The Carer, 3, Carlton Mount, 2 Cranborne Road, Bournemouth (2026)

07/03/2026

CQC Renews Commitment to Lived Experience as New Contracts Begin This Spring

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has confirmed that Choice Support will continue to deliver its Experts by Experience (ExE) programme, whilst the Voices for Health Equality Partnership — led by National Voices and supported by Innovation Unit and Collaborate CIC — will take on management of the Public Engagement Network (PEN).

Both contracts are set to commence in April 2026 and will run for a period of three years.

The announcements follow a formal procurement process and represent a significant reaffirmation of the regulator's stated mission to place the lived experiences of service users at the centre of how care is assessed and monitored across England.

The Experts by Experience programme draws on individuals who have current or recent personal experience of using — or caring for someone who uses — services regulated by the CQC. These individuals actively participate in inspections and other regulatory activities, providing a direct human perspective on the quality of care being delivered.

The Public Engagement Network, meanwhile, brings together more than 200 equality-focused voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations from across England. Through this network, the CQC receives insights drawn from communities who are disproportionately affected by inequalities in access to and quality of health and social care.

For providers of residential and nursing care, the continuation of these programmes carries practical implications. The CQC has made clear that information gathered through lived experience informs how it assesses services and how it monitors the rights of people detained under the Mental Health Act.

Care home providers can therefore expect that the voices of residents and their families will remain an active component of inspection activity in the years ahead.

The regulator has also indicated that the programmes support its statutory duty to involve people with lived experience in its work — a duty that sits alongside the CQC's wider ambitions around improvement and addressing health inequalities.

Kim Arnold, National Lead at Choice Support said: “We’re proud to announce that we’ve been awarded the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Experts by Experience contract.

This achievement reflects our continued commitment to amplifying the voices of people with lived experience and ensuring they play a central role in shaping high quality care.

“We look forward to supporting CQC in strengthening insight, improving services, and driving meaningful change across health and social care.”

Sarah Sweeney, Director of Evidence and Improvement at National Voices said: “When people talk about health inequalities, it can sometimes feel as though they are describing something abstract: a disparity in access or a statistic in a report. But when we engage communities who experience health inequalities, it feels much more personal: a loved one lost, a quiet indignity experienced, a fear that compassionate care will not be forthcoming.

“At National Voices, we want to make sure these voices travel to the heart of the system, shaping how services are delivered, assessed and improved. We are optimistic about how this programme of work with CQC and the VCSE sector can turn insight into action, evidence into change and ensure care is truly safe, effective and compassionate for everyone.”

“Chris Day, Director of Engagement at CQC said: “We know how invaluable it is to hear, and act on, the voices of people who use services. This work underlines our continued commitment to ensuring the lived experience of people impacts on all aspects of our regulatory activity, driving change for people who use services and directly addressing inequalities. I am delighted that we will be working with Choice Support and National Voices for the next three years to drive this work forward.”

Read More:

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has confirmed that Choice Support will continue to deliver its Experts by Experience (ExE) programme, whilst the Voices for

06/03/2026

Fun and Games as Care Home Residents Welcome Local Pupils

A group of Key Stage Two children from St Budeaux’s Marine Academy spent a fun hour playing games and chatting with their residents of neighbouring at Butterfly Lodge nursing home.

The recent get-together was the latest in a series of regular visits by children from the school, with both parties keen to keep them happening as often as possible.

Sarah McCaffrey, deputy manager of Butterfly Lodge, said: “For our residents, who are all living with dementia, it is an absolute joy to have this connection with young people.

“Their faces light up when the children arrive, and there’s no hesitation on either side about getting to know each other and enjoying some hands-on activities together.

“For this visit we placed a number of games around the residents’ lounge, such as jenga, giant dominoes, snakes and ladders and Connect 4.

“These are evergreen favourites, enjoyed by young and old alike, and the residents and children couldn’t wait to get stuck in. There was a lot of laughing going on.

“We also put out some jigsaw puzzles, and books that our residents and visitors could enjoy together if they fancied a quieter activity.

“And a throw-the-beanbag-at-the-cans game was available for those who wanted something a bit more active.

