Latest News
Keep up to date with the latest from Delphi.
Blog Article
March 6, 2026
Interim vs Consultancy: Interim Manager vs Consultant for Regulated Services
When regulated services need extra leadership capacity, the wrong choice of support model creates a familiar pattern: activity increases, but accountability stays unclear, and risk does not come down. This
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Blog Article
March 2, 2026
Ofsted Inspection for Children’s Homes: Complete Compliance & Preparation Guide
Ofsted inspections for children’s homes are normally unannounced, which means inspectors see everyday practice, not a polished “inspection folder”. This guide is for providers, Registered Managers and Responsible Individuals who
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Blog Article
February 19, 2026
Ofsted Inspection Checklist for Children’s Homes: What You Need Before the Visit
An Ofsted inspection checklist for children’s homes is a practical set of monthly (and pre-inspection) checks that helps you prove, quickly and confidently, that children are safe, making progress, and
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Blog Article
January 15, 2026
The Importance of Training and Development for Care Staff
In the social care sector, the single most important asset is not the building, the equipment, or the technology; it is the people. The quality of care a person receives
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Blog Article
January 7, 2026
How to Build a Culture of Continuous Improvement in Care Homes
Achieving a ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is a significant milestone for any care home. However, the most successful providers know that this is not
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Blog Article
December 22, 2025
How to Conduct Effective Safeguarding Audits in Domiciliary Care
In domiciliary care, safeguarding is the most profound responsibility a provider holds. Protecting vulnerable adults from harm, abuse, and neglect is not just a regulatory duty; it is the moral
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Newsletter Article
December 16, 2025
Groundbreaking Mock Inspection Peer Review to transform care quality assurance
The Care Consultant Accreditation Framework (C-CAF) has announced the launch of a groundbreaking new solution that will enable care providers to showcase quality to external stakeholders between inspections. The Mock
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Blog Article
December 16, 2025
Making sense of the Employment Rights Bill: How providers can prepare for changes to sexual harassment laws
The upcoming Employment Rights Bill significantly strengthens sexual harassment law in the UK, and social care providers must be prepared for this. In a recent webinar series that we hosted with Nectar HR, a national HR consultancy supporting SMEs, Sonia Rai and Josie
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Blog Article
December 14, 2025
The Role of Interim Managers in Care Home Turnarounds
Receiving a poor Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating or facing a sudden leadership vacuum can be a deeply unsettling experience for any care home owner. When a service is in
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Blog Article
December 5, 2025
Understanding the Care Standards Act: A Guide for Providers
For any social care provider in England, navigating the complex web of legislation is a fundamental part of the job. Among the most significant pieces of legislation is the Care
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Delphi Guide
November 27, 2025
How to Achieve CQC Outstanding
After reviewing Lottie’s analysis of the 12 highest-rated CQC care homes in England, we identified the key themes that consistently stand out to inspectors. These are compiled in our downloadable
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Blog Article
November 27, 2025
How to Prepare for a CQC Inspection: A Step-by-Step Guide
The thought of a Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection can be a source of significant anxiety for any care provider. However, an inspection does not have to be a stressful
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Blog Article
November 20, 2025
What is a CQC Registered Manager? Complete Guide to Requirements & Qualifications
Are you considering becoming a registered manager, or need to understand the CQC registered manager requirements for your care service? This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about
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Blog Article
November 18, 2025
The Importance of CQC Compliance in Residential Care
For any residential care home in England, achieving and maintaining Care Quality Commission (CQC) compliance is not just a legal obligation; it is the bedrock of providing safe, high-quality care.
