Our strength is your involvement | | Wednesday 10 September 2025 | | |
Hello...
Welcome to your weekly digest of social care news curated by OACP.
In this week's edition:
- Local
- Oxfordshire County Council local Authority assessment published
- Workforce Roundtable date for your diary
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CareLineLive links with OACP
- Digital
- Is your BYOD policy in place?
- International Recruitment
- 207 matches made - 637 workers available
- Home office taking more action to revoke sponsorship licences
- National
- Casey Commission sits for the first time
- Policy share following Supreme Court ruling on biological sex
- September Mental Capacity update
- Safeguarding Adults Week free webinars
- Legal briefings
- and more
Been away? Catch up on the news...
As always, please let us know if you are looking for something and can't find it.
We're here to help.
Eddy McDowall, OACP
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Compelling reasons for YOU to join OACP...
...YOUR one-stop for adult social care in Oxfordshire
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OACP Annual Membership is £200 for CQC registered providers.
Discounts available for multiple locations joining at the same time.
| | That's less than the price of one take-away coffee per week. |
- Engagement | Representation | Voice
- Bespoke support and troubleshooting
- A direct route from local to national connecting your voice to DHSC and Government
- Commercial offers including buying discounts and advice
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Get closer to the action: stand for the OACP Board
- Demonstrate your Membership: a logo for your website and email signatures
- Follow us on social media and we'll promote your activity
- And much more
- Please support your local Care Association
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OACP is on
Follow us for updates
| | Oxfordshire provider networks | up next... | | |
OACP Learning Disability network - for services for people with learning disability/ autism
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Tuesday 7 October 2025, 10 - 11 am, via Teams
OACP Home Care network - for CQC registered home care, extra care and live-in care
OACP Care Home network - for CQC registered residential and nursing homes
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Wednesday 15 October 2025, 2 - 3 pm, via Teams
Safeguarding Quarterly [with Oxfordshire County Council and OSAB] - for all care settings
| | Notes & recordings from our networks only go to OACP Members (excluding Safeguarding Quarterly) | | |
Oxfordshire County Council | LT Care Home Framework
Two sessions in September for providers currently on the framework, where experiences of how the framework is operating will be shared. One session will be in person and the other on-line. The sessions will be exactly the same, so you only need to attend one.
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The Oxfordshire Trusted Assessor Service provides support Monday - Friday at the John Radcliffe Hospital and The Horton
We take referrals on:
- local authority funded care home placements
- self-funders seeking a care home placement
- self-funders seeking a home care package
- complex local authority funded home care packages
To contact the Service:
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email oacp.taoxon@nhs.net
- Valerie Jarvis 07864 686 552
- Rachel Adams 07860 371 099
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Genna Manock 07594 781 730
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How are we doing Apr - Jul 2025?
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349 assessments completed at an average of 5.26 assessments per working day
- 84.2% assessments completed same day or next day
- 78.5% of assessments referred by providers or sourced by our Team
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Saving the local system £884,715 in 872 NHS bed days
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Plus 230 daily updates as requested by care homes or dom care
Saving care provider time in care settings…
- 1,396 hrs at 4 hrs per assessment
- 2,094 hrs at 6 hrs per assessment
At a total cost to the Oxfordshire system of £26,533.22
| YOU and OACP are playing an important part in continuing to improve hospital discharge. | | | |
CQC | Oxfordshire County Council Local Authority Assessment
The Council's Adult Social Care service has been rated overall ‘Good’ following the recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The score of 64 was two points above Requires Improvement.
The individual quality statements were rated as:
- Assessing needs - Requires improvement
- Supporting people to lead healthier lives - Requires improvement
- Equity in experience and outcomes - Requires improvement
- Care provision, integration and continuity - Requires improvement
- Partnerships and communities - Good
- Safe pathways, systems and transitions - Good
- Safeguarding - Good
- Governance, management and sustainability - Good
- Learning, improvement and innovation - Good
Read the detailed report on the CQC website
Read the summary report provided by CQC
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Oxfordshire County Council | Workforce Roundtable
Date for your diary...
- Tuesday 7 October 2025
- 9.30 am - 3 pm
- Venue TBC (in Oxfordshire with parking
Please register your attendance via the booking link below.
You will then be sent the calendar invite with a more detailed agenda to follow.
Register here
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Oxfordshire County Council | New Deputy Director of Commissioning
Following the resignation of Pippa Corner who finished in August, the new Deputy Director for Commissioning is Ian Bottomley, who was Lead Commissioner for Older People within the integrated commissioning team and lead for the Better Care Fund. As yet no official external communication has been shared by the Council.
