WMCA Newsletter

August 18, 2026

Hi Anne

18 August 2026

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This week:-

A Prime Minister with a Plan for Care
UK Visas and Immigration email scams
Learning and Development
Creating a comfortable bedroom
Need Help completing the DSPT?
Upcoming Events
Latest News and Updates
Our Partners

A Prime Minister with a Plan for Care.

Now for the Funding Settlement Beneath it

It has been a month of real movement in Westminster. On the 29th July, Andy Burnham gave his first major speech on social care as Prime Minister, pledging to fix what he called a "broken" system. He wants a National Care Service, brought forward......

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Read on

Melanie Weatherley MBE

Co-Chair, Care Association Alliance

UK Visas and Immigration email scams

The Home Office has seen an increase in licenced sponsors receiving phishing emails from criminal groups and individuals. These emails take various forms but typically alert recipients to new messages or updates within the SMS system and threaten compliance action if users don’t log in via the link in the phishing email.

The Home Office take any incidents of attempted, or actual, account compromise very seriously and they are in the process of rolling out Multi Factor Authentication to SMS users as a measure to prevent future phishing attacks.

WMCA would also like to remind you of SMS Best Practice :

Always log into SMS from gov.uk
Never share your SMS password or user ID with anyone
Never share your personal information such as your date of birth with anyone
One user = One ID
Never click on links in emails
Regularly review Level 1 and Level 2 users and deactivate where appropriate
Contact businesshelpdesk@homeoffice.gov.uk if you receive an email you don’t believe is genuine

Level 1 and Level 2 users are reminded that the Home Office will never send a link to the SMS to use to log in or ask for your user ID, password or personal information by e-mail.

Email scam one

Email scam two

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WMCA Learning and Development

So far this year, WMCA have engaged with more than 130 providers and delivered training to over 500 staff members across a wide range of health and social care topics.

Courses Delivered

Essential Learning for Care Professionals – Suite of 14 courses supported by learning mapped to the Care Certificate Framework
Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training – Tiers 1 and 2
Falls and Frailty Training
Person-Centred Care and Support
Senior Leadership Training – Suite of 8 courses mapped to the Skills for Care Leadership Framework
Manual Handling Train the Trainer (MH TTT)

New Courses Coming Soon

Artificial Intelligence in Adult Social Care
Substance Misuse Awareness
Sensory Impairment Awareness (Hearing, Sight and Speech)
Basic First Aid
Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Wound Care

WMCA Training

Supporting a Skilled and Confident Workforce

Our aim is to provide high-quality learning opportunities that support the development of a knowledgeable, confident and compassionate health and social care workforce across the West Midlands.

130+ Providers Engaged | 500+ Staff Trained | Growing Training Portfolio

Want to Know More?

If you would like more information about any of our training programmes, upcoming courses or bespoke learning opportunities, please get in touch.

More information

Creating a comfortable and welcoming space

Creating a comfortable and welcoming space often comes down to the little things.

We’re pleased to share an exclusive offer from Care Shop, giving Spectrum members 10% off selected bedding essentials , including pillows, pillowcases, duvets, duvet covers and sheets.

Whether you’re looking to refresh your bedding or simply add a little extra comfort to your home, take a look at the attached offer to explore the featured range.

Use code SPECTRUM10! at checkout to save 10%.

The offer ends 30 September 2026.

10% off

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Need Help completing the DSPT?

West Midlands Care Association is your local Better Security Better Care support organisation, offering free online resources, workshops and one-to-one support to help CQC registered providers complete the DSPT.