 07 May 2025 11:29:37 GMT

Is Your Care Business Now At Least 10% Worse Off?

If you haven’t increased your revenue to cover April’s cost rises, then of course, with April’s payroll run, your business will now be impacted by these rises, as around 10% of your gross profit will have been wiped off overnight , and we are in damage limitation mode.

So, I urge you to watch my video and follow the process I show you to increase your revenue as soon as you possible can to negate the cost rises and make your care business financially robust as quickly as you can.

The sooner you do this of course the better, so please watch this video now and begin the process I take you through.

Here is the link to the video.

Beyond Survival: Key Steps to Financial Sustainability

Feel free to contact us at support@qualityofcare.co.uk if you have any questions or need further help

To find out more:-

�� support@q ualityofcare.co.uk
�� www.qualityofcare.co.uk
�� 01902 297873

Empowering your staff to positively manage their mental health and wellbeing

Wed, 07 May 2025 10:16:22 GMT

Empowering your staff to positively manage their mental health and wellbeing

Sue Jones, Director of Social Care for the Institute of Health and Social Care Management will be speaking at our upcomin g Members Virtual Conference: Your Essential Guide to Recruiting and Retaining Staff in Your Service on 21st May 2025.

Sue's presentation will focus on "Empowering your staff to positively manage their mental health and wellbeing"

You can find out more about Sue and the IHSCM below.

********************************************************************************

For more information, contact Sue Jones on 02920 660299 or 07704 009810 or email: sjones@ihm.org.uk

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 06 May 2025 10:11:54 GMT

Launch of WMCA's Annual Excellence in Care Awards nomination window! 6 May 2025

International Recruitment: Responding to Sponsored Workers Requests

Fri, 02 May 2025 13:01:29 GMT

www.wmca.events

International Recruitment:

Responding to Sponsored Workers Requests

2 May 2025

WM-ADASS and WMEmployers are working with law firm, Lester Aldridge, to hold a series of webinars on international recruitment issues

HMRC Brief 2 (2025): the use of VAT grouping within the care industry

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 13:14:41 GMT

Revenue and Customs Brief 2 (2025): the use of VAT grouping within the care industry

This brief provides information about the treatment of state-regulated care providers that form a VAT group with non-state-regulated providers of welfare services. Details here .

Tax update spring 2025: simplification, administration and reform summary

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 12:45:57 GMT

Tax update spring 2025: simplification, administration and reform summary

The government has announced a package of tax and customs administration and simplification measures that will collectively reduce administrative burdens to save taxpayers and traders time, and will increase certainty, allowing businesses to focus on adding value to the economy.

The package covers measures to support economic growth by reducing burdens on employers and increasing certainty for businesses. It aims to modernise and reform HMRC systems and processes to simplify the experience for individuals and traders and covers measures to modernise outdated elements of the tax and customs system and tackle the backlog of reform.

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 13:28:20 GMT

Last Chance to Book! Fire Prevention in Your Service Users Home Training Event 29 April 2025

International Recruitment: Performance Management of International Recruits

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:55:56 GMT

www.wmca.events

International Recruitment: Pay Redundancy & Maternity

24 April 2025

WM-ADASS and WMEmployers are working with law firm, Lester Aldridge, to hold a series of webinars on international recruitment issues

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 10:42:28 GMT

Virtual Recruitment & Retention Virtual Conference - book your place! 22 April 2025

WMCA Spring Providers Conference 2025: Is Your Care Service Ready for the CQC's New Environmental Sustainability assessment?

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 10:41:28 GMT

www.wmca.events

WMCA Spring Providers Conference:

Is Your Care Service ready for the CQC's New Environmental Sustainability assessment?

27 March 2025

9.30am - 3.00pm

Venue:

The H Suite

100 Icknield Port Road

Edgbaston

Birmingham

B16 0AA

Joining Instructions and Venue Information

We hosted our Spring conference in March 2025

The CQC are introducing a new quality statement focused on business's environmental sustainability , that care businesses will need to evidence in 2025.

The conference looked at the proposed changes and how care providers can ensure they are committing to environmental sustainability as part of their business plan.

Agenda:

9:30am – 10:00am:

Registration & networking

10:00am – 10:15am

Welcome

Keiron Broadbent, Chief Executive, West Midlands Care Association

10:30am – 11:15am

Q&A session - Practical ways to achieve CQC requirements

Annie Spilsbury, Net Zero & Sustainability Lead, Birmingham City Council

Jag Khatkhar, Director, Oak View Care Home

11.15am - 11.45am

Break

11.45am - 12.30pm

Environmental Sustainability within your care business

Hannah Montgomery, Grace Cares

12.30pm - 1.15pm

Lunch

1.15pm - 2.00pm

The new Commercial Recycling directive and how this will impact your business

Kate Oliver, Partner, Risk and Regulatory Team, HCR Law

2.00pm - 2.45pm

Decarbonising your supply chain (and saving money doing it)

Andrew Childers. Beyond Procurement

2.45pm - 3.00pm

Raffle and Conference Close

Program subject to change

Presentations:

Exhibitors

Statement from the Care Association Alliance which we wholeheartedly endorse

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 12:45:45 GMT

We at the Care Association Alliance are deeply disappointed by the actions of Labour MPs in the House of Commons yesterday (19 ^th March).

A Liberal Democrat amendment to exempt health and care providers from a rise in National insurance Contributions was defeated by 307 votes to 182.

As a result, on 6th April hard-pressed social care providers will be hit with increased bills they can’t afford.

This vote is another damaging blow to our sector which could well leave many people without the care and support services they rely on, as it will push many care providers over the brink. The government has dismantled the core principles and ethos of the Care Act 2014 and abandoned millions of vulnerable people who depend on the care sector.

The impact will also be felt by the NHS, which will experience even more difficulties in discharging patients from hospital.

This is a dark day for adult social care, and we call on the Chancellor Rachel Reeves to think again and exempt health and care providers from this NIC increase.

In the meantime care associations are ready to work with local authorities, care providers and NHS colleagues to do the best we can for those who rely on care and support in what will be very difficult times.

Melanie Weatherley MBE,

C0-Chair of the Care Association Alliance

For media information please contact:

Jez Ashberry

Director

Shooting Star

jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk

01522 528540 / 07780 735071

International Recruitment: Pay, Redundancy and Maternity

Thu, 30 Jan 2025 10:51:46 GMT

www.wmca.events

International Recruitment:

Pay Redundancy & Maternity

30 January 2025

WM-ADASS and WMEmployers are working with law firm, Lester Aldridge, to hold a series of webinars on international recruitment issues

WMCA Registered Managers, Deputies and Seniors Conference - Is your care service effective?

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 17:14:20 GMT

www.wmca.events

WMCA Registered Managers, Deputies and Seniors Conference:
Is your Care Service Effective?

23 January 2025

9.30am - 3.00pm

Venue:

Bescot Stadium

Walsall

WS1 4SA

Effective

People and communities have the best possible outcomes because their needs are assessed. Their care, support and treatment reflects these needs and any protected equality characteristics. Services work in harmony, with people at the centre of their care. Leaders instil a culture of improvement, where understanding current outcomes and exploring best practice is part of everyday work.

We hosted our ever popular Registered Managers Conference in January 2025

Following on from the previous themes of are you Well Lead, Safe, and Caring, we continued with exploring CQC themes with 'Is your service Effective?'

Agenda:

9:30am – 10:00am:

Registration

Meet exhibitors

Coffee catch up & networking

Plenary Sessions

10:00am – 10:15am

Keiron Broadbent, Chief Executive, West Midlands Care Association
Shirley Way, Head of Area, Skills For Care

Welcome and what does Effective mean?

10:15am – 11:00am

Keynote

Lindsay Rees RGN

Head of Product Content

Quality Compliance Systems

How to instill a culture of continuous improvement

11.00am - 11.45am

Trish Fowler

Capacity Tracker

Senior Delivery Manager North of England Care System Support

Why is benchmarking important and how to effectively benchmark your organisation

11.45am - 12.00pm

Break

After the break we will split the conference into separate home care and care home streams

12.45pm - 1.45pm

Lunch

2.45pm - 3.00pm

Raffle and Conference Close

Presentations :

Pleanary Sessions

Home Care Stream:

Care Home Stream:

Exhibitors booked:

Another Commission to sort out Social Care (how many is this now?)

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 11:35:30 GMT

Another Commission to sort out Social Care (how many is this now?)

Wes Streeting announced on Friday that he is "to finally grasp the nettle on social care reform", but said the process "would take time".

An independent commission, chaired by Baroness Louise Casey, will begin work in April but is not due to publish its final report until 2028. Yes another independant commission. How many is this now? We're still no closer to finding a sustainable and workable solution to ensuring Social Care is both accessible and affordable. 2028 is far to long to wait when the sector is on its knees and the NHS which depends on the Social Care sector to survive is not far behind.

I'd like to say I'm surpised, but I'm not. The Prime Minister has often stated that any meaningful changes to Social Care provision would not come until a second term of a Labour Government. so 2028 being at the end of this current parliament is in line with those statements.

Trying to be positive (my resolution for 2025 - I doubt it will last), Baroness Casey, who will be heading up the commission does have a good track record of chairing commissions and has a reputation for being sensible. The commission is due to make preliminary recommendations on medium term solutions in 2026 with the long term recommendations at its conclusion in 2028.

Unfortunately, we do not know what the political landscape will look like in 2029. There's a very real likelihood that political colours could change and yet another report, like Dilnott will end up sitting on a shelf while the new government announces 'exciting new plans to sort our Social Care once and for all' ( I said I was trying to be positive - nothing about keeping my cynicism under wraps), and so the merry-go-round continues.

If the government is serious about 'grasping the nettle' surely it can move up the timetable? Those that deliver Social Care at least deserve that.

Keiron Broadbent

Chief Executive Officer

West Midlands Care Association

Local Government Settlement will not cover what's needed

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 15:03:36 GMT

The Local Government Funding Settlement for 2025/26 has been announced. It will not cover what's needed in Social Care

The Government announced it's Local Government Funding Settlement today. GIven the already announced increases in Employers National Insurance Contributions and the National Minimum Wage, todays announcement has been greatly anticipated across the care sector and local government. Unfortunately it has fallen well short of what is required for the sector to flourish.

Amongst the various figures announced today, £880m has been allocated to local authorities as additional funding for social care.

This is an increase on the previously announced £680m but falls far short of the additional £2b that the Local Government Association (LGA) had said was needed as a minimum to cover the increased costs.

This is in stark contrast to the £25b that has been promised for the NHS. The Government is happy to throw money at the NHS (and I'm not suggesting it doesn't need it) but it does not seem to grasp that without the care sector the NHS will ultimately fail. The two are inextricably linked but it does feel that the DHSC would be better off reverting to it's previous name as it seems more representative

We know those in local government commissioning were just as concerned as we were about this announcement and whether it would be adequate. We now know it was not, and will add increased pressure on stretched local authority budgets and force already struggling care providers to think seriously as to whether now is the time to throw in the towel.

The government supposedly has high aspirations on supporting the care sector and developing a national care service. The sector is at a tipping point, and without more investment now, those aspirations will never happen.

Keiron Broadbent

Chief Executive Officer

West Midlands Care Association

WMCA joins LGA and other sector bodies in calling on the Government to invest in Adult Social Care

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 09:40:37 GMT

WMCA joins LGA and other sector bodies in calling on the Government to invest in Adult Social Care

Over 100 organisations have signed a public statement calling for Government to work with the sector to mitigate the pressures on councils, providers and charities.

Funding for adult social care is an investment in us all, not a cost ⤵️

https://www.local.gov.uk/about/campaigns/future-adult-social-care/joint-statement-strengthening-adult-social-care-and

WMCA Review of 2024 & Looking Ahead to 2025

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 15:50:17 GMT

WMCA Review of 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2025

An interesting year politically

Key Highlights from 2024

Events:

2024 was certainly a busy year for us. Our events have not only become larger in scale but have also significantly enhanced in terms of content and impact. This has been instrumental in supporting our members in elevating their care businesses and fostering a strong sense of community.

