Good morning all,

Thank you for your continued commitment to supporting those who rely on care and support services.

Please find an attached letter highlighting the latest updates on infection prevention and control, winter preparedness, flu vaccination and visiting.

20251711 Flu uptake letter.docx

20251211_O_Winter 2025 IPC Letter to ASC Sector.docx

I would be grateful if you would carefully read this, share it with relevant people in your organisation and ensure that the guidance is actively promoted.

Your ongoing support is much appreciated.

Kind regards,

Claire

For Information : Earned Settlement Open Consultation.

1. Introduction and summary of proposed changes

The Home Secretary has announced changes to the pathway to settlement and launched a consultation on these, including how they should be implemented. The changes aim to ensure that the immigration framework remains fair, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of the economy and society. The government is concerned that that lower-wage migrant workers including those on the Health and Care visa, are less likely to make a net fiscal contribution over the long-term.

2. What’s being considered in the consultation?

• Increasing the default qualifying period for settlement from 5 years to 10 years, as set out in the Immigration White Paper Restoring Control over the Immigration System.
• Increasing the qualifying period for settlement to 15 years for those in the Skilled Worker and Health and Care routes in a role below RQF level 6 (this includes care workers and senior care workers).
• Introducing a “No Recourse to Public Funds” (NRPF) condition at settlement, aligning with existing visa conditions.
• Earned settlement criteria, requiring migrants to demonstrate sustained good conduct, contribution, and integration rather than automatic entitlement after a fixed period.

The considerations informing the redesign of settlement will be based on four core pillars, designed to ensure that applicants make a meaningful contribution to UK society and meet clear, measurable standards. These four core pillars will be: Integration, Contribution, Character and Residence.

3. What does ‘settlement’ mean and how is it changing?

• Settlement refers to a person’s right to live in the UK permanently without any immigration restrictions. It is also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
• The 2025 UK Immigration White Paper, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, introduced significant reforms to how migrants can settle in the UK.
• Settlement used to be granted, mainly based on a qualifying time in the UK. Migrants will now need to earn settlement by demonstrating sustained good conduct, contribution and integration.
• Currently, someone working here on a skilled migrant visa, can apply for settlement after 5 years of being here. The proposal is for this to increase to 10 years, and application will only be possible for those who:

1. Have a clean criminal record
2. Speak English to a high standard
3. Make a measurable economic contribution
4. Have no Debt in this country

• For people who are considered low-skilled/ low wage- including those who arrived on Health & Care visas, the settlement period is proposed to be 15 years (on the basis that this group represent significant fiscal costs to the UK, including high levels of dependents)
• Earlier settlement could be achieved for an outsized contribution to national life. The proposal describes examples of this such as high talent, high taxpayer, level of seniority in public services, and/or volunteered extensively in communities.
• Settlement will be quicker for spouses/dependents of British citizens, British nationals (overseas) from Hong Kong.
• It is proposed to delay settlement for those who contribute less to our public life. By this, the proposal describes people who:
  1. have claimed benefits
  2. have entered illegally
• There is a proposed 20yr settlement pathway for refugees (who will remain on core protection support).
• The Consultation is interested to hear specific views on settlement for:

1. Children
2. Members of armed forces
3. Victims of certain crimes

• In addition to proposing changes to those who qualify for settlement, and the period that they will have to wait to settle, this consultation considers the rights provided to those given settled status. Specifically, there is a proposal that welfare benefits should not be available to those who have settled status but reserved for those with British citizenship.
• The proposed changes to settlement will apply to everyone in the country today who does not already have indefinite leave to remain.
• Those with settled status will retain this. Migrants who are here as part of the EU Settlement Scheme, the Windrush Scheme, or the pathway to settlement for children in care/care leavers are out of scope of this consultation.

4. Engaging in the consultation:

The government consultation is open until 12^th February 2026 and you can participate here: Earned settlement - GOV.UK. The full detail of the consultation can be found on line, but in summary, the consultation focusses on three areas:

1. increasing the baseline qualifying period for settlement to 10 years
2. increasing the qualifying period for settlement to 15 years for those in the Skilled worker route in a role below RQF level 6 (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree), and
3. implementing a No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition at Settlement.

The Home Office has committed to further engaging across government and with the health and care sector on the consultation and proposed changes and have said that they will provide further details on this in due course.

As you will be aware, the flu season has come several weeks early this winter, and for that reason, we believe that it is important to ensure that as many staff in the Adult Social Care sector, take up the offer of flu vaccination for this season, as quickly as possibly.

Please click link below to a letter with communications for the sector on the flu vaccine campaign for this season, including information on the vaccine from UKHSA, and information on eligibility and how to book a flu vaccine for your staff. Please ensure this is disseminated to all of your staff and colleagues.

Pop along to Refresh Café and chat with our Turning Point staff, and other community services to find out what support is available in our area.

Whether you are struggling with housing, finances, employment, substance use, or feeling isolated and a little bit lost, we can help link you in with the right service to meet your needs.

A hot meal and refreshments will be provided free of charge.

Join us at: Vintage Refresh Café, 131 Cowley Road, OX4 1JJ

Monday 24^th November; 2-4pm

Monday 8^th December; 2-4pm

Anna and the team at Refresh

anna.lamb@turning-point.co.uk

Recent safety reviews have identified significant risks associated with hot water bottles, including:

• Burn injuries caused by direct contact with skin or accidental leaks.
• Material degradation over time, which can lead to splitting or bursting.
• Incorrect filling practices, such as using boiling water or overfilling, increasing the risk of accidents.

