ICYMI: This month's care sector news
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October brought a mix of policy shifts, leadership changes, and renewed focus on workforce recognition and digital resilience across the care sector. Here’s a roundup of the key developments you might have missed.
Skills for Care release annual ‘The state of the adult social care sector and workforce in England’ report alongside ‘Size and structure of the workforce’ dataset
Check out the state of the sector dataset here.
Check out the size and structure of the workforce dataset here
Fair Pay Agreement updates
Care England and Homecare Association have both renewed calls for the government to go further in ensuring fair pay for social-care staff, stressing that any wage settlement must be underpinned by sustainable, long-term funding. Against this backdrop, the Department of Health and Social Care announced on 30 September a landmark £500 million investment for the first ever fair pay agreement for care workers in England. The new negotiating body, bringing together employers and unions, is expected to be established in 2026, with the agreement set to take effect in 2028.
Read more here
CQC chief executive steps down amid inquiry conflict
Sir Julian Hartley resigned as CQC Chief Executive on 23 October, citing the need to protect public confidence during an inquiry into his former trust. The departure places further scrutiny on the regulator’s ongoing mission to rebuild trust, a development likely to sharpen interest in compliance, governance, and quality assurance solutions across the sector.
Read the full article here
CQC opens public consultation on new framework proposals
The Care Quality Commission has launched a consultation informed by extensive sector engagement, including five external roadshows and a series of workshops with providers, professionals, and service users. These sessions provided early insights that helped co-design the proposals now on the table. The reforms respond directly to recommendations from Dr Penny Dash, Professor Sir Mike Richards, and the Care Provider Alliance, aiming to create a clearer, simpler, and more trusted regulatory framework. one built through collaboration and co-design with those delivering and receiving care.
Read the proposals and respond to the public consultation here
Homecare Association responds to “Caring About Health” report
The Homecare Association issued a strong response to the “Caring About Health” report, defending the critical role of homecare in integrated health systems. The association highlighted ongoing pressures around funding, staffing, and cross-sector collaboration, calling for deeper recognition of systemic challenges.
Check out the full article here
Care home directors face legal exposure risks
Care England warned that more care home directors are being taken to court as regulatory scrutiny intensifies. Rising numbers of “inadequate” and “requires improvement” ratings have led to increased negligence claims; a reminder of the growing accountability and compliance demands across the sector.
Check out the full article here
Standing firm in power and pride
Skills for Care’s latest blog, “Standing firm in power and pride,” celebrated the resilience, professionalism, and empowerment of the care workforce. With October marking Black History Month, the article brings key focus to wellbeing, inclusion, and leadership development across the sector.
Families waiting for care as overseas recruitment slows
The Homecare Association reported growing concerns as families wait longer for care due to restrictions on overseas recruitment. The association called for urgent government clarity and sustainable workforce planning to ensure continuity of care.
£21m boost for digital security in social care
The Department of Health and Social Care confirmed £21 million over the next three and a half years to expand the Better Security, Better Care programme. The investment will help care providers strengthen data protection, cyber-resilience, and use of the Data Security and Protection Toolkit (DSPT) spotlighting a growing sector focus on digital maturity.