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Blog Article
November 10, 2025
Navigating Mergers and Acquisitions in the Social Care Sector
The social care sector is undergoing significant transformation. Economic pressures, changing regulatory demands, and evolving market dynamics are driving a wave of consolidation. For many care providers, a merger or
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Blog Article
November 3, 2025
Top Recruitment Strategies for Domiciliary Care Agencies
In the domiciliary care sector, the quality of your service is a direct reflection of the quality of your team. Attracting and retaining compassionate, skilled care workers is the most
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Delphi Guide
October 15, 2025
Help with CQC Registration
Download our CQC Registration Guide for our top 10 tips on mistakes to avoid them. Delphi Care Solutions has a fantastic record for successful CQC registrations. From knowing which categories
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Newsletter Article
September 10, 2025
Thistle Hill Hall Hosts Exclusive Roda BI Pre-launch Event: A New Era in Care
On a sunny September day, the team at Thistle Hill Hall hosted an exclusive pre-launch event for Roda BI, the business intelligence tool from Delphi Care Solutions. Set in the
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Blog Article
September 4, 2025
Key Questions Explained: Responsive
‘Responsive’ is one of the CQC’s 5 core questions. This asks whether the service meets people’s needs quickly and appropriately every time. If the provider is able to answer “yes”
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Blog Article
September 4, 2025
Key Questions Explained: Well-Led
Strong and transparent leadership is necessary or every other key question in the CQC framework. The ‘Well-Led’ key question will aim to examine the leadership of an organisation and the
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Blog Article
September 4, 2025
CQC Warning Notice, Notice of Decision (NOD) & Special Measures Support
Facing a CQC Warning Notice, Notice of Decision (NOD), or entry into CQC Special Measures? Don’t go it alone. Delphi’s former CQC inspectors and operational leaders deliver rapid, evidence-based turnaround
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Newsletter Article
August 29, 2025
Delphi Care Solutions becomes VODG’s strategic partner
We are delighted to announce that we have become VODG’s newest strategic partner that will strengthen support for providers and champion high-quality, sustainable care for disabled people. Delphi Care Solutions is
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Newsletter Article
August 26, 2025
Celebrating Outstanding Care: Good Care Month 2025 Winners Announced 🎉
July was about recognising the remarkable individuals who make a real difference in the care sector, and the response was nothing short of inspiring. At Delphi Care Solutions we think
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Feedback
August 18, 2025
Bournemouth University
Our Institute of Medical Imaging and Visualisation team found your knowledgeable and timely services extremely helpful in successfully securing our CQC registration. Thank you for all the help.
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Newsletter Article
August 5, 2025
A Landmark First: Delphi Care Solutions Becomes C-CAF’s First Accredited Enterprise Partner
We’re proud to share an exciting milestone, Delphi Care Solutions is now officially the first organisation in the UK to achieve Enterprise Accreditation from C-CAF (Care Consultant Accreditation Framework). This
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Delphi Guide
July 30, 2025
CQC Enforcement Survival Guide: Be Ready, Not Rattled
No one wants to receive an enforcement notice from the CQC, but being prepared for that possibility is one of the smartest steps a care provider can take. At Delphi
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Delphi Guide
July 24, 2025
What the Employment Rights Bill Means for Social Care Providers
Future-Proofing Your Care Service: Employment Rights Bill and Challenging Fee Uplifts The upcoming Employment Rights Bill marks one of the most significant shifts in employment law in recent years, and
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Blog Article
July 17, 2025
CQC PIR Explained: How to Complete Your Provider Information Return with Confidence
Completing a CQC PIR, or Provider Information Return, can feel like a daunting task. Especially when you’re juggling day-to-day operations, staffing pressures, and regulatory changes. At Delphi Care Solutions, we
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Newsletter Article
June 30, 2025
Good Care Month 2025 – Nominate your staff to win!
