Open consultation

Make Work Pay: ending one-sided flexibility – reforms of zero hours and similar contracts

*Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

The government are seeking views on reforms relating to zero hours and similar contracts, to implement measures in the Employment Rights Act 2025 to end one-sided flexibility.

This consultation closes at
11:59pm on 25 August 2026ro hours and similar contracts, to implement measures in the Employment Rights Act 2025 to end one-sided flon 25 August 2026

Consultation description

The government’s manifesto committed to end one-sided flexibility and ensure all jobs provide a baseline of security and predictability.

The government has taken this forward through 3 measures in the Employment Rights Act 2025, giving employees the right to:

• guaranteed hours, where the number of hours offered reflects the hours worked by a qualifying worker during a reference period
• reasonable notice of shifts and changes to these
• payment for shifts cancelled, curtailed or moved at short notice

These measures have not yet taken effect. This consultation seeks input on details of the new rights, which will be set out in regulations.

Following consultation, the government will develop final policy positions.

We encourage everyone with a view on these reforms to answer as many consultation questions as they feel comfortable with.

Ways to respond

Online : Ending one-sided flexibility: reforms of zero hours and similar contracts

Skills for Care updates for Oxfordshire providers:

1. Join the Oxfordshire Registered Managers network
2. Skills for Care launches the new Training Hub – a new training platform
3. Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) & Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) – webinar 6^th August
4. Subscribe to the free Skills for Care newsletter

Join the Oxfordshire Registered Managers network

The Skills for Care Oxfordshire registered managers network is free to attend for RMs and deputy managers of all care provider services in Oxfordshire. We meet face to face and online 3-4 times per year and we have a whatsapp group where managers can stay connected at all times. Our next meeting will be online on 16^th September and full details of how to book will be sent to all members. We are currently working on the agenda. If you are an RM or DM and would like to join please fill out this form. OxfordshireRegistered Managers Network Request to join the email list and Whatsapp group – Fill in form If you have any queries please contact rachel.reid@skillsforcare.org.uk

The Training Hub by Skills for Care – An Opportunity for Your Team

Skills for Care has recently launched The Training Hub, a new training platform developed specifically for adult social care and shaped by feedback from care leaders across the sector.

The Training Hub has been designed to help you meet regulatory requirements, support workforce development and strengthen the quality of care within your service. All courses are developed by Skills for Care and aligned to current and emerging sector standards. Training starts from £9 per course, and every penny of profit is reinvested back into supporting adult social care.

For over 25 years, Skills for Care has worked alongside government, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and care providers to help define what good and outstanding care looks like, including developing the Care Certificate and contributing to workforce standards used across the sector.

Training is delivered through an award-winning learning management platform designed to meet the needs of different learners and learning styles.

Exclusive Discount for ASC-WDS Account Holders

If your organisation has an Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) account, you can benefit from a 10% discount on all e-learning courses, making this an even more cost-effective way to support staff learning and development.

What's Available Now?

The Training Hub currently offers 14 bite-sized eLearning courses across three key areas.

Statutory and Mandatory Training

These modules cover essential topics relevant to all care staff:

• Difficult Conversations – Helps your staff understand what makes conversations difficult and develop the confidence to manage sensitive discussions using empathy, preparation and effective communication.
• Falls Prevention Awareness – Supports staff to recognise common falls risks and understand how to reduce them, respond appropriately when someone falls, and accurately report incidents.
• Frailty Awareness – Helps staff recognise frailty and identify early signs of deterioration, supporting independence and helping prevent avoidable hospital admissions.
• Introduction to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) – Builds understanding of protected characteristics, discrimination and inclusive practice, helping create safer and more respectful care environments.
• Introduction to Infection Prevention and Control – Covers infection transmission, hand hygiene, PPE, risk assessment and outbreak management to help protect people who draw on care and support.
• Mental Capacity Act Awareness – Explores the five statutory principles of the Mental Capacity Act, capacity assessments and best-interest decision-making.
• Mental Health Awareness – Helps staff recognise signs of mental health challenges and understand when and how to seek further support.
• Principles of Care Planning – Supports staff to develop personalised, strengths-based care plans that promote dignity, independence and meaningful outcomes.
• Principles of Person-Centred Care – Reinforces the values and behaviours needed to ensure people remain at the centre of all care and support decisions.
• Principles of Record Keeping – Provides guidance on producing accurate, factual and person-centred records while maintaining confidentiality and compliance.
• Enhanced Care
• Dementia (Tier 1) Introduction – Gives staff a better understanding of dementia, communication approaches and dementia-friendly practice.
• Introduction to End of Life Care – Helps staff recognise when someone may be approaching the end of life and provide compassionate, dignified support to both individuals and their families.
• Leadership and Management
• Coaching – Supports staff and leaders to develop coaching skills that promote confidence, independence and problem-solving using practical tools such as the GROW model.
• Mentoring – Provides practical approaches for supporting colleagues through mentoring conversations, knowledge sharing and reflective learning.
• Introductory modules for managers - These modules, based on the Manager Induction Standards, offer an engaging introduction to key topic areas including leading and managing in adult social care, supporting and developing teams, making decisions and effective communication. They provide opportunities to reflect and ideas to improve practices. – for these modules only you can also claim £40 per module via Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS)