Conferences

Our popular conferences have continued to focus on critical aspects of care services. We kicked off 2024 with our January Conference based on the CQC theme “Is your care service SAFE?” focusing on protection from abuse and avoidable harm for both staff and service users.

Our Spring Conference in April focused on the challenges facing social care by focusing on legal issues, compliance, and business continuity planning , which continue to be crucial areas that are essential for the effective management and sustainability of organisations within this field.

This was followed up with our summer conference in July based around the CQC theme of “Is your care service CARING?” highlighting the importance of being treated with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect for both staff and service users.

Finally, our Autumn Care Summit in October was a Cyber Conference focusing on the importance of digital care records and the benefits, challenges, and security implications of transitioning to digital health records.

All of these conferences were well attended with valuable insights provided by the expert speakers. The events offered a platform for knowledge sharing and networking opportunities.

Registered Managers Events

Our popular Registered Managers Networking Events had a relaunch earlier this year. These are now managed and run by Skills for Care and provide excellent opportunities for Registered Managers and senior care staff to connect, share best practice and learn from one another.

You can find details of these Networks on our website by clicking here .

Nurses and Clinical Leads Network

Members' Training Workshops

2024 has seen us offering more in-person and online workshops for our members which has significantly enhanced the learning experience and engagement of our members. We have offered the following workshops :-

HCR Law Legal Drop-in Surgery (online) – these drop-in workshops are run by our law firm partner, HCR Law and focus on addressing legal queries from our members as well as addressing the proposals for change at the CQC. The next Drop-in Surgery is on 27th February and you can book here .
Tools for Running a Successful Care Business – this was a very well attended series of online workshops focusing on 4 difference themes –Getting the Basics right in your Business, Recruitment & HR, Compliance and Controlling your Business.
Business Continuity Planning Webinar
Sustainability and Net Zero Webinars run by Aston University Birmingham City Council
Safeguarding

Digital Support

International Recruitment

DBS Processing

Despite the recent rise in the cost of DBS applications, the WMCA remains competitive with its pricing and provides a personal and friendly service as a counter signatory organisation for DBS applications. Our customer support and guidance ensure our DBS customers have a point of contact for a quick and speedy response to any DBS queries they may have.

Competitions

Workforce Development Fund (WDF)

2024 saw the end of our WDF funding, due to the Department for Health and Social Care re-shaping the offer to the new Learning Development Support Scheme (LDASS), under the new Labour government.

We spent the first half of the year clearing up the last applications for WDF and releasing funds to care providers for their completed training courses.

Discounted and FREE Bus Travel

Throughout this year we have delivered to partnerships offers to our members through the National Express and Transport for the West Midlands (TFWM).

We were able to agree for these organisations to offer discounted bus travel in the first half of the year and then free bus travel for the second half to adult social care workers.

This is something we will be striving to continue for 2025.

Looking Ahead to 2025

We are committed to sustaining this momentum by continuously improving our event offerings and creating more opportunities for our members to thrive. We are already planning an even more ambitious lineup for 2025, with the aim of reaching new heights and making an even greater impact on the care sector.

The Autumn Budget in October left many of us feeling that social care was being largely ignored and there are challenges ahead.

However, despite these worrying and challenging times for social care, we will continue to support our members through our lobbying activities both local and national, and with training events, webinars and conferences offering continued support to ensure they can deliver sustainable excellence in community, nursing, special needs and residential home settings.

International Recruitment: The rollout of e-Visas and what they mean for care providers

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 10:44:50 GMT

www.wmca.events

International Recruitment: The rollout of e-Visas and what they mean for care providers

5 December 2024

11:00am - 12:15pm

Virtual

WM-ADASS and WMEmployers are working in partnership to hold a live legal webinar, which will focus on preparing providers for the rollout of e-Visas.

Edward O’Brien, Senior Associate, at Law Firm Lester Aldridge will discuss the impact on evidencing Right to Work and provide a general overview of Right to Work responsibilities.

Workshop Series- Tools for Running a Successful Care Business

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 15:56:02 GMT

www.wmca.events

Tools for Running a Successful Care Business Workshop Series

Workshop 4- Controlling Your Business

Wednesday 4th December 2024

9:30am - 11:30am

Chris Briggs

Director

Quality of Care

Beyond Survival: Key Steps to Financial Sustainability .
Cost reduction/control

Charlie Jones

Chief Operations Officer

BKR Consultancy

Business Continuity Planning

CQC and Council Environmental requirements

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 13:19:05 GMT

www.wmca.events

The Stress Free Way to Meet the CQC and Council Environmental Requirements

3 December 2024

2:00pm - 3:30pm

On Zoom

Reducing the energy you use in your organisation not only reduces carbon emissions, which is good for the planet, it also saves money.

Local Authorities are increasingly looking to decrease their carbon emissions and many are working with their suppliers to help them achieve this. The CQC is also requiring providers to produce a Green Plan from April 2025.

This can seem daunting but there is help at hand. Birmingham City Council and Solihull MBC are working together to provide extra support on sustainability and environmental issues for SME businesses.

We’re starting off with a fact packed training session hosted by WMCA and Birmingham and Solihull councils can help with in-depth support after that.

This event is relevent to all local authority areas not just Birmingham and Solihull

Agenda:

2:00pm

Keiron Broadbent

Chief Executive

West Midlands Care Association

Introduction

2:05pm

Tonia Clark

Principal Finance and Bids Officer, Route to Net Zero Team, Birmingham City Council

Introduction to sustainability

2.20pm

Sharon Muxworthy

Birmingham City Council

Social value requirements

2.30pm

Tonia Clark

Principal Finance and Bids Officer, Route to Net Zero Team, Birmingham City Council

Meeting the green and sustainable elements

2.40pm

Tonia Clark

Principal Finance and Bids Officer, Route to Net Zero Team, Birmingham City Council

Meeting the CQC requirements for sustainability

2.50pm

Will Broad

Birmingham City Council

Funding available

3:00pm

Tonia Clark

Principal Finance and Bids Officer, Route to Net Zero Team, Birmingham City Council

Next steps

3.05pm

Questions/discussion

Workshop Series- Tools for Running a Successful Care Business

Thu, 28 Nov 2024 15:53:12 GMT

www.wmca.events

Tools for Running a Successful Care Business Workshop Series

Workshop 3- Compliance

Thursday 28th November 2024

9:30am - 12:15pm

Peter Cheer

Director

Peter Cheer Consultancy

Safeguarding outcomes and preventing further harm

Simon Beck

Digital Project Officer

West Midlands Care Association

Protecting your data

Andrew Childers

Chief Executive

Environmental sustainability advice/support and how it can help reduce your running costs

Judith Timmins

Compliance Coach

How to manage the new CQC framework

Andrew Childers

Chief Executive

Environmental sustainability advice/support and how it can help reduce your running costs

BSOL Nurses and Clinical Leads Network

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 12:52:39 GMT

www.wmca.events

Nurses and Clinical Leads Network Meeting

26 November 2024

2.00pm - 4.30pm

Virtual

These meetings are an opportunity for Nurses and Clinical Leads to learn from other colleagues and to share good practice

They are open to all Nurses and Clinical Leads within the Birmingham and Solihull ICB Area.

Agenda :

2.00pm

Louise Luckman, Senior Clinical Quality Assurance Lead

Introduction and Welcome

Housekeeping

2.10pm

Andrea Westlake, Director of Adult Social Care Nursing

Update

2.30pm

Louise Luckman, Senior Clinical Quality Assurance Lead

Short update from the Integrated Care Board

Short 1 slide updates from

· ICB Quality Assurance Team

· Patient Safety ~ Patient Safety Syllabus

· Activities network

2:45pm

Rachel Harrison

Birmingham Hospice

rachel.harrison@birminghamhospice.org.uk

Birmingham Hospice

Palliative Care

3.05pm

David Fry

david.fry1@nhs.net

Update on Dementia and End of life platform

3.25pm

Keiron Broadbent, Chief Executive, West Midlands Care Association

kb@wmca.care

International Recruitment - support for care providers

3:45pm

Patience Rocha

Perry Locks

Patience.Rocha@hc-one.co.uk

Manager perspective of ICB assessment

4.00pm

TBC

David Jones, ICB

IPC Update

4:10pm

Jo-Anne Wilson – Registered Manager – British Legion

Update from Social Care Advisory Board

4.15pm

Lucy McDonald. Locality Manager. Skills for Care

Update from Skills for Care

4.25pm

Questions from the chat

Topics for next meeting

Presentations:

Social care providers at risk of collapse as analysis reveals cost to sector of employer national insurance hike

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 15:41:26 GMT

Social care providers at risk of collapse as analysis reveals cost to sector of employer national insurance hike

Changes to Employer National Insurance Contributions announced last month look set to cost the adult social care sector over £900m next year, more than wiping out the extra funds allocated to social care at the recent Budget, new analysis reveals today.

Based on an approximation of the entire wage bill for the independent social care sector in 2025/26, to which the forthcoming changes to Employer National Insurance are applied [1], the analysis finds that:

The planned 1.2 percentage point increase to Employer National Insurance Contributions (ENICs) and the reduction of the earnings threshold for employer contributions from £9,100 to £5000 in 2025/26 will add in the region of £940 million more to the employer national insurance bill for independent (non-public sector) social care organisations, compared to the current regime.
This estimated figure is slightly above that contained in a line later retracted from the Office for Budget Responsibility’s costings of the costs to government of covering employers’ national insurance in adult social care.
The 6.7% increase to the National Living Wage (the minimum wage for those aged 21 and over) will add an estimated £1.85bn to the total wage bill in 2024/25 compared to the current financial year, assuming as in previous years that all wages above the minimum also rise at a roughly similar rate to maintain differentials in earnings.
Taken together, these add an estimated £2.8bn of cost pressures to social care providers, the majority of which are small or medium-sized organisations with limited ability to absorb additional costs.
With local authorities purchasing around 70% of care delivered by independent social care providers, councils would need to find an extra £2 billion if they are to increase the fees they pay to offset these higher costs – immediately consuming both the £600m extra funding allocated to social care (for both children and adults) at the Budget and the effects of an increased local government grant and changes to council tax rates (expected to yield around £2bn in total) for all council services.

Commenting on the analysis, Natasha Curry, Deputy Director of Policy at the Nuffield Trust, said:

“Faced with a series of financial black holes in almost every corner of the public sector, the government faced the unenviable task of urgently raising funds at the Budget to plug them. But by choosing not to provide support to adult social care providers in covering the costs of the raise in ENICs, the result is likely to be catastrophic.

“Already fragile after a decade of cuts, runaway inflation and the effects of Covid-19, adult social care was in desperate need of relief. But this was a Budget that gave with one hand and took away with the other. The government rightly wants to reform social care, but with the real prospect of swathes of the social care market collapsing under these extra cost pressures, there may be little left of it to reform unless the government takes urgent action to cover ENICs for adult social care providers.”

[1] The Nuffield Trust’s analysis calculates the impact of the 1.2 percentage point increase to Employer National Insurance Contributions (ENICs) and the reduction of the earnings threshold for employer contributions from £9,100 to £5000. Drawing on publicly available data it creates an estimate of the wage bill for the entire sector once the minimum wage changes come in and applies the effects of the ENICs changes, deducting changes to the Employment Allowance.

Tools for Running a Successful Care Business - Meet the Speakers

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 16:29:17 GMT

Tools for Running a Successful Care Business – Workshop Series

Meet the Guest Speakers

Workshop 1 – The Basics of Running your Care Business – 7th November

BKR Care Consultancy Ltd (BKRCC) specialises in working with a range of care providers, adult and children’s, across the UK to deliver best practice initiatives and develop safer care and educational environments. BKRCC also work with, and for, stakeholders such as local authorities to drive quality across a variety of settings.

They offer a range of services across all types of health and social care settings: schools; care homes, adult and children; GPs and hospitals, both private and NHS; pharmacists and many more business types to drive and maintain quality.

Charlie Jones is the Chief Operating Officer at BKRCC and presented two slots about “Business Planning” and “Building a Client Base (aiming for private payers and how to guide)”.