“Basically there was something for everyone, and perhaps the most important aspect of the visit was the conversations that took place between our ladies and gents and their young friends.

“We are very grateful to Mr Druce of Marine Academy for making this visit possible.”

Senior assistant headteacher, Alex Druce, said: “There was a wonderful atmosphere and lots of smiles on faces: I felt this visit was even better than the last one.

“Many thanks to the Butterfly Lodge team for putting out some friendly games and refreshments, as well as being supportive in facilitating activities.

“And very well done to the children, who were such brilliant role-models, for spreading joy in our community.”

Read More:

A group of Key Stage Two children from St Budeaux’s Marine Academy spent a fun hour playing games and chatting with their residents of neighbouring at

06/03/2026

Almost Half of Dementia Cases Could Be Prevented Through Lifestyle Changes Study Reveals

Public Health Wales is highlighting the importance of brain health following a review of international evidence showing that up to 45 percent of dementia cases could be prevented. While dementia is often perceived as an inevitable part of ageing, growing evidence shows that lifestyle and environmental changes play a significant role in reducing risk.

Dementia is a major and growing global health challenge. In 2019, an estimated 57 million people worldwide were living with the condition, a figure projected to rise to 153 million by 2050. It is currently the seventh leading cause of death globally and a major contributor to disability among older adults.

The economic impact is also substantial, with global costs reaching 1.3 trillion dollars in 2019 and expected to more than double by 2030. These figures highlight the urgent need for prevention strategies that can reduce both the human and financial burden of dementia.

Research suggests that up to 45 percent of dementia cases could be prevented by addressing 14 modifiable risk factors across the life course. These include physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, untreated hearing and vision loss, social isolation, and conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. This evidence challenges the long-held view that dementia is an unavoidable part of ageing and highlights the importance of early and sustained action to protect brain health.

Dr Mariana Dyakova, Head of International Health and Well-being Economy Lead, Policy and International Health, Public Health Wales said: "The evidence is clear; dementia is not inevitable. By making changes to our lifestyle and environment, we can significantly reduce the risk. This is a call to action to prioritise brain health throughout life. Prevention is not only possible, it is powerful, and the benefits extend far beyond dementia to improve overall health and wellbeing. PHW is already working with partners to support this. "

Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy said: “I welcome this Public Health Wales report, which strengthens the case for early, sustained action to protect brain health.

“We are committed to improving services and support for people with dementia and are consulting on a new Dementia Strategy for Wales. I would urge people to share their views and help shape the future of services and support.”

The report highlights promising international approaches, including multidomain lifestyle programmes such as Finland’s FINGER trial. This pioneering twoyear intervention combined physical activity, healthy eating, cognitive training, and management of vascular risk factors, leading to significant improvements in cognitive performance among older adults at risk of dementia. The model is now being adapted globally through the WorldWide FINGERS network.

Public Health Wales encourages individuals to take practical steps to reduce their risk. Staying physically active, eating a balanced diet, maintaining social connections, and managing health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, all play a crucial role. Seeking treatment for hearing and vision loss, avoiding smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption can further reduce risk. These actions not only protect against dementia but also support overall health and wellbeing.

The findings come from the latest International Health Insights report produced by Public Health Wales’ Policy and International Health Directorate. The report reviews global evidence on dementia prevention strategies and highlights examples from countries including Finland, Japan, South Korea, Uruguay, and the United Kingdom. It adopts a life-course approach, recognising that risk factors accumulate from early life and are shaped by wider social, economic and environmental conditions.

Read More:

Public Health Wales is highlighting the importance of brain health following a review of international evidence showing that up to 45 percent of dementia

06/03/2026

Derby Care Home Hosts Successful Open Event with TV’s Anthea Turner

Bowesbury care home in Derby, operated by Crystal Care Collection, recently welcomed the local community to an open event with ambassador, television personality, author and wellbeing advocate Anthea Turner.

The event brought together residents, families, and members of the Boulton Moor community for family-friendly fun and activities, raising £140 for Sight Support Derbyshire.

