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Welcome to our weekly updates
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East Sussex Registered Managers Network (RMN) meeting in partnership with Skills for Care and ESCC
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Tuesday 27th January in Eastbourne
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Great to see such a fantastic mix of managers, deputies, and care leaders at the first RMN meeting of 2026 this week — including several new managers too!
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We had two substantive agenda items. First, we welcomed Anjit Singh, Medication Inspector at CQC, who delivered a comprehensive presentation on medication management and optimisation in care settings.
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Our second presentation, from Kevin Barnett at Lester Aldridge, provided a highly practical overview of the Employment Rights Act 2025 (which received Royal Assent in December 2025) and what the changes will mean for care provider managers. There were lots of opportunities to ask questions and explore ‘what if’ scenarios.
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A significant part of the discussion focused on the new requirements around preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. ESPIC is working with Kevin to run an additional webinar dedicated to this area, as the legislation will have a major impact on care providers.
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HAVE YOUR SAY!
“Earned Settlement” and the Reform of the UK’s Legal Immigration Systems – 22nd January 2026
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Provider Briefing Webinar: “Earned Settlement” Consultation
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SESCA held a Provider Briefing Webinar on Thursday 22 January 2026, attended by over 100 adult social care providers from across the region.
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Led by Erica Lockhart, Chief Executive Officer, alongside Victoria Buyer, specialist public relations and public affairs consultant, the session provided a detailed overview of the Government’s proposed Earned Settlement changes, set out the potential implications for adult social care, and offered practical guidance on how providers should respond to the consultation.
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The discussion highlighted serious concerns about the impact on overseas care workers, who are essential to the delivery of adult social care, and the risk that their route to settlement could become unattainable for many.
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A wide-ranging and constructive Q&A session reinforced the scale of concern across the sector and underlined the need for a coordinated and concerted response. Providers were strongly encouraged to submit their own responses to the consultation by the deadline of 11:59pm on 12 February 2026, and to consider taking further action, including engaging with local MPs, to ensure the sector’s voice is clearly heard.
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Providers are strongly encouraged to submit a response before the consultation closes at 11:59pm on Thursday, 12 February
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Have your say! - Open for Consultation.
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Read ESPIC's Response click here:
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Making the Most of Your Sponsorship Workshop for International Sponsored Workers - East Sussex
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Kings Centre, Eastbourne
Wed 25 Feb 2026, 10:00AM - Book here
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Making the Most of Your Sponsorship Workshop for Care Providers - East Sussex
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Kings Centre, Eastbourne
Thu 26 Feb 2026, 10:00AM - Book here
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Making the Most of Your Sponsorship Workshop for International Sponsored Workers - Brighton & Hove
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Brighthelm Centre, Brighton
Mon 2 Mar 2026, 10:00AM - Book here
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Making the Most of Your Sponsorship Workshop for Care Providers - Brighton & Hove
Brighthelm Centre, Brighton
Tue 3 Mar 2026, 10:00AM - Book here
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Safeguarding Adult Symposium
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Beyond Compliance: Adult Safeguarding in a Changing Landscape
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To help providers understand how safeguarding activity is changing over time, what risks are emerging or persistent, and how trend data can inform resource planning, risk focus, training needs and preventative action.
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We can now confirm the venue for our April Safeguarding Conference: Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club, Eastbourne, Wednesday 15 Apr 2026, 9:30AM - 3:30PM
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- Consultant Pharmacist
- Expert in managing medicines in social care settings.
Trainer, author and keynote speaker.
About John Greene
John is a pharmacist and founder of The Medication Training Company, with extensive experience improving medicines management in social care.
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He supports 20+ councils and care providers across the UK, leads a team of specialist pharmacists and nurses, and is the author of five books on medicines management.
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John is known for his practical, skills-based approach to turning inspection findings into real improvement.
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At The Medication Training Company, learning is practical and hands-on. This approach has been shown to reduce medication errors by 36%. Support is practical, straightforward and jargon-free.
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A Talk with John Greene: What 100 CQC Reports Tell Us
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What are inspectors really looking for when it comes to medicines — and why do the same issues keep appearing in CQC reports?
In this session, John Greene will explore the top 10 medicines issues the CQC focuses on, using insights from a pharmacist-led analysis of 100 CQC inspection reports from the past 12 months.
The findings show the same issues recurring — often linked to system gaps, unclear documentation, or training that doesn’t support day-to-day practice.