With over 20 years nursing experience in a variety of care environments Charlie oversees many of the projects undertaken by BKRCC. As part of this role she manages the day to day operations of the 30 consultants who are involved in BKRCC’s varied projects. In addition, her experience in clinical management, as well as tribunal and hearings, enhance the services provided by BKRCC.

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Workshop 2 – Recruitment and HR – 14th November

The health and social care team within our legal partner, HCR Law is among the most knowledgeable and experienced in the sector. They’re passionate about supporting businesses across the health and social care sectors, and are constantly refining their services to meet the needs of a fast moving and highly regulated sector.

WMCA members have access to a FREE legal helpline where you can ask specialist healthcare lawyers, HCR Law, for advice on a vast array of issues affecting your business.

Stephanie Hallett is the head of Eagle HR within HCR Law and will be presenting on “Ethical Recruitment and Interviewing Legalities”.

Stephanie specialises in employment and immigration. The focus of her work is supporting her clients and making sure that they can make the progress they want, with the right people and all the right HR procedures in place.

Getting to know businesses well means that she can give exactly the support they need, drawing on the wider experience of the whole team too so that they benefit from a real breadth and depth of experience.

Stephanie works with a diverse range of firms, from major manufacturers and charities to veterinary and dental practices, as well as a range of SMEs in several sectors.

Our partner, Citation have been providing expert Health & Safety, HR and Employment Law advice to businesses like yours for over 25 years taking the complication out of compliance. Whether it’s building a solid and reliable team or managing the one you’ve got, Citation can save you time and money and offer quality expert advice - all under one roof. WMCA members have access to a FREE HR advice line with Citation .

Flora Neville is an Associate and Speaker with Citation and will be presenting on “Equality, Diversity & Inclusion”.

Flora is a professional Associate Speaker with over eight years of experience at Citation. As a small business owner herself, Flora has first-hand experience navigating the complexities of business compliance, which drives her passion for making topics like HR, Employment Law, and Health & Safety more accessible. She works closely with both the Legal and Professional teams at Citation to simplify these challenging subjects into easily digestible information, easing the burden for business owners. Flora also leads Citation's dynamic live and virtual events program across the UK. Her mission is straightforward: to help businesses thrive by ensuring they remain safe, successful, and compliant.

*************************************************

Workshop 3 – Compliance – 28th November

Peter Cheer, Director of Peter Cheer Consulting will be presenting on “Safeguarding Outcomes and Preventing Further Harm”.

Having previously been operations director of a large national charity providing social care services, Peter has worked as an independent consultant since 2015. He has supported care providers in areas such as safeguarding, business continuity, care quality and governance. He also has extensive experience of project management, including acting as Programme Manager for the Care Provider Alliance’s Improving Care Sector Engagement programme, and as Programme Manager for the Better Security, Better Care programme, funded by NHSX.

Peter is Independent Chair of the Safeguarding Board at Midland Heart Housing Association, and previously held a similar role at the charity Friends of the Elderly. He also works as an Associate Consultant at the Institute of Public Care at Oxford Brookes University, and as a retained social care consultant at Anthony Collins Solicitors.

Judith Timmins, Director of Compliance Coach will be presenting on “Managing the new CQC Inspection Framework”.

With an extensive background in both nursing and business management, she is ideally qualified to guide your business towards operational excellence and increased revenue.

As a registered State Enrolled Nurse, Judith quickly gravitated towards geriatric care. With professional experience in environments working to benchmark clinical care standards, Judith can readily assess a client's quality of service and identify opportunities for development. Her business management skills led her to identify that many businesses in the residential care sector were missing cost-effective solutions to meet CQC criteria and better place themselves for continual improvement.

Andrew Childers, CEO of Beyond Procurement will be presenting on “Environmental Sustainability”.

Beyond Procurement Ltd is the procurement consultancy for improving business profits while caring for the planet. They provide cost and carbon reduction solutions to businesses, BIDs, local authorities, growth hubs and membership organisations in a knowledgeable, caring and concise manner.

Andrew has an extensive career spanning blue-chip, central government, local government, not-for-profit, and private sector organisations. With 28 years of executive level business experience. Andrew established Meercat’s in 2007 to help and support businesses of all levels.

Simon Beck is one of the Digital Project Officers with WMCA and he will be presenting on “Protecting your Data”.

The Data Security Protection Toolkit (DSPT) covers such areas as your privacy and data protection policies, how you store and backup data, how you secure mobile devices, business continuity in the event of a cyber incident and how you manage your IT security and support.

FREE Support is available to help ALL CQC registered care providers complete the Data Security Protection Toolkit through the national Better Security Better Care program of which WMCA is the Local Support Organisation for the West Midlands.

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Workshop 4 – Controlling your Costs – 4th December

Chris Briggs from Quality of Care will be presenting on “Beyond Survival: Key Steps to Financial Sustainability” and “Cost Reduction and Control”.

Quality of Care (QoC) was established to help care providers establish and run successful care home and home care businesses.

One of QoC’s co-founders, Chris Briggs, has worked in corporate tech companies, owned a software company and been a business strategy consultant before joining the care sector and seeing a need for the help that Quality of Care provides.

BKR Care Consultancy are returning to this workshop. Their Chief Operating Officer, Charlie Jones, will be returning to present a slot on “Business Continuity Planning”.

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There is still time to book your space for the remaining Workshops – click here for more information .

Letter to Wes Streeting - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 17:22:05 GMT

The Care Association has today sent the following letter to Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to express our concerns on the implications of the increases to National Insurance and the Minimum Wage announced in the Budget.

Rt Hon Wes Streeting MP

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Department of Health and Social Care

39 Victoria Street

London

SW1H 0EU

12 November 2024

Dear Secretary of State,

On behalf of the West Midlands Care Association (WMCA) and our care provider members (providers), we write to express urgent concerns regarding the implications of the 2024 Autumn Budget on the social care provider market. This Budget has generated significant anxiety among social care providers, who employ the majority of the 1.59 million people (as of 2023/24) working across the adult social care sector in England delivering £68.1 billion in essential community care and support services.

As the representative body for nearly 600 member social care providers across the West Midlands, Herefordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, WMCA supports care homes, nursing homes, domiciliary care, supported living, day services, and many more. Local Care Associations like ours, along with our provider members, play a critical role within the Health and Social Care Neighbourhood Model, delivering person-centred care and support throughout our communities and neighbourhoods.

We are deeply concerned that, unless fully addressed, the financial pressures introduced in this Budget could severely compromise the stability and sustainability of social care services in our region. Social care, chronically underfunded for years, now faces an existential risk due to mandated wage cost increases set to take effect from April 2025:

National Living Wage: Set to rise by 6.7% to £12.21, with rates for younger workers increasing by 16.3% to £10 and for apprentices by 15.2% to £8.60.

Employer National Insurance (NI) Contributions: Increasing by 1.2%, with a lowered threshold to £5,000.

While these wage increases are critical to attracting and retaining talent, they impose a severe financial strain on social care providers already constrained by fixed fees set by Local Authorities. Unlike industries such as retail or leisure, where prices can be adjusted to offset increased costs, social care providers rely on Local Authority fees for financial sustainability.

This dynamic creates substantial challenges, as providers lack the resources to absorb these rising costs without sufficient support. The impact on the sector could be devastating, resulting in:

Provider Closures: Rising wage costs may force some providers out of the market, creating further strain on Local Authorities and the NHS.
Workforce Attrition: The many providers currently paying above the National Living Wage (NLW) may be compelled to revert to the new NLW, leading to attrition as workers seek higher-paying roles elsewhere. Such workforce losses could exacerbate pressures on the NHS, increasing A&E attendance and delaying hospital discharges.
Negative Outcomes for Service Users and Increased NHS Pressure: Disruptions in care services will inevitably impact vulnerable populations, placing additional strain on local healthcare systems and almost certainly increased length of stay in hospital due to delayed discharges.

We are also concerned that, while NHS employers will receive compensation for the increased NI contributions, there is no declared commitment to similarly support social care providers. This discrepancy undermines our shared aim of aligning support for both health and social care, as emphasised in the Darzi report. Divorcing social care reform from NHS support could prevent us from achieving effective, sustainable outcomes for those who rely on our services. Moreover, three strategic priorities for the NHS—Hospital to Community, Analogue to Digital, and Treatment to Prevention—can only be fully realised through robust partnership and integration with the wider social care sector. Additionally, the overall costs of healthcare delivery would be increased as people would spend more time in the most expensive healthcare setting (the acute hospitals) rather than the most cost efficient (the community).

In light of these concerns, we respectfully request assurance that these additional wage costs, due to take effect in April 2025, will receive full funding to support the sector’s stability. Such a commitment would alleviate significant uncertainty and enable providers to make sound decisions for the future. Prompt action to provide these assurances could prevent premature provider exits, helping to mitigate further pressure on the system especially as we enter the winter season.

We are fully committed to working with our Local Authorities and our provider members to minimize disruption to local essential services and ensure optimal outcomes for those in our care. We look forward to your support and partnership in addressing these pressing matters.

Thank you for your attention and consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Keiron Broadbent

Chief Executive Officer

West Midlands Care Association

Workshop Series- Tools for Running a Successful Care Business

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 15:51:25 GMT

www.wmca.events

Tools for Running a Successful Care Business Workshop Series

Workshop 2- Recruitment and HR

Thursday 14th November 2024

9:30am - 11:30am

On Zoom

Session 1:

Eagle HR (part of HCR Law)- Ethical Recruitment & Interviewing Legalities

Stephanie Hallett

Head of Eagle HR

Ethical recruitment
Interviewing legalities

Session 2:

Citation- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Flora Neville

Associate & Speaker

Citation

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Session 3:

West Midlands Care Association- DBS need to knows

Keiron Broadbent

Chief Executive

West Midlands Care Association

DBS need to knows

Business Continuity Planning webinar

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 12:55:41 GMT

www.wmca.events

Business Continuity Planning webinar

11 November 2024

10.00am - 12:00pm

On Zoom

We bring to you an informative and educational webinar, in partnership with Birmingham City Council, around hints and tips for successful business continuity planning.

This is open to all care providers in any area.

Budget 2024: Where was Social Care?

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 16:24:09 GMT

Budget 2024: Where was Social Care?

So this much anticipated budget has finally come and gone. There were no major surprises – most of it had been leaked over the last few weeks anyway, probably the new governments way of testing the water and not doing a Liz Truss – but there are major concerns.

Firstly, where was social care? Some impressive headline figures to support the NHS (unsurprisingly) but the only mention we could see of social care was an extra £1.3bn for local authorities, including £600m for social care.

To put that into perspective, that’s a similar amount to some of the Covid grants the sector received, which let's face it, although useful, didn’t scratch the surface of what was needed.

Far more worrying are the increases in Employers National Insurance Contributions and the above inflation rise in the Minimum Wage. We know many of our members are stretched financially and no one has budgeted for this. What has probably also been overlooked in all this, is the inevitable increases in costs in the supply chain as companies try to recoup some of these costs by passing them onto the consumer, further adding to the cost pressures. We’re very concerned that this might be too much for many to absorb.

So, what next? Thankfully the increases don’t come in until 1 April next year which gives us time to start having conversations with our commissioning bodies, but unless they also receive an increase in their funding settlement (nothing on that yet) I feel troubled times are ahead.

Keiron Broadbent

Chief Executive Officer

West Midlands Care Association

A Very 'Awarding' Evening

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 11:28:54 GMT

A Very 'Awarding' Evening

It was our pleasure last Friday (25th October) to host the seventh WMCA Excellence in Care Awards. It was a fantastic night and celebration of Adult Social Care.

We handed out 8 Awards, bringing the total number of award recipients to 46 since we started them seven years ago. Since we started we have received over 1500 nominations and have shortlisted 116 individuals for an award. We even continued the awards during the pandemic, taking them online because colleagues still wanted to nominate their friends and colleagues to recognise what they do - and that’s where we need to pause and take stock as to why we need awards.

Putting on an awards night is no easy task; it takes a lot of resource in both time and money - and I must thank my wonderful team for making it happen - but we’d never think twice about not doing it. It’s our way of saying thank you to our members, for everything they do, day in and day out. Particularly as so much of what they do goes unrecognised.

