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Welcome to our weekly updates
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East Sussex Care Awards 2026
NOMINATIONS EXTENDED – DON'T MISS OUT!
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The nomination deadline has now been extended until Monday 31st August, giving you one more month to celebrate the outstanding people, teams and services making a difference across adult social care in East Sussex.
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Anyone can nominate! Whether you're a colleague, manager, employer, family member, friend or someone who has received exceptional care, this is your opportunity to recognise those who go above and beyond.
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Nominated before? Do it again! Every year is a fresh opportunity to celebrate excellence, so previous nominees can be put forward once more.
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Award Categories
- Ancillary Worker / Team Award
- Care Newcomer of the Year
- Care Worker of the Year
- Care Manager / Leader of the Year
- Care Team of the Year
- Care Service of the Year
- Dementia Care of the Year
- Excellence in International Recruitment
- Hidden Gem Award
- Outstanding Contribution to Social Care Nursing
- Quality Excellence Award
- Workplace Wellbeing Award
Don't wait until the last minute! Make sure your nominations are submitted by Monday 31st August and help us recognise the very best in social care.
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The winners will be announced at the East Sussex Care Awards Celebration on Thursday 19th November 2026 at the East Sussex National Golf & Spa Hotel.
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Submit your nomination today!
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Autumn Conference: International Recruitment, Workforce Development & Compliance Conference
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Stay ahead of the latest changes in international recruitment and workforce compliance.
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Join us for our Autumn Conference, bringing together sector experts, providers and professionals for a day of practical guidance, insightful presentations and valuable networking.
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With ongoing changes to immigration policy, sponsorship requirements and workforce development, this conference will provide the latest updates, expert advice and practical solutions to help your organisation remain compliant while building a strong, sustainable workforce.
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Whether you're already sponsoring overseas workers or considering international recruitment, this event is packed with information you won't want to miss.
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Book your place today and be part of the conversation shaping the future of adult social care!
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Care Workers to Be Represented in New Fair Pay Agreements
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The Government has announced plans to establish a new Adult Social Care Negotiating Body, giving care workers in England a formal voice in discussions on pay, terms and conditions, and wider employment matters.
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The new body, made up of employers and trade unions, is expected to be in place by the end of the year and will negotiate the first-ever Fair Pay Agreement for adult social care.
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The announcement also includes an expansion of the Care Workforce Pathway, supporting clearer career progression across almost all adult social care roles.
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While the first Fair Pay Agreement is not expected until 2028–29, this marks a significant step in the Government's plans to improve recruitment, retention and recognition of the adult social care workforce.
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Help shape the future of adult social care across East Sussex, Brighton and Hove - join our Board!
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ESPIC is recruiting volunteer Board Directors to help shape and strengthen the future of adult social care across East Sussex, Brighton and Hove. This is a rewarding opportunity to support the local care sector, contribute to good governance and help ensure providers have a strong, informed and representative voice.
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We welcome interest from people with experience in care, governance, finance, regulation, workforce development, commissioning, partnership working or lived experience of care services. The time commitment is approximately 6–10 days per year. To find out more or request an informal conversation, please contact ESPIC.
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Interested? To express your interest, please send a short statement outlining your background, relevant skills or experience, what you feel you could bring to the Board, and why you would like to support ESPIC to Elizabeth Mackie, CEO elizabeth@espic.co.uk or call 077 06 004194. Informal conversations are welcomed before applying.
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Introducing: The Business of Care Podcast
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CareLineLive is pleased to share news of a brand-new podcast, The Business of Care, hosted by Marie Page, Head of Marketing at CareLineLive, part of the Evaran group of care technology companies bringing together CareLineLive, MOA Benchmarking, eCase and Checked in Care.
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Each episode brings together experts, innovators and practitioners to get into the data, the tools and the thinking behind what outstanding care really looks like. No jargon, just honest conversations about the questions providers are actually grappling with.
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Episode 1: Quality, Data and the Science of Care kicks things off with Lahn Straney, Chief Scientific Officer at Evaran and MOA Benchmarking, joining Marie to talk about how epidemiology applies to social care, what risk adjustment models mean for fairer quality comparisons, and the differences between UK and Australian care markets.
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And if you're a carer or care worker who spends a of your day driving between visits, this could be your ideal listen.
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Thank You for Joining Our Adopt a Grandparent Webinar
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A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for our "Everything You Need to Know About Adopt a Grandparent in Care Homes" webinar on Wednesday 22nd July.
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It was fantastic to welcome so many care providers to learn more about how the award-winning Adopt a Grandparent programme is helping to reduce loneliness and social isolation by creating meaningful friendships between care home residents and dedicated volunteers.
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During the session, we explored the many benefits the programme offers, including enhancing resident wellbeing, supporting person-centred care, creating valuable companionship opportunities and providing positive outcomes for care homes.
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We hope everyone who attended found the session informative and inspiring, and we're excited to see more care homes getting involved with this free initiative to help residents build lasting connections.
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Thank you once again for taking the time to join us and for your continued commitment to improving the lives of older people across our communities.