Help Us Celebrate the Unsung Heroes in Your Team At Delphi, we know it’s often the little things that make the biggest difference. Whether it’s remembering a resident’s favourite drink,
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Blog Article
June 9, 2025
Why “One Size Fits All” Fails in Adult Social Care for People with Learning Disabilities
Insights from Kay Barrett, Taskforce Executive at Delphi Care Solutions Delivering high-quality, person-centred care for individuals with learning disabilities remains one of the most significant and persistent challenges in adult
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Blog Article
May 28, 2025
Meeting the Need: Why Moving into Ofsted-Regulated Children’s Services Matters More Than Ever
As the demand for Ofsted-regulated children’s services and supported living for children continues to grow, the gap between the number of vulnerable children and the services available to support them
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Blog Article
May 27, 2025
How to Open a Children’s Home: A Step-by-Step Guide for Aspirational Care Providers
Figuring out how to open a children’s home is one of the most impactful decisions you can make as a care provider. With a rising number of vulnerable young people
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Blog Article
May 22, 2025
Key Questions Explained: Caring
The ‘Caring’ question from the CQC will focus on how well care providers treat patients. They need to be able to demonstrate compassion, dignity and respect whilst recognising each individual’s
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Delphi Guide
May 20, 2025
Navigating NI Price Hikes: Practical Cost-Saving Solutions for Care Providers
Navigating NI Price Hikes: Practical Cost-Saving Solutions for Care Providers With rising National Insurance contributions and increasing financial pressure across the care sector, providers are being forced to make tough
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Blog Article
May 7, 2025
Key Questions Explained: Effective
The CQC inspectors study five different areas to ensure that any care provider is meeting the appropriate standards. Here we take a look at the ‘Effective’ section of the CQC
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Feedback
May 6, 2025
Rotherwood Healthcare
"Sarah McCormack's approach to measuring compliance against the current CQC methodology is exemplary. Sarah has a wealth of knowledge and understanding about the complexities of adult social care and demonstrated this throughout her visit and her different conversations with our staff team.
She was friendly, communicated well and actively listened to all of our team during her recent assessment of one of our services. She was clear about the information she needed, was coaching and supportive in her feedback and most importantly spent time with our residents to understand a 'day in their lives' of living in one of our services.
Staff felt confident to be able to speak with Sarah throughout the visit and I firmly believe that her approach will have boosted our team's confidence to be able to speak with a CQC inspector when they visit."
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Delphi Guide
April 29, 2025
National Insurance Increases April 2025: What Care Providers Need to Know Now
With rising costs already putting pressure on the care sector, the latest National Insurance increases could be the tipping point for many providers. If you’re running a care home or
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Blog Article
April 22, 2025
Key Questions Explained: Safe
Of the five main CQC standards, ‘Safe’ is one of the most crucial. This considers whether service users, staff and visitors are protected from abuse and avoidable harm at all
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Blog Article
April 14, 2025
What are the CQC’s 5 Key Questions?
In 2024, the CQC rolled out the Single Assessment Framework (SAF) introducing a new way of assessing care services. As part of the changes with the new assessment framework came
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Feedback
April 10, 2025
Elborough Care Services
"I am delighted to inform you that following our recent inspection, a recommendation for an 'Outstanding' rating has been submitted to the panel. This remarkable achievement would not have been possible without the exceptional services provided by Delphi Care Solutions.
Your team's expertise and unwavering support have been instrumental in guiding us through this journey. We are deeply grateful for the dedication and professionalism that Delphi Care has consistently demonstrated. Thank you once again for your invaluable assistance."
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Feedback
April 10, 2025
The Private GP (Walsall)
"I am now registered with the CQC. Thanks again for all the help, support and wonderful service. I will be recommending you to all my colleagues in the future. Sean was a great help. He made the whole process smooth and painless. Highly recommended."
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Feedback
April 10, 2025
Executive Director of Support
"We provide housing and support for adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs, with many of our services registered with the CQC.
In December 2024, we commissioned Delphi to carry out a mock CQC inspection across one registration covering four services. The inspection was led by an experienced ex-CQC inspector, resulting in a thorough report rated using CQC methodology.
We received a detailed action plan, and the whole process was professional, insightful, and highly valuable. We found the service extremely helpful and would highly recommend it."
