Chief Executive’s View
It was great to see how many care services open their doors during Care Home Open Week. Across the country, care homes for working-age adults and older people seized this opportunity to connect with their communities and showcase the amazing work they do. It has never been more important for care services to improve understanding and give the public a better insight into our work and the difference it makes to people’s lives.
I always enjoy my visits to care homes, and I love the opportunity to talk to residents, their families and staff, and to hear first-hand some of the joys and challenges of working in a truly inspirational sector. If we are going to redefine people’s perceptions of care, we must amplify our voice and sharpen our messages.
The Comprehensive Spending Review provided yet another disappointment for the care sector, and the Government reverted to their usual practice of pumping more and more money into the NHS, but not requiring greater outcomes for that money. Despite the advocacy we all engage in with the media and politicians, there appears to be a lack of understanding of the interdependence between health and care, and little recognition that without social care, the NHS could not survive. The Comprehensive Spending Review was yet another body blow to social care, marking a failure in the Department of Health and Social Care’s ability to convey that we are interdependent systems. Time and again, we see the advocacy that this department does for the NHS bearing fruit, but seemingly, there is nobody in Whitehall who is educating other departments about the interdependencies that are at the heart of the health and care system.
What has been clear from successive announcements, all of which have had detrimental impacts on the care sector, is that we cannot rely on this government to solve our funding and staffing issues, or craft a vision for social care in the 21st century. In the absence of leadership within the Government, we, as a sector, must now be increasingly assertive and create our own vision, delivering it despite, rather than with the support of, the Government or the many quangos that rely on this sector.
Care England will continue to be an advocate for our members and social care; we need everyone to amplify our messages and increase public understanding of our vital role.
IN THIS ISSUE
Why Cyber Security Matters in Social Care
PAGE 4
Why streamlining payments is critical for the care sector
PAGE 6
A New Model for Occupancy: Retain, Don’t Just Replace
PAGE 20
Bringing Calm, Confidence and
Connection to Extra Care Living
PAGE 26
Professor Martin Green OBE Chief Executive: Care England DH: Independent Sector Dementia Champion
Race to success: DBS check performance update
PAGE 29
Why Cyber Security Matters in Social Care
In today’s world, technology is an important part of how we provide care and support to people. Digital care records, online communication with families, and cloud-based systems help social care organisations deliver more effective and personalised services. But with this comes a responsibility: We must keep people’s information safe and protect the systems we rely on. That’s why cyber security is so important in social care.
Keeping Personal Information Safe
Care providers hold a lot of personal and sensitive information — such as health details, care plans, and family contacts. This data must be handled with great care. If it were to fall into the wrong hands through a cyber-attack, it could cause real distress to the people involved. Strong cyber security helps ensure that this information stays private and secure.
Protecting Trust
Trust is the foundation of good care. People rely on care staff and organisations to treat them with respect, and this includes respecting their privacy. If a care provider suffers a cyber-attack or data breach, it can quickly damage that trust. By taking cyber security seriously, organisations show that they value the privacy and dignity of the people they support.
Keeping Services Running
Cyber-attacks can be highly disruptive. If key systems are compromised — for example, if ransomware locks access to digital care records — it can make it harder for staff to provide the right care at the right time. This could put vulnerable individuals at risk. Having good cyber security in place helps reduce the chances of this happening and ensures that services can continue to run smoothly, even if an attack occurs.
Meeting Legal Responsibilities
Laws like the UK GDPR set out clear rules about how organisations must handle personal data. Following good cyber security practices helps care providers meet these legal obligations and avoid fines or penalties. More importantly, it protects the rights of the people they support.
The Role of Cyber Insurance
Even with the best protections in place, no system is 100% safe from cyber threats. That’s why it’s important for care providers to consider having cyber insurance. Cyber insurance can help cover the costs of responding to an attack, such as data recovery, legal advice, or notifying affected individuals. It offers an added layer of financial protection and peace of mind, helping organisations recover more quickly if the worst happens.
Cyber security may not always be front of mind in the busy world of social care — but it is essential for protecting people’s privacy, maintaining trust, and ensuring continuity of service. With good security measures, regular staff training, and the right insurance in place, care organisations can build a safer, more resilient future for Adult Social Care.
James Rycroft, Director of the OS and Managing Director of Vida Healthcare
The OS is a Community Interest Company, free to all providers irrelevant of their rating. It is a platform to share and celebrate best practice, help others to improve and promote careers in Social Care. Please contact Soniainfo@theoutstandingsociety.co.uk for more information.
Care Agenda | The
Reframing Regulation – The Role of the CQC in Supporting Choice-Led Safety Monitoring in Care
Traditionally, social care providers mandate a two-person policy for Moving and Handling activities. enhancing the quality of care while optimising resources.
Reframing Regulation – The Role of the CQC in Supporting Choice-Led Safety Monitoring in Care
In an age where transparency and accountability are more important than ever in health and social care, the role of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as the sector’s regulator is under increasing scrutiny— particularly when it comes to how safety monitoring is viewed and supported in care settings.
At Care Campaign for the Vulnerable (CCFTV), we continue to advocate for choice-led safety monitoring— that is, the right of families and providers to implement overt safety monitoring, such as CCTV, where appropriate consent has been obtained. It is not about surveillance; it is about transparency, protection, and peace of mind.
The CQC plays a pivotal role in setting expectations for standards in care, yet to date, its approach to safety monitoring has been cautious and inconsistent. While guidance acknowledges the potential for monitoring to improve safety, it is often framed within a risk-based narrative—more about what could go wrong than what could go right.
But evidence from families, providers, and front-line care staff suggests a different story. Where implemented transparently and ethically, overt safety monitoring has helped to de-escalate tensions, build trust, and even improve staff morale. In cases where unwitnessed injuries have raised safeguarding concerns, such monitoring has provided vital clarity that benefits all parties—not just families, but care workers too.
The CQC’s reticence, in part, stems from understandable concerns around privacy, consent, and dignity. These
are valid considerations. However, the current regulatory tone can leave providers uncertain, and families feeling unsupported when they raise legitimate concerns and propose safety monitoring as part of the solution.
