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Upcoming Event - Specialist Training for All Levels of Social Care Staff
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Get ready for an essential online session that focuses on specialist training for every level of the social care workforce — from care assistants to managers.
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🗓 Date: Tuesday 28 October 2025
⏰ Time: 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM (Online)
🎙 Hosted by: Ashfield Services
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Get clear on what high-quality training looks like at different levels of care provision.
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Understand how to meet compliance standards and embed CPD across your teams.
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Ideal for training leads, managers, and providers who want to strengthen workforce development.
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📢 A focused, practical half-hour session designed to give you confidence and clarity around training requirements in the sector.
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More Upcoming Events From Us:
Supported Living Themed Webinar
🗓 Date: Wednesday 29 October 2025
⏰ Time: 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM (Online)
👉 Register Here
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About:
Explore the latest themes and challenges in supported living. This session brings together experts, providers, and sector voices to share best practices, new approaches, and practical solutions for improving services and outcomes.
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Everything Care Providers Need to Know about Cyber Insurance in 20 Minutes
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🗓 Date: Wednesday 5th November 2025
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Delivered in partnership with TL Dallas this succinct session will cover all you need to know about cyber insurance.
Why do you need cyber insurance cover?
Cyber insurance for care providers protects sensitive client data from breaches, ransomware, and cyberattacks. It covers, for example:
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- Recovery
- Legal costs,
- Regulatory fines, and
- Business interruption.
Insurers often require strong safeguards like encryption and staff training. This insurance supports regulatory compliance and helps providers recover quickly while maintaining client/family trust.
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Home Care Themed Webinar
About:
Focused on the home care sector, this webinar explores current trends, workforce issues, best practices, and upcoming regulatory changes.
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🚀 A great opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and connect with others delivering domiciliary care services.
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✨ Don’t miss your chance to join these targeted sessions — each designed to support providers, managers, and teams in delivering excellent care.
🎟 Click the links above to secure your tickets today!
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Medicines Audit Masterclass for Care Homes – Book Now!
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Don’t miss this practical Medicines Audit Masterclass designed specifically for care homes.
Learn how to achieve outstanding medication audits, improve compliance, and strengthen your medication management processes.
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Delivered by experts, this interactive session will help care home managers and staff gain the confidence and knowledge to ensure safe, effective, and high-quality care.
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📅 Date: Tuesday 12th November 2025
📍 Location: Online
🕒 Time: 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
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🌟 Congratulations to Our 2025 Care Awards Finalists! 🌟
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We’re thrilled to announce the finalists for the East Sussex Partners in Care – Care Awards 2025!
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Each finalist represents the compassion, dedication, and excellence that make adult social care in East Sussex truly outstanding. We can’t wait to celebrate with everyone at this year’s Gala Awards Evening! 🎉
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💙 Our Finalists:
Rey Quin • Dragos “Nick” Stefanescu • Tracie Wilson • Nicki Hollywood • Maria Sinclair • Sarah Maskell • Ruby Antony • Bridget Kativu • Dilani Meepanalage • Deshika Jayasundara • Tom Derrick • Paloma Corke • Jon Brunner • Siobhan Cannon • Rhianna Earley • Adam Roberts • Bernadene Williams • Cindy Little • Georgia Slowey • Rebecca Taylor • Amanda Laurence • Grace Walker • Dean Hollobone • Jasmine James • Lou Rumble • Jenny Miles • Chené Jones • Paul McKeown • Martina Zizkova • Ian Schlieder • Caroline Foord • Chi Ling Chan • Yvonne Wiggan • Liz Tehrani • Neil Kentish • Stuart Draper • Annie Parker • Chona Chatfield • Maisie O'Donnell • Charlotte Anderson • Bartek Romanowski • Victoria Gallagher • Paul Barrett • Jhazmin Cabrera • Megan Jackson • Madel Wrobel • Carl Gibson • Mariana Philipova • Charlene O’Toole • Emma-Louise Rich-Spice
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✨ Every one of these incredible individuals embodies care at its very best — through compassion, skill, and heart.
