A Note from Dr Richard Harling
Thank you to everyone working across the sector during this period of hot weather.
High temperatures can bring additional pressures for care services, particularly when supporting people who may be more vulnerable to the effects of heat. Thank you for the extra care, attention and support you continue to provide to help people stay safe, well and comfortable during the hot weather.
Please continue to follow the latest guidance, check in on those most at risk, and look after yourselves and your colleagues too.
All the best, Richard
Director for Health and Care
In this edition:
- Workforce Survey: Tell Us What’s Happening in Your Service
- Staffordshire County Council Skills Bootcamps
- Upcoming FREE medication courses
- Fully Funded Train the Trainer Opportunity
- Webinar: AI in care - Its use and regulation
- Healthy Workplace Newsletter - July 26
- Staff Support and Wellbeing
- Important Reminders
- Contact Us
Updates
Workforce Survey: Tell Us What’s Happening in Your Service
Help us understand the current workforce pressures, challenges and support needs across adult social care.
Your feedback will help shape future training, support and workforce initiatives across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Resource
Staffordshire County Council Skills Bootcamps
Health & Social Care is a priority sector for Skills Bootcamps in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. These free programmes help people develop the skills needed to start or progress a career in care. For those who are unemployed or not currently working in care, successful completion includes a guaranteed interview with a local employer where a suitable vacancy exists, along with support to secure and maintain employment.
Employers can benefit from:
- Free access to job-ready candidates
- Staff development opportunities (10-30% employer contribution)
To find out more, contact skillsbootcamps@staffordshire.gov.uk.
Further information is available on our Skills Bootcamps website
Training and Events
Upcoming FREE medication courses
These free face-to-face courses, available through the Social Care Academy, have been commissioned to support providers in developing safe, effective, and compliant medication practices, helping to improve outcomes for people who draw on care and support.
- Safe Administration of Medication
- PRN Protocols
- Medication Audits (Residential or Nursing Staff Only)
- Assessing Competency with Medication Administration
- Medication Audits (Residential or Nursing Staff Only)
Fully Funded Train the Trainer Opportunity
Our Moving and Assisting (Train the Trainer) programme is a fully funded 3-day course designed to support delegates in developing the skills and knowledge needed to deliver moving and assisting training within their organisation.
Course Dates (Please note you must attend all three dates)
- Monday 17 August 2026
- Tuesday 18 August 2026
- Wednesday 19 August 2026
9:30am – 4:30pm each day
Webinar: AI in care - Its use and regulation
Wednesday 22 July 14.30
An update from CQC about their new guidance on the use of AI in social care settings with opportunities to ask questions.
Click here for more information
Health and Wellbeing
Healthy Workplace Newsletter - July 26
This month’s newsletter focuses on Heart Age, highlighting key information and practical ways to support health and wellbeing in the workplace, including the benefits of having an NHS Health Check.
Click here to view the newsletter
Staff Support and Wellbeing
View a collection of wellbeing and workforce support resources for adult social care staff, including CMDT support packs and links to local and national services all in one place.
Click here to view the webpage
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.
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Document
Sign up to Field safety notice, national patient safety alert, device safety information, and medicines recall/notification
Sign up for 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