SSP is changing in April 2026 – are you ready?
From 6 April 2026, the way Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) works is changing. These reforms will affect who qualifies for SSP, when payments begin, and how much some…
Blogs
Joint and several liability for agency staff: Are you ready for the April 2026 shift?
From April 2026, new UK legislation imposing joint and several liability for PAYE / NI in temporary labour supply chains will introduce significant new risks to users of…
From problem to solution: fixing operational challenges in care services
Running a care service involves solving problems constantly. From staffing pressures to governance challenges, safeguarding issues to documentation requirements, managers navigate an extraordinary range of responsibilities every…
The Mental Health Act 2025 & its impact on the social care sector
Anita Rao, Hempsons LLP The Mental Health Act 2025 represents the most significant reform to mental health legislation in decades. With Royal Assent granted on 18 December 2025…
Care England launches survey: gender inequality in the adult social care sector
Care England has launched a survey to deepen our understanding of the structural challenges women face in the workforce. This survey aims to gather evidence of gender inequality, its intersection with other factors (for…
Energy price update: Monday 9 March 2026
Why Gas Is More Volatile Than Electricity in the UK UK gas prices tend to spike more than in many European countries because of the structure of…
The foundation: Financial and mental wellbeing
The social care sector faces a crisis that goes beyond recruitment numbers. Even as wages have risen, boosted by minimum wage increases and public sector pay growth, a…
Court of Protection, capacity and deprivation of liberty: Why this matters more than ever
The adult social care sector is no stranger to complexity. But when that complexity intersects with legal frameworks, particularly the Court of Protection, the Mental Capacity Act, and…
Care England welcomes Baroness Casey’s speech comparing the need to improve social care with Beveridge’s “five giants”
Care England has welcomed Baroness Louise Casey’s speech at the Nuffield Trust Summit, describing it as an important moment in bringing social care into a wider national conversation about how…
Why we’re proud of our NICHE‑Leeds Virtual Care Home
by Peter Hodkinson, Managing Director of Westward Care and Chair of the Leeds Care Association. Westward Care are partners in NICHE-Leeds. I am deeply committed to learning, innovation, and improving…
The inspection advantage: preparing for CQC with confidence in the new assessment framework
Inspection readiness has always been a defining challenge for care providers. Under the previous inspection model, services often had a clearer sense of when an inspection might…
Energy market alert for care providers: seek advice before signing new contracts
Care England is advising care providers to exercise caution before entering new energy contracts following sharp movements in global energy markets. Our energy partner, Focus Energy Services, has…