It’s time to shift the narrative. The CQC must take a more progressive stance that moves beyond passive acceptance of safety monitoring in rare circumstances, towards actively supporting its use when implemented responsibly. Clearer national guidance, co-produced with families, providers, and technology experts, would provide a consistent and ethical framework. Importantly, this would give providers confidence to engage positively with families who wish to explore this option, not respond defensively.
At CCFTV, we see safety monitoring as one part of a much wider culture shift in care. It’s about enabling transparency before a crisis happens, not after. It’s about ensuring residents—especially those living with dementia who may be unable to verbalise concerns—are safeguarded in ways that respect their rights and their dignity.
We urge the CQC to lead from the front and recognise the growing demand for choice-led safety solutions. Regulation should not be a barrier to innovation. In fact, it should be the framework that allows thoughtful, ethical progress to take root.
Families deserve to be heard. Providers deserve clarity. And the people at the heart of care—residents, deserve the highest possible protection. It is time for regulation to catch up with reality.
Care Agenda
Time is care: Why streamlining payments is critical for the care sector
In the care sector, time is one of the most precious—and limited—resources. Whether it’s a nurse supporting an elderly resident or a finance officer reconciling invoices across multiple funding streams, every hour counts. Yet while much attention is given to frontline care, a quieter crisis is unfolding behind the scenes: payment inefficiencies.
Care providers operate in one of the most complex funding landscapes in the UK. Between over 150 local authorities, 42 Integrated Care Boards, and thousands of self-funders, the process of paying and being paid is often fragmented and manual. That complexity doesn’t just create paperwork—it creates risk.
Late supplier payments can disrupt services. Missed payroll deadlines can cause stress for care workers, many of whom live paycheque to paycheque. In a sector where emotional labour is high and financial stability is rare, a delayed or inaccurate payslip can tip the balance from just coping to burning out. When the back office falters, it impacts the front line.
As Victoria Ramsay, founder of Aequalis Accountancy, put it: “There’s a vicious circle. Late invoices mean poor cash flow, which means providers can’t afford to invest in the very systems that would solve the problem.”
And with care workers under unprecedented strain, payroll isn’t just an admin task—it’s a matter of respect. Timely, accurate payments send a clear message: we value you. Delays or errors, on the other hand, erode morale and trust at a time when retention is already a challenge.
The good news? Change doesn’t always require sweeping reform. One of the biggest wins can come from automating payroll and payments. Faster Payments, for example, allow providers to process transactions in seconds—not days—giving finance teams the flexibility to act quickly and confidently.
Crucially, automation frees up time. According to industry data, automating care payroll can reduce processing time by up to 90%. That’s hours saved every week—time that can be redirected back into care, strategy, and staff support.
What’s often missing from transformation conversations is this: operational efficiency is human efficiency. Every error avoided, every minute saved, helps build a care system that’s not just compliant, but compassionate.
In a sector stretched thin, improving payments isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s a foundation for dignity, stability, and sustainable care.
To learn more about how care providers are modernising payments, visit Modulr
Care Agenda | The
TEC-enabled care in Devon brings mother and daughter ‘closer together’
When Sharon’s mum, Monica, lost her partner and began struggling with her health, Sharon found herself trying to care from a distance—juggling a demanding job in Exeter with near-daily phone calls and constant worry about her mum, who lives alone with her two dogs in Barnstaple, Devon.
Sharon said: “Mum was always independent, but after losing her partner and being told she needed a hip replacement, she became withdrawn and physically frail. I was constantly worried.
“I’d ring every morning to check she was up, had taken her pills, had something to eat. It was overwhelming.
“She didn’t want a carer. She insisted she didn’t ‘need care.’ But with living over an hour and a half away, I knew I needed to find some kind of support for both of us.”
Sharon learned about new technology being offered by her employer, Bluebird Care N.E.W. Devon, in partnership with Access Health, Support and Care (HSC), using discreet technology-enabled care (TEC) to provide reassurance without intrusion.
The system, Access Assure, uses non-intrusive smart home devices – no cameras, no recordings –just sensors placed around the home to understand daily routines. Movements like opening a cupboard, boiling the kettle, and general mobility patterns are monitored, with alerts sent to family members if anything out of the ordinary occurs or daily living activity patterns change.
For Sharon, the reassurance was instant, and the relief had an immediate positive impact on her own wellbeing.
“Suddenly, I wasn’t waking up worried. I knew Mum
was up and moving, when the kettle went on, when she’d opened the medicine cupboard. And I knew I’d be alerted if anything changed for Mum.
“It completely changed our dynamic. I could go back to being her daughter again, not just her carer.”
A Bluebird Care N.E.W Devon professional now visits once a week to check the equipment and provide some company.
What started as a technical check-in is now something Sharon’s mum actively enjoys, helping ease the path toward accepting future care, should she need it.
“I didn’t expect technology to bring us closer,” Sharon reflected. “But it has. When I visit now, we go out, we laugh, we just enjoy each other’s company again.”
The smart system behind Sharon’s peace of mind uses AI to learn her mum’s typical routines and flag any irregularities, like missed medication or disrupted sleep, while preserving her mum’s privacy.
“This has been a game changer for us,” Sharon said. “I’d recommend it to anyone.”
William Flint, Director for Bluebird Care N.E.W Devon, commented: “Using TEC has changed the way we think about care at home. It’s not just about early intervention or risk reduction, it’s about giving families space to reconnect, to be daughters and sons again for example, not just carers.
“It’s a powerful reminder that the right technology, used in the right way, can be deeply human.”
For further information and support visit: The Access Group
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Care
Why key person cover is key
Every company has at least one key person.
Think of who yours is. You may not have even categorised this individual as a key person, but they are someone who plays a vital role in your care company’s business. Perhaps this person knows your operational processes inside out, has excellent client relationships that your business depends on, or performs another similarly indispensable function. Suddenly, this person is seriously ill or worse.
What impact could this have on your business? What would you do?
Case study
John owns a small-capacity care home, The Oak Inn, with his business partner Carol. Carol is responsible for staff rotas, paying vendors, and is also in charge of a business expansion project that would allow The Oak Inn to open a second care home.
