News
and Updates
#ProvidersUnite
Care Providers Call for Urgent Review to Prevent Collapse of Community Care Services
We stand alongside care providers in calling for an immediate review of recent Budget measures, which threaten the stability of community care services across the country.
The Providers Unite campaign is urging Chancellor Rachel Reeves to urgently reconsider the planned increases to National Insurance (NI) and the National Living Wage (NLW) to prevent devastating impacts on essential care services.
As of April 2025, employer NI contributions will rise from 13.8% to 15%, with the threshold at which employers start paying NI dropping significantly from £9,100 to £5,000 per year. Meanwhile, the NLW will increase by 6.7% for workers aged 21 and over, with the National Minimum Wage rising by 16.3% for those aged 18–20 and by 18% for under-18s and apprentices.
While the increase in the NLW is a positive step for staff, the combination of higher NI contributions and lower thresholds will lead to a minimum 9.4% rise in employer costs. For employers committed to paying the Real Living Wage and creating opportunities for young workers, the financial strain is expected to exceed 12%.
In an open letter to the Chancellor, the signatories - including NorCA's Executive Director Angela Steggles, Care England, and the Homecare Association - have called for urgent action. They are demanding exemptions similar to those granted to the NHS or adjustments to Local Government Finance settlements to bridge the funding gap.
Without such measures, the care sector faces what they describe as a “systematic collapse” of community care services across the country.
At NorCA, we fully support this campaign and join our colleagues across the sector in highlighting the urgent need for a sustainable solution. Care providers are already under immense financial strain, and without intervention, the impact will be felt not only by care staff but also by the vulnerable individuals who depend on these vital services.
Source:
Caring Times
March NorCA Board Meeting
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NorCA NEWS March 2023
In the March issue of NorCA News
News affecting the system
- International recruitment - local funding arrangements
- Market Sustainability Plan - release date
- Life Opportunities Framework - update
- FNC Rate Increase
Events and opportunities
- Good and Outstanding Providers - We need you!
- Care Home Energy Assessor
- Neurodiversity Week 2023
- National Day of Reflection
- Dying Matters Week Event
- Employee Retention Masterclass
- New Integrated Nursing Home Model webinar
- Residential and Nursing - Delegated Health Tasks Webinar 14th March
Advice and support for the sector
- Disability Related Expenses
- Engagement calendar - now live!
- NorCA board member Sanjay Kaushal speaks to the BBC
News from our sponsors and partners
- New sponsors announcement
- IHSCM Dementia & Living with Conditions Dragon’s Den
- AF Affinity
- Whites Training
NorCA NEWS February 2023 (mailchi.mp)
In the February issue of NorCA News:
News affecting the system
- Fee Uplift Consultation - NorCA response and cabinet questions
- Care Worker Framework - Provider website testing opportunity
- E-Brokerage - Provider working group
- ARC launches Local Authority Fee Rate Map
Survey and feedback opportunities
- February and March NorCA Subgroups
- Age UK Petition - ending sky high bills for older people and those with a disability
- Deadline approaching - Inquiry: Prevention in health and social care
Advice and support for the sector
- Cost of Living Support - Guidance for professionals across NNDC
- PBS Training - Supported living, Day Services and Residential
- NHS Health checks
News from our sponsors and partners
- Fuel purchase support - AF Affinity support for Premium members
- IHSCM - FREE access to courses for NorCA Premium members
- Whites Training
NorCA News January 2023 (mailchi.mp)
In the January issue of NorCA News:
News affecting the system
- Government announces winter support for adult social care
- Extension of Free PPE
- NorCA Consultation response: proposed fee uplifts for care provision in Norfolk
- FREE access to CPD accredited courses and training resources for managers
Survey and feedback opportunities
- Your views needed - survey on a potential oil consortium
- National Centre for Creative Health - Creative Health Review Roundtables
- COP International Recruitment Meeting
- Delivering Quality Services Survey - Your feedback
- Norfolk & Waveney ICS Survey on Mental Health
- Developing an Ethical Framework workshop
Advice and support for the sector
- Power cut information and advice
- Education Grant for Health Care Support Workers
- What can Norfolk Chambers do for your business?