Coming Soon

Additional courses are due to be launched over the summer, including Health and Safety modules covering key health and safety requirements for adult social care .

Why Not Take a Look?

www.skillsforcare.org.uk/thetraininghub

Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) & Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) – webinar 6th August

❓Would you like to claim funding for learning and development for your team?

❓Would you like to understand the recruitment and retention trends and gaps for your organisation better?

If so please come along to this webinar to find out more.....

🗓️ 6^th August 2-3.15pm

🖥️ Online via MS Teams

🔗BOOK NOW: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/WdmJww33tV

An informal demo and information sharing about the Adult social care workforce data set (ASC-WDS) and Learning and development support scheme (LDSS) funding for 26/27.

The Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set (ASC-WDS) helps providers to manage their workforce data and provides crucial intelligence to key decision makers such as Government, DHSC, CQC and local authorities. It also gives employers access to safe and free management of staff and training records and the ability to benchmark your workplace against similar providers. More information about ASC-WDS can be found here: https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Adult-Social-Care-Workforce-Data/Adult-Social-Care-Workforce-Data.aspx

The Adult Social Care Learning and Development Support Scheme (LDSS) from the DHSC is providing funding to support learning and development for ‘non-regulated care staff’, including deputy and Care Quality Commission (CQC)-registered managers and agency staff, in England for financial year 2026 to 2027. Eligible ASC employers can claim funding for specified training courses and qualifications (including Oliver McGowan mandatory training tier 1 and 2) on behalf of eligible care staff. Full information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-learning-and-development-support-scheme

Having an up to date ASC-WDS account is a condition of the LDSS funding.

If you are interested to know more about ASC-WDS, are planning to update your account, haven’t looked at it for a while or want to claim the Learning and Development Support Scheme funding then this is the session for you! Come along to have a live guided tour and hear all about the many benefits and ask any questions. The session will be hosted by Rachel Reid, Pip Dorkings and Mike Bailey - Skills for Care locality Managers in the London and Southeast Team. This is a local session for providers across London and the South East.

❗In the meantime - Quick links for ASC-WDS:

To set up your free ASC-WDS account – CLICK HERE: https://asc-wds.skillsforcare.org.uk/registration/create-account

To log in to your existing ASC-WDS account – CLICK HERE: https://asc-wds.skillsforcare.org.uk/login

General information about ASC-WDS can be found HERE: https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/Adult-Social-Care-Workforce-Data/Adult-Social-Care-Workforce-Data-Set/Adult-Social-Care-Workforce-Data-Set.aspx

For any queries contact:

Rachel Reid

Skills for Care Locality manager – Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire

Rachel.reid@skillsforcare.org.uk

Following feedback from providers regarding the challenges of sourcing and delivering double-handed reablement support, Oxfordshire County Council has introduced an enhanced payment to support the delivery of these packages and help increase market capacity.

We are pleased to confirm that, with effect from 14 May 2026, an additional £500 payment will be made for all eligible double-handed reablement packages. This enhancement has been introduced in recognition of the additional workforce and operational demands associated with delivering double-handed care and is intended to support providers in accepting and delivering these packages for Oxfordshire residents.

As a result, the total payment for an eligible double-handed reablement package has increased from £1,246.94 to £1,746.94.

The enhanced payment will remain in place for the remainder of the 2026/27 financial year and will be subject to regular review. The Council hopes that this additional funding will encourage greater uptake of double-handed packages, support timely hospital discharges and community transfers, and help ensure residents receive the care and support they need as quickly as possible. Should you have any questions regarding this arrangement, please contact carepaymentqueries@Oxfordshire.gov.uk

Please note the forwarded heat health alert for your information and action. Please share with key partners/stakeholders. Other useful guidance includes the following:

Heat summary - supporting vulnerable people: social care managers - GOV.UK

Heat-Health Alert action card for health and social care providers - GOV.UK

Beat the heat: staying safe in hot weather - GOV.UK

How to keep cool and stay well during hot weather – UK Health Security Agency

Keeping cool in heat waves | Oxfordshire County Council

Heat health alert updated for the South East

The amber heat health alert is in effect from 9AM on 08/07/2026 until 9PM on 12/07/2026 across the South East. The amber alert has a matrix score of 12. This means:

Significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including:

• a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups
• likely increased demand on all health and social care services
• internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment
• the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
• indoor environments overheating increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings
• issues managing medicines
• staffing issues due to external factors (for example, affecting transport)
• increased demand for power exceeding capacity
• other sector starting to observe impacts (for example, travel delays)
• water-related incidents may increase, including risks from cold-water shock and drowning

You can see all the weather health alerts currently in place across England on the UKHSA data dashboard.

