Oxfordshire County Council : Social Care Provider Engagement

We are writing to alert you to a potential scam that may be targeting adult social care providers across Oxfordshire.

A provider recently contacted the Quality Team after receiving a call from Jason at Skills for Care regarding their alleged registration in March 2025 on the Adult Social Care Data Set. Jason advised that the provider's company details had been changed to “Brayground” using an email address unconnected to their organisation. These details also did not match those registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Jason explained that this alteration might have been an attempt to fraudulently claim funding for training workers whom the provider does not actually employ. When Jason shared a sample of the names linked to these claims, the provider did not recognise any of them. Jason agreed that this appears to be a scam, which could potentially affect other providers.

We strongly recommend that all providers:

• Carefully review their registration details on the Adult Social Care Data Set to ensure no unauthorised changes have been made.
• Report any discrepancies immediately to Skills for Care at 0113 241 0969, as well as to the local safeguarding team and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) where appropriate.

We believe that swift action is needed to protect the integrity of training and funding processes and to prevent fraud.

Nature-based practice is increasingly incorporated into evidence-based interventions to tackle physical and mental health inequalities, both in the community and in health and care settings.

Oxfordshire Public Health, Oxfordshire Local Nature Partnership, and Greener Practice Oxfordshire are working together to develop a FREE nature-based practice training offer for Oxfordshire-based professionals working in the NHS, social care, and VCSE sector.

To understand how much interest there might be for this and help us get it right, we would be grateful for your feedback through this 5-minute survey. The survey will close on 30^th June.

Any questions, just get in touch with Lizzie Moore, People and Nature Manager at Oxfordshire Local Nature Partnership (Lizzie.moore@southandvale.gov.uk).

📢 We Want to Hear from You!

As part of her Quality Practitioner Level 4 Apprenticeship, Monica Alves is working on a project titled:
"Improving Stakeholder Engagement and Feedback Mechanisms to Drive Continuous Quality Improvement in Adults and Children Social Care."

To make this meaningful, She needs your input!

📝 There is a short survey to gather your views on the support provided by Quality Improvement Officers — including how we engage with you, our professionalism, knowledge, and how well we reflect the values of Oxfordshire County Council.

⏱️ It takes around 10 minutes to complete, and all responses are confidential.

🔗 https://forms.office.com/e/0ipNMjrTTk
📅 Deadline: 06 June 2025

Your feedback will help shape how we work and improve the quality of our services. Thank you in advance for your time and support!

If you require any further information you can contact Monica on 07783 879 270 or email monica.alves@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Falls present a major, growing public health problem that can have devastating effects on older people and those at-risk due to medical conditions, often resulting in a loss of independence, chronic pain, and reduced quality of life.

This useful and useable guideline has been updated to ensure people identified as being at greatest risk get help and support tailored to their individual needs so they can live full and active lives. 

Fewer people suffering falls will result in a drop in the number of hospital visits and the need for ongoing treatments which will reduce pressure on the NHS.

A News article was released on 29 April 2025 New guideline will help cut falls and related hospital admissions for older and at-risk people | NICE

You can download the full guide at Overview | Falls: assessment and prevention in older people and in people 50 and over at higher risk | Guidance | NICE

We would like to inform you about an important update from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) regarding the use of VAT grouping within the care industry. This update is particularly relevant for state-regulated care providers who form a VAT group with non-state-regulated providers of welfare services.

Key Points:

• VAT Grouping: HMRC has issued new guidance on VAT grouping structures used by care providers. They consider these structures as a form of tax avoidance and will refuse new VAT group registration applications designed to implement these structures. HMRC will also review and investigate existing VAT groups suspected of using avoidance schemes.

• Council's Position: Please note that the council will not be novating any existing contracts. This means that current contracts will remain as they are and will not be transferred to another party.

Are you struggling with staff retention? Do you want to attract and keep top talent? The Skills for Care ‘Recruit to retain’ programme offers practical, values-based strategies to strengthen recruitment, support staff development, and reduce turnover. 

This three-day virtual programme will help you build a values-driven, supportive workplace that enhances staff wellbeing, reduces turnover and associated costs and attracts high-quality candidates. It’s designed to support you to meet Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards, deliver high quality care and build a strong, loyal workforce.

The course is FULLY FUNDED by Oxfordshire County Council.

Programme dates:

Thursday 08 May 2025, 10:00 – 16:00

Thursday 22 May 2025, 10:00 – 16:00

Wednesday 04 June 2025, 10:00 – 16:00

Book your place now: https://events.skillsforcare.org.uk/skillsforcare/2129/register

Hi all,

On 12^th March, the government announced changes relating to international recruitment of care workers and senior care workers. From 9^th April, care providers in England who wish to recruit a new worker from overseas, or those switching from another visa route, will have to first prove that they have attempted to recruit a worker from within the UK who is already in the route and needs new sponsorship.

The Home Office are running three webinars providing further information on these changes and what they mean for ASC providers. The sessions will cover:

• Changes to Certificate of Sponsorship requests for sponsoring care workers and senior care workers based entirely in England.
• Changes to Minimum Salary Requirement
• Changes to deductions from salary

Please use the links below to register for a session:

Tuesday 1st April:14:30 - 15.00

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/dea38eef-57a6-4e01-8acd-0919db1b60aa@f24d93ec-b291-4192-a08a-f182245945c2

Wednesday 2nd April: 11:30 - 12.00

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4615bbc3-a6d4-4651-9851-e7349afc7cf7@f24d93ec-b291-4192-a08a-f182245945c2

Thursday 3rd April: 18:00 - 18:30

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/c91af936-ced3-495d-a0ac-bad2e1f28f8d@f24d93ec-b291-4192-a08a-f182245945c2

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Liv

Oxfordshire County Council has agreed fee uplifts for the forthcoming financial year. The % increase will be dependent on the care type that you are contracted to provide. https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/sites/default/files/file/adult-social-and-health-care/occ_asc_fee_uplifts_2025-26.pdf

As with previous years, we will apply the fee increase up to the ceiling threshold limits, as determined by our framework contracts. We will not apply automatic uplifts to any care that is above the ceiling rate, nor any care that is provided outside of Oxfordshire. The Uplift Review process is available for providers who wish to request an uplift.

More detail can be found on our webpages.

Are you struggling with staff retention? Do you want to attract and keep top talent? The Skills for Care ‘Recruit to retain’ programme offers practical, values-based strategies to strengthen recruitment, support staff development, and reduce turnover. 

This three-day virtual programme will help you build a values-driven, supportive workplace that enhances staff wellbeing, reduces turnover and associated costs and attracts high-quality candidates. It’s designed to support you to meet Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards, deliver high quality care and build a strong, loyal workforce.

Programme dates

Thursday 08 May 2025, 10:00 – 16:00
Thursday 22 May 2025, 10:00 – 16:00
Wednesday 04 June 2025, 10:00 – 16:00

Book your place now: https://events.skillsforcare.org.uk/skillsforcare/2129/register