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🌍 International Recruitment Scheme – Applications Still Open
East Sussex Partners in Care manages the International Recruitment Hub in Sussex, supporting providers to join the scheme and connect with carers seeking new sponsorship.
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🔹 Nearly 700 displaced workers in the South East are currently available, all triaged and assessed.
🔹 Support grants of up to £6,000 per worker, per CQC location (up to six workers per location – conditions apply).
🔹 We help match providers with skilled international staff ready to contribute to your workforce.
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👉 Applications are still open for providers wishing to join the scheme and sponsor a displaced worker.
Find out more on the SESCA website.
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💬 And don’t forget – whether you are already sponsoring workers or just considering it, you can access the FREE Legal Helpline to answer any questions you may have
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Please help us improve by sharing your thoughts with the independent project evaluation team - you can do this using a brief online survey found at this link:
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Free Legal Helpline available now!
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The FREE legal helpline is available for you to use! Available until 28th November!
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Providers are entitled to a Free 30-minute, no obligation, phone consultation with an immigration specialist at Lester Aldridge Solicitors.
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Phone lines are open from 9am-5pm, Mon–Fri (with an answer phone operating outside these hours).
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You can also email Lester Aldridge using the dedicated address below.
Phone: 01202 786126
Email: sescahelp@LA-Law.com
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The service is open to all CQC-registered adult social care providers operating in the South-East.
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Everyday English Sessions for Frontline International Care Staff
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These language and cultural adaptation sessions have been highly successful with the sponsored staff SESCA works with through the international recruitment scheme.It is now available for providers to access for any of your employees you believe would benefit in a two session format. The cost is £150 per worker.Please see the attached leaflet for more information, or the booking link which is:https://buytickets.at/recruitmatch/1907198
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FREE International Recruitment Webinar
10:00 – 11:30am, Wednesday 12th November
Following our hugely successful webinar series, our next webinar will be delivered by the immigration experts from Lester Aldridge Solicitors.
Open to all registered providers in the South-East, the webinar will offer practical guidance addressing key challenges including:
• Sponsoring in-country migrant workers
• Undefined CoS applications
• Visa Renewals
• Employing Sponsored Staff on a Secondary Employment Basis
Register here: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/880546b7-01e9-47be-a284-29e8b7a6068a@4a23106c-b58c-417e-9bc4-a08e974bff70
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Education & Awareness Event – Join on 4th November!
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Date: Tuesday 4 NovemberTime: 9.00am - 2.00pm
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Location: Arthur Easton Centre, St Michael's Hospice, St Leonards on Sea
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This event is aimed at those who work in care homes or care agencies in our local community, but other partners are welcome to attend.
This half-day session will explore some of our innovative projects and initiatives that provide enhanced care and support for all those who use our services, including:
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- No One Dies Alone (NODA)
- Bring A Smile Initiative
- Compassionate Conversations
- Dementia Care Home Project
- An education session focusing on frailty as a condition
The morning will conclude with a group drumming session - always great fun and very uplifting!
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Tea and coffee refreshments and a sandwich lunch will be provided.
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Colleagues will be available to chat to about our Income Generation initiatives, our hugely popular Lottery and the Good Grief Festival planned for Hastings (May 2026)
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Brighton & Hove Registered Manager Network – New Date Announced
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The next Skills for Care Brighton and Hove Registered Manager Network meeting has been rescheduled and will now take place on Tuesday 28th October at 10:00am (online).
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This informative session will include presentations on:
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The Employment Rights Bill – Lester Aldridge Solicitors
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Legal risks for complex care providers under CQC regulation – Hempsons Solicitors
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Social care nursing and placements – Skills for Care
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The changing world of technology to support services – Sussex Digital In-Reach Team
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Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from legal, digital, and sector experts shaping the future of social care in Brighton and Hove.
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New Report: The State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England 2025
The latest Skills for Care report is now live — offering a comprehensive overview of the adult social care workforce in England.
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This annual publication explores key trends, including workforce size, recruitment and retention challenges, pay and conditions, and the changing shape of the care sector. It’s an essential read for providers, managers, and anyone shaping the future of social care.
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Stay informed, stay inspired — and see how data is driving change in social care.