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Oxfordshire County Council | Oxford Congestion charge
This proposal to better manage traffic flow into and through Oxford has passed the first step by being approved by council officers. However, the consultation revealed significant concerns including:
- equity concerns with local residents feeling the £5 daily charge disproportionately affects lower-income residents
- a lack of consultation with Oxford City Councillors signalling a failure to engage with residents or the city leadership before announcing the plan
Alternative suggestions have included:
- tackling traffic from private schools
- improving public transport affordability and frequency, particularly hospital shuttle buses
- re-opening the Cowley Branch Line for better rail access
On 10 September, the proposal will be discussed at Council Cabinet, where a decision will be made formally to introduce the scheme.
Read more
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Oxfordshire Community Foundation | Capacity Fund launch
Another Community Capacity grants round will be open to applications from 12 September 2025 and will close on 15 October.
Thanks to funding from Oxfordshire County Council £520,000 will be available to award to charitable organisations and community groups, helping Oxfordshire’s adult residents live independently and healthily for as long as possible in their lives.
Local community organisations play a huge role in supporting people to thrive with less need for government services. This can help people have a much better quality-of-life.
Grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 will be available to help charitable organisations to support disadvantaged adults. Key information about the grants round can be found on the OCF website now with full details provided prior to the grants round being launched.
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Oxford Community Action | Well Together
OCA received £8,000 to support walking and hiking groups, and for activities to reduce isolation for older people.
Read more
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Oxford Health | Oral Health update
Become an Oral Health Champion
Support a growing community across Oxfordshire dedicated to supporting and promoting better oral health.
Your Role as an Oral Health Champion
- Promoting daily oral hygiene routines.
- Supporting healthy lifestyle choices.
- Support others to access dental care.
- Recognising problems early and signposting for help.
- Sharing up to date information regularly with your colleagues, service users and their families.
Join free bitesize workshops (just 25 minutes each) designed to give you practical, meaningful advice on:
- Supporting adults with complex medical needs
- Oral health care for those receiving palliative support
- Additional tips for parents and carers of adults with learning disabilities
Smile 360 Accreditation for Care Settings
Also launching is a next cohort (October–December) for the Smile 360 Programme, supporting care homes and similar settings working with vulnerable adults. By signing up, your team will:
- Improve daily oral care delivery
- Ensure practice is in line with NICE guidelines
- Help individuals register with a dentist
- Promote comfort, dignity, and wellbeing for those you support
Both opportunities include free training provided by Oxfordshire’s Oral Health Improvement Team at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.
You can register your interest or book training directly using links on these posters.
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Dear Members
We know that switching management software – or going digital for the first time – can feel like a big step. That’s why CareLineLive, OACP's newest trusted partner, is here to make that process smoother and more supportive for you.
As a special offer to our Members, CareLineLive is waiving their standard onboarding fee for any new contract signed before 30 September 2025.
Whether you're ready to move on from paper, switch from another system, or simply want to explore a better way of managing your agency, this is your chance to get started with an award-winning software and genuine human support, with no extra upfront cost.
CareLineLive is proud to be the UK’s top-rated home care management software with a 4.8 star rating on Trustpilot. With this offer, they’re taking away the onboarding fee, but keeping the gold-standard support their customers love.
Claim this offer by booking your free demo here
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BOB ICB | ReSPECT rollout for care homes
The ICB is commencing the rollout of the ReSPECT (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment) process across our region. To support this rollout, below is some important information for nursing and residential care home staff. Please share with your teams to raise awareness about the ReSPECT process.
Further information, training opportunities, and resources will be shared in the coming weeks. In the meantime, if you have any questions or would like to discuss how this may affect your service, please email bobicb-bw.palliativeandendoflifecare@nhs.net.
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Oxfordshire County Council | overview of care home placement process
- Care Act assessment
- Proposal reviewed at ASC Practice Forum
- Further assessments as required: BIA / MCA / Choice ? Risk assessment
- Brokerage commences
- Block bed search
- Framework bed search
- Spot placement bed search
Read the full process
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OACP | Charity Mentors
OACP has been approached by a number of ASC charity trustees asking for support individually and for their Boards.
Following recommendation, we have a new partnership with Charity Mentors focused on the not-for-profit local social care provider market to support Chief Executives and Chairs of Trustees.
Interested? Please email info@oacp.org.uk
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BYOD policy
Digital Care Hub have a BYOD policy to provide peace of mind for services which allow staff to use their own smart phone for work purposes rather than supply them with a separate work-only device. This approach is called BYOD or ‘Bring Your Own Device’.