Guests enjoyed a wide range of experiences throughout the home, including:

- Suncatcher painting
- Sunflower seed planting
- Live entertainment and music
- Games and indoor bowling
- Chair exercises held in the cinema room
- Face painting and balloon modelling
- Spring cocktails, mocktails and welcome drinks
- Seasonal taster treats and a bake sale

Speaking after the event, Anthea Turner said, “It was such a pleasure spending time at Bowesbury, getting to know the residents and caring team, and meeting the wonderful Boulton Moor community.“It was especially rewarding to help raise money for Sight Support Derbyshire through the bake sale – there were so many delicious treats on offer. Thank you to everyone who came along and made the day so special.”

Denise Spencer, the General Manager at Bowesbury, added, “Our Open Day was about more than just showing people around, it was about giving back and getting to know our local community.

“It was incredible to see how many people came to see us and to support Sight Support Derbyshire, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back for our next event.”

Read More:

Bowesbury care home in Derby, operated by Crystal Care Collection, recently welcomed the local community to an open event with ambassador, television

06/03/2026

Casey Commission Sets Out Five Priority Demands as Social Care Reaches ‘Moment of Reckoning’

Baroness Louise Casey has written directly to Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting with five priority demands she expects the Government to address in advance of her independent commission's first formal report on social care.

Addressing delegates at the Nuffield Trust Summit, Baroness Casey outlined a series of targeted measures she described as straightforward and immediately achievable. Her requests include the establishment of a new national safeguarding board for social care on a statutory footing, urgent government support to accelerate the scaling up of dementia clinical trials, and the appointment of a dedicated full-time Dementia Czar.

She also called for swifter progress in developing a modern service framework covering frailty and dementia, alongside the creation of a fast-track care passport for people living with motor neurone disease.

"These are small, straightforward, simple asks," she told delegates, "and I will look carefully to see whether they are agreed to and whether they are delivered."

Baroness Casey described the current juncture as a pivotal moment for adult social care in England, characterising it as one of both reckoning and renewal. She was unequivocal that the Government need not wait for her commission's final conclusions before taking action on workforce reform, pointing to what she called a systemic and endemic reliance on the underpayment of care workers as a structural feature of the sector.

Speaking candidly about the longstanding divide between health and social care, she highlighted a pronounced power imbalance between local authorities and NHS structures — one she suggested consistently disadvantages councils and the communities they serve.

She reserved particularly pointed remarks for integrated care boards, expressing concern that some were commissioning private sector organisations to identify ways to reduce continuing healthcare budgets.

Baroness Casey made clear she would be scrutinising how continuing healthcare funding is used going forward, and would speak out publicly if she believed resources were being diverted away from their intended purpose.

Rounding off her address, Baroness Casey called for a frank national conversation about the future shape of both health and care services, arguing that the public deserves a genuine role in deciding what a National Health Service and a National Care Service should look like in the decades ahead.

Sector Reaction

Responding to the speech, Gerard Crofton-Martin, Interim Chief Executive of SCIE, said: “Baroness Casey has brought welcome clarity to the scale of the challenge facing social care. Her framing of the sector’s pressures—demographic change, growing complexity of need, and a system built through ‘add-ons and workarounds’—will resonate with many across the sector. The Commission’s extensive engagement with organisations, practitioners and people with lived experience is encouraging, and we look forward to working with Baroness Casey and the Commission as this important work progresses.

“Her call for a moment of reckoning and renewal is an important one. Social care has never had the kind of design moment that shaped other parts of the welfare state. If we are serious about reform, we need to be honest about the pressures created by demographic change and rising complexity of need, and clear with the public about what a future system of care and support should provide.

“We also welcome the focus on strengthening safeguarding. The proposal to establish a new National Safeguarding Board could help ensure that learning is shared and responsibilities are clearer across the system. This is an important step to ensuring that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.”

Sam Monaghan, Chief Executive at MHA on behalf of MHA. “We welcome the sincere words from Baroness Casey today about what she understands about the issues facing people supported by social care and the challenges providers like MHA face. We support her immediate recommendations around safeguarding and dementia and providing a fast track for people with particular conditions.