When Carol is unexpectedly off sick long-term, The Oak Inn is in a good situation because John and Carol have key person income protection. In this case, the policy pays out a monthly benefit directly to The Oak Inn, which is used to aid business continuity in Carol’s absence, providing reassurance to staff, creditors and the families they support.
But then Carol’s illness takes a turn for the worse, and she passes away. John is now tasked with picking up all of Carol’s responsibilities, leaving him feeling incredibly overwhelmed, especially considering the financial deficit his business is now in due to the expansion that may no longer be able to take place.
John is once again saved by his insurance. The insurer pays out a lump sum to John, who uses the funds to quickly rehire a care home manager to organise staff schedules and pay vendors. He is also able to hire a new project lead so that the
expansion can go ahead, allowing him to recoup any losses.
Failing to prepare...
You can’t foresee or prepare for everything – it’s just not possible. But that’s where the ‘key’ in ‘key person insurance’ comes in, as it reminds us that there are key individuals on whom our business relies and without whom it might struggle to survive.
Key person insurance gives your organisation the resources – and the time – to recover if a key person was off sick or injured and unable to work; or indeed suddenly passed away. This is a particularly critical policy for small businesses, who are likely to have fewer employees that are in turn more likely to be indispensable.
Find out more
To find out more about Key Person protection, please call James Anscombe on 07967 850015 or email him: james.anscombe@towergate.co.uk
Consistent with our policy when giving comment and advice on a non-specific basis, we cannot assume legal responsibility for the accuracy of any particular statement. In the case of specific problems, we recommend that professional advice be sought.
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We are pleased to introduce three new courses, now live and ready to access! Each course is designed by experts to enhance your team’s knowledge, strengthen practical skills, and support the delivery of person-centred care, helping you achieve stronger capability outcomes across your organisation.
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Is Your Business Prepared for Soaring Water Costs?
Water bills for businesses across the UK are set to skyrocket, with price increases of 40-50 percent or more coming into effect from April 1st. These hikes will affect not just businesses, but also schools, universities, care homes, and public institutions— essentially, any non-household water user.
According to Graham Mann from SwitchWaterSupplier.com, many businesses are completely unaware of these increases, and with some suppliers pushing for even higher charges, the situation could become even worse.
Why Are Water Bills Increasing?
The wholesale price of water is rising due to infrastructure investments, wastewater treatment upgrades, and pollution reduction efforts. But here’s the catch:
• No competition at the wholesale level means suppliers can continually increase prices.
• Retail water suppliers then add their own markups, leading to even higher costs.
• Some suppliers are already appealing for bigger increases, meaning this could just be the start.
If your business isn’t actively managing its water contracts and consumption, these rising costs could have a serious financial impact.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Business?
Review Your Water Contract & Supplier
Most businesses assume they’re on the best water deal—but in reality, many are paying default high rates.
Action: Check your latest bill and explore switching suppliers for lower rates.
Audit Your Water Usage
Billing errors and overcharges are common in the water industry. Businesses can often claim back thousands in refunds from suppliers.
• Case Study: One business was advised they could save £6,000 per year by switching. After a detailed audit by SwitchWaterSupplier.com, they actually saved:
• £26,000 per year
• £100,000 in refunded overcharges
Implement Water Efficiency Measures
With usage charges increasing, now is the time to cut down on waste.
Action: Reduce wastewater output, fix leaks, and invest in rainwater harvesting or water recycling systems.
Monitor Your Smart Meters
Smart meters are being rolled out, but most businesses don’t have access to their own data yet.
Action: Ensure your meters are being read regularly and look out for unexpected increases.
Act Now Before It’s Too Late
Water prices are rising fast, and the longer businesses wait, the more they’ll pay. The team at SwitchWaterSupplier.com can help you:
• Find the best supplier and contract for your needs
• Audit your water bills for hidden overcharges
• Implement strategies to reduce consumption and save money
• Visit SwitchWaterSupplier.com today and start saving!
Care Agenda | The voice of
Unlocking the True Power of Data in Care Tech
By Liam Palmer, Care Tech Guide
I recently spoke with Diddn Ruhomutally of Ruhvolution on our Care Tech Guide: Meet the Suppliers podcast. He shared a clear perspective on the role of data in social care. It was a timely reminder: we’re not short on tech, but we are short on value.
Care homes are investing heavily in digital systems. From care planning to medication and incident reporting, the tools are in place. But they’re often working in silos,excellent at collecting data, poor at generating insight.
When something goes wrong, a fall, a medication error, the data usually exists. But it’s scattered across platforms, owned by different teams and tough to interpret. We’ve replaced paperwork with screens, but haven’t yet unlocked the intelligence hiding in those systems.
Many providers are paying for functionality, but only seeing a fraction of the benefit. These tools can tick regulatory boxes or speed up admin, but they rarely help providers understand why things happen, or how to improve.
What’s missing is the ‘middle layer’: not just collection, not just reporting, but real-time, actionable understanding. We need tech that connects the dots, surfaces patterns and helps managers make decisions without becoming data scientists.
This isn’t about blaming suppliers. These systems are terrifically designed. But without integration, they’re just isolated islands of information. And without context, even the best dashboard becomes wallpaper.
The reality? Most care providers are only realising part of their tech’s enormous potential. That’s
a drag on performance, morale and outcomes. Worse, it creates a false sense of progress, digital transformation in name only.
The sector’s aspirations are big. Leaders talk about predictive analytics, benchmarking, outcomes tracking. But there’s no shared roadmap, no central support and not enough strategic thinking about data. Providers are left to figure it out alone, duplicating effort, hiring costly internal roles and still falling short.
All this is happening under pressure. You don’t need me to tell you that social care is stretched by staffing shortages, budget constraints and rising expectations. In that climate, technology can feel like a burden rather than a lifeline.
And yet, this is exactly when smarter data use matters most. The right systems could help allocate resources, spot issues early, and drive continuous improvement. But only if we move from collection to interpretation. Only if we demand more from the tools we already have.
We also need to stop solving the same problems in silos. Collaboration across providers, vendors, regulators and funders is key. Shared standards. Shared learning. Shared ambition.
What I took from my conversation with Diddn Ruhomutally is simple: this change is possible. The tools are there. The data is there. We just need to connect it and commit to using it better.
