WMCA Weekly Newsletter

October 7, 2025

Hi Anne

7 October 2025

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

Earlier this week, the Government announced the start of the public consultation process for the Social Care Fair Pay Agreememt, along with £500m towards funding it

The Fair Pay Agreement was the Government's major manifesto promise and it is now gaining momentum.

The West Midlands Care Association is supportive in priciple of a Fair Pay Agreement for Social Care staff as long as it is adequately funded by central government.

Find out more

New NHS online hospital to give patients

more control over their care

The NHS is setting up an ‘online hospital’ – NHS Online – in a significant reform to the way healthcare is delivered in England.

The innovative new model of care will not have a physical site, instead digitally connecting patients to expert clinicians anywhere in England. The first patients will be able to use the service from 2027.

That means patients can be seen faster, as teams triage them quickly through the NHS App and let them book in scans at times that suit them at Community Diagnostic Centres closer to home.

Find out more

Government launches call for evidence

for 10 Year Workforce Plan

The Government has launched a call for evidence for the 10 Year Workforce Plan.

We encourage you and your organisation to contribute to the call for evidence and share your insights. Your input will be essential to shaping a practical and deliverable plan for the decade ahead.

The consultation will be open for six weeks and will close at 11.59pm on 7 November 2025.

Find out more

HCR Law Autumn Legal Update

11th November 2025

11.30am - 12.30pm (Virtual)

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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 five legal issues care providers must be aware of, such as safeguarding, employment law, compliance, safeguarding, and contractual obligations.

Book here

WMCA Members Safeguarding Adults Awareness course

14th November 2025

9.30am - 1:30pm

This online safeguarding course for social care providers is designed to enhance understanding and enforcement of safeguarding protocols. It covers key topics such as recognising abuse and neglect, listening to vulnerable individuals, and implementing effective safeguarding policies.

This course is FULLY FUNDED through the WMCA.

This course is only available to Members of WMCA.

Book here

Click for a full list of our upcoming events

All Events

Streamlining International Recruitment with Lifted: Updates for West Midlands Care Providers

14th October 2026

11.00am - 12.00pm ( Virtual)

Exploitation in International Recruitment: “Why Now?”

20th October 2025

2.30pm - 4.00pm (Virtual)

The Changing Landscape of International Recruitment: Legal and HR Essentials

30th October 2026

11.00am - 12.15pm (Virtual)

To find out more, click the link below

Find out more

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For all the latest news and updates relevant to the social care sector, check out the "News and Info" section of our website.

News

Conference Round Up

Despite the last-minute change to an online format, our Autumn Conference on 2nd October was a huge success.

The theme of the event — “Taking Your Social Care Business Forward in an Uncertain World” — sparked valuable discussion and insight. Our expert speakers covered a range of practical topics including business planning, energy grants, cost control, and recruitment.

📄 Presentation slides from the event are now available for members to view in th e event archive archive.wmca.care

🗓️ Save the Date: Our next conference will take place on 22nd January 2026, with the theme “Is Your Care Service Well Led?”

Registration and further details will be available shortly — we look forward to welcoming you!

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What support do you need to buy tech with confidence?

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We often hear from care providers that it can be difficult to feel confident when choosing technology- from care management systems and sensor technology to finance and HR software.

We know that when time and money are limited, it’s really important to make the best choices. That’s why we want to hear from you. We’ve created a short survey to understand what kind of support would help you feel more confident when choosing technology.

We’d like to know:

What challenges do you face when buying tech?
What information or tools would help you make more informed decisions?

Survey

Cyber Security Awareness Month: This is not a drill. Take action today

October marks the start of Cyber Security Awareness Month – and this year, the message could not be more urgent.

Recent high-profile incidents such as the Jaguar Land Rover cyber attack have made headlines, but even more disturbing is the recent hack of a UK nursery, which led to the exposure and sharing of children’s personal data. These events show that no organisation is too small or too trusted to be targeted – and that the consequences can be devastating. For adult social care providers, cyber security is about more than technology – it’s about protecting the people you support, their dignity, and their trust. Take advantage of our free resources.

Find Out More

Need Help completing the DSPT?

West Midlands Care Association is your local Better Security Better Care support organisation, and offers a raft of online resources, workshops and one to one support to help you complete the DSPT, all of which is FREE to CQC registered providers. Click the button for more info