“We look forward to the Commission’s imminent report but remain deeply concerned that the immediate financial stability of the sector is not being addressed. We continue to work with many local authorities who are still not covering the true costs of care. We are also deeply concerned that changes to settlement policies for overseas care professionals could destabilise the care workforce, impacting on the quality of care and support for those who need it..”

Charlotte Lillford-Wildman, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Dementia UK: “Baroness Casey is right to call for urgent action and strengthened national leadership on dementia. As the leading cause of death in the UK, dementia is one of the greatest health and care challenges we face, yet too many people are le…

Baroness Louise Casey has written directly to Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting with five priority demands she expects the Government to address

05/03/2026

Maritime Charity Celebrates 101-Year-Old Wren On International Women’s Day

Maritime charity, The Royal Alfred Seafarers' Society, marks International Women's Day by celebrating the remarkable story of Anne Macleod-Carey, a centenarian resident and former Wren whose wartime service demonstrates the courage and determination women showed during the Second World War.

Anne is now a resident at Belvedere House, Royal Alfred's specialist care home in Banstead, Surrey, where she continues to inspire staff and fellow residents with her stories of wartime service. "At Belvedere House, I'm surrounded by people who understand the maritime life," Anne says. "It's wonderful to share stories and be part of this community."

Born in 1924, Anne was just 19 years old when, in 1943, she travelled from her home in Kingswood, Surrey, to Queen Anne's Mansions in London, to enlist. She chose the Wrens for their distinctive blue uniform over the khaki of the ATS.

Following rigorous training in Morse code, semaphore, and flag signals in Manchester, Anne was posted to Aberdeen as Ordinary Wren Stevenson. She served as a visual signaller at a port war signal station - a crucial role in coordinating naval operations and ensuring the safe passage of vessels during the Battle of the Atlantic.

She cherished the strong female friendships she formed with the four Wrens she served alongside. Her inseparable friendship with her closest friend remained throughout their lives and they supported each other through wartime sadness and heartbreak. "We laughed our way through the most awful sadnesses somehow," Anne reflects on her service. "Quite a lot of the time was terribly sad."

Among her many experiences, one stands out as truly extraordinary. While stationed at Rosyth in Scotland, Anne became the only woman, and certainly the only Wren, ever invited aboard Hitler's yacht after allied forces captured it. An American officer invited her to dinner aboard the vessel.

"The captain said, 'This is quite an occasion because you realise, you're the first woman to come on Hitler's yacht,'” Anne remembers. “He insisted I take a souvenir - half a dozen of Hitler's wine glasses stamped with the keys of Hamburg”

Anne's story embodies how thousands of women broke barriers during the Second World War, took on roles previously closed to them, and proved their capabilities during the most challenging circumstances. Over 100,000 women served in the WRNS during the war, undertaking more than 200 different roles from codebreaking to engineering.

The Royal Alfred Seafarers' Society has supported seafarers and their loved ones since 1865 and regularly celebrates the remarkable histories of its residents, preserving their stories for future generations. The organisation provides specialist maritime-focused care while honouring the service and sacrifice of those who served at sea and in naval support roles
"Anne's determination, shown by her request for boarding school at seven and solo trip to London to enlist, embodies the spirit we honour on International Women's Day," said MA Rcds David Dominy, CEO at the Royal Alfred Seafarers' Society. "Her service, and that of all the Wrens, played a vital role in the war effort, and we are honoured to share her remarkable story."

Read More:

Maritime charity, The Royal Alfred Seafarers' Society, marks International Women's Day by celebrating the remarkable story of Anne Macleod-Carey, a

05/03/2026

Sector Dismay at Chancellor’s Spring Statement

The UK adult social care sector has expressed significant dismay and disappointment following Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement on March 3, 2026, with leaders warning that the continued absence of dedicated support and funding risks undermining both the sector and the wider economy.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, commented: “The Spring Statement offered little reassurance for adult social care providers. While it focused on the wider economic outlook, it did not address the mounting pressures facing the social care sector.

“Economic stability is essential. But economic stability cannot be sustained without a stable adult social care system. Today’s Spring Statement focused heavily on the NHS and defence, yet social care was absent while cost and workforce pressures continue to mount, further increasing sector instability.