For further information and support contact Care Tech Guide at: https://caretechguide.co.uk
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Can Stress Cause Frequent
Urination?
The question “can stress cause frequent urination?” isn’t as simple as yes or no. The connection between mental health and bladder function is complex—and unfortunately, it works both ways. Stress can trigger or worsen urinary symptoms, while bladder issues can increase anxiety and stress levels.
How Stress Affects the Bladder
Feeling the urge to urinate when anxious is a familiar experience for many—and it’s rooted in biology. Stress activates the “fight or flight” response, flooding the body with stress hormones. This primitive survival mechanism prepares the body to respond quickly to threats, but its effects in modern life can be less useful.
These stress hormones:
• Trigger immediate emptying of the bladder and bowels in preparation for danger.
• Relax the bladder while tightening sphincter muscles to prevent urination during emergencies.
• Increase heart rate, which accelerates kidney function and urine production.
• Boost metabolism, creating more waste (including urine).
• Stimulate the autonomic nervous system, which can cause urgency or even involuntary release in some individuals.
Mental health struggles can also lead to behaviours that worsen bladder symptoms. Some people smoke or drink alcohol to manage stress—both can irritate the bladder or act as diuretics, increasing urine output. Others may experience weight gain linked to depression, and being overweight can place added pressure on the bladder and weaken pelvic floor muscles.
How Bladder Issues Affect Mental Health
Having an overactive bladder (OAB) can, in turn, lead to mental health issues. Although 16–17% of adults report OAB symptoms, the topic remains taboo. Research suggests that around half of people with frequent urination also experience anxiety—25% of whom report moderate to severe symptoms. The impact on confidence, social life, and daily routine can be significant.
Tips to Manage Stress and Bladder Health
Improving your mental well-being can help reduce urinary symptoms—and vice versa. Here are some helpful strategies:
• Use the right continence products. There is no one size fits all when it comes to continence products. Use product selection tools to find the best fit for you.
• Exercise regularly. Light to moderate activity reduces stress and strengthens pelvic muscles.
• Get enough sleep. Aim for 7–9 hours per night to regulate stress hormones.
• Avoid stimulants and diuretics. Cut back on coffee and alcohol, which can both increase anxiety and urination.
• Practice relaxation techniques. Try meditation, or deep breathing to calm the mind and body.
• Track your triggers. A bladder diary can help you understand what worsens your symptoms.
• Seek professional support. If you feel overwhelmed, talk to a healthcare provider about your mental health or bladder concerns.
To get more information about continence visit ID Blog, where you will find articles and continence product information - https://blog.id-direct.com/ For further information, contact business.support@ontexglobal.com
Why Social Care Training Still Matters –
Even in a Changing Policy Landscape
In recent years, the adult social care sector has navigated ongoing uncertainty, with government priorities, visa policies, and funding models regularly shifting. While these changes often dominate the headlines, one thing remains clear: training and development in social care has never been more vital.
Despite evolving political and economic pressures, the core needs of the sector haven’t changed. Vulnerable adults still rely on compassionate, capable carers. Families continue to depend on professionals to support their loved ones with dignity. And providers still need confident, skilled teams to deliver high-quality care across a variety of settings.
In challenging times, it can be tempting to deprioritise training. But doing so risks weakening the very foundation of care. Instead, training must be seen as a long-term investment — one that safeguards service quality, nurtures staff wellbeing, and ensures that adult social care remains a sector grounded in dignity, safety, and excellence.
Consistency in Care Begins with Confidence and Competence
Great care is built on more than good intentions. It’s underpinned by confident, knowledgeable staff who understand what outstanding care looks like — and how to deliver it consistently. From safeguarding principles to supporting people with dementia or administering medication safely, these are not ‘nice to haves’ — they are essential.
In fact, in times of instability, training becomes a stabilising force. Well-trained staff are more adaptable, more resilient, and better equipped to manage the dayto-day challenges — whether that’s responding to rising demand, changes in regulation, or workforce shortages.
Retention and Recognition Go Hand in Hand
One of the biggest challenges in the sector is staff turnover. Gaps in staffing don’t just increase workloads — they affect continuity, relationships and outcomes for those receiving care.
Training is a key part of the solution. When care professionals feel supported, valued and recognised through ongoing development opportunities, they’re more likely to stay. Whether it’s a structured induction, a Level 2 diploma, or an apprenticeship to develop leadership skills, training shows people that their role is not just a job — it’s a career with purpose.
Specialist Skills for Complex Needs
As people accessing care present with increasingly complex conditions, a strong foundation in compassion isn’t enough on its own — specialist knowledge is needed too. Conditions like dementia, autism, and end-of-life care require evidence-based approaches delivered with confidence and care.
Tailored qualifications give carers the tools they need to provide person-centred, high-quality support — while helping providers meet regulatory expectations and raise the standard of care.
Looking Ahead – Not Just Reacting to the Now
While government policies may shift and funding models adapt, the long-term trends are clear: an ageing population, more diverse needs, and higher expectations around quality and accountability.
By embedding training and development into the culture of care, we don’t just meet today’s challenges, we prepare for tomorrow’s. A well-trained workforce isn’t just about compliance, it’s about confidence, continuity, and creating a sector people are proud to be part of.
At Connect2Care, we see first-hand the difference training makes to the individuals receiving care, the teams delivering it, and the organisations shaping the future of the sector. That’s why we remain committed to championing high-quality development across adult social care.
For further information and support contact HIT Training / Connect2Care at: https://hittraining.co.uk
Navigating
the CQC
quality
statements:
A toolkit for social care providers
Hempsons and Care England’s comprehensive toolkit and training continue to support social care providers in navigating the CQC ’s single assessment f ramework - but don’t just take our word for it Here’s what our clients have to say:
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p evidence the CQC will be seeking when they inspect. The team all found the training invaluable and we are now able to focus our efforts to prepare for our next CQC inspection.
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A New Model for Occupancy: Retain,
Don’t Just Replace
By Thomas Tredinnick, CEO and Founder, Ally Cares
Rethinking occupancy strategy
Ask any care home operator what drives occupancy and you’ll likely hear the same thing: enquiry generation and conversion. But focusing solely on bringing new residents through the door overlooks a quieter, often more powerful lever for sustainable success: extending length of stay.
