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Welcome to our weekly updates
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Happy New Year from the ESPIC Team
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As we welcome 2026, we would like to wish all our members across East Sussex and Brighton & Hove a very Happy New Year and to say thank you for the vital care and support you continue to provide to our communities.
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The year ahead is expected to bring continued pressure for our sector. Ongoing system demand, workforce challenges, financial constraints and further changes across health and social care will all shape the landscape in which providers are operating. Alongside this, there will be increasing focus on integration, digitalisation, quality, and safeguarding, as well as the ongoing implementation of regulatory and policy reforms e.g. including the new Employment Rights Bill which received Royal Assent on 18th December 2025.
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ESPIC will be here to support you through these challenges. In 2026 we will continue to:
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- Represent and advocate for providers across East Sussex and Brighton & Hove
- Strengthen our influence within local systems and the Sussex ICS
- Share timely, practical information and guidance
- Support workforce development and provider sustainability
- Create opportunities for connection, learning and peer support
- Champion the value and impact of adult social care
We remain committed to being a strong, trusted voice for all providers and to working in partnership to support high-quality, sustainable care across our area.
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Thank you for your continued engagement and support. We look forward to working with you throughout 2026.
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Congratulations to Louise Ansari MBE🎉
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We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to Louise Ansari on her New Year’s Honours award, for services to health equity and recognising her outstanding contribution to health services.
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Louise was a guest presenter at the 2025 East Sussex Care Awards, where she presented our Special Recognition Award to Healthwatch East Sussex. It was a privilege to welcome her to the awards and to celebrate the vital role Healthwatch East Sussex plays in amplifying the voices of people who use health and care services.
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This honour is a well-deserved recognition of Louise’s leadership, dedication and impact across the health and care system.
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Congratulations once again, Louise — and thank you for your continued commitment to improving care. 👏
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A Reminder of What’s Coming Up in 2026
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As mentioned in our previous newsletter, we have an exciting programme of ESPIC events planned for 2026 — and there’s lots to look forward to.
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We’ll be starting the year with the return of our Lunch and Listen sessions in January, offering quick, focused online updates on key topics for providers.
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In April, our Safeguarding Adults Symposium will explore current challenges, emerging good practice and how safeguarding continues to evolve across adult social care.
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New for 2026, we’re introducing two sector-specific forums for Care Homes and Care Homes with Nursing, and Learning Disability providers, creating dedicated spaces to share learning, insight and practical solutions.
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Our Annual Conference will return to Herstmonceux Castle in July, followed later in the year by the return of the ESPIC Care Awards, expanding to include Brighton & Hove, alongside a brand-new festive event.
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With lots more to be announced!
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It’s shaping up to be a busy and inspiring year — we look forward to welcoming you.
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👉 Visit our website and TicketSource page for dates, updates and bookings.
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Please click here to read the final International Recruitment Project Bulletin of 2025, which includes:
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· Displaced Worker Sponsorship Scheme – Open until March 2026
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· Earned Settlement Consultation – Closes 12 February 2026
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- Proposals could mean migrant care workers must wait 15 years before claiming settlement
- Provider Briefing Webinar: 2-3pm, 22 January 2026 – Joining details to follow via SESCA website/news
· Immigration Skills Charge Increase – Effective 16 December 2025
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· Employment Rights Bill Consultations – Open Until 15 Jan 2026
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· FREE Legal Helpline – Now Live
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- 30-minute consultation with Lester Aldridge Solicitors
- Tel: 01202 786126 | Email: sescahelp@LA-Law.com
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· Displaced Worker Sponsorship Scheme – Festive Operating Arrangements
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Independent Insurance Insight Gives Care Providers Total Peace Of Mind
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TL Dallas works with care organisations across the UK to provide tailored insurance solutions, full access to the care insurance market and specialist support around emerging risks such as management liability and cyber threats. By reducing complexity and offering clear, independent guidance, TL Dallas helps care providers protect their people, services and leadership teams with confidence.
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Michael Jobson, Cert CII, Corporate Account Executive
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Michael Jobson says; “Feedback from the hundreds of health and care operators we work with tells us that independence genuinely matters. Providers want brokers who understand the nuances of their operations, who have access to every insurer in the market, and who can negotiate tailored cover rather than offering a pre-set scheme. The sector is too complex, too tightly regulated, and too exposed to emerging risks for a one-size-fits-all approach”.
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Visit TL Dallas website or email Michael.Jobson@tldallas.com or call Michael on 07534 360404 to book a complimentary review.
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Employment Law Update: What Providers Need to Know
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The Employment Rights Bill has now passed, marking the biggest update to employment law in 30 years. With changes set to come into force from April 2026, it’s important for providers to start understanding what this could mean for your organisation.
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Citation have shared a helpful overview of the key changes, implementation timescales and what employers should be focusing on in the year ahead.
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Hempsons CMM CQC Q&A series: Prosecutions of health and social care providers in England
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In this blog series, Philippa Doyle, Head of Social Care at Hempsons, answers the most common questions providers ask when dealing with the CQC.
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There has been no major change in regulatory approach. While terminology and publication practices have changed, the fundamental approach CQC takes to enforcement has not significantly shifted.
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Are there material changes providers should be aware of?