No one seeks recognition for what they do in care but it’s important that we have nights like the WMCA Excellence in Care Awards to do precisely that.

Too much doom and gloom surrounds the sector and it’s easy to be dragged down by it. Seeing the 150 people in the room on Friday, enjoying themselves and celebrating each other reminds us that it is sector that has to be cherished.

We don’t shout out loud enough about everything that is good about Adult Social Care and I hope by putting on these awards we may have raised the volume!

Keiron Broadbent

Chief Executive Officer

West Midlands Care Association

Lack of Financial Recognition “Disgraceful”, says CAA Co-Chair

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 15:40:54 GMT

A “disgraceful lack of financial recognition and reward” for workers in adult social care is prolonging the recruitment crisis in the sector, according to the Co-Chair of the Care Association Alliance.

Welcoming the State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England report published today (10 ^th October) by Skills for Care , Melanie Weatherley MBE said the incoming Labour government needs to tackle the issue of low pay and lack of recognition for care workers.

The report shows that the care sector faces ongoing domestic recruitment and retention challenges, although international recruitment drove improvements in the adult social care workforce in the year to March 2024.

The State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England report published today (10 ^th October) shows that the workforce grew to 1.71 million filled posts while vacancies fell to 131,000 on any given day for the second successive year.

Just under a quarter of people working in care (24.2%) left their jobs in 2023/24, and among independent and local authority employers the turnover rate fell to below 1 in 4 (24.8%) for the first time since 2014/15, down from 29.1% the previous year.

However, the report confirms that these positive trends are mainly due to the record level of international recruitment in 2023/24, and it says the sector is still struggling with domestic recruitment and retention.

“This is an important report which shines more light on the recruitment challenges that the adult social care sector is facing today,” said Melanie Weatherley MBE, Co-Chair of the Care Association Alliance.

“The social care sector in this country continues to experience significant workforce challenges, and without our international recruits it is unclear how we could have continued to enable individuals to live their best lives and to support our NHS colleagues.

“At the root of the problem is a disgraceful lack of financial recognition and reward for the skilled work that care staff do, and this issue should be at the top of the to-do list of the new Labour government.”

In 2023/4 105,000 international recruits started working as care providers in the independent sector, while the number of UK nationals in the workforce shrank by 30,000. Over the two years since March 2022, 185,000 international recruits joined the workforce and the number of UK workers fell by 70,000.

The report shows that the supply of international workers is declining, which makes the challenge of recruiting domestic care workers even more pressing.

An estimated 8,000 new international recruits started work between April and June 2024, compared with an average of 26,000 per quarter in the year to March – a decrease of over two-thirds.

To arrange an interview with Melanie Weatherley MBE, please contact Jez Ashberry at Shooting Star by calling 07780 735071 or by emailing jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk .

Notes to editors:

The Care Association Alliance brings together more than 50 local care associations, representing over 7,000 care providers across the breadth of adult social care provision. We are the national voice of local care provision.

Visit their website: https://www.caa.care/ .

You can read the State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England report here

For media information contact:

Jez Ashberry

Director

Shooting Star

01522 528540 / 07780 735071

jez@weareshootingstar.co.uk

Workshop Series- Tools for Running a Successful Care Business

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 11:54:33 GMT

www.wmca.events

Tools for Running a Successful Care Business Workshop Series

Workshop 1- The Basics of Running Your Care Business

Thursday 7th November 2024

9:30am - 11:30am

On Zoom

Session 1:

BKR Care Consultancy- Creating a Successful Business Plan

Session 2:

Building a Client Base (focusing on the private payer)

Charlie Jones

Chief Operations Officer

BKR Care Consultancy

Session 3:

West Midl;ands Care Association:

Marketing your business

Keiron Broadbent

Chief Executive

West Midlands Care Association

HCR Law Legal Drop in Surgery for Members

Wed, 09 Oct 2024 15:07:31 GMT

Members Legal Drop in Surgery

Wednesday 16 October 2024

10:00am - 11:00am

On Zoom

This legal update webinar is for WMCA members ONLY.

Our law firm partners, HCR Law will be answering any legal questions our members may have.

Don't miss out on this exciting membership offer!

WMCA Autumn Providers Conference: West Midlands Cyber Summit

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 15:32:54 GMT

www.wmca.events

WMCA Autumn Providers Conference:
West Midlands Cyber Summit

3 October 2024

9.30am - 3.00pm

Venue:

Bescot Stadium

Walsall

WS1 4SA

We hosted our Autumn Providers Conference on Thursday 3 ^rd October, at the Bescot Stadium in Walsall.

This time, our conference was focused on Digital Social Care and Cyber Security, due to October being Cyber Security Awareness month!

We were thrilled to welcome our expert guest speakers in this area:

Katie Thorn – Project Lead – Digital Care Hub - Presented on Where is the care sector now in the digital world and where are we going?
Michelle Ohren – Detective Inspector – The Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands - Presented on Mastering Cyber Security in Your Business
Kerry Beynon- Partner (Commercial Team)- HCR Law - Presented on Is GDPR Still Relevant?
Leesa Newbould – Business Development Executive- Person Centred Software - Presented on Digital Medication Managemen t
Marie Hawkes-Smith – Business Development Manager – Ally Cares - Presented on What is Sensor Based Falls Prevention Technology?

It was a very informative day, with lots of essential information shared with care providers.

Learning points to come out of the day consisted of:

Ensuring you use Multi Factor Authentication on all your devices, ensuring there is more than just your password protecting your data
Use Password Manager software on your device to save all your passwords in a secure place (to ensure you don’t forget any and to enable you to have a different password for every account?
More and more care providers are now using ChatGPT Artificial Intelligence to support them in writing policies and procedures (BUT DO NOT USE THESE TO INPUT SERVICE USERS DATA OR WRITE CARE PLANS AS THIS IS A SHARED NETWORK AND NOT SECURE)
It is recommended you complete your Data Security Protection Toolkit (DSPT) to enable you to prove you take data protection seriously and have the correct procedures in place.
There is a Digital Skills Framework which providers can use to assess their digital knowledge and areas for learning
GDPR is still relevant and if you have any dealings with other countries, you must ensure that their GDPR regulations are the same as the UK or risk being investigated and fined.
Digital Medication Management can reduce mistakes within the workplace, reduce staff time inputting data and holds individuals accountable.
Sensor Based Falls Technology allows staff to continuously be in the room with residents overnight through recording any sounds while residents sleep, to enable for a smoother shift handover and quicker reaction time if there are any issues.

Thank you for everyone who came and we look forward to the next conference at the Bescot Stadium, which will be our Registered Managers, Deputies and Seniors CPD Conference on 23 ^rd January, focusing on CQC Quality Statement, ‘Is Your Service Effective’?

Book your place now.

Agenda

9:30am – 10:00am:

Registration

Meet exhibitors

Coffee catch up & breakfast (pastry selection)

10:00am – 10:30am

Keiron Broadbent, Chief Executive, West Midlands Care Association

How WMCA can help you on your digital journey

10:15am – 11:00am

Katie Thorn. Digital Care Hub

Where is the care sector now in the digital world and where are we going?

11.00am - 11.30am

Break

11.30am - 12.15pm

Michelle Ohren, Managing Director, The Cyber Resilience Centre for the West Midlands

Mastering Cyber Security in Your Business

12.15pm - 12.45pm

Kerry Benyon

Partner- Commercial Team

HCR Law

Is GDPR still relevent?

12.45 - 1.30pm

Lunch

1.30pm -2.15pm

Leesa Newbould, Business Development Manager, Person Centred Software

Digital Medication Management

2.15pm - 3.00pm

Marie Hawkes-Smith, Business Development Manager, Ally Cares

What is Sensor Based Falls Prevention Technology?

Why is it important and how can it support your business?

What funding is available in your area to support the implementation of this?

3.00pm

Conference Close

Presentations

Exhibitor List
(click on the logo for more info):

WMCA Members Safeguarding Workshop

Wed, 25 Sep 2024 10:19:06 GMT

www.wmca.events

WMCA Members Safeguarding Workshop

25 September 2024

10.30am - 12.30pm

Venue

Dudley Canal Trust

501 Birmingham New Road

Dudley

DY1 4SB

This will be the first of our series of training workshops for our members with this one focusing on Safeguarding.
These meetings are an opportunity for leadership teams to learn from professionals, other colleagues and to share good practice.
They are open to all care staff, from our member organisations, across the Midlands
Refreshments provided and tickets are free of charge

Agenda:

10:30am – 10:45am

Keiron Broadbent, Chief Executive, West Midlands Care Association

Introduction to the WMCA Members Workshops series

10:45am – 11.30am

Peter Cheer, Peter Cheer Consulting

What to look for in a Safeguarding Audit?

How to Ensure Your Service has a reliable Safeguarding Process

11.30am - 12.15pm

HCR Law

Safeguarding facts

What are the Legal Implications of not following Safeguarding laws?

12.15pm - 12.30pm

Keiron Broadbent, Chief Executive, West Midlands Care Association

Workshops roundup

Speaker Presentations

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact events@wmca.care

Benefits of WMCA Membership - Care Association Alliance

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 14:58:20 GMT

Did you know that by being a member of WMCA you are part of a network of over 9000 care providers?

Your membership of WMCA brings numerous benefits, but you may not be aware that you are part of the largest network of care providers in England.

The Care Association Alliance is a network of over 50 local care associations of which WMCA was one of the founding members. Originally set up as a platform for local care associations to network and share good practice, it has grown over the last few years into the most representative network of care providers in England.

The Care Association Alliance (CAA) effectively operates as the national lobbying arm of the local care associations, giving us a voice at Westminster which is listened to by national government . It also ensures that we get to hear about government announcements and policies as they happen, and very often to influence them before they do. The two co-chairs along with support from officers from across the local care association networks work tirelessly representing the sector with the DHSC, CQC, and ADASS.

To find out more check out their website , or click the CAA logo below.

WMCA Registered Managers, Deputies and Seniors Conference - Is your service caring

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 10:47:36 GMT

www.wmca.events

WMCA Registered Managers, Deputies and Seniors Conference:
Is your Service Caring?

4 July 2024

9.30am - 3.00pm

Venue:

The Portway Lifestyle Centre

Oldbury

We hosted our third Registered Managers, Deputies & Seniors CPD Conference on 4 ^th July. This time we focused on the CQC Quality Statement ‘Caring’ .

Approximately 100 people attended this event, to learn how they could ensure their care service is delivering this part of the CQC singular assessment framework.

We were delighted to welcome some inspiring speakers for the day including:

Marina Ibrahim from Globility Coaching
Melanie Dawson from the Lawns Nursing Home in Worcestershire
Katie McCauley and Shirley Hall from Royal Star and Garter in Solihull
Sylwia Juranek from the Missing Link Ltd in Wednesbury, Sandwell.
Shirley Way from Skills for Care

As well as a fantastic group of exhibitors, who added great value to the scope of the event, including:

Presentations and materials from the day

Tools for running a successful care business

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 12:40:21 GMT

www.wmca.events

Tools for running a successful care business

4 May 2024

Virtual

This event was an opportunity for new and current care business owners to discover useful tools to run their care business effectively and to learn about next steps.

Presentations and materials from the day

Autumn Care Summit Presentations

Fri, 20 Oct 2023 12:53:31 GMT

TRAINING - Personal Development

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 09:20:45 GMT

www.wmca.training

Personal Development

27 April 2026

10.00am - 1.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £21.00

Non Members £35.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 16 that are mapped to the Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

They can be used as part of an induction, refresher or as the theoretical component of the Care Certificate. The courses are interactive, engaging and discussion driven with questioning throughout to ensure learning is achieved. At the end of each session an interactive assessment is conducted to solidify the learning experience, ensuring professionals are well-equipped to deliver high-quality care.

Module 2 of 16:

Personal Development

This course emphasises the importance of continuous personal and professional growth for individuals working in health and social care. It aims to equip learners with the skills to create a personal development plan, enhance their knowledge, and refine their abilities to provide high-quality care.

Course Benefits

Encourages proactive learning and self-improvement.
Helps individuals set achievable career goals.
Enhances confidence and effectiveness in care roles.
Supports professional development and career progression.