Too often, quality of care is seen through the lens of compliance and risk reduction. While these are critical, they miss a fundamental truth: quality care directly drives financial performance. Residents who live healthier, happier lives simply stay longer, and that changes everything.
The financial impact of early move-outs
Take a 34-bed home averaging 30 residents with an 18-month stay. You’d need 20 new residents annually to maintain occupancy. Increase that stay by just two months, from 18 to 20 and move-outs fall to 18. With no change in admissions, your occupancy rises to 32, a 7% gain without added marketing or operational spend.
Even for full homes, longer stays reduce pressure on admissions, cushion financial shocks, and build resilience. Fewer gaps. More stability. Higher profitability.
Why residents leave early
Early departures are often due to declining health or sadly, end of life. But complex needs don’t always mean a resident must move. Sometimes, poor outcomes stem from missed chances, preventing a fall or improving recovery from illness.
Improving these touchpoints isn’t just clinical—it’s commercial. Longer, healthier stays support occupancy, finances, and family trust.
The data behind longer stays
At Ally Cares, we’ve partnered with care homes and ICBs to measure key outcomes across over 1,800 residents:
• 50% improvement in sleep
• 85% reduction in high-risk falls
• 50% reduction in infections
• 56% reduction in hospital admissions
We’ve also seen improvements in hydration, weight, mood, daytime activity, and reduced medication use. These gains add up. On average, residents live 4 weeks longer per year from clinical improvements and 5 weeks when you factor in increased trust and fewer early exits.
Of those extra weeks:
4% from fewer infections
• 35% from fall prevention
• 62% from improved sleep
In a 30-bed home, this could mean one extra resident on average, just by helping people stay healthier, longer.
Sleep: the silent driver
Often overlooked in care planning, sleep affects mood, appetite, cognition, and risk of falls. Many residents get less than 5 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night. That’s not just uncomfortable—it’s unsafe.
Homes using Ally’s technology are now seeing sleep as a strategic KPI. Better sleep means fewer falls, fewer infections, improved wellbeing and longer stays.
Changing culture
When sleep is prioritised, care changes. Night staff dim lights, reduce noise, avoid late hoovering, and keep TVs off. With Ally’s resident monitoring, unnecessary checks are reduced so residents rest undisturbed. In our early studies, we found 70% of checks disrupted sleep, waking residents fully 20% of the time.
Sleep-first care also boosts morale. Staff feel more effective, less stressed, and better able to deliver personcentred support. It’s a win-win.
Building trust
Families want their loved ones to be safe, settled, and happy. When residents are alert and active, visits feel joyful and not worrying. That’s why I started Ally, after too many visits to my grandmother when she was tired or asleep.
When health improves across the board, families trust the care home more. That trust supports word-of-mouth referrals, occupancy and in one example, the reopening of closed units.
From quality to stability
Quality isn’t just compliance. It’s your strategy for growth. Investing in sleep, wellbeing, and smarter care helps residents stay longer and helps your home thrive.
https://www.allycares.com/
OpenScore Builds Trust Before
Families Even Visit
In today’s care environment, trust isn’t a luxury. It’s a necessity. Reputations can shift overnight, and regulator ratings don’t always tell the full story - so first impressions matter.
Whether you’re running a single home or managing a group of services, you’ll already know: self-funding care seekers aren’t just looking for availability or location. They’re looking for reassurance that their loved one will be safe, respected, and cared for to a high standard. That gut feeling of “this feels right” is what makes someone pick up the phone or submit an enquiry. And yet, for many providers, building that trust online is still a missing piece of the puzzle.
So what happens when that trust doesn’t land early on? Ultimately, if you can’t show your value upfront, someone else will. Families swipe left. They bounce off the website. They opt for another provider whose online presence looks more transparent, even if the care itself isn’t any better.
What even are online trust signals?
Think of online trust signals as your digital first impression, the silent but powerful cues that tell a care seeker, “You’re in safe hands.” They’re not flashy slogans or adverts. They’re real, reassuring markers that say your care home is transparent, reputable, and worth considering.
Research has consistently shown that social proof, like reviews and visible ratings, is one of the most powerful influences on decision-making. In the absence of these cues, your hard-earned quality can go unseen.
In short, trust signals are what help families feel confident enough to take the next step. And in a sea of competing providers, these signals often make the difference between someone choosing you or moving on.
OpenScore - your online trust signal
That’s where OpenScore comes in.
OpenScore is the UK’s first real-time care quality rating system. Unlike traditional regular ratings, it never goes out-of-date. It’s a dynamic score that changes as you change. It pulls from over 60 live data sources including regulator ratings data, live reviews and more. It creates a simple, trustworthy score out of 10 that reflects what self-funding families really want to know: how good is the care right now?
Embedding OpenScore on your website via a simple widget gives care seekers immediate, credible insight into your service quality. It’s a signal that says, “We have nothing to hide.” But more importantly, it increases trust in your brand.
If your service is excelling, OpenScore helps you show that without waiting for the next regulator visit. If there’s room to grow, it highlights that too and signals to families that you’re open, honest, and committed to improvement. In a care sector facing tighter budgets, rising expectations and fierce competition for self-funders, trust has become essential to maintaining occupancy and reputation.
If you would like to learn more about OpenScore and how to integrate this unique widget into your own website, visit OpenScore or call our sales support team on 01892 349 660.
Adult Specialist Care Care
This July, LaingBuisson launches a fully revised edition of its popular Adult Specialist Care Market Report.
Like all LaingBuisson’s industry standard reports, Adult Specialist Care features comprehensive data and commentary on:
• Market size and growth
• Policy and regulation
• Payors
• Market structure
• Investors
• Market potential Key facts, figures and trends include:
• £19 plus billion market size.
• 95% supplied by independent sector, mainly for-profit providers.
• 95% funded by the public sector (mainly local authorities, supplemented by the NHS):
• 2024/25 council paid fee rates are listed and for all 150 English councils, for both residential care and supported living.
• Fee variation illustrated with heat maps.
• Fees are highly variable; markets shown locally.
• Private pay is largely limited to specific niches including neuro-rebab and substance misuse.
• Service user profiles:
• Highly heterogenous.