How to take action if you have a duty to respond

Please review the Weather Health Alert System user guidance to explain how you can use the information contained within the alerts to respond to the forecast weather.

We provide guidance on how to take action for a range of professional groups with a duty to respond, with action cards available for commissioners, health and social care providers, voluntary and community sector, and national government. Summary action cards are also available below:

· commissioners

· voluntary and community sector

· care homes and other residential settings

· services delivering care to people in their homes

· hospitals and other healthcare settings

For an overview of the weather alerts in place across England, please check the UKHSA data dashboard.

The Met Office may issue National Severe Weather Warnings (for example, extreme heat) with short notice, so you can take appropriate action. Check the Met Office Website to see the National Severe Weather Warnings currently in place.

You can also find information of the latest weather forecast on the Met Office website.

How to protect yourself if you are vulnerable

While exposure to hot weather can affect anyone, some people are particularly at risk. We have published guidance on staying safe during hot weather.

Planning for adverse weather

All organisations should read the Adverse Weather and Health Plan. This is important if you provide health and social care. The plan explains what you should do before and while a heat health alert is in place.

To support local planning, please check the guidance on local resilience forums.

About heat health alerts

Chief executives of the following organisations in England receive heat health alerts:

· health trust providers of NHS commissioned care

· local authorities

· social care organisations

The Heat-Health Alert Service in England runs from 1 June to 30 September each year, in partnership with the Met Office. This is the period when high temperatures are likely to occur.

If we observe high temperatures outside of this period, we will issue an extraordinary heat health alert. If this happens, stakeholders should take the usual public health actions.

You can share this email with your organisation or sign up to receive alerts using our registration form. We have a separate form if you would like to update your registration details.

Please let us know if you have a question or have a problem with your subscription. You can also unsubscribe from this service.

UKHSA and the Met Office use the Risk Matrix to assign a risk score for each alert. Users can refer the alert’s risk score to the matrix to understand the severity of the alert and likelihood of its impact.

Updates to heat health alerts

UKHSA and the Met Office make daily risk assessments. We will issue a new alert should the alert level change.

Further Advice and guidance

Flood Alerts and Warnings

UKHSA Privacy Notice

Click HERE for a PowerPoint Presentation or HERE for the full RCP Heatwaves Guidance

Dear colleagues

I’m writing to let you know the traffic filter trial will replace Oxford’s temporary congestion charge on Monday 14 September. This follows the planned reopening of Botley Road at the end of August.

The traffic filter trial will operate in a similar way to the temporary congestion charge, with the traffic filters operating in the same six locations and a permit scheme in place.

However, the key difference is, from 14 September, car drivers will no longer be able to pay the £5 congestion charge to pass through the traffic filters - only permit holders will be able to do so.

The traffic filter trial is designed to further reduce congestion in the city, creating a healthier, more accessible and attractive Oxford. By removing the option for drivers to pay, it aims to further reduce through-traffic and encourage more people to take public transport or use active forms of travel.

All permit holders are being informed directly by email and/or letter about how their permit is being handled. The majority of people with congestion charge permits don’t need to take any action as their permits will be automatically transferred to traffic filter permits.

For people who don’t yet have a permit, applications are now open online.

Traffic filters are being introduced as a trial. A public consultation will open on 14 September, with residents and businesses invited to give feedback on how the scheme is working for them.

People’s feedback is very important to us as it will help us shape our future plans. We are listening and learning as we develop the best long-term solution for traffic in and around Oxford.

More information about the traffic filter scheme is available on our website.

Best regards

Martin Reeves

We hope this message finds you well.

We are writing to inform you that Oxfordshire County Council has adopted the Atamis Portal as its sole e tendering system with immediate effect.

As a result, all procurement activities undertaken by the Council will now be conducted exclusively via the Atamis Portal. To participate in procurement opportunities, including submitting a tender for the new Staying Well At Home (SWAH) home care framework, your organisation will be required to register an account on the portal. Further details on how to do so are provided below.

To begin, please register using the following link Register Here

Please note that, during registration, you may be prompted to merge your account with an existing organisation. This is based on several criteria, including your email domain name. To ensure accurate identification, please register using your official work email address.