- DHSC update: Enforcement of information requirements under section 277A of the Health and Social Care Act 2012
- NHS Health checks
NorCA NEWS December 2022 (mailchi.mp)
In the December issue of NorCA News:
- TODAY AND NEXT WEEK - Annual uplift meeting with NCC regulated contracted providers
- NorCA 2023 Subgroup dates for the diary
- Federation for Small Businesses
- NHS Health Checks
- Broadland - Help Hub and Tree planting grants
- Changes to CQC operational teams
- Winter and Flu - Vaccination posters
- PBS - news and updates
- Christmas Concert
- Sponsorship and Membership Information
NorCA NEWS November 2022 (mailchi.mp)
In the November issue of NorCA News:
- Cost of Living Support - North Norfolk
- Blue light Card
- NorCA AGM Notes and slides
- My Evolution
- Weekly Homecare provider survey
- Capacity Tracker Provider Survey
- The DACHA-DOM survey of UK homecare providers
- Covid Commemoration Consultation
- Workforce and Skills Webinar
- Norfolk’s VCSE Annual Conference 2022
- PBS Training and Norfolk PBS Network
- Christmas concert free live stream for Hospices
NorCA NEWS October 2022 (mailchi.mp)
In the October issue of NorCA News:
- BOOK NOW: Final Subgroups of 2022
- #WeCareTogether People Plan refresh
- Energy Bill Relief Scheme
- Home Support Provider Engagement Forum - Thursday 13th October 2022 (10 am - 1 pm)
- Let's chat about Commissioning #OverABrew
- Down's Syndrome Act call for evidence
- Webinar opportunity: hiring care staff from overseas as "Skilled Workers"
- Suffolk and Norfolk County Council developing skills
- Delegated healthcare interventions workshop
- Apprenticeships campaign
- COVID-19 and Flu jabs - winter preparedness
- REMINDER - AGM 2022 DATE
NorCA NEWS September 2022 (mailchi.mp)
In the September issue of NorCA News:
- Cost of Living Survey - WE NEED YOUR VIEWS
- NorCA AGM Meeting Date CHANGE OF DATE
- NSAB - Focus Group update and next steps
- Home support market redesign meeting and review
- Subgroup Dates - November/December - and all future dates
- Level 2 Specialist Chef in Health and Social Care
- PBS Training Dates
- Home is my care home event
- Care Workers Week
- Digital marketing workshop/social media strategy”
NorCA NEWS August 2022 (mailchi.mp)
In the August issue of NorCA News:
- NSAB - Focus Group meeting and update
- Shaping the Market - Care Quality Meeting
- Paid care workforce expenses - Meeting feedback
- Homecare support market review and update
- Adult Social Care Provider Partnerships In Integrated Care Systems
- Subgroup Dates - August/September
- Skills for care report on job vacancies in social care
- The Cost of Living stakeholder Toolkit
- Capacity Tracker Mandate
NorCA NEWS July 2022
(mailchi.mp)
In the July issue of NorCA News:
- Homecare re-design, new meeting dates
- A note from the Homecare Subgroup Chair
- Fair Cost of Care Work
- Health and Wellbeing Partnerships
- Positive Behaviour Support Network
- DHSC - Capacity Tracker Data Mandate
- Policy Paper - Coronavirus: lessons learned to date report: government response
- Subgroup Dates - August/September
NorCA NEWS June 2022
(mailchi.mp)
In the June issue of NorCA News:
- Norfolk Care Awards 2022
- Care Worker Pay Framework Update and upcoming stakeholder session.
- Fair Cost of Care - Older People Residential Care Homes
- Norfolk Outbreak Management Centre Closing 15th July
- Next NorCA Subgroup dates
- IPC Petition
- Apprenticeships Norfolk Survey
- Liberty Protection Safeguards consultation webinars
In the May issue of NorCA News:
- Care Worker Pay Framework - Dates for provider workshops - ALL PROVIDERS WELCOME
- NorCA comments used in recent report from the Migration Advisory Committee
- Gardner & Harris V Secretary of State - Court report and NorCA thoughts
- Fair Cost of Care Work - Update and FAQs
- NSAB Mental Capacity Act SURVEY - You could win a voucher!