Course ref: CC2

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

National Cyber Security Show

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 10:15:41 GMT

www.wmcrc.co.uk

National Cyber

Security Show

28-30 April 2026

NEC Birmingham

FREE

Join us on the 28-30 April 2026 at NEC Birmingham to discover and acquire cutting-edge products and software solutions that will fortify your business against cyber risks, and have a chance to connect with industry-leading experts, learning directly from their invaluable insights

About the Cyber Resilience Centre

The Cyber Resilience Centre Network (CRC Network) is a police-led, not-for-profit organisation funded by the Home Office to help small and medium organisations protect themselves from cyber crime.

Working with law enforcement, industry partners, and academia, we provide fully-funded guidance, tools and services to improve cyber resilience across England and Wales.

Register for your free pass

This event is not hosted by WMCA

By clicking the button you will be redirected to an external website to complete your booking.

TRAINING - Learning Disability & Autism - Tier 1

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 21:06:19 GMT

www.wmca.training

Learning Disability & Autism - Tier 1

(Oliver McGowan Training)

29 April 2026

11.00am - 12.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £25.00

Non Members £35.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 16 that are mapped to Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

Module 16a of 16:

Learning Disability & Autism - Tier 1

The Government has introduced a requirement for Care Quality Commission (CQC) registered service providers to ensure their employees receive learning disability and autism training appropriate to their role. This is to ensure the health and social care workforce has the right skills and knowledge to provide safe, compassionate and informed care to autistic people and people with a learning disability. This requirement is set out in the Health and Care Act 2022.

The training is named after Oliver McGowan. Oliver was a young man whose death shone a light on the need for health and social care staff to have better skills, knowledge and understanding of the needs for autistic people and people with a learning disability.

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is the government’s preferred and recommended training for health and social care staff.

Course Benefits

Enhanced Skills: Completing Oliver McGowan training improves understanding of disability awareness and inclusive communication, leading to better patient care.
Increased Compliance: The training helps healthcare professionals meet legal and ethical standards related to disability and safeguarding.
Improved Patient Experience: It promotes respectful and sensitive interactions with individuals with disabilities, fostering trust and positive outcomes.
Professional Development: Completing the training demonstrates a commitment to ongoing learning, improving overall professional competence.

Course ref: CC16a

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

Managing Digital Risk: Staffing and Roles

Sun, 13 Nov 2022 20:12:40 GMT

www.wmca.digital

Managing Digital Risk:

How to use and share information appropriately

1. Staffing and Roles

29 April 2026

10.00am - 10.30am

Online

Welcome to this new series of four workshops - delivered by the West Midlands Care Association - that together address all of the policies, processes and procedures that you need to have in place to adequately secure your data protecting the individuals you support and your staff. They are closely mapped to the Data Security Protection Toolkit (DSPT). Attending these workshops will give you the necessary knowledge to complete the toolkit

Workshop 1: Staffing and Roles

All organisations whether they are in the care sector or not need to keep certain documents and have specific policies and procedures in place that supports best practice and where appropriate reflects national polices that underpin your organisation’s data and cyber security.

And that is underpinned by you and your staff.

Your staff are both your strength and weakness. Inexperienced or untrained employees are a very frequent cause of data breaches, so you need to ensure you train your employees to keep up with current digital trends and to also ensure they adhere to your policies and procedures.

At the end of the session, we’ll address any questions you have and summarise next steps.

Better Security Better Care

This webinar is part of the Better Security, Better Care programme, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care to support data and cyber security across the adult social care provider sector.

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form. Email confirmation will be sent through to you:

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact enquiries@wmca.digital

TRAINING - Incident Reporting & Investigations (Risk Mitigation)

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 19:39:04 GMT

www.wmca.training

Senior Team Training:

Incident Reporting & Investigations

(Risk Mitigation)

30 April 2026

10.00am - 4.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £45.00

Non Members £65.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Description:

This session explores how to effectively report, investigate and learn from incidents within care settings, with a focus on reducing future risk and improving practice.

Learning Outcomes:

Understand the purpose of incident reporting
Identify root causes using structured approaches
Apply learning to reduce recurrence
Improve documentation and accountability

Who is it for:

Care staff, team leaders and managers involved in incident reporting and investigation.

Aligns with:

Module 3 – Legislation, Regulation & Inspection (3.3, 3.4, 3.5)
Module 6 – Positive Risk-Taking (6.4)
Module 10 – Continuous Improvement (10.2)

(Of the Skills for Care Management Induction Standards)

Why:

This session strengthens understanding of incident reporting, risk assessment, learning from errors, and improving safety all core elements of health & safety compliance, governance, and quality improvement.

MAN1

This course is now fully booked

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

TRAINING - Health and Safety

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 18:48:07 GMT

www.wmca.training

Health and Safety

6 May 2026

10.00am - 2.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £21.00

Non Members £35.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 16 that are mapped to Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

Module 13 of 16:

Health and Safety in Care Settings

This course provides essential knowledge on workplace health and safety, ensuring that individuals in health and social care can work safely, prevent hazards, and respond effectively to emergencies.

Course Benefits

Strengthens knowledge of workplace safety regulations and best practices.
Equips learners with skills for managing risks and emergencies.
Supports confidence in handling hazardous substances and fire prevention.
Enhances personal wellbeing and resilience in high-pressure care environments.

Course ref: CC13

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

DSPT in depth: Problem solving for everyday digital challenges

Thu, 10 Nov 2022 10:05:03 GMT

www.digitalcarehub.co.uk

DSPT in depth:

Problem solving for everyday digital challenges

5 May 2026

3.00pm - 4.00pm

Online

This practical session focuses on building confidence in handling everyday digital challenges within adult social care settings—supporting safe, effective use of technology in line with DSPT requirements. Rather than requiring technical expertise, this session introduces simple, structured approaches to problem-solving that can be applied in day-to-day practice. It supports staff to work more confidently with digital systems while maintaining good data security and information handling standards. You will learn how to:

Troubleshoot common issues across devices and digital systems
Apply clear, step-by-step methods to resolve problems efficiently
Recognise when to escalate issues and seek appropriate support
Support colleagues and people who use services in using digital tools safely and effectively

By the end of this session, you will feel more confident using digital technology, resolving common issues, and supporting others, while contributing to your organisation’s compliance with DSPT and strengthening overall digital capability across your service.

Register your place here

This event is not hosted by WMCA

By clicking the button you will be redirected to an external website to complete your booking.

Managing Digital Risk: Policies and Procedures

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 20:15:48 GMT

www.wmca.digital

Managing Digital Risk:

How to use and share information appropriately

2. Policies and Procedures

6 May 2026

10.00am - 10.45am

Online

Workshop 2: Policies and Procedures

So, we’re going to look at those essential policies and procedures and the key legislation that underpins those policies.

At the end of the session, we’ll address any questions you have and summarise next steps.

Better Security Better Care

This webinar is part of the Better Security, Better Care programme, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care to support data and cyber security across the adult social care provider sector.

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form. Email confirmation will be sent through to you:

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact enquiries@wmca.digital

Managing Digital Risk: Data Security

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 20:20:09 GMT

www.wmca.digital

Managing Digital Risk:

How to use and share information appropriately

3. Data Security

13 May 2026

10.00am - 10.45am

Online

Workshop 3: Data Security

Technology has changed the way you work and how we work together. Sharing data digitally and communicating with others remotely are just a couple of examples of how we now use technology in social care. As we continue to use technology in this way, we must do it safely and put steps in place to reduce the risk and impact of a data breach or cyber attack.

In this webinar, we will take you through some basic aspects of data security including how to recognise and respond to a data breach or identify a potential cyber threat before it happens. And we’ll have a look at a couple of key documents and procedures that you need to have in place, that is your business continuity plan and a data asset register

At the end of the session, we’ll address any questions you have and summarise next steps.

Better Security Better Care

This webinar is part of the Better Security, Better Care programme, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care to support data and cyber security across the adult social care provider sector.

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form. Email confirmation will be sent through to you:

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact enquiries@wmca.digital

TRAINING - Duty of Care

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 17:38:40 GMT

www.wmca.training

Duty of Care

12 May 2026

10.00am - 1:00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £21.00

Non Members £35.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 16 that are mapped to the Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

Module 3 of 16:

Duty of Care

This course provides essential knowledge on how duty of care supports safe practice and ethical decision-making in health and social care. It also explores strategies for managing complaints, errors, confrontations, and difficult situations effectively.

Course Benefits

Enhances understanding of ethical responsibilities in care.
Equips learners with problem-solving skills for real-world challenges.
Supports professional development in handling complaints and incidents.
Encourages a proactive approach to maintaining a safe and respectful care environment.

Course ref: CC3

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

Completing the DSPT for the first time

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 17:16:59 GMT

www.digitalcarehub.co.uk

Completing the Data Security and Protection Toolkit for the first time

12 May 2026

3.00pm - 4.00pm

Online

The Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) is an online self-assessment tool to help adult social care providers in England to store and share information safely.

It shows you what you need to do to keep people’s information safe, and to protect your business from the risk of a data breach or a cyber attack. It covers both paper and digital records.

It also reassures everyone you work with that you are taking data security seriously, which in turn can open up access to NHSmail and shared records systems such as GP Connect and proxy access. Care providers must have an up-to-date DSPT in place to meet NHS contracts – and local authorities and CQC inspectors increasingly expect you to have it.

Care providers should complete the toolkit at least once a year.

It will cover how to:

Register for the DSPT – including how to register if you have multiple services and sites
Complete to Approaching Standards and Standards Met
Publish your DSPT
Access free, official support from the Better Security, Better Care programme.

For further information visit the DSPT pages on this website

Register your place here

This event is not hosted by WMCA

By clicking the button you will be redirected to an external website to complete your booking.

Care Roadshows - Midlands

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 11:52:54 GMT

www.careroadshows.co.uk

Care Roadshows

Midlands

14 May 2026

10.00am - - 3.00pm

Villa Park

Birmingham

Free Regional care events across the UK

Care Roadshow is the must-attend event for care home owners, domiciliary care providers, managers and healthcare professionals across the UK. Since 2011 , this free event has provided expert-led CPD seminars, interactive exhibitions and valuable networking opportunities for those working in care.

Tailored to meet the needs of the care sector, you'll hear from key figures, including you regions regulator and national associations such as Care England , Scottish Care & Care Forum Wales , sharing insights and advice to support your role.

Taking place across six regions, the events offer practical tools, fresh ideas and updates to help you overcome sector challenges. Discover innovative products from over 60 exhibitors , explore new services and connect with like-minded peers - all with free entry and accessible parking.

Register your place here

This event is not hosted by WMCA

By clicking the button you will be redirected to an external website to complete your booking.

Review and republish your DSPT

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 17:22:45 GMT

www.digitalcarehub.co.uk

Review and Republish your DSPT

19 May 2026

3.00pm - 4.00pm

Online

The Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) is an online self-assessment tool to help adult social care providers in England to store and share information safely.

Because things change, you need to review and republish your toolkit every year so that it reflects your current data and cyber security arrangements. For example, you may have introduced new staff, data systems, technology or services – which in turn will impact on how you manage your information.

This webinar is for care providers who have published before, and are reviewing and republishing their DSPT.

It will cover what has changed within the Toolkit for 2024/25, as well as how to:

Login to your DSPT account
Review your DSPT – including what is different if you were previously published at Entry Level or Approaching Standards
Complete to at least Standards Met
Publish your DSPT standard
Access free, official support from the Better Security, Better Care programme.

For more information about the DSPT, check out the DSPT webpages on this website

Register your place here

This event is not hosted by WMCA

By clicking the button you will be redirected to an external website to complete your booking.

Managing Digital Risk: IT Systems and Devices

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 20:22:07 GMT

www.wmca.digital

Managing Digital Risk:

How to use and share information appropriately

4. IT Systems and Devices

20 May 2026

10.00am - 10.45am

Online

Workshop 4: IT Systems and Devices

In this webinar, we will take you through best practice on how to ensure systems and devices are as secure as they can be to protect you against data breaches and cyber attacks

We’ll be looking at what you can do to ensure your safety and security online through using the correct password protection and how you can add extra layers of security such as using Muli Factor Authentication and mobile device management. We’ll have a look at a particularly useful policy Bring your Own Device Policy – if you use or allow your staff to use their own personal devices for work purposes.

