A Note from Dr Richard Harling
We hope you had a restful break and are feeling refreshed for the year ahead. As we begin 2026, we’re looking forward to continuing our work together and keeping you informed of key developments across the care sector.
Please take a moment to read through all the important updates below, including details about the upcoming changes to the brokerage system for Care Home Placements.
- Dr Richard Harling, Director for Health and Care
In this edition (15th January 2026)
- Adult Care Home Placements
- Social Care Academy
- Community Collaboration – New Vaccine Support Films
- CMDT Support Packs
- Registered manager webinar - Dementia care
- Calling nurses in social care
- Midlands regional conference
- CMDT Training
- Free NHS Health Checks
Updates
Reminder for Care Homes: Brokerage System for Adult Care Home Placements
As you’ll be aware, Staffordshire County Council is moving to a new brokerage system for Adult Care Home Placements. This is a reminder to set up your CarePlace account ahead of the system Go Live on Monday 19 January 2026.
A step by step guide was emailed to you on 9 January 2026 by Grace.Gough@staffordshire.gov.uk to access the instructions, please search for the email with the subject line:
Brokerage System for Adult Care Home Placements – set up your CarePlace Account before 15 January 2026
If you need further support, or you believe you have not received this email, please contact:
oppdcommissioning@staffordshire.gov.uk
Social Care Academy
The Social Care Academy for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent will relaunch in February 2026, introducing a new learning management system and refreshed website to expand and improve the learning offer.
- Learning records for all courses (except Skills for Care) will transfer to the new platform, so anything you complete (by the 19 January) will remain accessible after the upgrade.
- Skills for Care courses will NOT transfer. These must be fully completed (including all content and the end-of-course survey) and certificates downloaded by 19 January.
Staff Psychological Wellbeing Hub
We’re sharing an important update on behalf of the Staff Psychological Wellbeing Hub. After five years of supporting health and social care staff across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, including during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Hub will close on 28 February 2026.
The Hub stopped accepting new referrals on 9 January 2026. For future wellbeing support, please contact your organisation’s wellbeing or HR team. We want to thank everyone who engaged with the service.
They are still running their webinars which you can access in the button below.
View upcoming webinars - February 2026 Workshops.pdf
Resource Guides
Community Collaboration – New Vaccine Support Films
Local people with learning disabilities and autism have teamed up with the NHS in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent to create a series of short films designed to boost confidence and help more people feel comfortable getting vaccinated.
The videos explain what to expect at a vaccination appointment, answer common questions, and tackle myths in an accessible and reassuring way.
for more information, please visit - Community collaboration - Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, ICS
CMDT Support Packs
The Care Market Development Team has produced a set of quick reference Workforce Support Packs that bring together practical guidance, templates and trusted links for providers. Topics include Recruitment, Retention, Staff Wellbeing, Apprenticeships, Leadership and International Recruitment.
Visit Workforce support packs for more information.
Training and Events
Registered manager webinar - Dementia care: Enabling people to live well
This webinar is organised by Skills for Care. It aims to support frontline managers in implementing dementia training to enhance care quality and engagement for people living with dementia. It covers key resources, qualifications, and funding options, while sharing real-world examples from providers. Designed for managers seeking to improve understanding and outcomes in dementia care.
Date: Thursday 5 February
Time: 10:00 - 11:00
Location: Online
Visit Dementia care: Enabling people to live well to register
Midlands regional conference - evolving together
Join Skills for Care for this year’s Midlands Regional Conference, a dynamic networking and learning event focused on the future of adult social care.
Date: 10 February 2026
Time: 10:00 – 15:30
Location: Birmingham
What to expect
- Insightful sessions on recruitment, retention, training, and service transformation
- A range of expert speakers and sector leaders
- Networking opportunities with professionals from across the Midlands
- Interactive exhibition stands showcasing tools, resources, and support
- A chance to develop a personal or organisational action plan to take away
- Ongoing support from the Skills for Care Midlands Team throughout 2026/27
visit Midlands regional conference - evolving together to register
Upcoming CMDT Training
PRN Protocols:
This engaging and practical course is designed for frontline care staff responsible for administering "as required" (PRN) medication. It explores the importance of PRN protocols within a person-centred care framework, helping staff recognise when PRN medication is appropriate, how to administer it safely, and how to document and review its use effectively.
Available dates:
• 23 January 2026 - 09:15 -16:00
• 18 February 2026 - 09:15-16:00
Emergency First Aid Training:
This course is will provide learners with the knowledge and expertise to deliver emergency first aid
Learning objectives are:
- Describe your actions in an emergency
- Demonstrate the management of the unresponsive casualty
- Demonstrate effective adult resuscitation including use of the AED
- Explain the management of adult choking, shock, sepsis and stroke
- Describe how to deal with heart attacks, wounds and bleeding
- Explain the treatment of seizures and burns
- Explain the treatment of head/spinal injuries.
Available dates:
- 25 February 2026 - 09:15 - 16:30
- 19 March 2026 - 09:15 - 16:30
- 24 March 2026 - 09:15 - 16:30
Health and Wellbeing
Look After YOURSELF this Winter and Book in for a Free Health Check
Easy to book and available to EVERYONE working for Staffordshire and Stoke-on- Trent Integrated Care System
Regular health checks are a simple way to spot potential issues early and prevent problems before they start.
They can also tell you if you are at a higher risk of developing certain conditions such as:
It’s a small investment of time that makes a big difference to your wellbeing
If you are over 40 years of age, you may also have been invited for the check by your GP Practice.
What does the check involve?
- An NHS Health Check takes 20-30 minutes and includes:
- Personalised advice on how to stay healthy.
- Measuring blood pressure, height, weight, BMI (Body Mass Index), waist size, cholesterol, and a test for diabetes (If you are under 40 years of age, your check will not include cholesterol and diabetes test)
- A discussion around how to reduce your risk of the above conditions.
- Over 65s, will also be told about symptoms of dementia
How to access the Health Check?
The Everyone Health Team can provide NHS Health Checks free of charge at your workplace.
As a team manager, why not book a session for your whole team?
Email ICSRetention@staffsstoke.icb.nhs.uk to take up this opportunity or if you have queries. If you live outside of Staffordshire, we can also signpost you to an equivalent local service
If you would prefer to book an appointment outside of the workplace and in one of many community settings across the County, please call Everyone Health directly on 0333 005 0095
When asked, please quote your employer as:
Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent ICB (Integrated Care Board)
Lancaster Building, High Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme ST5 1PG
Important Reminders:
Integrated Care Coordination for Urgent Care (Health & Social Care Professionals Line)
The ICC is now operational 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, to provide a dedicated line for all health and social care professionals for patients with urgent care needs.
The service will continue to support with clinical advice and referrals to an alternative pathway as appropriate.
Call them on 0300 123 0983.
As before, this is not a direct patient access line and is in place to continue to support our system health and social care professionals.
Sign up to Field safety notice, national patient safety alert, device safety information, and medicines recall/notification
Sign up here - Alerts, recalls and safety information: medicines and medical devices emails - GOV.UK
Contact us
This update is produced and distributed by the Care Market Development Team.
Our webpages have lots of information, advice and guidance for Adult Social Care Providers. Please see our Care Market Development team web page.
If you have a specific question, please get in contact with us via email: asccommunications@staffordshire.gov.uk