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🏆 Sussex Housing & Care — Finalists at the ESPIC Care Awards 2025
We’re delighted to share the moment when Sussex Housing & Care found out they’ve been shortlisted as finalists at the ESPIC Care Awards 2025 ✨
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This exciting announcement recognises the incredible dedication, teamwork, and commitment to high-quality care shown every day by their staff. It’s a powerful reminder of the passion that drives excellence across the sector.
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👏 A huge congratulations to Sussex Housing & Care and to all of this year’s finalists — your hard work and impact truly shine.
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FREE EVENTS FOR SUSSEX CARE PROVIDERS
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With so much going on, why not follow Sussex Digital In-Reach eventbrite page to be notified as soon as they launch a new event
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Getting to Grips with ROPA and Information Asset Registers
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Tuesday, 21 October 2025 14:00
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Join us if you want to learn more about your legal obligations as a care provider under The General Data Protection (GDPR)
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Artificial Intelligence and CQC AI Strategy
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Thursday, 23 October 2025 14:00
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Exploring what AI and CQC’s early thinking could mean for social care.
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Interactive Workshop: Republish Your DSPT
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Friday, 24 October 2025 11:00
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Republish your DSPT, audit your answers, ask questions, and access in-depth support
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Republish your DSPT in your lunch hour
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Thursday, 30 October 2025 12:30
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Republish your DSPT to standards met in your lunch hour.
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Join our Medicines Masterclass: Auditing Medicines in Care Homes, a live 3-hour CPD-accredited webinar designed to help care home managers and senior staff meet regulatory standards for medicines management and optimisation.
Course Overview:
This masterclass will show you how to effectively audit medicines to meet — and exceed — the expectations of care regulators. Whether you're under the CQC in England, the Scottish or Welsh Care Inspectorate, or the RQIA in Northern Ireland, we tailor the course to align with your local regulations and standards
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- Training on a comprehensive audit tool developed with CQC pharmacists
- Guidance tailored to your regulator (CQC, RQIA, Scottish/Welsh Inspectorate)
- Practical insights aligned to CQC Quality Statements 1, 7, and 8
- Certificate of Achievement (no expiry)
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We’ll cover annual, monthly, and weekly audits, and can incorporate your in-house tools if preferred.
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Who Should Attend:
Managers and senior staff working in care homes. (We offer a separate version of this course tailored for community settings and supported living environments click here to access this course)
Date: Wednesday 22nd October - 10am to 1pm
Format: Live webinar
Accredited: CPD Assessed
Audience: Managers/senior staff in care homes
Cost: £160 + VAT per person
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On behalf of our partner CareLineLive, we’re very excited to introduce Clive the Digital Dinosaur: their friendly new mascot! Clive is here to help home care providers say goodbye to paperwork purgatory and outdated systems, to roar into smarter and simpler digital ways of working with their award-winning software.
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Think of Clive as your guide to all things digital in care:
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- He’s the living proof that if a dinosaur can master software, your team can too
- He’s all about helping providers ditch outdated systems and streamline operations, from rostering and visits to compliance and reports
- He’s quirky. He’s fun. He’s got claws!
And yes, you can make him your own! Whether that’s booking a software demo or taking the digital challenge, there’s an option for everyone.
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Webinars for social care providers
winter 2025
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Join Hempsons legal specialists for their free social care webinars this winter.
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🎓 Webinar: How to hold your own with Local Authorities (with the Homecare Association)
Join us on 21st October, 11am-12pm, for a free session helping care providers move beyond price competition and build sustainable local authority partnerships. Attendees will get a step-by-step framework, practical tactics, and a free copy of our new ebook on the same topic.
👉 Register here
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🎃 Halloween games: the Frankenplatform challenge
In a bit of a change of pace, we've launched a series of free Halloween-themed games! Released week by week throughout October, they're a bit of fun for when you need a break - and there are prizes up for grabs!
👉 Play the games here
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🧟 Interactive quiz: what monster is in your system?
A 2-minute quiz helping care businesses identify which type of "Frankenplatform" creature might be haunting their operations—from Growth Gremlins to Data Duplicators.
👉 Take the quiz
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Have Your Say: CQC Assessment Consultation Now Open!