We’ll summarise actions and next steps and answer any questions you may have.

At the end of the session, we’ll address any questions you have and summarise next steps.

Workshop 2

Better Security Better Care

This webinar is part of the Better Security, Better Care programme, funded by the Department of Health and Social Care to support data and cyber security across the adult social care provider sector.

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form. Email confirmation will be sent through to you:

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact enquiries@wmca.digital

TRAINING -Infection Control and Prevention

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 18:58:01 GMT

www.wmca.training

Infection Control and Prevention

20 May 2026

10.00am - 1.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £21.00

Non Members £35.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 16 that are mapped to Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

Module 15 of 16:

Preventing the Spread of Infection

This course equips learners with essential knowledge and practical strategies to minimize the risk of infections in health and social care settings. It emphasizes hygiene, safety protocols, and best practices to protect individuals and caregivers from contagious illnesses.

Course Benefits

Strengthens awareness of infection control measures.
Reduces the risk of contamination and disease spread.
Equips learners with hygiene practices that protect individuals and caregivers.
Supports compliance with health and safety regulations in care settings

Course ref: CC15

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

Birmingham and Solihull Registered Managers Network

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 18:23:49 GMT

Registered Managers Meetings

Birmingham and Solihull Registered Managers Network

20 May 2026

9.30am - 11.30am

Online

The Registered Managers networks are administered through Skills for Care.

To book your place on this event please contact Jamie Bloomfield

Jamie.bloomfield@skillsforcare.org.uk or click the book here button this page

A full list of Registered Managers networks can be found on the the Skills for Care website here

Register your place here

This event is hosted by Skills for Care, not WMCA. By clicking the button you will be redirected to an external website to complete your booking.

TRAINING - Conducting Mental Capacity Assessments

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 08:57:00 GMT

www.wmca.training

Senior Team Training:

Conducting Mental Capacity Assessments

21 May 2026

10.00am - 4.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £45.00

Non Members £65.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Description:

A practical session focused on applying the Mental Capacity Act in real-world situations, with clear guidance on assessing capacity confidently and lawfully.

Learning Outcomes:

Understand the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (2005)
Apply the 2-stage capacity test
Record assessments clearly and defensibly
Avoid common pitfalls in practice

Who is it for:

Nurses, senior care

rs and managers responsible for assessing capacity.

Aligns with:

Module 7 – Safeguarding & Mental Capacity (7.4)
Module 6 – Leading Person-Centred Practice (6.1)

(Of the Skills for Care Management Induction Standards)

Why:

The training focuses on the Mental Capacity Act, applying the two‑stage test, and lawful assessment directly linked to mental capacity principles, rights‑based practice and person‑centred decision‑making.

MAN2

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

Registered Managers Meetings - Herefordshire

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 08:26:07 GMT

Registered Managers Meetings

Herefordshire

20 May 2026

11:00am - 3:00pm

Venue:

Hereford College

The Registered Managers networks are administered through Skills for Care.

To book your place on this event, please contact Claire Jenkins

claire.jenkins@skillsforcare.org.uk k

A full list of Registered Managers networks can be found on the the Skills for Care website here

Register your place here

This event is hosted by Skills for Care, not WMCA. By clicking the button you will be redirected to an external website to complete your booking.

TRAINING - Equality, Diversity, and Human Rights

Sat, 05 Nov 2022 17:42:01 GMT

www.wmca.training

Equality, Diversity and Human Rights

4 June 2026

10.00m - 1.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £21.00

Non Members £35.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 15 that are mapped to the Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

Module 4 of 16:

Equality, Diversity, and Human Rights

This course provides learners with a deep understanding of the principles of equality and inclusion, ensuring they can work inclusively and access relevant support to promote fairness, respect, and dignity in care environments.

Course Benefits

Enhances awareness of rights, responsibilities, and ethical considerations.
Equips learners with strategies to ensure inclusivity and prevent discrimination.
Supports a positive and respectful care environment for all individuals.
Provides resources for accessing further guidance on diversity and equality.

Course ref: CC4

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

Social Care and Independant Faculty relaunch event

Sat, 05 Nov 2022 09:28:35 GMT

www.wmca.events

Save the date

Social Care & Independent Sector Faculty Relaunch event

2 June 2026

9.30am - 1.00pm (plus networking lunch)

FREE to Care Providers

Venue:

Midlands Metropolitan University Hospital

Grove Lane

Smethwick

B66 2QT

Click on the button above, for further information about the venue, incuding car parking and access

Agenda

Welcome
Sandwell College Skills Hub
Adult Social Care and Neighbourhood Health
Changes to the ICS
Cluster Education Collaborative model
Faculty Priorities (social care feedback)
Networking Lunch

WMCA Event Terms and Conditions

Click here to view our event terms and conditions

Register

To book your place, just, click below and fill in the booking form.

Email confirmation will be sent through to you:

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact events@wmca.care

Click here to see WMCA's event terms and conditions

TRAINING - Awareness of Mental Health and Dementia

Thu, 03 Nov 2022 18:27:16 GMT

www.wmca.training

Awareness of Mental Health and Dementia

8 June 2026

10.00am - 1:00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £21.00

Non Members £35.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 16 that are mapped to the Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

Module 9 of 16:

Awareness of Mental Health and Dementia

This course provides essential knowledge on the experiences, challenges, and support needs of individuals with mental health conditions, dementia, and learning disabilities. It equips caregivers with the skills to promote positive health and wellbeing, adapt care delivery, and follow relevant legal frameworks.

Course Benefits

Enhances knowledge of conditions affecting mental health, cognition, and learning abilities.
Strengthens skills in providing respectful and appropriate care.
Encourages person-centred approaches that promote dignity and independence.
Equips caregivers with legal and ethical awareness to ensure best practices.

Course ref: CC9

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

TRAINING - Working in a Person-Centred Way

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 17:48:34 GMT

www.wmca.training

Working in a Person-Centred Care Way

10 June 2026

10.00am - 1:00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £21.00

Non Members £35.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 16 that are mapped to the Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

Module 5 of 16:

Working in a Person-Centred Care Way

This course explores the principles and practical application of person-centred values in health and social care. It emphasizes the importance of individual choice, dignity, and well-being, ensuring that care is tailored to meet the unique needs of each person.

Course Benefits

Strengthens understanding of individual rights and autonomy.
Provides practical techniques for improving care quality.
Encourages a respectful, inclusive, and supportive approach.
Helps professionals create meaningful, positive experiences for those in their care.

Course ref: CC5

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

Registered Managers Meetings - Worcestershire

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 12:06:02 GMT

www.skillsforcare.org.uk

Registered Managers Meetings

Worcestershire

16 June 2026

10:00pm - 1:00pm

Venue:

The Lawns

33 Main Road

Kempsey

Worcestershire

WR5 3NF

The Registered Managers networks are administered through Skills for Care.

To book your place on this event, please contact Claire Jenkins

claire.jenkins@skillsforcare.org.uk k

A full list of Registered Managers networks can be found on the the Skills for Care website here

Register your place here

This event is hosted by Skills for Care, not WMCA. By clicking the button you will be redirected to an external website to complete your booking.

TRAINING - Best Interest Decision Making

Thu, 27 Oct 2022 09:01:59 GMT

www.wmca.training

Senior Team Training:

Best Interest Decision Making

17 June 2026

10.00am - 4.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £45.00

Non Members £65.00

(all prices include VAT)

Learning Outcomes:

Understand the best interest framework
Involve relevant people appropriately
Balance risk, rights and preferences
Record defensible decisions in line with legislation

Who is it for:

Team leaders, managers and professionals involved in care planning and decision-making.

Aligns with:

Module 7 – Mental Capacity (7.4.1–7.4.6)
Module 6 – Person-Centred Practice (6.1.4, 6.1.6)

Of the Skills for Care Management Induction Standards)

Why:

Best‑interest decisions are central to the MCA framework, requiring involvement, documentation, balancing risk and rights all embedded in person‑centred leadership and lawful restrictive practice.

MAN3

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

TRAINING - Privacy and Dignity

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 18:20:14 GMT

www.wmca.training

Privacy and Dignity

18 June 2026

10.00am - 1:00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £21.00

Non Members £35.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 16 that are mapped to the Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

Module 7 of 16:

Privacy and Dignity,

This course explores the fundamental principles that underpin respectful and person-centred care. It aims to equip caregivers with the knowledge and skills necessary to support individuals in maintaining their privacy, dignity, and autonomy while actively participating in decisions about their own care.

Course Benefits

Strengthens person-centred care approaches.
Builds confidence in supporting individuals’ rights and autonomy.
Enhances understanding of ethical considerations in caregiving.
Encourages practical application of privacy, dignity, and choice in various care settings.

Course ref: CC7

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

TRAINING - Communication

Thu, 20 Oct 2022 17:52:44 GMT

www.wmca.training

Communication

23 June 2026

10.00am - 1.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £21.00

Non Members £35.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 16 that are mapped to the Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

Module 6 of 16:

Communication

This course explores the key principles of communication within health and social care, ensuring professionals can effectively interact with individuals while maintaining confidentiality and supporting diverse communication needs.

Course Benefits

Improves communication and interpersonal skills in care settings.
Enhances understanding of confidentiality and ethical considerations.
Supports inclusive practices for individuals with varied communication needs.
Strengthens professional relationships and trust within healthcare environments.

Course ref: CC6

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

IHSCM: Women in Leadership Development Programme: Creating a Culture of Wellbeing

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 10:40:45 GMT

www.ihm.org.uk

IHSCM: Women in Leadership Development Programme:

Creating a Culture of Wellbeing

24 June 2026

12:00pm - 1.30pm

Online

Part of the IHSCM Women in Leadership Development Programme 2026.

A practical 90 minute workshop exploring how to embed wellbeing into team culture through reflection, a burnout case study, and a wellbeing strategy activity with Dr Nat Masters, Head of Services, Illuminate Group . Designed for team managers, wellbeing champions, and women leaders, and contributing to High Performance Leadership development by strengthening psychological safety, early intervention skills, and wellbeing focused leadership behaviours.

Why attend?

At the end of this session, you will have:

built confidence in recognising early signs of burnout,
strengthened your ability to create psychologically safe and supportive team environments,
leave with practical wellbeing strategies you can apply immediately to improve team culture, resilience, and performance.

Who should attend?

Team managers, wellbeing champions, women leaders, and anyone responsible for supporting staff wellbeing or shaping team culture.

You can attain 2 HPL Points towards ‘Workforce’ and ‘Leadership Excellence’.

This event is not hosted by WMCA

By clicking the button you will be redirected to an external website to complete your booking.

WMCA Registered Managers, Deputies and Seniors Conference - Is your care service Safe?

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 15:33:29 GMT

www.wmca.events

Save the date

WMCA Registered Managers, Deputies and Seniors Conference:
Is your Care Service Safe?

25 June 2026

9.30am - 3.30pm

FREE to WMCA Members
Non Members £25.00

Venue:

Bescot Stadium

Walsall

WS1 4SA

Click on the button above, for further information about the venue, incuding car parking and access

Safe

Safety is a priority for everyone and leaders embed a culture of openness and collaboration. People are always safe and protected from bullying, harassment, avoidable harm, neglect, abuse and discrimination. Their liberty is protected where this is in their best interests and in line with legislation.

Over 100 Managers
Separate Care Home and Home Care Streams
Industry Experts
CPD Certificates

Our popular series of Registered Managers Conferences starts again in January

Following the CQC KLoEs proved so popular that we have decided to do it again with new speakers and topics

These meetings are an opportunity for leadership teams to learn from other colleagues and to share good practice

They are open to all Registered Managers, Deputy Managers and Senior Carers across the Midlands

Lunch is provided and tickets are free of charge

Agenda: TBA

Further Event Information

If you need further infomation about the event, including the venue, transportation and accessability, please click the button below to see the joining information

This is a Care Association Alliance West Midlands Events

WMCA Event Terms and Conditions

Click here to view our event terms and conditions

Register

To book your place, just, click below and fill in the booking form.