The registration process is straightforward; however, should you require any assistance, the Atamis helpdesk is available to support you using the following details:

Kind regards,

Commercial and Procurement Services
Oxfordshire County Council

In this heatwave, it’s important to stress just how crucial it is to ensure those you care for remain well hydrated. Regular access to fluids is one of the most effective ways to safeguard vulnerable individuals from the risks posed by extreme heat. Please be vigilant in monitoring their hydration levels and encourage them to drink water frequently throughout the day.

For reliable guidance and useful tips, I recommend visiting the Beat the Heat website as well as resources provided by the UK Health Security Agency. These platforms offer practical information on keeping cool, recognising symptoms of heat-related illnesses, and maintaining health during hot weather. It’s worthwhile to go over these materials with your teams and share them with those you support.

Should you require support from adult social care outside of standard hours, referrals can be made by calling 0800 833 408 after 5pm. Every case is handled with priority and securely recorded, and any necessary follow-up actions are coordinated with daytime teams to ensure thorough support.

Thank you for your continued dedication. Please do reach out if you have any questions or need further assistance. Let’s work together to ensure everyone stays safe and comfortable during this challenging spell of weather.

Guidance for Social Care Managers

Heat-Health Alert action card for health and social care providers - GOV.UK

Heat health alert updated for the South East

The amber heat health alert is in effect from 12PM on 18/06/2026 until 8PM on 23/06/2026 across the South East. The amber alert has a matrix score of 12. This means:

Significant impacts are likely across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including:

• a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups
• likely increased demand on all health and social care services
• internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment
• the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
• indoor environments overheating increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings
• issues managing medicines
• staffing issues due to external factors (for example, affecting transport)
• increased demand for power exceeding capacity
• other sector starting to observe impacts (for example, travel delays)
• water-related incidents may increase, including risks from cold-water shock and drowning

You can see all the weather health alerts currently in place across England on the UKHSA data dashboard.

How to take action if you have a duty to respond

Please review the Weather Health Alert System user guidance to explain how you can use the information contained within the alerts to respond to the forecast weather.

We provide guidance on how to take action for a range of professional groups with a duty to respond, with action cards available for commissioners, health and social care providers, voluntary and community sector, and national government. Summary action cards are also available below:

· commissioners

· voluntary and community sector

· care homes and other residential settings

· services delivering care to people in their homes

· hospitals and other healthcare settings

For an overview of the weather alerts in place across England, please check the UKHSA data dashboard.

The Met Office may issue National Severe Weather Warnings (for example, extreme heat) with short notice, so you can take appropriate action. Check the Met Office Website to see the National Severe Weather Warnings currently in place.

You can also find information of the latest weather forecast on the Met Office website.

How to protect yourself if you are vulnerable

While exposure to hot weather can affect anyone, some people are particularly at risk. We have published guidance on staying safe during hot weather.

Planning for adverse weather

All organisations should read the Adverse Weather and Health Plan. This is important if you provide health and social care. The plan explains what you should do before and while a heat health alert is in place.

To support local planning, please check the guidance on local resilience forums.

About heat health alerts

Chief executives of the following organisations in England receive heat health alerts:

· health trust providers of NHS commissioned care

· local authorities

· social care organisations

The Heat-Health Alert Service in England runs from 1 June to 30 September each year, in partnership with the Met Office. This is the period when high temperatures are likely to occur.

If we observe high temperatures outside of this period, we will issue an extraordinary heat health alert. If this happens, stakeholders should take the usual public health actions.

You can share this email with your organisation or sign up to receive alerts using our registration form. We have a separate form if you would like to update your registration details.

Please let us know if you have a question or have a problem with your subscription. You can also unsubscribe from this service.

UKHSA and the Met Office use the Risk Matrix to assign a risk score for each alert. Users can refer the alert’s risk score to the matrix to understand the severity of the alert and likelihood of its impact.

Updates to heat health alerts

UKHSA and the Met Office make daily risk assessments. We will issue a new alert should the alert level change.

Further Advice and guidance

Flood Alerts and Warnings

UKHSA Privacy Notice

*******************************************************************************************

The information contained in the Email and any attachments is confidential and intended solely and for the attention and use of the named addressee(s). It may not be disclosed to any other person without the express authority of the UKHSA, or the intended recipient or both. If you are not the intended recipient, you must not disclose, copy, distribute or retain this message or any part of it. This footnote also confirms that this Email has been swept for computer viruses by Exchange Online Protection, but please re-sweep any attachments before opening or saving. UK Health Security Agency -(https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency)

Save the date: 18^th November 2026