- New national guidance - Discharge from acute hospital services
- Positive Behaviour Support Training - NEW DATES
- STILL TIME TO BOOK: Next NorCA Subgroup Dates
In the April issue of NorCA News:
- Introducing our new Board Member...
- Nooa - a welcome to our latest sponsor
- Fair cost of Care Webinar
- Our care cap consultation response
- Home Care Cost of Care Review Work
- Energy and Fuel payments - NorCA working to help you
- EBrokerage
- Engagement Review for Adult Services
- STILL TIME TO BOOK: Next NorCA Subgroup Dates
- Living with COVID Update
- March JCF and Board Meeting
In the March issue of NorCA News:
- Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection
- Revoking VCOD - Consultation Outcomes
- Next NorCA Subgroup Dates
- Home Care Weekly Provider Survey
- Home Support Summit
- Care Home Deterioration Tool Survey
- The SCRiPT Study
- LOCAL RECOGNITION: National Care Hero Award for Norfolk Carer
In this issue of NorCA News:
- NorCA providers in the news
- Update on testing in Adult Social Care
- Launch of Digital test reader
- SUBJECT TO CONSULTATION: Revoking vaccination as a condition of deployment
- Norfolk PBS Network
- Carers passport workshop 9th Feb
- Our Memberships - Introducing AF Affinity and what we now offer!
- DO NOT FORGET: Our Feb Subgroup dates
- Health and Social Care Staff support service
- Don't forget to check out our sponsors
In this issue of NorCA News:
- Cost of Care and fee uplift proposal
- Booster update: Protect yourself, your patients, and your colleagues this winter
- Care workers added to shortage occupation list
- NOW LAUNCHED: Sponsorship and Membership Packages
- Update on Care Worker Pay Framework
- Our Response: Call for Evidence Workforce: recruitment, training and retention in health and social care
- Subgroup dates January and February
- Health and Social Care Staff Support Service
- VCOD in wider health and social care settings: grace period started
- Request for proprietor details
Norfolk Care Association (NorCA) NEWS December 2021 (mailchi.mp)
In this Months Bulletin:
- Snap Survey on state of adult social care
- Next Subgroup dates January/February 2022
- JCVI issues advice on COVID-19 booster vaccines for those aged 18 to 39 years and a 2nd dose for 12-15-year-olds
- Booster and capacity tracker
- Greif Awareness Week
- PBS Training Project
- Request for proprietor details
Norfolk Care Association (NorCA) NEWS November 2021 (mailchi.mp)
In this Months Bulletin:
- Our consultation responses - Mandatory Vaccinations, Ending of Free Movement and PPE
- MP Letter writing campaign
- Sunday Mirror articles
- DEADLINE TODAY! Workforce support - first year Registered Managers
- Subgroup update and remaining sessions
- Request for proprietor details - all of social care
- NorCA AGM Notes from session
- Overcoming barriers to apprenticeships
AGM 12th October 2021
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Norfolk Care Association (NorCA) NEWS October 2021 (mailchi.mp)
October NorCA News:
In this Months Bulletin:
- Consultation on Mandatory Vaccination for frontline health and care staff - our response.