Email confirmation will be sent through to you:

If you are not a member of the West Midlands Care Association, or one of the other Care Associations within the West Midlands region, you may still attend and tickets are available at £25

Card payment is required at point of booking

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact events@wmca.care

Click here to see WMCA's event terms and conditions

Exhibitors:

(click on logos to visit websites)

TRAINING - Learning Disability & Autism - Tier 2

Sun, 25 Sep 2022 15:33:14 GMT

www.wmca.training

Learning Disability & Autism - Tier 2

9.30am - 4.30pm

30 June 2026

Venue:

Dudley Canel Trust

501 Birmingham New Road

Dudley

DY1 4SB

Cost :

WMCA Members £90.00

Non Members £100.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 16 that are mapped to Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

Module 16b of 16:

Learning Disability & Autism - Tier 2

The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism is the government’s preferred and recommended training for health and social care staff.

Course Benefits

Enhanced Skills: Completing Oliver McGowan training improves understanding of disability awareness and inclusive communication, leading to better patient care.
Increased Compliance: The training helps healthcare professionals meet legal and ethical standards related to disability and safeguarding.
Improved Patient Experience: It promotes respectful and sensitive interactions with individuals with disabilities, fostering trust and positive outcomes.
Professional Development: Completing the training demonstrates a commitment to ongoing learning, improving overall professional competence.

Course ref: CC16b

Days to register

Register your place here

this course must be booked by the 5th February in order for us to finalise it with the training provider

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

TRAINING - Nutrition and Hydration

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 18:23:16 GMT

www.wmca.training

Nutrition and Hydration

1 July 2026

10.00am - 1.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £21.00

Non Members £35.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 16 that are mapped to the Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

Module 8 of 16:

Nutrition and Hydration

This course provides essential knowledge on the principles of hydration, nutrition, and food safety within a care setting. It equips learners with the skills to ensure individuals receive proper fluids, food, and nutritional care according to their health needs and preferences.

Course Benefits

Enhances awareness of nutritional needs for different individuals.
Supports safe food handling and hygiene in care settings.
Encourages best practices for hydration and meal planning.
Improves knowledge of dietary considerations, allergies, and food-related health risks.

Course ref: CC8

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

TRAINING - Manual Handling Train the Trainer 2-day course

Sat, 10 Sep 2022 19:22:24 GMT

www.wmca.training

Manual Handling - Train the Trainer

2-day course

8-9 July 2026

10.00am - 4.00pm

South & City College Birmingham

1 Longbridge Lane
Longbridge
Birmingham
B31 2TW

Cost :

WMCA Members £160.00

Non Members £220.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This practical, interactive course equips delegates with the confidence and competence to deliver clear, effective training, demonstrate and assess safe techniques, and support colleagues to work safely in real-world care settings.

Going beyond standard training, the programme focuses on developing strong teaching skills, handling common challenges such as staff resistance, and embedding current legislation and best practice (MHOR, LOLER, PUWER, and CQC expectations) into everyday training delivery.

Course Benefits

Gain confidence in skills and ability to train others
Supporting improvement of safety, consistency, and quality of care across their service
Refreshing key Manual handling theory and legislation

Who is it for:

Designed for Senior Carers, Team Leaders, and Managers responsible for delivering manual handling training within their organisation.

Course ref: TTTMH1

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

TRAINING - Safeguarding Children

Thu, 01 Sep 2022 09:59:44 GMT

www.wmca.training

Safeguarding Children

14 July 2026

10.00am - 1.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £21.00

Non Members £35.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 16 that are mapped to Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

Module 11 of 16:

Safeguarding Children

This course provides essential knowledge on safeguarding practices, abuse prevention, and legal frameworks to protect vulnerable children. It equips learners with the skills to recognize, respond to, and prevent harm while promoting safety and well-being.

Course Benefits

Builds expertise in safeguarding children.
Enhances ability to recognize and respond to abuse.
Strengthens knowledge of legal responsibilities and ethical care.
Encourages proactive protection strategies in care settings.

Course ref: CC11

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

TRAINING - Supervision & Appraisals for Team Leaders

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 09:11:04 GMT

www.wmca.training

Senior Team Training:

Supervision & Appraisals for Team Leaders

15 July 2026

10.00am - 4.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £45.00

Non Members £65.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Description:

This session explores the key skills required to lead and manage a care team effectively in a demanding environment.

Learning Outcomes:

Understand leadership styles in care
Manage performance and behaviour
Promote a positive team culture
Respond to common management challenges

Who is it for:

Managers, Nominated Individuals, Team leaders, senior carers.

Aligns with:

Module 1 – Leadership & Management Styles
Module 2 – Team Leadership & Management
Module 5 – Partnerships & Communication
Module 11 – Self‑Management & Wellbeing

(Of the Skills for Care Management Induction Standards)

Why:

Team management involves leadership styles, performance management, culture, communication and dealing with challenges covered in a management-focused session.

MAN4

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

TRAINING -Handling Information

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 18:51:21 GMT

www.wmca.training

Handling Information

21 July 2026

10.00am - 1.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £21.00

Non Members £35.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 16 that are mapped to Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

Module 14 of 16:

Handling Information

This course explores the principles and responsibilities surrounding the secure and ethical management of information in health and social care. It ensures that learners understand confidentiality, data protection, and appropriate record-keeping.

Course Benefits

Strengthens knowledge of ethical and legal responsibilities in data management.
Supports compliance with privacy laws and professional standards.
Equips learners with practical skills for secure record-keeping and information sharing.
Ensures confidentiality and integrity when handling sensitive data.

Course ref: CC14

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

Registered Managers Meetings - Herefordshire

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 14:29:56 GMT

Registered Managers Meetings

Herefordshire

16 September 2026

10:00am - 1:00pm

Venue:

Services for Independent Living

1 Owen Way

Leominster

HR6 0LA

The Registered Managers networks are administered through Skills for Care.

To book your place on this event, please contact Claire Jenkins

claire.jenkins@skillsforcare.org.uk k

A full list of Registered Managers networks can be found on the the Skills for Care website here

Register your place here

This event is hosted by Skills for Care, not WMCA. By clicking the button you will be redirected to an external website to complete your booking.

TRAINING - Roles and Responsibilities

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 08:58:17 GMT

www.wmca.training

Roles and Responsibilities

16 September 2026

10.00am - 1:00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £21.00

Non Members £35.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 16 that are mapped to the Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

Module 1 of 16:

Roles and Responsibilities

This course provides essential knowledge for individuals working in health and social care, ensuring they understand their roles, responsibilities, and professional relationships. It aims to equip learners with the skills to work effectively, follow agreed practices, and collaborate with colleagues and external partners.

Course Benefits

Helps learners build confidence in their professional role.
Ensures adherence to workplace policies and best practices.
Enhances communication and teamwork within a care environment.
Encourages ethical and person-centred approaches to care.

Course ref: CC1

Register your place here

To book your place(s), just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We can accept payment for courses via card at time of booking or via invoice

WMCA members who use our DBS service may also pay by Direct Debit

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

TRAINING - Adult Safeguarding

Sun, 10 Jul 2022 18:38:02 GMT

www.wmca.training

Adult Safeguarding

22 September 2026

10.00am - 1.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £21.00

Non Members £35.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Overview

This module is one of 16 that are mapped to Skills for Care ‘Care Certificate’.

Module 10 of 15:

Safeguarding Adults

This course provides essential knowledge on safeguarding practices, abuse prevention, and legal frameworks to protect vulnerable adults. It equips learners with the skills to recognize, respond to, and prevent harm while promoting safety and well-being.

Course Benefits

Builds expertise in safeguarding adults and children.
Enhances ability to recognize and respond to abuse.
Strengthens knowledge of legal responsibilities and ethical care.
Encourages proactive protection strategies in care settings.

Course ref: CC10

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

TRAINING - Managing a Care Team

Fri, 01 Jul 2022 09:15:18 GMT

www.wmca.training

Senior Team Training:

Managing a Care Team

23 September 2026

10.00am - 4.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £45.00

Non Members £65.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Description:

This session explores the key skills required to lead and manage a care team effectively in a demanding environment.

Learning Outcomes:

Understand leadership styles in care
Manage performance and behaviour
Promote a positive team culture
Respond to common management challenges

Who is it for:

Managers, Nominated Individuals, Team leaders, senior carers.

Aligns with:

Module 1 – Leadership & Management Styles
Module 2 – Team Leadership & Management
Module 5 – Partnerships & Communication
Module 11 – Self‑Management & Wellbeing

(Of the Skills for Care Management Induction Standards)

Why:

Team management involves leadership styles, performance management, culture, communication and dealing with challenges covered in a management-focused session.

MAN5

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

WMCA Autumn Providers Conference: It's all gone wrong!

Wed, 22 Jun 2022 14:40:13 GMT

www.wmca.events

Save the date

WMCA Autumn Providers Conference:

It's all gone wrong!

1 October 2026

9.30am - 3.30pm

FREE to WMCA Members
Non Members £25.00

Venue:

Bescot Stadium

Walsall

WS1 4SA

Click on the button above, for further information about the venue, incuding car parking and access

It's all gone wrong!

When everything goes wrong, resilience begins.

Join our adult social care event to explore practical recovery—managing crises, rebuilding routines, accessing support services, and reconnecting with community. Through expert talks, lived-experience panels, and hands-on workshops.

You’ll learn strategies for dealing with disasters and leave with a renewed confidence to face setbacks.

Separate Care Home and Home Care Streams
Industry Experts

These meetings are an opportunity for leadership teams to learn from other colleagues and to share good practice

Lunch is provided and tickets are free of charge to WMCA Members

Agenda: TBA

Further Event Information

If you need further infomation about the event, including the venue, transportation and accessability, please click the button below to see the joining information

This is a Care Association Alliance West Midlands Events

WMCA Event Terms and Conditions

Click here to view our event terms and conditions

Register

To book your place, just, click below and fill in the booking form.

Email confirmation will be sent through to you:

If you are not a member of the West Midlands Care Association, or one of the other Care Associations within the West Midlands region, you may still attend and tickets are available at £25

Card payment is required at point of booking

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact events@wmca.care

Click here to see WMCA's event terms and conditions

Exhibitors:

(click on logos to visit websites)

Registered Managers Meetings - Worcestershire

Wed, 15 Jun 2022 12:04:39 GMT

www.skillsforcare.org.uk

Registered Managers Meetings

Worcestershire

15 October 2026

10:00am - 1:00pm

Venue:

The Lawns

33 Main Road

Kempsey

Worcester

WR5 3NF

The Registered Managers networks are administered through Skills for Care.

To book your place on this event, please contact Claire Jenkins

claire.jenkins@skillsforcare.org.uk k

A full list of Registered Managers networks can be found on the the Skills for Care website here

Register your place here

This event is hosted by Skills for Care, not WMCA. By clicking the button you will be redirected to an external website to complete your booking.

TRAINING - Risk Mitigation Masterclass

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 09:40:31 GMT

www.wmca.training

Senior Team Training:

Risk Mitigation Masterclass

20 October 2026

10.00am - 4.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £45.00

Non Members £65.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Description:

An advanced session focusing on identifying, assessing and reducing risk in care settings through practical, real-world approaches.

Learning Outcomes:

Identify risks proactively
Apply structured risk assessment approaches
Balance safety and independence
Embed risk-aware practice across teams

Who is it for:

Managers, team leaders and staff involved in risk assessment.

Aligns with:

Module 6 – Positive Risk (6.4)
Module 3 – Health & Safety (3.5)
Module 10 – Quality & Improvement (10.2)

(Of the Skills for Care Management Induction Standards)

Why:

This advanced session builds competence in proactive risk assessment, balancing autonomy and safety, and embedding risk‑aware practice key learning areas within risk, governance and safety modules.

MAN6

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

TRAINING - CQC Compliance & Regulation

Sun, 01 May 2022 09:43:51 GMT

www.wmca.training

Senior Team Training:

CQC Compliance & Regulation

18 November 2026

10.00am - 4.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £45.00

Non Members £65.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Description:

A focused session on understanding CQC expectations and how to demonstrate compliance in day-to-day practice.