• High ticket (lifetime costs/fees often run into £millions).
• High degree of ‘stickiness’ – high client retention.
• Market growth projected in several segments including:
• Learning disability services, driven by demographics.
• Neuro-rehabilitation, driven by local capacity limitations.
• Supported housing, driven by shortages of suitable accommodation and government’s willingness to support expansion through open-ended Housing Benefit.
• Slow but steady replacement of residential care with supported living.
• Despite declining bed capacity, there remains a strong core market for high acuity residential care.
• Strong defensive characteristics at the high acuity end, weak at the low acuity end of the spectrum.
• Continuing investor interest, with significant small-scale M&A in addition to business failure restructuring which has enabled the continued operation of two major providers in the last two years.
• Workforce situation – less challenging compared with the immediate post-Covid crisis environment.
• The most likely future scenario is that staff turnover rates will remain high and the workforce environment for employers will vary from tight to very challenging in most
Care Agenda |
parts of the country, as unemployment rates rise and fall with the general economic cycle.
• Average profitability of adult specialist care providers has declined by a half since postcrash public sector austerity measures were introduced in 2011/12.
• Financial appendix with comprehensive statutory accounts data for all active provider companies posting profit and loss.
Strong fundamentals
The addressable market is set to expand, driven largely by demography. The state has withdrawn from the supply of social care services, leaving the independent sector as the mainstream supplier. Roll-back is not feasible.
An even more fundamental factor which supports the adult specialist care market is the willingness of society, in the UK and other developed countries, to spend substantial resources on a relatively
small number of highly dependent younger adults who are unable to look after themselves. It is an undeniable fact that society is willing to pay more per person to support highly dependent younger adults over decades than to support older people at the end of life. The consensus that younger adults who cannot look after themselves have a claim on social resources is an unspoken and unquantifiable factor that underlies the strong fundamentals of the adult specialist care market.
Bringing Calm, Confidence and Connection to Extra Care Living
By Rebecca, Operations Lead at Vocala Smart Properties
This year, we have been working closely with seven Extra Care schemes in Durham, supporting forty residents with fleet-managed Alexa devices. These are not just gadgets sitting on shelves. They are gently becoming part of the day-to-day rhythm of life for people who value their independence but also need some support.
Extra Care housing offers older people an alternative to moving into a care home. Residents have their own flats, their own front doors, and the security of knowing that care and support are available on site, around the clock. The settings often include a restaurant, lounge, salon and gardens, along with a full calendar of social events. But above all, people are encouraged to live as independently as possible.
Alexa fits naturally into this environment. It helps people feel more in control of their routines, without replacing the human connection that remains central to good care. In one scheme, reminders to head to lunch have meant that more residents are arriving independently, rather than waiting for a knock on the door. That small shift matters. It supports autonomy, reduces reliance on staff for routine prompts, and helps people feel more confident.
One resident was struggling with posture. He often slouched in his chair, making it harder to eat, drink and receive support. He now receives gentle prompts throughout the day to sit up straight. This has improved not just his comfort, but also his wellbeing. Another resident, who was frequently calling for staff due to anxiety about when carers would arrive, now receives voice reminders of her scheduled visits. Within a day, she had stopped pressing her call bell. She is also using the device to play games and listen to music. She recently walked herself to the restaurant because Alexa reminded her it was lunchtime.
Residents have also embraced Alexa’s games and entertainment features, which help lift mood and reduce boredom. From Deal or No Deal, Pointless, Crosswords and music quizzes, these interactions provide light-hearted stimulation and a welcome sense of connection.
There are also safety benefits. One lady, who had frequent falls due to forgetting she was not safe to walk unaided, now receives prompts to press her pendant for help before moving. Staff have noted a reduction in incidents since these reminders were introduced.
All of this is made possible through a fleetmanaged solution that allows care teams to manage Alexa devices at scale. They can add or update reminders, communicate consistently across a scheme, and log requests or changes without having to physically visit each flat. This gives the team greater oversight and more time to focus on the moments that matter.
These examples show that technology, when used appropriately, can enhance care rather than replace it. Residents are more engaged, more relaxed, and in many cases, more independent. The Echo Show 8 devices display community events and updates in each flat, helping residents stay informed and connected to what is happening around them.
It is early days, but the signs are promising. When used with care, voice technology can support both routine and reassurance, helping people feel informed, involved and connected.
For more information or to talk about what we are learning, please contact rebecca@vocala.co
VIVALDI Social CareCare Home Visit
By Lucy Knight, VIVALDI Social Care Programme Co-ordinator, The Outstanding Society
The VIVALDI Social Care team visited Westcombe Park Care Home in Blackheath, London, as part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing the well-being of care home residents and staff. We were delighted to be joined by an inspiring group of professionals and advocates dedicated to the future of Social Care, including Martin Green (CEO-Care England), Professor Laura Shallcross MBE (Project Lead-UCL), Chris Day (Director of Engagement-CQC), Kate Meacock (Rights for Residents) and many others.
Westcombe Park Care Home, operated by Bupa UK, provides high-quality nursing and residential care. From the offset, Abi, Gillian, Leon, Andy, and their team made us feel incredibly welcome, fostering an environment of openness and collaboration.
During the visit, the VIVALDI team engaged with residents and staff, gathering insights and answering questions about Social Care and the VIVALDI Social Care project. The discussions were thoughtful and engaging, with residents and families sharing invaluable firsthand experiences that will help shape meaningful improvements in care.
Westcombe Park’s participation in VIVALDI Social Care reflects a shared dedication to enhancing the quality of life for residents. We are thrilled that at least two residents have chosen to join the VIVALDI Adult Social Care Engagement Collective (ASCEC), ensuring that their voices contribute directly to shaping the future of care.
Leaving the visit, the VIVALDI team felt inspired and grateful for the opportunity to connect with such a passionate community. Martin Green summed up the experience, stating, “It was a fantastic event. The team at Westcombe Park and our Bupa colleagues made it a truly special day. The high level
of resident and family engagement speaks volumes about the quality of care and community.”
For more information on VIVALDI Social Care, click here or follow the QR code below.
