📢 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: 30th May 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

Start your journey to a smoke-free life today with the help of our stop smoking services for not just you, but also for your loved ones. Stop for life Oxon offer free weekly support and a range of quitting aids that can help guide you to a happier and healthier future.

Everyone's journey is unique. For some, it might involve establishing a new routine or keeping themselves occupied. For others, having a friend or family member join in can provide the encouragement needed to stay motivated.

No matter what approach suits you best, Stop for Life Oxon is here to support you every step of the way: www.stopforlifeoxon.org/well-worth-it

Dear Care Provider,

Hopefully, you are already aware that the regulations relating to the procurement of public services and goods are changing from 24th February 2025. This is part of a reset of how the UK does business for public contracts following Brexit and taking into account the new Government’s National Procurement Strategy.

Key Points:

• Suppliers must register on the Central Digital Platform before submitting bids for new procurements starting after 24th February.
• Registration includes confirming key company information, which can be updated and maintained by the supplier.
• This information will be available centrally, on the Central Digital Platform and will not need to be replicated when tendering.

For clarity, this will only apply to new frameworks and contracts tendered after this date. Call-offs/placements from existing frameworks will continue as normal.

Important Links:

• Suppliers: How to register your organisation and first administrator on Find a Tender in three easy steps (HTML) - GOV.UK

• Doing business with the council - supplying goods and services | Oxfordshire County Council(External link)

• The Procurement Act 2023 A short guide for suppliers(External link)
• Central digital platform factsheet(External link)
• TPP suppliers guide and knowledge drops LinkedIn(External link)

• Recent comms and marketing resources (1)(External link)