Medicines management isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about understanding what inspectors are looking for (and why), and using that insight to make changes that lead to lasting improvements in medicines safety and person-centred care.
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Booking information:
🔹 Priority booking for Gold Members throughout February (please add your service name when booking)
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🔹 General ticket release from March
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1:1 telephone discussions
As before, if anyone would like to take part in a 1:1 telephone discussion, please email:
philhale.care@googlemail.com
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Other dates for your diary:
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Brighton & Hove Registered Managers Forum in partnership with Skills for Care
📅 Wed 18 Feb 2026,
10:00AM - 12:00PM
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Care Managers Well-Being Symposium - Sussex Partners in Care
📅 18 March | 9.30 – 15.30
👉 Book now
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From detailed policy briefings and consultations to new themed content and free local events, this edition also includes a wide range of updates designed to keep ES & B&H care providers informed, connected and supported. As always, our focus is on practical value, shared learning and strengthening the voice of care providers across the system.
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If you need any specific support or advice around events, professional development or engagement opportunities, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
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Not a Gold Member? Join today to access this free training – https://espic.co.uk/go-gold/
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New immigration rules now in effect
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As of 22 July 2025, providers can no longer recruit Care or Senior Care Workers from overseas.
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A transition period is now in effect until 22nd July 2028, during which Care Workers and Senior Care Workers already in the UK on a Health and Care Visa can:
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Renew their visa with their current employer.
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Switch sponsors within the care sector.
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Be promoted from Care Worker to Senior Care Worker and apply for a new visa.
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Providers can still assign Undefined CoS to eligible individuals already in the UK, including:
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Students, graduates, or dependents, provided they have been employed in a care role by the sponsoring provider for at least three months.
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Those already on a Health and Care Visa do NOT need to meet the 3-month employment requirement when changing jobs.
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What Happens After July 2028?
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After July 2028, no new entrants from other visa routes are expected to be permitted. However, existing Health & Care Worker visas will remain valid. We anticipate further clarification in due course.
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Please click here to read the latest International Recruitment Bulletin. Which Includes:
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- Sector Action
- FREE International Recruitment Webinar
- 10:00 – 11:30 am, Thursday, 12th February
- FREE Legal Helpline – Now Live
- 30-minute consultation with Lester Aldridge Solicitors
- Tel: 01202 786126 | Email: sescahelp@LA-Law.com
- In December, UNISON led a parliamentary lobby that saw hundreds of overseas care workers and NHS staff travel to Westminster to challenge proposed immigration rule changes.
- DHSC information video explaining the consultation.
- Update on current international recruitment and sponsorship issues affecting providers
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Whether you are preparing for your first assessment, striving to deliver outstanding care, or needing to improve, we can help. 
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Our popular one-day seminars bring together front-line managers and compliance leads to share insight and ideas, and all attendees receive a comprehensive toolkit enabling you to put your learning into practice straight away.
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Book now and save 10% using promo code 10%OFF
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Managing sickness and absence is one of the most challenging responsibilities you can face, and it’s a particular pressure at this time of year when winter illness, post-holiday fatigue, and recurring absence place extra strain on your teams.
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Balancing legal compliance, including new UK Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) obligations, Fair Work Agency, employee wellbeing and business needs can be difficult without the right approach, especially when dealing with complex or ongoing absence.
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To support you, our Partner, Citation, is hosting a FREE webinar offering practical, expert guidance on managing sickness absence effectively, navigating SSP rules, and understanding Fair Work Agency guidance, helping you reduce risk while keeping your people and your business protected.
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Webinar: Employment Rights Act: Managing sickness ahead of the SSP changes
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Date: 10 February 2026
Time: 10:00 – 11:00 am
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Join Citation’s expert speaker as they explain the key steps you should take to protect both your people and your business, including:
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- What a robust absence reporting process looks like
- How to conduct return-to-work interviews that genuinely add value
- Using fit notes, identifying absence trends and knowing when to escalate
- Your legal duties around SSP, documentation and fair handling
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Launch of Digital Care in Focus – monthly themes - find out more
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We are kicking off a new series of communications activities called Digital Care in Focus. Each month we will focusing on a key theme and sharing insights across our website, social media, newsletters, webinars and podcasts. The aim is to encourage thoughtful discussions, and each mini campaign will include:
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· Week 1: Setting the scene
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What the topic means in adult social care and why it matters now.
