Democratising the Social Care Debate Your essential update on social care policy, workforce news, and regulatory changes CQC UPDATESWORKFORCEPOLICY & REFORMSECTOR NEWS SC From the Editor Sophie Chester, Director at Coproduce Care Hello and welcome to our first newsletter of 2026! It's been a busy start to the year. In the first couple of months we've already seen Sir Mike Richards step down as CQC Chair (yes, another leadership change at the regulator), the Employment Rights Act has received Royal Assent bringing huge changes for care workers, and the Fair Pay Agreement consultation has closed – setting the stage for what could be transformational change in how our workforce is paid and treated. Meanwhile, the Casey Commission is expected to deliver its Phase 1 report this year, potentially reshaping the future of adult social care in England. There's a lot happening – and a lot to keep track of. ♣ This Edition's Headlines: → CQC Chair Sir Mike Richards resigns – less than a year in post, another leadership vacuum → Employment Rights Act 2025 is now law – SSP from day one, fair pay negotiations ahead → Fair Pay Agreement consultation closed – negotiations expected 2027, first FPA April 2028 → National Minimum Wage rises to £12.71 from 1 April 2026 → Casey Commission Phase 1 report expected this year On a happier note, congratulations to Oonagh Smyth , CEO of Skills for Care, who was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours. It's wonderful to see leaders in our sector recognised for their contributions. Speaking of recognition... I want to take a moment to celebrate all of you reading this. Care managers, owners, directors – you're navigating an incredibly challenging environment while ensuring vulnerable people receive the support they deserve. That matters enormously. March 2026 Newsletter
Thank you to everyone who joined our 'Prepared, Not Scared' conference in February! If you missed it, recordings are available on our YouTube channel. We explored end- of-life planning – a topic that matters deeply in our work. Our podcasts are back – make sure you're subscribed to our YouTube channel for new episodes throughout 2026. ▶ Subscribe on YouTube View Upcoming Events Read Our Blog Here's to a year of positive change. Sophie Director, Coproduce Care CIC Professor Sir Mike Richards Steps Down as CQC Chair ⚠ Breaking News (6 February 2026) – Another leadership change at the regulator Sir Mike Richards has resigned as Chair of the CQC after less than a year in post. He has agreed to continue until a replacement is appointed. In his statement, Sir Mike said: "It has become increasingly clear that the turnaround of the CQC – alongside the work required to establish it as the world's leading health and care regulator – will demand a longer-term commitment as Chair than I am able to make." He highlighted progress including the establishment of specialist sector teams and confirmed that the consultation response on the new Assessment Framework will be communicated shortly. Professor Martin Green, Chief Executive of Care England, responded: "Sir Mike took on this role at a very difficult time for the CQC. What mattered about his independent review was that it reflected what providers had been experiencing on the ground – delays that made no sense, a loss of sector expertise, and a framework that felt disconnected from the reality of delivering care." Dr Arun Chopra continues as Interim Chief Executive. Recruitment for a permanent Chair begins shortly. Read CQC's announcement → 'Give Feedback on Care' Service Restored CQC's online feedback service is now available again (30 January 2026). You can share your experience of any health or adult social care service in England with CQC online. This information helps CQC decide when, where and what to inspect. CQC Regulatory Updates
Give feedback on care → Local Authority Assessments Continue CQC continues assessing all 153 local authorities on their adult social care duties under the Care Act 2014. All initial assessments are expected to be completed by March 2026. Recent reports published: Cumberland Council, West Northamptonshire Council (Requires Improvement), Sheffield City Council, Peterborough City Council, Newham Council, Walsall Council, Norfolk County Council, Plymouth City Council, Torbay Council, North East Lincolnshire Council. Swindon Borough Council was upgraded to Good (6 February 2026), and Milton Keynes City Council was also rated Good . View all LA assessment reports → CQC January Update CQC published its January update on improvements to regulation (29 January 2026). This provides the latest developments on CQC's work to improve how it regulates health and social care services. Read the January update → "Care is not just about meeting needs – it's about seeing the whole person and helping them live their best life." ⚖ Employment Rights Act 2025 – Royal Assent Achieved ✅ Law Enacted (18 December 2025) – "The biggest upgrade to workers' rights in a generation" The Employment Rights Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025 and will bring significant changes for care workers: From 6 April 2026: Statutory Sick Pay from day one (currently day four) SSP lower earnings limit removed – all workers now eligible SSP rate: £123.25/week or 80% of average weekly earnings (whichever is lower) Day-one paternity and parental leave Fair Work Agency established to enforce rights From January 2027: Unfair dismissal qualifying period reduced from 2 years to 6 months Guaranteed hours for zero-hours contract workers Workforce & Employment