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The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has officially launched its new consultation on how health and social care providers are assessed and rated.
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This is your opportunity to share your views and help shape the future of regulation in the sector. Your feedback will play a key role in improving how CQC evaluates quality, safety, and effectiveness across care services.
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Influence how inspection and assessment processes evolve.
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Ensure provider perspectives are represented.
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Help create a fair and transparent system for everyone in care.
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National Minimum Wage: Key Risks for the Care Sector
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A webinar delivered by HMRC’s National Minimum Wage Compliance Team on the “Common Risks Associated with NMW in the Care Sector.” In 2024/25 alone, HMRC identified over £500,000 owed to more than 2,000 social care workers — underlining how easy it is for employers to make costly mistakes. The session explored:
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Common causes of underpayment in social care
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What to expect during an HMRC NMW compliance check
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Practical steps to identify and rectify issues before they escalate
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The Fair Work Agency: What employers need to know
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The new Fair Work Agency (FWA) part of the upcoming Employment Rights Bill (ERB) is set to transform how employment rights are enforced. With the power to inspect, issue penalties, and bring tribunal claims, the FWA will be one of the strongest regulators UK employers have ever faced.
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That’s why our Partner, Citation, has created a FREE checklist to help you understand and prepare for what’s coming. Inside, you’ll find:
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What the Fair Work Agency (FWA) is and how it impacts employers
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Key compliance areas to focus on before the FWA goes live
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The new enforcement powers employers need to be aware of
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What the FWA will (and won’t) do
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Practical next steps to protect your business and stay compliant
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Citation’s HR and Employment Law experts help thousands of UK businesses strengthen compliance and stay ahead of legal changes so you can focus on running your business confidently. Call 0345 844 1111 or click the link here to learn more.
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Your Weekly News, Editorials and Events - Updates from IHSCM
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We’re always looking for ways to keep our community updated with the latest insights, editorials, and opportunities across health and social care. That’s why we’re delighted to share the Institute of Healthcare Management’s weekly newsletter – a fantastic resource packed with thought leadership, sector updates, and upcoming events.
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It’s a great way to stay informed, inspired, and connected with the wider care community.
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This week’s newsletter includes key guidance, learning opportunities, and resources to help strengthen infection prevention and control practices within your care setting.
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- UKHSA Care Home Infection Readiness Pack: Information for Care Homes in South East England for Winter 2025/26
- Covid-19 Vaccination FAQs for Care Homes in Sussex
- Recognising and Responding to Sepsis webinar recording now available
- And more...
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Click below to read this week’s newsletter:
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AI in Care Homes: Promoting Everyday Mental Wellbeing
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Supporting mental health is a daily commitment in care homes—not just on awareness days. AI technology can help staff create calmer, more supportive environments that promote wellbeing for both residents and carers alike.
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How AI Can Help Nurture Mental Health:
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Creating Calmer Environments
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AI-powered systems can monitor noise, lighting, and temperature, automatically adjusting conditions to create a soothing atmosphere.
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Reduces stress and promotes better rest and relaxation for residents.
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Encouraging Social Connection
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AI can help plan social activities and pair residents with similar interests, encouraging friendships and reducing loneliness.
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Smart scheduling ensures everyone has opportunities for interaction throughout the week.
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Mindfulness and Cognitive Support
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AI-based wellbeing apps can guide relaxation exercises, mindfulness sessions, or cognitive games tailored to individual needs.
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Helps residents build resilience and maintain mental clarity.
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AI tools can monitor staff wellbeing surveys or digital check-ins to highlight stress or burnout trends early.
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Promotes open dialogue and timely access to resources or support.
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Tracking and Insights for Continuous Improvement
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By analysing wellbeing data over time, AI can help care homes identify patterns and make informed decisions about activities, staffing, or environmental changes.
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Mental health thrives in supportive, well-balanced environments. By integrating AI, care homes can better understand and respond to emotional needs—helping residents and staff feel calmer, happier, and more connected every day.
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Events and Training
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More events have been added this week! Click here to view all upcoming events.
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Our Sponsors & Partners
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Click here to view our new and updated website with all our Sponsors!
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