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Blog Article
February 18, 2025
Understanding the Waterlow Score: A Vital Tool in Preventing Pressure Ulcers
The Waterlow score is a widely used risk assessment tool in healthcare settings across the UK. Its primary purpose is to identify individuals at risk of developing pressure ulcers, enabling
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Blog Article
February 12, 2025
How Good Communication Improves CQC Outcomes & Person-Centred Care
Good communication is the cornerstone of achieving excellence in care provision and ensuring compliance with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements. With the introduction of the Single Assessment Framework (SAF)
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Blog Article
February 4, 2025
Do I Need to Register with the CQC? A Guide to Regulated Activities & Health Optimisation Treatments
If you are operating or planning to operate a health or social care service in England, you may be wondering: Do I need to register with the Care Quality Commission
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Blog Article
January 31, 2025
CQC Overview: Who Are They, What They Do, and Their Powers
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care services in England. Their role is critical in ensuring that people receive safe, effective, compassionate, and
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Blog Article
January 16, 2025
Improve your care home with these 5 tips
Providing high-quality care in a care home setting requires continuous reflection and improvement to ensure the best possible experience for service users. Even small changes can make a big difference
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Blog Article
January 9, 2025
The CQC’s Single Assessment Framework Explained
During 2024, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rolled out their Single Assessment Framework (SAF). It is extremely important that you, as a care provider, understand this new way of assessing
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Blog Article
December 3, 2024
How an Interim Manager Can Improve Your Care Service
If you run a care service that is going through a difficult time or looking to grow and improve, then the solution might lie in the support of a highly
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Delphi Guide
October 16, 2024
PSIRF: What is it & How to Use It?
What is PSIRF? PSIRF stands for Patient Safety Incident Response Framework, the new approach the NHS uses to respond to patient safety incidents. Launched in August 2022, it replaces the
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Blog Article
July 17, 2024
What You Need to Know About the CQC Framework Updates
If you are a care manager, then you will be aware of how important your CQC rating can be. As an indicator of how safe, effective, responsive and caring your
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Blog Article
February 13, 2024
How Does CQC Registration Work & Who Needs to Do It?
If you provide a care service in England, then you need to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This ensures that the highest standards of care are maintained,
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Blog Article
November 25, 2023
Competency Assessment for Social Care Workers
Ensuring Quality and Compassionate Care Delivering high-quality care services is a cornerstone of any thriving society, with a particular emphasis on social care. It is imperative to prioritise the competence
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Blog Article
November 7, 2023
Starting a Domiciliary Care Business: Q&A with Chris Williams from Tiggo Care
In this blog post, we ask Chris Williams, the founder of Tiggo Care, a series of questions that we think you should consider if you want to start a domiciliary
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Newsletter Article
September 7, 2023
ESG & The Competition for Talent: Future Proofing for Future Employees
Since 2020, the world we live in looks very different. Terms like ‘global pandemic’, ‘cost of living crisis’ and ‘workforce shortages’ are a common topic in popular culture, and society
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Blog Article
June 17, 2023
Does your care environment need to register with the CQC?
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) plays a crucial role in regulating care environments to ensure safety and quality of care. It is mandatory for certain types of service providers to
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Blog Article
May 26, 2023
How Often Does the CQC Inspect Care Services?
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) are an independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. It is their job to make sure that care provision within the country
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Blog Article
January 30, 2023
What to understand if you’re a new caregiver
Becoming a caregiver is both hugely demanding and hugely rewarding. As such, it’s vital to balance your needs and wants with the needs and wants of the person you’re caring
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Blog Article
December 21, 2022
Caring for your care home and residents in Winter
Winter can be a difficult time for many, but this is particularly the case for the elderly and vulnerable, who face a greater level of risks during these months. It
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Blog Article
September 9, 2022
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
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Delphi Guide
August 12, 2022
How to achieve an Outstanding CQC rating
Getting an Outstanding CQC rating is not easy, with only an estimated 3% of care providers achieving it. Since it is such a difficult task to achieve this rating, services
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Delphi Guide
August 6, 2022
What questions are asked during a CQC inspection?
During a CQC inspection, the inspector may ask the practice manager of the service for access to certain documents or to explain aspects of the service provided. Being prepared to
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Blog Article
August 4, 2022
My “Walking Stick” Moment
This is my first blog for Delphi so instead of delving straight into the meaty subject matter and expanding world of social care, I thought I might take a minute
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Delphi Guide
July 17, 2022
How to prepare for a CQC inspection
Anyone working in care will understand the importance of receiving a Good or Outstanding rating from the CQC following an inspection. The ratings are based on a number of factors,
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Delphi Guide
June 29, 2022
What is CQC Registration & How Does it Work?
Anyone who provides a care service in England must be registered with the CQC. If a care provider has not registered, they may have committed an offence. When registering with
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Delphi Guide
June 23, 2022
What are the 5 CQC standards?