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· Week 2: Evidence and insight
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What research, practice experience and lived experience tell us, including gaps.
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· Week 3: Emerging opportunities and issues
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Policy direction, funding, pilots, programmes and emerging risks.
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· Week 4: Leadership and future support
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What care leaders, commissioners, policymakers, regulators and tech suppliers need to do next.
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Free Events for Sussex Providers
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NEW: Practical Use of Microsoft 365 Copilot in Social Care
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A hands-on session exploring the paid version of Microsoft 365 Copilot and how it can be used safely and realistically in social care. It focuses on practical demonstrations, information governance and how Copilot differs from public AI tools such as ChatGPT.
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Digital Office Skills: Outlook
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A practical, step-by-step workshop helping social care staff use Outlook more confidently and efficiently. Participants work along on their own laptops, learning how to manage emails, calendars, meetings and everyday tasks more effectively.
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Digital Working in Social Care: What Good Looks Like (Session 1)
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This interactive session introduces a recognised digital self-assessment approach for adult social care, focusing on people, practice and leadership. It helps providers understand what good digital working looks like and how this links to quality, safety and inspection discussions.
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NEW: From Self-Assessment to Action (Session 2)
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Building on the self-assessment, this session supports providers to turn reflection into practical, proportionate actions. It focuses on identifying realistic next steps, strengthening leadership confidence and embedding digital improvement into everyday practice.
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Managing Personal Devices at Work: A Practical Session
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This session helps providers manage the risks of personal devices used for work, balancing flexibility and security. It covers practical controls, statutory responsibilities and how to assess and manage BYOD risks without placing unnecessary burden on staff.
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Your Suppliers, Your Risk: Cyber Security Responsibilities in Social Care
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A practical session focusing on supply chain cyber security and provider responsibilities. It explains what to expect from suppliers, what regulators look for and how to manage cyber risk through proportionate checks, contracts and ongoing assurance.
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Are You Compliant? Secure Mail Requirements for Adult Social Care
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This session explains the Secure Email Standard (DCB1596) and what adult social care providers must do to comply. It covers recognised email systems, how to demonstrate compliance, links to DSPT and Cyber Essentials and what this means for providers delivering publicly funded care.
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Hempsons social care buying and selling webinar series 2026
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- Webinar one: 25 February – An introduction to buying and selling in the social care sector
Led by Lisa Davison, partner, from our specialist real estate team.
- Webinar two: 10 March – Social care mergers involving charitable providers
This webinar, led by charities specialist, Martyn Robinson, associate, will cover the following three scenarios: a) a charity-to-charity merger, b) a charity buying a business and c) a business buying the assets of a charity.
- Webinar three: 17 March – Workforce and TUPE issues in merger and acquisition transactions
Led by employment law associate Julia Gray.
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Staying on Track in Care: How AI Can Help Manage Key Dates and Responsibilities
In the care sector, staying organised is critical. From care reviews and staff training to audits, inspections, and renewals, care providers are responsible for keeping track of countless key dates — all while delivering safe, high-quality care every day.
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This is where AI-supported calendars and reminders can make a meaningful difference for care providers.
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Keeping Key Dates in One Place
AI can help create a central calendar that brings together all essential dates in one view — including care plan reviews, staff supervisions, mandatory training refreshers, equipment checks, and regulatory deadlines. This reduces the risk of missed dates and last-minute pressure.
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Tracking Individual Needs
AI can support the monitoring of individual needs by prompting timely reviews, assessments, and follow-ups. This ensures that care remains responsive and person-centred, with changes identified and addressed at the right time.
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Supporting Managers and Teams
With AI-generated reminders and prompts, managers can plan ahead rather than react. Teams can be notified in advance, workloads can be balanced more effectively, and responsibilities can be shared clearly — supporting smoother day-to-day operations.
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Reducing Administrative Stress
Chasing dates and managing spreadsheets can take up valuable time. AI helps automate reminders, highlight upcoming priorities, and reduce manual tracking — freeing up time for leadership, staff support, and direct care.
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Strengthening Compliance and Confidence
Having clear visibility of key dates supports strong governance and inspection readiness. AI can help care providers demonstrate oversight, consistency, and proactive management — building confidence across the organisation.
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In a sector where nothing can be missed, AI doesn’t replace professional judgement — it supports it, helping care providers stay organised, prepared, and focused on what matters most.
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Click here to view our new and updated website with all our Sponsors!
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