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The latest CQC enforcement policy reflects changes made a year ago. Click here for the latest CQC enforcement policy, as of January 2025, setting out how the regulator addresses concerns about providers and individuals.
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New NIHR Funding to Support Research in Care Settings
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New funding is available for 2026/27 to help NHS and wider care organisations increase access to research opportunities. The NIHR Research Delivery Network (RDN) has opened two funding calls:
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Wider Care Settings (WCS) Funding
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These funds aim to support research capacity, improve access to studies, and align with the government’s 10 Year Health Plan priorities.
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NHS trusts (Strategic Funding)
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NHS trusts delivering research in wider care settings (WCS Funding)
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Wider care settings such as GP practices, care homes, hospices, VCSEs and other community organisations (both calls)
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Key dates (SE RRDN):
📅 Applications open 25 November 2025
📅 Applications close 6 January 2026
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Drop-in support sessions are available in December, and organisations are encouraged to contact the SE RRDN team for guidance.
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New eBook for Home Care Providers by CareLineLive
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From Confusion to Confidence: Conquering Compliance in Home Care
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Our partner CareLineLive is proud to launch a brand-new, practical eBook that helps home care providers across the UK understand compliance like never before, breaking down the latest frameworks and guidance. Written by our Home Care Sector Specialist, Merina Martin, this guide lays out exactly what compliance means and how to stay inspection-ready with confidence.
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- How each UK regulator defines and measures compliance in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Jersey
- Practical steps to strengthen governance, quality assurance and auditing
- How technology can support compliance and inspection readiness
- Insights into building a well-led, sustainable and quality-driven service
Whether you’re reviewing your current systems or preparing for your next inspection, this guide is designed to help providers move from uncertainty to clarity, giving home care teams the tools they need to deliver safe, high-quality, person-centred care every day.
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Latest Updates from GOV.com
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The Home Secretary has announced changes to the pathway to settlement and launched a consultation on these, including how they should be implemented. The changes aim to ensure that the immigration framework remains fair, sustainable, and responsive to the needs of the economy and society. The government is concerned that that lower-wage migrant workers including those on the Health and Care visa, are less likely to make a net fiscal contribution over the long-term.
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What’s being considered in the consultation?
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- Increasing the default qualifying period for settlement from 5 years to 10 years, as set out in the Immigration White Paper Restoring Control over the Immigration System.
- Increasing the qualifying period for settlement to 15 years for those in the Skilled Worker and Health and Care routes in a role below RQF level 6 (this includes care workers and senior care workers).
- Introducing a “No Recourse to Public Funds” (NRPF) condition at settlement, aligning with existing visa conditions.
- Earned settlement criteria, requiring migrants to demonstrate sustained good conduct, contribution, and integration rather than automatic entitlement after a fixed period.
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The Home Office has committed to further engaging across government and with the health and care sector on the consultation and proposed changes, and we will provide further details on this in due course.
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Welcome to another edition of What’s New in Adult Social Care, sharing the latest updates, learning opportunities and resources for health and social care managers and teams across Sussex.
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If you’ve missed any previous editions, you can visit the MILE Pathway website to catch up on past newsletters and explore newly added resources.
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Promote Your Vacancies with the National Recruitment Campaign
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Support your recruitment efforts by using the Adult Social Care recruitment campaign toolkit. The toolkit includes clear guidance on how to upload your vacancies to the DWP Find a Job service and ensure they also appear on the DHSC recruitment page, helping you reach a wider audience.
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Make the most of national promotion to attract people into rewarding roles across adult social care.
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A New Year in Care: How AI Can Support a Stronger Start
The New Year is a time for reflection, renewal, and setting intentions — and for care homes, it’s also a moment to reset, refocus, and plan for the months ahead.
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After the demands of winter and the festive period, January often brings familiar challenges: staffing pressures, tighter budgets, inspections, and the ongoing need to deliver outstanding, person-centred care. As the sector looks forward, AI is increasingly helping care homes start the year stronger.
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Turning Reflection into Action
AI can help care providers analyse trends from the previous year — from staffing patterns to care outcomes — supporting more informed planning and decision-making. This insight enables managers to move into the New Year with clarity, not guesswork.
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Supporting Workforce Stability
Recruitment and retention remain key priorities in care. AI-supported scheduling, workload planning, and training tools can help create fairer rotas, reduce burnout, and support staff development — helping teams feel more supported as the year begins.
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Strengthening Compliance and Quality
The New Year often brings renewed focus on audits, inspections, and quality improvement. AI can assist with documentation, monitoring standards, and identifying potential risks early, helping care homes stay proactive rather than reactive.
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More Time for What Matters Most
By reducing time spent on repetitive administrative tasks, AI helps free up capacity for meaningful care — deeper relationships with residents, personalised support plans, and a more positive daily experience for everyone involved.
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Building a More Sustainable Future
AI isn’t about replacing people — it’s about empowering them. As care homes plan for the year ahead, technology can play a vital role in building resilience, improving efficiency, and protecting the heart of care.
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The New Year is a chance to move forward with confidence. With the right tools in place, AI can help care providers focus less on pressure — and more on progress.
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Here’s to a New Year of support, innovation, and compassionate care.
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Click here to view our new and updated website with all our Sponsors!
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