- Consultation on The impact of the ending of freedom of movement on the adult social care sector: call for evidence
- Recent surveys and feedback - Wellbeing and Recruitment
- New Anglia Growth Hub - Peer to Peer Support
- Norfolk Care Awards 2021 - Harold Bodmer award goes to all of social care across the region
- Subgroup dates - October and November
- Channel 4 - Michael Millage speaks on the staffing crisis
- Board Statement on Social Care Reform
- Care Worker Pay Framework update
- Flucare - Research project
- Consultation - Extending free PPE to the health and care sector
- REMINDER: NorCA AGM Date
- REMINDER: Request for Proprietor Details
- REMINDER: NSFT reminder of numbers for confidential trauma service
NEWS September 2021 (mailchi.mp) (06/09/2021)
In this Months Bulletin:
- Staff shortages, we want your views
- Wellbeing Survey
- NorCA AGM Date
- Request for Further Job Descriptions
- Capacity Tracker Survey
- My Home Life
- CQC New Strategy
- Supported Living Housing Design Guide
- PBS Training
- Norfolk Care Awards 2021 - 16th September
- REMINDER: NSFT reminder of numbers for confidential trauma service
- REMINDER: Social Media accounts
- REMINDER: Request for Proprietor Details
News and Updates (02/08/2021)
- Care Worker Pay Framework
- NEW NorCA Subgroup Dates for October and November
- Cost of Care Project Update NEW DEADLINE 9TH AUGUST
- PBS Training
- Norfolk Care Awards 2021
- REMINDER: Subgroup dates for July and August
- REMINDER: Request for Proprietor Details
- REMINDER: NSFT reminder of numbers for confidential trauma service
- REMINDER: Social Media accounts
News and Updates (12/07/2021)
- CQC Data on notifications of COVID-19 deaths received from individual care homes expected to publish at July public Board meeting
- NHS App - download for proof of vaccination
- Mandatory Vaccinations Question and Answer
Information
- Norfolk Autism Partnership and Learning Disability
Partnership
- Home Support - Provider framework and Delivery Model
Review
- FREE PBS Training- Book on to PBS courses now!
- Discharge to Assess and Home First Model
- The Norfolk Care Awards is going virtual! In Partnership with NorCA
- Letter From Sajid Javid
- REMINDER: Subgroup dates for July and August
- REMINDER: Request for Proprietor Details
- REMINDER: NSFT reminder of numbers for confidential
Trauma service
- REMINDER: Social Media accounts
News and Updates (02/06/2021)
In this months bulletin:
- NSFT reminder of numbers for confidential trauma service
- New Subgroup dates for July and August
- Supported Living Provider Engagement Event
- Launch of FREE PBS training event
- Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy
- Statement from NorCA on Matt Hancock Select Committee Comments
- Residential Review Project - Update
- DHSC Research to better understand the experiences of PPE of Frontline Staff.
- PPE Statement DHSC
- REMINDER: Request for Proprietor Details
- REMINDER: Social Media accounts
- REMINDER: Provider Support - Useful Contacts
News and Updates (05/05/2021)
- Mandatory Vaccinations for Adult Social Care working with older people - NorCA’s response and your comments.
- Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee's inquiry, Long term funding of adult social care. - NorCA’s response
- JCF - Summary of April Meeting.
- Sub group meetings April and May
- Board Meeting - Summary of April session.
- Questionnaire for HCSWs on ongoing learning and development
- We all need Means, Reasons and Opportunities for effective communication!
- Request for Proprietor Details
- Learning Disability Partnership and Norfolk Autism Partnership
- Mental Health Awareness Week 10th May
- PBS Project Group
- REMINDER: Social Media accounts
- REMINDER: Provider Support - Useful Contacts
News and Updates (1/4/2021)
In this bulletin we provide an update on:
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- ANNOUNCEMENT: A new logo for NorCA, follow us on social media.
- ANNOUNCEMENT Learning Disability, Autism and Mental Health NorCA Subgroup date announced
- Joint Consultative Forum—Summary of March Meeting
- NCC Provider Engagement Event - Understanding the long term impact of COVID-19 on providers' operations and costs
- Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, inquiry on the long term funding of adult social care.
- NCC - Supported Living Webinars
- Learning Disability, mental health problems and physical disabilities Supported living review - summary of March Meeting
- Learning Disability Partnership and Norfolk Autism Partnership
- NCC Update - FREE Positive Behaviour Support training for Learning Disability
- NCC - Autism Awareness Training
- Adult Social Care Markets Inquiry - Public Accounts Committee
- A thank you to the social care sector from NorCA and NCC.