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Medication Train the Trainer – New Dates Now Available
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Following a fantastic response to our recent Medication Train the Trainer courses, Penguin Training Consultancy is pleased to announce two new course dates:
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📅 28th–29th July
📅 4th–5th August
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This practical, live tutor-led programme is designed specifically for the adult social care sector and is ideal for experienced Care Managers, Deputy Managers, Team Leaders and Senior Carers who are responsible for supporting and developing staff.Over two interactive days, delegates will gain the knowledge, confidence and practical teaching skills needed to confidently deliver medication training within their own organisation.
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✔️ Live tutor-led training via Microsoft Teams
✔️ Medication legislation and best practice
✔️ Practical micro-teach with personalised tutor feedback
✔️ All course materials and resources
✔️ Certificate of completion
✔️ Ongoing tutor supportCourse Fee: £395 + VAT per delegateExclusive Member OfferAs a valued ESPiC and WSPiC member, we're pleased to offer an exclusive discounted rate of £325 + VAT per delegate.
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If you're looking to develop an internal Medication Trainer and reduce reliance on external training providers, we'd be delighted to hear from you.
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To reserve a place or find out more, please contact:
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Amy Carter - Business Development | Penguin Training Consultancy
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Is Your DSPT Up to Date? Free Support Available
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Although the 2025–26 Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) deadline passed on 30 June 2026, it's not too late to complete and publish your submission.
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If your organisation hasn't published its DSPT, your public record may show a gap that commissioners, NHS partners and other organisations can see. With the toolkit expected to be updated in September, now is the ideal time to complete your current submission before any new requirements are introduced.
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The DSPT is much more than a compliance exercise. Recent cyber incidents involving care providers in Sussex have shown how easily cybercriminals can gain access to email accounts and send convincing phishing emails from trusted addresses. Simple measures such as multi-factor authentication, strong passwords, regular software updates, staff training and clear incident reporting procedures can make a significant difference in protecting your organisation.
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Remember, having IT support does not automatically mean your organisation is protected from cyber threats. The DSPT helps providers put practical safeguards in place to protect staff, residents and sensitive information.
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Free Help Through Better Security, Better Care
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If you need support, free assistance is available through the Better Security, Better Care programme. Whether you need help reviewing your evidence, completing the remaining questions or improving your cyber resilience, expert guidance is available at no cost.
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NHSmail Is Now NHS.net Connect
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NHSmail has officially become NHS.net Connect. Existing nhs.net email addresses will continue to work as normal, but users will now access services through the new Launchpad, replacing the NHSmail Portal. Support sessions will be available during August to help social care providers become familiar with the new system, with dates to be announced soon.
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Summer holiday requests are landing fast, are your members ready?
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Summer's here - and so are the holiday leave requests. Do you know what to do about last-minute asks, overlapping bookings, or making sure everyone gets a fair share? Get it wrong, and a grievance could be brewing before you know it.
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You don't have to work it out alone. Citation's free HR advice line is here to help, with friendly, practical and confidential guidance that puts your business first.
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Call 0161 504 0843 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday and don’t forget to quote “ESPiC & BHPiC” when you call.
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Important Update: Pressure Ulcer Safeguarding Referrals
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From Monday 6 July, all pressure ulcer safeguarding referrals to Health and Social Care Connect (HSCC) must include a completed Adult Safeguarding Decision Guide.
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The Decision Guide should be completed within 48 hours by a Registered Nurse with experience in wound management who is not directly involved in the person's care. It helps determine whether the pressure damage may be linked to neglect or poor oversight and whether a safeguarding referral is required.
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Before submitting a referral, providers must:
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- Request completion of the Adult Safeguarding Decision Guide.
- Review the outcome.
- Submit the completed Decision Guide with the safeguarding referral to HSCC@eastsussex.gov.uk.
Please note: Referrals submitted without a completed Decision Guide will be returned and will not be progressed.
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Sussex care providers are encouraged to apply for the SESCA Displaced Worker Recruitment Support Scheme — supporting providers to recruit experienced displaced international care workers already living in the South East, with funding of up to £6,000 available per worker recruited.
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The latest SESCA International Recruitment Bulletin includes several important updates for adult social care providers across the South East.
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The Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed funding for the International Recruitment Project until 31 March 2027. Providers recruiting displaced international care workers through the scheme can receive up to £1,500 per worker (up to six workers per CQC-registered location), subject to the scheme criteria.
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Important Sponsorship Updates
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Providers are reminded that:
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- Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) allocation requests are currently taking around 12 weeks, so forward planning is essential.
- UKVI compliance activity has increased, with a stronger focus on payroll records, salary thresholds and sponsor duties.
- SESCA can help expedite CoS and visa applications for eligible displaced workers at no cost.
All CQC-registered adult social care providers in the South East can access a free 30-minute consultation with immigration specialists at Lester Aldridge Solicitors for advice on sponsorship and immigration matters.
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Join SESCA's International Recruitment Update webinar to hear the latest on immigration changes, sponsor compliance, right to work responsibilities and updates to the Displaced Worker Scheme.
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Click here to view our new and updated website with all our Sponsors!
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