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Still haven't completed your DSPT?
Do you want to feel like this?
Don't wait!
You probably have most of the policies and procedures in place already.
We're here to help!
Reach out to us via email to arrange a virtual or face-to-face one-to-one session. Let's get it done together!
digital@oacp.org.uk
Angie and Sam
| | | Your support to overseas recruitment | | |
RWK Goodman's immigration team are seeing the Home Office taking more action to revoke licences than they were in the past and the care sector does seem to be the focus. The latest stats show that there were 1,636 licence suspensions and revocations just in Q2 this year (although not all are in social care).
Licences are usually suspended before being revoked and it is important to take the opportunity to make robust and properly evidenced representations against the suspension at this stage as if this stage isn’t done properly, it significantly hampers the chances of success in a JR.
The Home Office has a duty to act proportionately, and it has been successfully challenged where it has followed the guidance (which is very onerous with broad requirements for renovation) to the letter without acting proportionately.
SESCA record the regular reasons for revocation as follows:
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- Assigning COS to close relative
- Change of ownership hasn’t been reported
- Concerns with genuineness of vacancies
- CQC registration removed
- Failure to retain documents
- General sponsor duties
- Issues with Travel Time and Rest Periods
- Monitoring issues (RTW Checks)
- Not registered with necessary regulatory body
- Recouping of fees
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- Recruitment concerns
- Reporting issues
- Right to work concerns
- Salary underpayments
- SOC Codes don’t match nature of the business
- Supplying sponsored workers to third parties as labour
- Training or safeguarding concerns
- Unsecure Email Address
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Click here for the latest International Recruitment Project Bulletin, which includes:
- New immigration rules (from 22 July 2025) – Summary and links to further guidance
- DHSC Q&A guidance document
- Displaced worker recruitment scheme update
- Funding now: £6,000 per worker (up to 6 per CQC-registered location)
- Apply here
- Free Legal Helpline – resumed 1 Sept 2025
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Recruitmatch Everyday English & Cultural Awareness
Designed for carers from overseas
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/recruitmatch
An online course over 6 weeks with a live trainer, 10 - 11.30am, each Wednesday for 6 weeks, from 15 October 2025 - 19 November 2025
This is the training that we have offered to workers registered with the IR scheme in the SE region, and we have had excellent feedback on it.
Recruitmatch have agreed to offer a special price of £150 to providers who book it for their staff.
Providers should contact Recruitmatch directly if they have any questions.
Please see this flyer
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The SESCA hub has 653 displaced workers available now with grants to support costs.
207 matches have been made so far: a success rate of 24.07% - total workers available (current workers available + matches) divided by matches
Email hello@sesca.org.uk to register your interest.
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SESCA-led displaced worker project: what we can do and what we can't do
The SESCA-led project is delivering support specifically to displaced workers (former employees of registered care providers whose sponsorship licence has been revoked). We are aware that the primary need is for female drivers in home care.
We can:
- Register migrant workers on a sponsorship licence who have been displaced and take them through an assurance process to maximise their potential for re-employment.
- Register CQC-registered care providers and take you through a process that maximises your opportunity to employ a worker.
- Provide a grant of £2,000 to care providers when the displaced migrant worker starts with a new employer and a further grant of £3,000 if they stay employed with you for 6 weeks providing the care provider has completed all relevant processes (grants are being reviewed to reflect increased UKVI costs).
We cannot:
- Share the list of displaced workers with care providers who have not completed the assurance process.
- Guarantee any care provider an employee.
- Guarantee any displaced worker a new employer.
- Force an employee to work for a new employer.
- Force a care provider to take on a new employee.
- Influence UKVI to extend, replace or otherwise change a current visa.
- Influence the local authority to provide a letter of support if they are not in support of the provider application.
- Signpost migrant workers who are not displaced, but out of work / want to change employers.
We would like to remind all interested parties that it takes time to process displaced workers and providers and for a potential match to happen. Much of this is outside the control of SESCA.
Please be patient and polite when dealing with any of the SESCA hub staff.
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CPA | Independent Casey Commission on ASC
Baroness Casey of Blackstock chaired a cross-party roundtable on 8 September to discuss the work of the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care.
The meeting, held in the Cabinet Office, was attended by a representative from each of the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrats, Green and Reform UK parties.
Baroness Casey updated party representatives on the work of the Commission and invited party representatives to share their views on their priorities for reform.