Learning Outcomes:

Understand key CQC standards and expectations
Evidence compliance effectively
Identify common gaps and risks
Prepare for inspection

Who is it for:

Managers, Nominated Individuals, Nurses, team leaders and senior staff.

Aligns with:

Module 3 – Regulation, Inspection, Governance
Module 10 – Continuous Improvement
Module 1 – Leading the Vision (1.2, quality alignment)

(Of the Skills for Care Management Induction Standards)

Why:

Understanding CQC’s expectations links directly to modules about regulatory standards, inspection processes, governance structures and preparing for inspection.

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

TRAINING - Handling Complaints & Feedback

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 09:47:28 GMT

www.wmca.training

Senior Team Training:

Handling Complaints & Feedback

2 December 2026

10.00am - 4.00pm

Online

Cost :

WMCA Members £45.00

Non Members £65.00

(all prices include VAT)

Course Description:

This session supports staff to manage complaints professionally and use feedback to improve service quality.

Learning Outcomes:

Respond to complaints appropriately
De-escalate difficult situations
Record and investigate concerns
Use feedback to improve practice

Who is it for:

Care staff, team leaders and managers.

Aligns with:

Module 10 – Complaints & Continuous Improvement
Module 4 – Communication & Conflict Management
Module 5 – Partnerships & Co‑production

(Of the Skills for Care Management Induction Standards)

Why:

Managing complaints requires effective communication, de‑escalation, learning from concerns, and involving individuals in service improvements all strongly tied to complaints, communication and partnership.

Course Ref MAN8

Register your place here

To book your place, just, click on the button below and fill in the booking form

Members: Please sign in using your members website password to get your members discount - If you are not already set up as a user - you will need to register

Payment

We accept payment for courses via card at time of booking.

WMCA members may also pay by invoice

Course bookings are not confirmed until payment is received*

Our full training payment terms and conditions can be seen here

If you have any issues or need to cancel a booking, please contact training@wmca.care

*If you are a WMCA member that normally pays by Direct Debit, your course bookings are automatically confirmed and payment will be taken by Direct Debit around the 24th of the month as normal

Letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care concerning VCOD

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 12:52:05 GMT

The Rt Hon Sajid Javid MP

Secretary of State for Health and Social Care

Ministerial Correspondence and Public Enquiries Unit
Department of Health and Social Care
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EU

Dear Secretary of State,

I am writing on behalf of our member care providers to express their anger in the way that Vaccination as a Condition of Deployment has been handled by the Government.

The West Midlands Care Association and its members have been fully committed to COVID 19 vaccination within the sector, despite the operational problems this has caused.

As you can imagine, after having to lose valued members of staff in care homes and with a similar prospect looming for our home care providers, our members were dismayed at this weeks announcement. Although this decision will benefit the sector in the short term, it has caused unneeded apprehension and confusion.

Throughout the pandemic, Adult Social Care Providers have felt like second class citizens compared to the NHS and this announcement feels once again like the Government has caved to the interests of the Health Service despite imposing pressures on Adult Social Care who had no say in the matter.

We call upon the Government to apologise to all those Adult Social Care staff who either lost their jobs or left the sector feeling that they were no longer valued, and to the providers themselves who have had to invest time and money to implement a policy which has contributed to the greatest staffing crisis we’ve ever seen in Adult Social Care.

Yours sincerely

Keiron Broadbent

Chief Executive

Registered Managers Meetings - Herefordshire

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 12:37:19 GMT

Registered Managers Meetings

Herefordshire

10 February 2027

10:00am - 1:00pm

Venue:

Kemble at Home,

Sigeric Business Park,

Holme Lacy Road,

Hereford

HR2 6BQ

The Registered Managers networks are administered through Skills for Care.

To book your place on this event, please contact Claire Jenkins

claire.jenkins@skillsforcare.org.uk k

A full list of Registered Managers networks can be found on the the Skills for Care website here

Register your place here

This event is hosted by Skills for Care, not WMCA. By clicking the button you will be redirected to an external website to complete your booking.

Worcestershire Registered Managers Network

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 14:17:56 GMT

Registered Managers Meetings

Worcestershire

Registered Managers Network

11 March 2027

10.00am - 1.00pm

The Lawns

33 Main Road

Kempsey

Worcester

WR5 3NF

The Registered Managers networks are administered through Skills for Care.

To book your place on this event please contact Claire Jenkins

claire.jenkins@skillsforcare.org.uk or click the book here button this page

A full list of Registered Managers networks can be found on the the Skills for Care website here

Register your place here

This event is hosted by Skills for Care, not WMCA. By clicking the button you will be redirected to an external website to complete your booking.

WMCA Statement regarding the release by CQC of COVID deaths data in Care Homes

kb@wmcha.co.uk (Keiron Broadbent) — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 14:23:24 GMT

WMCA statement on the release by CQC of COVID deaths in care homes data

Care Home Covid Death Statistics “Misleading And Unfair”

Figures for the number of Covid deaths in individual care homes are misleading and should not be taken at face value, one of the country’s biggest group of providers warned today.

West Midlands Care Association leaders said publishing the number of Covid deaths in each of England’s homes during the pandemic was tantamount to compiling a league table.

Association joint chief executive Debbie Le Quesne said: “We must never forget the terrible toll that this horrible disease inflicted on those who live in care homes, their loved ones and the staff who care for them. This data represents lives that were lost to the pandemic within care, and the publication of this data will mean that many families and staff will feel that loss again.”

Ms Le Quesne, whose association represents 550 care providers across the Midlands region, spoke out ahead of the anticipated publication by the Care Quality Commission on July 21 of the number of Covid deaths in individual care homes nationwide between April 10, 2020, and March 31, 2021.

The release of the figures, prompted by a Freedom of Information request, represents a more detailed breakdown of the number of Covid deaths which the CQC has previously published weekly only for the care home sector in its entirety.

Ms Le Quesne said: “You are not comparing like with like and are ignoring a host of key variations and background circumstances which make the ranking of headline figures grossly misleading and unfair.”

“For example, working with the NHS, some care homes accepted residents knowing they had Covid in an effort to take pressure off hospitals. Extra infection control measures were put in place for those residents with COVID to protect the staff. Those care homes became designated Covid homes so it was to be expected that they may have higher Covid death rates.”

“Association members were hampered at the start of this crisis by non-existent or conflicting advice, being forced to accept residents discharged from hospitals who were not tested or whose results were unknown, all while operating without proper access to PPE.”

Ms Le Quesne said: “Part of the job of a care home is to support residents to have dignified deaths without needing to go to hospital with the support of health professionals and families.

“These are often old and frail people who have come to the end of their lives. These people are vulnerable to colds, flu and any virus or bacteria with which they come into contact.

“Our members had many residents who died during the pandemic of heart attacks, old age, dementia and strokes, to name just a few conditions, but because they had Covid in their system or had given a positive test in the previous 28 days Covid was put on their death certificate, much to the annoyance of families, homes and organisations like dementia support groups.”

She said that during a time of unprecedented upheaval, and despite having received no proper advice from the Government, members had acted quickly and decisively to implement procedures to mitigate the spread of the virus, restricting visiting, adopting increased use of PPE and increasing cleanliness and food preparation.

Ms Le Quesne concluded: “If our members had not reacted as and when they did the outcome would have been far worse.

“They have gone above and beyond to protect the vulnerable people in their care, many care home staff having given up holidays, time off and even having lived within the homes to minimise the spread of the infection.”

WMCA Statement Concerning allegations that the Government was aware that patients were being sent to care homes without being tested for Covid

Fri, 28 May 2021 10:23:45 GMT

Boris Johnson has expressed "full confidence" in Health Secretary Matt Hancock over claims he lied about protecting care homes from Covid. The West Midlands Care Association does not share Boris Johnson’s confidence!

It is inherently clear that at the outset of the Covid pandemic, hospital patients were being sent to care homes without being tested. This has been corroborated in the testimony provided by former Prime Ministerial advisor Dominic Cummins to the select committee this week.

Our members were hampered at the start of this crisis by non-existent, or conflicting advice; being forced to accept residents discharged from hospitals who were not tested, or who's results were unknown, all while operating without proper access to PPE.

During a time of unprecedented upheaval, and despite having received no proper advice from the government, our members acted quickly and decisively to implement procedures to mitigate the spread of the virus.

If our members had not reacted as and when they did, the outcome would have been far worse. They have gone above and beyond to protect the vulnerable people in their care.

The government has failed our members and the families who have tragically lost relatives prematurely to Covid. They deserve the truth. We fully support demands for an official inquiry to be held into these failures now.

West Midlands Care Association News

WMCA Newsletter

Care Roadshows Midlands 2026

Save the date

Care Roadshows Midlands 2026: Event Listing

WMCA Newsletter

WMCA Spring Providers Conference - Is your Digital Health in Check?

Save the date

WMCA Spring Providers Conference: Is your Digital Health in Check?

Presentations Click on the titles below to access the slides and session recordings

Pleanary Sessions:

Moving from Self Assessment to Mandatory Compliance Keiron Broadbent West Midlands Care Association

﻿ The Do's and Don'ts of using

AI in Social Care Katie Thorn

Digital Care Hub

﻿ Managing the right to privacy (and the related CQC requirements) in an increasingly digital age

David Hall

HCR Law

Care Home Sessions:

The Medication Cycle - Digitised, Demystified and Done Right!

﻿ Mandeep Khaira

Pharmacy Express

﻿

The benefits of uninterupted sleep Marie Hawkes-Smith Ally Cares

Home Care Sessions:

Technology enabled care Anita Brennan Birmingham City Council

Tatyana Bulkina

Coventry City Council

﻿ Will Hallt City of Wolverhampton Council

Embedding virtual care into everyday homecare practice Antoni Kostas City of Wolverhampton Council

Lindon Layton Best

Coventry City Council

WMCA Newsletter

WMCA Newsletter

WMCA Newsletter

Financial resilience and Legal Strategies

Financial Resilience and Legal Strategies

9 April 2026

10.00am - 12.00pm

WMCA Newsletter

WMCA Newsletter

WMCA Newsletter

WMCA Newsletter

WMCA Newsletter

Learning Development Support Service to continue in 2026/27

Learning Development Support Service to continue in 2026-27

International Recruitment: The Employment Rights Act (part 2)

International Recruitment: The Employment Rights Act (part 2)

19 March 2026

10.00am - 11.15am

Virtual

WMCA Events Newsletter

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

WMCA sends its condolences on to Gloucestershire Care Providers Association on the passing of its Chief Officer Riki Moody

WMCA sends its condolences to Gloucestershire Care Providers Association on the passing of its Chief Officer Riki Moody

DBS Processing

WMCA Newsletter

WMCA Response to Baroness Casey's remarks on Adult Social Care

WMCA Response to Baroness Casey's remarks on Adult Social Care

DBS Processing

WMCA Newsletter

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

International Recruitment: The Employment Rights Act (part 1)

International Recruitment: The Employment Rights Act (part 1)

19 February 2026

10.00am - 11.15am

Virtual

Employment Rights Act 2025 Hub is now live!

Employment Rights Act 2025 Hub is now live!

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

Ask the Experts: IR Changes & Workforce Compliance

Ask the Experts: IR Changes & Workforce Compliance

29 January 2026

10.00am - 12.00pm

Virtual

WMCA Weekly Newsletter

WMCA Spring Providers Conference:
Is your Digital Health in Check?

Presentations
Click on the titles below to access the slides and session recordings

Moving from Self Assessment to Mandatory Compliance
Keiron Broadbent
West Midlands Care Association

The Do's and Don'ts of using

AI in Social Care
Katie Thorn

Managing the right to privacy (and the related CQC requirements) in an increasingly digital age

Mandeep Khaira

The benefits of uninterupted sleep
Marie Hawkes-Smith
Ally Cares

Technology enabled care
Anita Brennan
Birmingham City Council

Will Hallt
City of Wolverhampton Council

Embedding virtual care into everyday homecare practice
Antoni Kostas
City of Wolverhampton Council

WMCA Registered Managers, Deputies and Seniors Conference:
Is your Care Service Well Led?

Free Digital Support

How Much Time Do You Lose Managing Staff Training?