Improving the bathing experience in Dementia Care
Infection prevention and control in care homes is crucial for protecting residents and their health outcomes
Maintaining personal hygiene for some people can become an unpleasant experience and so turns into a complex task for carers. Sadly, for people living with dementia, particularly in the later stages, it’s common to develop the fear of water (aquaphobia) due to changes in sensory perception, temperature sensitivity, and difficulty understanding what water is, making regular washing practices a distressing and difficult event for both the person with dementia and their caregiver.
Of course, bathing someone should always be approached with sensitivity and care. Simple adjustments for people with dementia, such as avoiding water on the face or offering shallow baths, can make a difference. Yet over time, even those methods might become uncomfortable or intolerable.
Feeling clean helps reduce anxiety and promotes relaxation, something everyone deserves whatever stage of life or condition. Thankfully, advancements in technology now offer a compassionate alternative to traditional ways using soap and water. Waterless bathing is increasingly used in care homes as a less-distressing method of personal hygiene.
This innovative solution eliminates the need for water altogether yet still maintains a strong hygiene routine. Nilaqua’s “Towel Off” technology provides a gentle bathing experience by allowing thorough cleansing without a drop of water involved. The product is applied directly to the skin or hair, massaged to lift dirt and oils, and then removed with a towel, eliminating the need for rinsing off.
By replacing water-based washing, care homes can significantly decrease the risk of contamination and infection spread.
Cheryl Jones, Head of Brand and Marketing at CareHomeLife
Contact CareHomeLife info@carehomelife.co.uk for a free Nilaqua sample or to find out more about their waterless bathing range.
Race to success: DBS check performance update
When working with vulnerable adults or children, it’s vital that you know that your staff are competent and safe. And the best way to do that is with a thorough background check.
When working with vulnerable adults or children, it’s vital that you know that your staff are competent and safe. And the best way to do that is with a thorough background check.
We’re partnered with, uCheck, who provide fast DBS checks to industries across the UK. Typically, you can expect a DBS check to be completed within 48 hours – their record is just 13 minutes!
To help make sure you stay informed on recent updates and DBS check times, uCheck has compiled a list of insights into police delays (from the April 2025 report), and how their statistics compare to the national averages.
Let’s take a look.
What’s going well
On average, uCheck’s DBS checks – whether Enhanced, Standard, or Basic – had a 33% faster turnaround than national averages.
They also had an average turnaround time of 6.25 days for Disclosure Scotland checks.
A quick return on a DBS check means that you reduce the stress on your existing staff by hiring the correct people faster. It also helps you avoid risks, as you’ll be able to see that the people you’re bringing on board are safe to work around vulnerable individuals, giving you confidence in your new hires.
Police insights and areas for improvements
The average time it took police forces to return checks in April was 22 days, potentially impacted by the large number of check requests – 5,100 more than forecast for the month.
When a DBS check takes longer than expected, it’s known as an aged case. The number of aged cases increased in April by 2%, from 16,038 to 16,391. The completion rate for aged cases sat at only 32%, but this is due to a backlog in three key police forces – Sussex, Kent, and Hampshire. These forces were responsible for holding 83% of all aged cases, but had a 67% completion rate, more than double the number for the rest of the country.
Both Hampshire and Kent Police managed to reduce their number of aged cases by around 40% each. Sussex Police have implemented a Gold Group strategy (calling in staff from other areas, additional DBS funding, higher rates of overtime, training, and recruiting) in order to tackle the sheer number of checks.
In all instances, staffing issues remained a crucial factor:
• Hampshire: 12% vacancies
• Kent: 19% vacancies
• Sussex: 19.5% vacancies
What comes next?
As partners of uCheck, we’ll be sure to keep you updated on police force developments as and when they arise, so you know what to expect and how to prepare accordingly. Current strategies seem to be working well, as the backlog is slowly decreasing.
As a Care England member, you’re eligible for preferential rates and free registration to the uCheck platform, saving you £49 + VAT!
You can register for free today by visiting www.ucheck.com/pricing and using code CAREENGLANDFREE at checkout.
From Compliance to Protection: Insights from a Small Business’s Cybersecurity Journey
Dr Andrew Larner has had two decades of experience working with the care sector as the former chief executive of iESE CIC and CareCubed – founders of the national care costing tool adopted by 600 commissioning bodies and providers. Now, as an advisory board member for the Cyber Centre of Excellence, Andrew shares his journey bolstering cyber security as a small business owner, and why it’s important to do so regardless of organisation size.
When news broke that large councils, like Redcar and Cleveland, were impacted severely by cyberattacks, it was a wake-up call. That’s when I first began to think about the cyber risk as a small enterprise processing sensitive (yet anonymised) care information.
At the time, running and growing a small business felt like spinning countless plates at once. I had assumed - naively - that our size offered an immunity compared to the larger targets. But then I’d seen small organisations become collateral damage in the crossfire of cyberattacks intended for larger targets, followed by fines levied on individuals by the ICO for not doing ‘their best’ protecting their business, causing them to defunct. Cyber security went from being uncomprehendingly geeky to terrifying in short order.
So, our cyber journey began, and it quickly revealed two paths: compliance and protection.
The compliance side involved ticking the right boxes. We achieved Cyber Essentials, then Cyber Essentials Plus, and now we’re working towards ISO 27001. That journey helped us identify what we needed to worry about. But while compliance is important, it is not a shield. After all, the Co-Op and M&S had their compliance, but weren’t protected!
The journey of protection was much vaster and more interesting. I set out to protect my organisation as a small business with a fraction of a percent of the budget of a major corporation, and despite seeming like an impossible feat, I had met and partnered with emerging world-class
small cyber businesses, many of whom are spun out of the military or intelligence services, such as AppGuard. To put it bluntly, I wanted, and got, military grade protection at high street prices, and was able to implement the software and practical advice I had acquired across all areas of business operation.
Cyber protection for me has now turned from a white-knuckle ride to business as usual. It’s almost an impossible task to stay on top of the latest developments in adversary attacks alone, but as an advisory board member of the Cyber Centre of Excellence (CCoE), we’ve established a community that supports other organisations in the public sector to achieve a military-grade cyber security posture on a limited budget.
With the right tools, small businesses can achieve the best with less. Cyber security isn’t just a technical challenge - it’s a business imperative. And with the right approach, it becomes a competitive advantage.