Read more
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Equality, Diversity and Human Rights for a DCA Service
Following the Supreme Court judgement on 17 April 2025, there is now updated legal clarity that "sex" under the Equality Act 2010 refers to biological sex, defined as male and female. This means that, in single-sex spaces, access is now determined by biological sex.
Dorset Care Association have shared a template policy created by croner-i, which sets out key principles and operational commitments in light of these legal changes regarding gender recognition. Specifically, it provides guidance for providers if customers do not wish to have a trans carer.
Download the policy
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IFS | Fair Funding Review 2.0: the impacts on council funding across England
This report, funded by the Health Foundation, analyses the potential impact of Government's proposed reforms to how funding from central government is allocated between English councils.
For arguably 20 years, England has lacked a rational system for allocating funding between councils. But after so long without such a system, reintroducing one will mean a significant redistribution of funding around the country. The impact of these reforms will depend on choices Government makes about several key elements of the new system.
Read the report
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Skills for Care | help shape the future of adult social care
The adult social care workforce survey is now open to everyone in care-related roles, regardless of setting, role or experience. Your insight on challenges like working conditions, training and capacity will directly inform a government report shaping policy and support for the sector.
This is your chance to influence decisions on funding, staffing and development. Help shape the future of adult social care.
Please share the survey with your teams.
Read more and complete survey
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LaingBuisson | third edition of Later Living UK Market Report
LaingBuisson's third edition of the Later Living UK Market Report, offers an in-depth analysis of one of the UK’s fastest-evolving housing and care markets.
The Report values the 2024 new build value at £2.2 billion, covering Retirement Living (68%), Age-Exclusive Downsizer housing (20%), and Housing with Care (12%) by volume.
The report highlights key trends, including the growing shift to rental, the increasing role of independent providers, and rising demand for integrated housing and care solutions. Essential for investors, developers, and policymakers, it offers strategic insight into one of the UK’s fastest-evolving housing sectors.
Find out more
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Lexology | Why clear contracts and proper processes matter: lessons from a nursery worker's employment tribunal claim
Contracts, policies and procedures regulate the relationship between employee and employer, but what happens when they are not clearly written? The tribunal in M Slyk v Nursery @ Aspire considered what was really meant by an ambiguous clause in a policy and also whether the nursery had correctly handled a flexible working request.
Read more
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Lexology | What to do when HMRC open an enquiry
HMRC enquiries often last for years, given that there is no statutory time limit for HMRC to complete an enquiry. Before engaging with HMRC, it is important to determine whether HMRC is merely making enquiries, or a formal “Enquiry” has been opened. This distinction is crucial because, unless HMRC has opened an “Enquiry”, they will not be able to issue a closure notice to charge additional tax.
Read more
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Lexology | Case updates
- Entitlement of NMW whilst being transported by minibus from home to place of work
- Use of private information in disciplinary case
- Reasonable adjustments and provision of furniture for work
- and more
Read more
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Care Association Alliance | our big family
We are part of the largest national care association, the Care Association Alliance, with over 6,000 members across England as members of over 50 local care associations.
This informs us of current concerns, we can source potential solutions on behalf of you and it helps inform our local communications.
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Consistent, quality information
We mail out once a week on a Wednesday, so you know when to look out for it.
These updates will provide summary advice on emerging issues and signpost providers to government and other statutory agency advice as needed.
Reminder
We are always keen to hear from YOU. If you have anything you would like to share with provider colleagues, please send to the usual address.
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OACP is partnered with the Institute of Health and Social Care Management to provide development and networking opportunities for managers.
If you would like to take advantage of your OACP Membership offer with IHSCM, please contact us for your password to access their services.
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IHSCM have put together a quick promo video for you just giving a bit of an introduction to your FREE membership with IHSCM.
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ALL managers who work for you will be able to access these opportunities for free.
If you're not sure if your organisation is eligible as an OACP Member, please contact us.
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OACP Member offers | OACP works with the following suppliers to bring you market insight, quality products and expert advice.
Contact them today...quote 'OACP'
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Whatever your goals, Citation will help your business to succeed with unrivalled HR and Health & Safety support and expertise for small and medium-sized business.
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Log My Care is accredited by NHSX as an Assured Supplier for Digital Social Care Records.
Fancy a chat? We’re just a click away
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The platform for outstanding care management.
Our platform gathers insights to help you allocate resources and speed up your day-to-day tasks, so you can focus more on those in need.
Easy and intuitive, it can be used in any setting, without the need for extensive training. Designed alongside support workers and service users, it's the platform of choice for enriching the lives of everyone in care.
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RWK Goodman LLP is the preferred legal supplier for advice to the care sector in Oxfordshire
Find out more
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