“Social care is not a peripheral service. It enables people to work, supports families, prevents hospital admissions, and facilitates timely hospital discharge. When social care is fragile, the whole system feels the strain. While falling inflation and interest rates may ease some operational pressures, social care continues to face deep, structural challenges.

“If the government wants growth in every community and place in England, and is serious about reducing hospital wait times, then social care must be recognised as a foundational public service and economic sector.”

We cannot accept silence”: Lausa Biragi, founder of You & I Care, responds to the spring statement.

Lausa Biragi founder of You & I Care, which operates in Essex, Surrey and Hertfordshire, said: "The care sector is in crisis and we require concrete plans immediately. The spring statement offered no solution, acknowledgement or pathway, at a time when we urgently need those in leadership positions to truly take initiative. The sector is currently on a cliff edge, yet we are met with silence and continued uncertainty. If the government fails to step forward with a credible and fully-funded plan, the risk of widespread collapse is very real.

“To save the care system, we must confront the reality of what happens if it ceases to function. The implications would be catastrophic. We would see thousands of people forced out of work to care for ageing parents, while professional carers would lose their livelihoods entirely. Furthermore, the NHS would inevitably buckle under the immense strain of avoidable hospital admissions. The consequences would ripple far beyond social care, creating a domino effect across the entire economy and society.

“This is not a hypothetical scenario; it is where we are heading without urgent intervention. As a sector, we cannot and will not accept silence. The government must recognise the scale of this crisis and set out a robust, long-term plan to secure the future of social care now.”

Dr Layla McCay, director of policy speaking for NHS Confederation and NHS Providers, said:
“We agree wholeheartedly with the Chancellor’s priority to stabilise public finances. However, the financial context for the NHS has changed significantly since the government’s Autumn Budget. A higher than expected pay award for NHS staff, three rounds of resident doctors’ strikes, forthcoming increases to medicines spending and potential inflationary pressures from conflicts overseas will take their toll on an already stretched budget.

“This raises very difficult questions about how services will meet rising demand while pursuing the government's ambitions for long-term transformation.

“NHS organisations are coming under severe financial pressure, with leaders warning of cuts to services and staffing levels. Already several integrated care boards expect to end this financial year in deficit despite major efficiency savings and productivity gains. The Office for Budget Responsibility specifically highlights the risk of further industrial action across the NHS as a ‘significant risk’ to departmental spending plans.

“Recent improvements in elective and cancer care show what targeted investment can achieve. Growing financial pressures, without fresh government commitments, are putting this momentum at risk.”

Read More:

The UK adult social care sector has expressed significant dismay and disappointment following Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Spring Statement on March 3, 2026,

05/03/2026

Care Sector Faces Deepening Workforce Challenge As Visa Numbers Plummet

The number of overseas workers arriving in Britain on health and social care visas has declined dramatically over the past two years government data reveals.

Official statistics released by the Home Office reveal that only 13,286 health and care worker visas were granted to main applicants throughout 2025 — a fall of more than half compared with 27,047 the previous year, and a staggering 91 per cent below the 145,823 granted just two years earlier in 2023.

The collapse in numbers extends to family members accompanying workers. Dependant visas connected to health and care roles stood at 35,444 last year, representing a 58 per cent reduction year-on-year and a drop of more than four-fifths from the 202,334 recorded in 2023.

Of particular concern to care home operators is the sharp contraction in nursing professionals arriving from abroad. The figures show that visas issued to nursing professionals fell to just 1,777 in 2025, down 73 per cent from 6,494 the year before, and nearly 93 per cent below the 26,141 granted in 2022.

The Home Office attributed part of this decline to the conclusion of a centrally managed international nurse recruitment scheme, alongside reduced demand for overseas staff. However, sector observers are warning that the timing could hardly be worse, given that an estimated 25,000 nursing posts remain unfilled across the NHS and wider care sector.

The dramatic reduction in overseas recruitment reflects an accumulation of policy changes introduced by successive governments. The previous Conservative administration began tightening the rules in early 2024, initially restricting the ability of overseas students to bring family members to the UK before extending similar restrictions to care workers from March of that year. Salary thresholds for skilled worker visas were also raised from April 2024.