The CQC rate care providers against 5 standards, known as the key questions. These questions are designed to asses whether or not a service is providing the best quality of
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Delphi Guide
June 8, 2022
CQC Ratings Explained
Following an inspection from the CQC, a provider will be given a rating which indicates the quality of care that the patients receive within that particular facility. Each provider can
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Delphi Guide
May 16, 2022
Why is the CQC Important?
The purpose of the CQC is to ensure that the public receive the highest standards of care while also keeping everyone informed on the standard of care services that are
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Delphi Guide
May 4, 2022
What is the CQC & What Do They Do?
If you have ever been involved in the care industry in some capacity, the chances are you will have heard of the CQC. The CQC play an important role in
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Newsletter Article
November 2, 2021
NACAS – National Association of Care and Support Workers
NACAS – National Association of Care and Support Workers is the professional association for everyone working in social care in the UK. The association was founded in 2016 by care
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Newsletter Article
October 15, 2021
Government considering National Care Service in White Paper proposals, report
The government is considering introducing a National Care Service as part of plans to merge health and social care services, according to a report. The Guardian story quoting senior Conservative
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Newsletter Article
October 5, 2021
Over 1m health and care staff needed in next decade
Over 1m more health and care staff are needed in the next decade to meet growing demand for care, according to a new report. The Health Foundation’s REAL Centre report says an
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Newsletter Article
September 30, 2021
The NCF has called on government to provide “immediate support” to address staffing shortages in the social care sector.
A joint letter to the Home Secretary, Secretary of State for Health & Social Care and Chancellor of the Exchequer said the sector was in the midst of its “most
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Newsletter Article
September 22, 2021
2021-22 Workforce Development Fund has now launched.
We’re delighted to announce that the Workforce Development Fund (WDF) 2021-22 is now open to adult social care employers in England to support the development of their staff at all
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Newsletter Article
September 16, 2021
Social Care recruitment crisis leaving carers overstretched and the elderly without support.
Recruitment crisis has left families struggling to find help – and put more pressure on overstretched carers. There was a hollow laugh last week when the Observer asked a social care official
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Newsletter Article
September 13, 2021
CQC hosting webinar on monitoring and prioritising inspections.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is hosting a webinar next week on how it is currently monitoring and prioritising inspections. The one-hour webinar, set to take place on September 20
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Newsletter Article
September 10, 2021
Boris Johnsons £36 billion investment to reform the NHS and Social Care
The Prime Minister today set out responsible, fair, and necessary plans to tackle the Covid backlogs, reform adult social care, and bring the health and social care system closer together on a
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Newsletter Article
September 8, 2021
How much has Care Home occupancy actually dropped recently?
‘For care homes that fall within the Market Oversight scheme (approximately 30% of the total care home sector), occupancy levels were on average 87% prior to the pandemic. These levels
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Newsletter Article
September 7, 2021
Recovering your Care Home’s occupancy levels post pandemic.
Care homes fear they may not return to their pre-Covid-19 occupancy levels until as late as 2028, LGC has learned, as the row continues over who should bail out the
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Job Vacancy
July 5, 2021
Interested in joining Delphi?
Delphi are always on the lookout for talented individuals to join our team. If you feel Delphi would be a good fit for you, send us a cover letter, detailing
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Newsletter Article
June 11, 2021
Closed Culture.
What is a closed culture and how does it effect your care service? A closed culture generally means a poor culture that can lead to harm, which can include human
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Newsletter Article
June 11, 2021
Root Cause Analysis.
Root cause analysis is a tool that can be used when determining how and why an adverse incident has occurred. Incidents that usually require a root cause analysis include an
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Newsletter Article
June 7, 2021
What Is Safeguarding?
In order for safeguarding to work effectively we need everyone to understand what it is, why it’s relevant to them and what they should do in the future should they
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Newsletter Article
June 7, 2021
CQC Update.
The Care Quality Commission remain active. By now each inspector will have completed a Transactional Monitoring review of your locations. Where an increased level of risk is identified this could
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Newsletter Article
June 7, 2021
The Importance of Evaluation.
Some people think of evaluation as taking a snapshot of outcomes at the end of a program or piece of work to prove that it worked or failed. These same people don’t hold