- REMINDER: Provider Support - Useful Contacts
News and Updates (2/3/2021)
In this bulletin we provide an update on:
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- NorCA Subgroup dates - April 2021
- LFD Testing - Good News for Day Services
- Announcement - NorCA Professional Alliance Partners
- Provider Support - Useful Contacts
- Vaccination Roll out - Update from Christine Futter
- Joint Consultative Forum - March 2021 date
- People From Abroad Team (PFAT) form reminder
- NCC Update - FREE PBS training for Learning Disability Residential Homes and Supported Living Providers
News and Updates (1/2/2021)
In this bulletin we provide an update on:
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- NorCA subgroup meetings
- Joint Consultative Forum outcomes
- Fee levels for adult social care providers 2021-2022
- Key Works (Engagement) Calendar
- Provider support – useful contacts
- Local Care Worker Pay Framework tender opportunity
News and Updates (4/1/2021)
In this bulletin we provide an update on:
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- NorCA subgroup dates
- Seeking Professional Alliance Partners
- Local Care Worker Pay Framework - tender opportunity
- Norfolk and Waveney Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy (2021-2026) consultation outcomes: Care Market Workforce Manager Vacancy
- Vaccination updates concerns
- Information Service: topics of interest
News and Updates (14/12/2020)
In this bulletin we provide an update on:
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- Our new Key Works (Engagement) Calendar: listening and learning
- Seeking Professional Allies
- Joint Consultative Forum feedback: our next meeting is on 26th January 2021
- Local Care Worker Pay Framework proposal
- NorCA subgroups
- Norfolk and Waveney Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy (2021-2026): Care Market Workforce Manager Vacancy
- A Fairer VAT regime for social care
NorCA News (2/11/2020)
In this bulletin we provide an update on:
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- Our new Key Works Calendar: listening and learning from you
- Joint Consultative Forum: our next meeting is on 4th December 2020
- NorCA subgroups
- Consultation and Engagement activity: your views matter
- Norfolk and Waveney Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy
- Inflation uplift (cost of care)
- Insurance Premiums
NorCA News (2/9/2020)
In this bulletin we provide an update on:
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- Joint Consultative Forum: our next meeting is on 21st September
- Engagement Calendar
- Local pay scales
- Our new website
- Opportunity to get involved as a business partner
NorCA News (3/8/2020)
In this bulletin we provide an update on:
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- Joint Consultative Forum: our next meeting is on 20th August
- NorCA’s new website: norfolkcareassociation.org.uk
- Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy – upcoming consultation
- Reminder: Opportunities to get involved – the Recovery and Re- start Plan
NorCA News 7 (6/7/2020)
In this bulletin we provide an update on:
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- Joint Consultative Forum: proposed agenda for the next meeting on 9th
- Representing social care providers – some of our work in the last month and the difference NorCA is making.
- VLOGs – do you find them helpful? What would you like to see in the future?
- Opportunities to get involved – the Recovery and Re-start Plan
NorCA News 5 (1/6/2020)
In this bulletin we provide an update on:
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- JointConsultative Forum – the proposed agenda for the next meeting of NorCA and health and care commissioners andhow you can get involved.
- Representingsocial care providers – some of our work in the last month
NorCA News 4 (24/5/2020)
In this bulletin we provide an update on:
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- Recruitment to the post of NorCA Chief Operating Officer and the Stakeholder Panel
- Joint Consultative Forum – an update from the latest meeting of NorCA directors and health and social care commissioners
- Joint Consultative Forum subgroups – hearing the provider voice
- Links with Norwich City Football Club Community Sports Foundation
- NorCA Director recruitment
- Future Bulletins
NorCA News 3 (7/4/2020)
In this bulletin we provide an update on:
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- Recruitment to the post of NorCA Chief Operating Officer and the Stakeholder Panel
- New Directors for Norfolk Care Association
NorCA News 2 (5/3/2020)
This bulletin gives an update on the proposed agenda for the first Joint Consultative Forum between NorCA directors and health and social care commissioners.
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NorCA News 1 (28/2/2020)
This bulletin announces the formal registration of Norfolk Care Association as a Company Limited by Guarantee.
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