The current Labour government has continued and accelerated this trajectory. In July 2025, ministers brought in further reforms — most notably ending overseas recruitment for care workers altogether, and again raising the salary bar required for skilled worker visa applications. Skill level requirements were also increased, rendering more than 100 occupational categories ineligible for the skilled worker route.

Across all work-related visa categories, 261,112 entry visas were issued in 2025 — a reduction of 29 per cent on the prior year's figure of 368,139, and less than half the total recorded in 2023 (613,627).

Skilled worker visas issued to main applicants fell 44 per cent to 32,511 last year, compared with 57,858 in 2024 and 65,426 in 2023. Dependants covered under these visas also decreased, from 57,154 in 2024 to 40,741 in 2025.

Campaigners and workforce experts are urging ministers to reassess the human consequences of the current approach. Dr Dora-Olivia Vicol, chief executive of the Work Rights Centre, argued that the impact on public services deserves serious scrutiny.

Speaking in response to the data, she said the steep reduction in skilled migrant professionals coming to work in UK hospitals, research institutions and schools raised serious questions about the true cost of a policy focused narrowly on reducing migration numbers. She stressed that no hospital could welcome such a dramatic fall in overseas nurses at a time when tens of thousands of nursing vacancies remained unfilled, and that the burden would inevitably fall on existing staff already working under significant pressure.

Dr Vicol also raised concerns about the conditions facing those overseas workers who do still qualify to come to Britain, warning they face higher costs, longer pathways to settlement, and a heightened risk of labour exploitation when tied to a single employer through their visa conditions.
She called on the Government to look beyond headline migration figures and to design an immigration framework genuinely responsive to the needs of workers, patients and public services.

Read More:

The number of overseas workers arriving in Britain on health and social care visas has declined dramatically over the past two years government data reveals.

05/03/2026

Over £4,700 raised for Royal Star & Garter at Birmingham International Tattoo

The Birmingham International Tattoo – the largest indoor tattoo in Britain - has raised over £4,700 for veteran’s charity Royal Star & Garter.

The military extravaganza took place at the bp pulse LIVE Arena on 14-15 February and was attended by veterans from the charity’s Homes in Solihull and, for the first time, High Wycombe.

A team of volunteers helped raise a total of £4,727, which was collected through bucket collections, programme sales and contactless payments.

The charity provides loving, compassionate care and support to veterans and their families, living with disability or dementia, through its Homes in Solihull, Surbiton, High Wycombe and Worthing. It also has services reaching into the community, including Lunch Clubs, Day Care and a national Telephone Friendship Service.

Royal Star & Garter was helped by a team of volunteers including staff and relatives with personal connections to the Solihull Home, members from Co-op Funeralcare and members of the veteran local community.

Royal Star & Garter has been one of the Tattoo’s chosen charities for nearly 20 years.

Residents from the charity’s Solihull Home are regular guests at the event, while this year saw veterans from its High Wycombe Home also attending.

Caley Eldred is Director of Supporter Engagement at Royal Star & Garter. She said: “Being at the Birmingham International Tattoo is such a wonderful experience. We’re grateful for the on-going support we receive from organisers, and we’d like to thank our volunteers and the generous audience who helped make the weekend of fundraising a success.”

Ian Collins, Birmingham International Tattoo Production Director, said: “It was a privilege to welcome residents from Royal Star & Garter in Solihull and High Wycombe to the recent Birmingham International Tattoo. As a community and fundraising event, the Tattoo plays an important role in supporting charities, including Royal Star & Garter, and we are immensely proud to stand alongside them once again this year, recognising both the military service of their residents and helping them raise funds for the vital support the charity continues to provide.”

Read More:

The Birmingham International Tattoo – the largest indoor tattoo in Britain - has raised over £4,700 for veteran’s charity Royal Star & Garter.

The Carer

07/03/2026

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

06/03/2026

05/03/2026

05/03/2026

05/03/2026

05/03/2026

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Shortcuts

Share

Category