Adult Social Care Newsletter | Volume 53

Plus: 📉 Visa Scheme Ends — What Now for Care Recruitment?

Author

Rafe Houston
June 05, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 15 minutes

Adult Social Care

Welcome to Adult Social Care, your weekly newsletter offering the latest insights, strategies, and innovations empowering leaders to navigate challenges and drive excellence in the UK’s adult care sector. We're committed to keeping you informed and inspired with fresh ideas to tackle the year ahead.

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THIS WEEK’S RADAR🎯

  • Join us at LGA: Explore how GenAI is reshaping Children’s and Adult’s Services at our Liverpool drinks reception.

  • Darlington Rated ‘Good’: CQC praises care discharge and partnerships — but flags equality data and OT delays.

  • Wales Invests in Linked Data: £1.4M project to integrate care and health data aims to shape smarter services.

  • Overseas Recruitment Ends: Immigration policy shift tests local labour capacity — investment now critical.

  • Dorset Goes Digital: Care homes adopt acoustic monitoring and digital records to boost safety and staff efficiency.

LGA EVENT

📅 Wednesday 2nd July​

🕕 6:15 – 7:45 PM​

📍Clockwise, Liverpool (5 mins from the ACC Liverpool – venue of the LGA Conference)​

Are you a SEND or Digital Leader attending Local Government Association Conference in Liverpool? ​

Join us for a drinks and canapes reception hosted by UK GovTech to explore and celebrate the growing role of Generative AI in Children’s and Adults' Services.​

This reception will bring together leaders from local government to share knowledge, reflect on the accomplishments of pioneering councils, and connect over the opportunities GenAI presents for public service delivery.

Come and enjoy drinks and nibbles, meet peers driving innovation, and help shape the future of AI in Children’s and Adult’s Social Care.​

LOCAL GOVERNMENT EVALUATIONS

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated Darlington Borough Council's adult social care services as 'good', highlighting effective discharge processes and strong partnerships. Areas for improvement include equality data collection and timely occupational therapy assessments. Councillor Curry affirms commitment to maintaining high-quality care, emphasising accessibility and cooperation with health partners.

SOCIAL CARE DATA

Cardiff University's CARE Lab has received £1,441,577 to enhance adult social care in Wales through data integration. The project connects social care datasets with health and census information using the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage Databank. By identifying patterns and informing policy, this initiative aims to improve care services while maintaining stringent privacy standards.

IMMIGRATION POLICY

The UK's decision to end overseas recruitment of care workers aims to reduce migration, appealing to local labour markets instead. Monthly applications for health and care visas fell, highlighting the decreasing reliance on international labour. Without increasing domestic investment in social care, recruitment challenges could persist.

DIGITAL CARE INTEGRATION

Dozens of care homes in Dorset adopt digital tools like record systems and acoustic monitoring, funded by the UK's Digitising Social Care programme. Digital champions are trained to optimise these innovations, enabling staff to focus more on patient care and safety. This digital transformation is crucial for improving service efficiency and resident security.

Bournemouth One