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of those you support, it is crucial to have clear guidance in place to manage these risks when using hot water bottles. For more detailed information click RoSPA- Keeping safe as well as warm: How RoSPA is reducing the risk of burns from hot water bottles

From Monday 3^rd November all patients from the following practices will have their bladder and bowel products prescribed by the service:

From Monday 3^rd of November all patients from the above practices will have their bladder and bowel products prescribed by the new service *excluding patients who currently obtain their prescriptions from the West Berkshire Continence service:

Calling all Adult Social Care staff in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire!

Become a Digital Ambassador and help lead the way in digital confidence and cyber safety No tech experience needed — just curiosity and a passion to make a difference!

Launch Webinar: Wed 5th Nov Time: 1–2 PM

Online (Teams/Zoom)

RSVP by: Tues 4th Nov

Cyber workshops

Train-the-Trainer sessions

CPD certificate

Peer learning & AI guidance

Tools, tips & support hub

Benefits for your organisation:

• Safer online practices

• Improved DSPT & NHSmail compliance

• A confident, cyber-aware workforce

Register yourself or nominate a colleague now:

Digital Ambassador Programme – Registration – Fill in form https://conta.cc/3LsUczk

Let’s build a safer, smarter care sector together!

Are you new to the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) or haven’t yet published your entry?

We understand that starting your DSPT journey can feel overwhelming — but you’re not alone. That’s why the Oxfordshire Association of Care Providers is hosting a friendly, practical, and FREE in-person session designed to guide you step-by-step through the process.

Event Details

Date: Thursday, 27 November

Time: 10:30am – 2:30pm

Location: Dinton Activity Centre, Sandford Lane, Hurst RG10 0SU

Room: The classroom

Parking: Free on-site

Refreshments & Lunch: Provided

What You’ll Gain

• Step-by-step guidance tailored to your service
• One-to-one support from digital and cyber security specialists
• Dedicated time to work on your DSPT with expert help on hand
• Confidence-building support for first-time users
• Networking opportunities with other providers in your area
• Clarity on what’s required to meet data security standards

Whether you're just starting out or need a little extra help to get over the finish line, this session is designed to make the process easier, clearer, and more achievable.

Please bring your laptop so you can work directly on your DSPT during the session.

Reserve your spot today and take the first confident step toward publishing your DSPT. BOOK YOUR TICKET NOW

We look forward to supporting you!

1. Care Hom2. CAREHOME Manager letter.docxes Resident letter.docxHCP Leaflet FINAL.pdfPt Leaflet FINAL.pdfUrology referral form FINAL.docx

Dear Care home colleagues,

Buckinghamshire Oxfordshire and Berkshire Integrated Commissioning Board (BOB ICB) have commissioned a prescribing service which transfers the prescribing from GP practices to a dedicated service run by Bullen Healthcare. The service will look after the prescribing of urology (catheter) and stoma products for people who are currently using products such as stoma pouches, stoma accessories, catheters (both long-term and intermittent) sheaths, leg and night bags and trans-anal irrigation products and associated ancillary products.

GP practice in the BOB ICB area will be transferring their patient list to the service in a staggered manner over the next couple of weeks and months to enable the service to onboard patients in a manageable way.

From Monday 6^th October all patients from the following practices will have their stoma, catheter and trans anal irrigation products prescribed by the service *excluding patients who currently obtain their prescriptions from the West Berkshire Continence service:

Existing Appliance users

From Monday 6^th October all patients from the following practices will have their bladder and bowel products prescribed by the service *excluding patients who currently obtain their prescriptions from the West Berkshire Continence service:

From Monday 6^th October 2025 onwards, the Appliance Management Service will call your care home for patients registered at the above GP Practices to introduce the service, answer any questions, and confirm which appliances are needed by residents who use them. The service will continue to contact your care home each month to repeat this process, ensuring residents receive their appliances promptly and any issues are identified early.

If you any queries, please contact the service at prescriptionservice.bhg@nhs.net in the first instance.

We will write to you again with details of further practices who have transferred prescribing of these products to the new service.

All new patients discharged from hospitals in the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West with these products will be discharged to the new service. If, however, a patient arrives from an out of area hospital, a referral form is attached to enable the care home to refer the patient to the service.

Please note that requests for all other prescription items (medicines, eye drops, inhalers etc) is not affected by this service and you should continue to order such items in the usual way.

Please find attached a range of information relating to the new Appliance Prescription Management Service

1. Care Homes Resident letter
2. CAREHOME Manager letter
3. Patient leaflet
4. Health Care Professionals leaflet – this is for yourself and dissemination to your colleagues, so they have some information about the service
5. Referral Form for use by any nursing or care homes to register new patients to the service. It can be emailed through to prescriptionservice.bhg@nhs.net as the form is editable.

Best Regards

BOB ICB Medicines Optimisation Team

Anum Mahmood

Medicines Optimisation Pharmacist

Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board

Usual working days: Tuesday to Friday (9am - 2.30pm)

E: anum.mahmood@nhs.net Web: bucksoxonberksw.icb.nhs.uk

M: 07595481748

Office address: Amersham Hospital, Whielden Street, Amersham HP7 0JD

Generic inbox bobicb.medicines@nhs.net

From 29 October 2025 if you drive a car you will need a permit to drive along the following roads:

Without a permit you may be charged £5 per day.

All the details about the scheme and how to apply for permits right now can be found About the congestion charge | Oxfordshire County Council