Visit our website ccoe.org.uk or contact us at enquiries@ccoe.org.uk to fortify your defences today.
Empowering Care Providers Through Award-Winning Training and Recruitment Solutions
At a time when staff recruitment, development, and retention are more critical than ever in the Care sector, Paragon Skills continues to deliver exceptional apprenticeship and commercial training solutions that truly make a difference. A nationally recognised provider, rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted and celebrated across the industry, Paragon Skills partners with over 3,000 employers to support more than 7,000 learners each year—and the impact speaks for itself.
With a stellar 4.9 Trustpilot rating, Paragon Skills is built on a foundation of quality, communication, and genuine results. From industry-recognised wins at the AAC Apprenticeship Awards to accolades at the Learning Excellence Awards, the provider’s reputation is underpinned by consistently positive learner and employer feedback.
Supporting Growth in the Care Sector Specialising in the Care sector, Paragon Skills offers tailored training solutions that align with regulatory requirements, business goals, and individual career development. Apprentices receive personalised support from tutors with hands-on sector experience, and learning plans are structured to build competence and confidence from day one.
This learner-first approach yields measurable outcomes:
• 91.6% of apprentices move into positive destinations after completing their programme.• 80% secure paid employment, demonstrating real impact on the workforce.
• 5.8% progress into a further apprenticeship, reinforcing the role of vocational training in longterm career development.
Even more telling, only 1% of learners transition into higher education, underscoring the strength of apprenticeships as a practical alternative to traditional academic routes.
Proven results in retention and engagement
Paragon Skills continues to improve retention year-
on-year. In 2025, 53.4% of apprenticeship withdrawals were due to reasons beyond the provider’s control—a significant improvement from 62.8% in 2022. Meanwhile, just 10.9% of withdrawals were due to programme timing, highlighting how accessible and manageable the apprenticeships are for learners balancing real-world responsibilities.
Employers also benefit, with 80% reporting improved staff retention as a direct result of their partnership with Paragon Skills. Each programme is crafted with flexibility in mind and adapted to specific operational requirements, whether delivered as an apprenticeship or a commercial training option.
Beyond training: Recruitment support you can count on
In addition to its training portfolio, Paragon Skills also offers a comprehensive apprenticeship recruitment service, helping employers source, screen, and secure high-potential candidates. This end-to-end approach ensures that employers not only develop their existing teams but also attract new talent into the sector— an essential component in addressing the staffing challenges faced across health and social care.
Explore more about commercial training options: paragonskills.co.uk/commercial-courses
Discover recruitment support: paragonskills.co.uk/ recruitment
Why Choose Paragon Skills?
• Award-winning apprenticeship and training delivery
• Deep sector knowledge across Health and Social Care
• Proven results in learner achievement and retention
• Fully tailored, flexible programmes
• Complete recruitment-to-development service offering
If you’re ready to transform your workforce with a partner that puts people first, Paragon Skills is here to help you lead the way.
Unlocking growth for social care businesses
Navigating the social care sector?
Our experts are here to help your business grow.
We support clients with: buy and build programmes mainstream mergers and acquisitions exits equity investments
REIT equity and operator transactions debt finance and refinancing restructuring and reorganisation VAT and other tax structuring joint ventures
To find out more get in touch.
Julian Smith Partner, Head of Healthcare Corporate julian.smith@mills-reeve.com
07500 012203
HR & Employment Law – streamline your processes, save time and stay compliant with ever-changing regulations.
Health & Safety – create a safe environment for everyone with on-site inspections, risk assessment support and incident reporting.
Cyber Security – build resilience, reduce risk and stay compliant with our test, train and certify approach.
Regulatory Compliance – mock inspections, care policies and procedures and our online tool CQC Pro, all designed to keep your business up to scratch to reduce your risk of noncompliance and pesky penalties.
Single-handed care improves dignity in care
It is, sadly, a common sight in many care homes. A resident who needs help to the toilet sits in discomfort and distress, while a carer searches for another member of staff to help with this activity. Then, when another carer has eventually been found, the resident’s discomfort might be compounded by embarrassment or confusion, particularly if they are unfamiliar with one or both people taking them to the toilet.
The consequences of this ‘double-handed’ approach are clear. Alongside causing residents an unnecessary and often painful wait for care they might need quickly, when that care support does arrive it can feel invasive and overbearing, especially if two or more carers are supporting with an intimate activity such as bathing or going to the toilet. In certain cases, it might even contravene Regulation 10 of the Health and Social Care Act 2007. This states that care and treatment must be provided in a manner that ‘ensures dignity’, which the Care Quality Commission elaborates as ‘making sure that people have privacy when they need and want it, treating them as equals and providing any support they might need to be autonomous, independent and involved in their local community.
So why are so many care providers relying on double-handed care that is not in the best interests of residents, and also puts extra demands on staff capacity? One reason could be the widely held, but inaccurate, belief that a minimum of two carers are required for even basic people moving procedures. This may stem from misinterpretation of health and safety legislation around when care can be delivered by a single member of staff i.e after a robust risk assessment has deemed it appropriate.
A lack of or inconsistent training for staff on how to understand these essential risk assessments also plays a part, and this is what the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ (RoSPA) new Level 2 Proportionate/Single-Handed Care Qualification aims to address. Regulated by
OfQual and developed with A1 Risk Solutions with the support of Care England, Skills For Care and the NHS, this qualification gives care staff the skills they need to safely deliver single-handed care, covering such areas as understanding risk assessments and handling plans, alongside how to use equipment such as hoists and slide sheets safely and effectively. Equally importantly, it trains staff to identify when single-handed care is not appropriate, for example if a person’s physical capability and/or cognitive abilities are declining.
Crucially, these skills are developed within a framework that emphasises how single-handed care, when delivered in accordance with a robust risk assessment, promotes the health, wellbeing and enablement of the person being supported. By reducing the need for multiple interactions with different members of staff, single-handed care provides the foundation of strong and trusting one-on-one relationships with individual carers, who can get to know someone’s unique needs and preferences and tailor care accordingly. As such, single-handed care turns the concept of ‘personcentred care’ from words into a reality, enabling vulnerable people to be treated with the dignity they deserve.