⚡ Provider Alert: Review your SSP policies now. The Homecare Association has raised concerns about whether funding will cover these additional costs. View the full Act → National Minimum Wage Increase – 1 April 2026 The National Minimum Wage will increase from 1 April 2026 : 21 and over: £12.71/hour (up from £12.21) 18-20: £10.85/hour 16-17 & apprentices: £8.00/hour ⚡ Action Required: Ensure payroll systems are updated and budget accordingly. Consider the impact on pay differentials for more experienced staff. Oonagh Smyth Awarded CBE Congratulations to Oonagh Smyth , Chief Executive of Skills for Care, who was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours (December 2025) for services to health and social care. Oonagh has led Skills for Care since 2020, championing workforce development and recognition throughout the pandemic and beyond. Skills for Care: Keep Learning Campaign Skills for Care launched their 'Keep Learning' campaign for January-February 2026, highlighting the link between training and retention: Workers with 1-5 training instances: 26.3% turnover Workers with 30+ training instances: 22.9% turnover More training = better retention. Investing in your workforce's development pays dividends. Read more → £12.71 NEW MIN WAGE (21+) Day 1 SSP ENTITLEMENT £500m FAIR PAY FUNDING 153
LA ASSESSMENTS Fair Pay Agreement – Consultation Closed The government's consultation on the Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care closed on 16 January 2026 . Key points: £500 million allocated for the first FPA (2028-29) Adult Social Care Negotiating Body to be established in 2026 First negotiations expected 2027 First Fair Pay Agreement expected April 2028 While broadly welcomed, sector organisations have raised concerns about whether funding will be sufficient and whether the timeline addresses the immediate workforce crisis. View consultation → Casey Commission – Phase 1 Report Expected 2026 The independent Casey Commission on adult social care, led by Baroness Casey, is expected to publish its Phase 1 report in 2026 . Phase 1 will focus on medium-term recommendations (phased over 10 years): Improving productivity Prioritising prevention Empowering people who draw on care Phase 2 (expected 2028) will address long-term structural transformation of the sector. 10 Year Health Plan – Social Care's Role The government published an Impact Statement for its 10 Year Health Plan in January 2026. Social care is positioned as part of a 'neighbourhood health service' model. Three shifts are proposed: hospital to community, treatment to prevention, and analogue to digital. Read the Impact Statement → DHSC Priorities for Local Authorities 2026-27 DHSC published priorities for local authorities for 2026-27 before Christmas, which should help stabilise the situation. However, as Simon Bottery at The King's Fund argues: "Running an unfair system more effectively doesn't make it a fair system." Policy & Reform
National Cancer Plan Published The new National Cancer Plan for England was published on 4 February 2026, aiming to bring cancer care into the 21st century. The plan sets out how 3 in 4 people diagnosed with cancer will survive for 5 years or more by 2035. This has implications for integration between health and social care services. Read the National Cancer Plan → Mental Health Act 2025 – Implementation Underway The Mental Health Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 18 December 2025 and seeks to strengthen the rights of patients to be involved in planning their care, giving them greater choice and autonomy. Implementation will be phased over 8-10 years, with a consultation on the Code of Practice expected in early 2026. Read the announcement → SEND Deficits – Government to Cover 90% The government has announced it will pay 90% of local authorities' accumulated SEND deficits (projected to be over £5 billion) accrued up to the end of 2025-26. All local authorities with a SEND deficit will be eligible for grant funding, subject to approval of a local SEND reform plan. From 2028- 29, SEND spending will be covered within the government's DEL budget. View the Finance Settlement → Public Health Grant Consolidation Consolidating funding into a single, ring-fenced Public Health Grant from 2026 will simplify the system, reduce bureaucracy and strengthen prevention services including smoking cessation, drug and alcohol treatment, and sexual health. The total public health grant for 2026-27 will be £4.404 billion . View Public Health Grant details → Further Reading Stay informed with these sector resources: → King's Fund: What's in store for health and care in 2026? → Care England News → Skills for Care News → DHSC Social Care Blog → Homecare Association News Sector News
→ Homecare Association News Current opportunities that may be of interest. Click the tender name to view full details on the ProContract portal: Temporary Accommodation, Supported Accommodation & Floating Support (PME) Exeter City Council 1 Apr 2026 Social Connection Service "Socially Connected Derbyshire" Derbyshire County Council 18 Mar 2026 Provision of Care Services at Mill Point St. Helens Council 9 Mar 2026 Adoption and Kinship Specialist Support Services Essex County Council 9 Mar 2026 Community Based Supported Living Framework 2026 Swindon Borough Council 9 Mar 2026 Empowering Families (Family Mentor Service) Southend City Council 3 Mar 2026 Tip: Register on ProContract to receive automatic alerts for tenders matching your services. You can also search Contracts Finder for additional opportunities. Key Dates 2026 March 2026 1 April 2026 6 April 2026 Tender Opportunities
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