From local authority funding shifts and regulatory assessments to sustainability initiatives and digital-resilience alerts, here’s a quick look at some of the key stories making headlines in social care this month. 

 

Councils bring in consultants to review high-cost care packages 

West Berkshire Council has appointed independent consultants to scrutinise its highest-cost care packages as part of a financial improvement drive. The review aims to identify potential inefficiencies and ensure better alignment between funding and care outcomes, another sign of tightening local budgets. 
Read more here 

 

Funding pressures exposed in new care charging data
 
Fresh government data reveals that client contributions now make up nearly a quarter of the growth in councils’ adult social care spending. The figures underscore the growing reliance on user charges to plug funding gaps, intensifying debate over the long-term sustainability of the sector’s financial model. 
Read more here 

 

CQC expands local authority assessments 

The Care Quality Commission is currently assessing all 153 local authorities on how well they are meeting their Care Act (2014) duties. Providers and partners are being encouraged to share their experiences to help shape how the regulator evaluates council-led social care delivery. 
Read more here 

 

NHS cuts £400m from the Better Care Fund 

The NHS has reduced its discretionary contribution to the Better Care Fund by almost £400 million, prompting concerns about the future of integrated care funding. The move reflects tightening national budgets and speculation that the Fund could be restructured or rebranded entirely. 
Read more here 

 

BBC investigates gaps in care regulation 

A new BBC short film, “The Care Gap Exposed,” questions whether the current regulatory system is driving improvements quickly enough to safeguard the quality of care that people depend on. The programme adds to ongoing debate about CQC’s role and pace in addressing systemic challenges. 
Watch on BBC iPlayer 

 

Care England launches solar framework to combat energy costs 

Care England and Focus Energy Services have unveiled a new Solar Framework designed to help care providers manage rising energy costs and improve sustainability. The collaboration aims to make renewable energy solutions more accessible and affordable across the sector. 
Read more here 

 

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham rated ‘Outstanding’ 

In one of the CQC’s first assessments under its new local-authority duties, the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham has been rated Outstanding for how it supports its communities. The result sets a positive early benchmark as the regulator rolls out its assessment framework nationwide. 
Read more here 

 

Cybersecurity climbs the care agenda 

With cyberattacks on care providers becoming more frequent, Care England and the Police Cyber Resilience Centre have issued new guidance to help the sector bolster its defences. The message is clear: digital security and compliance are no longer optional, they’re essential to safe, modern care delivery. 
Read more here 

 

Care Workers’ Charity calls for fair pay action 

Responding to the CQC’s State of Care report, the Care Workers’ Charity warned that “fair pay cannot remain a distant promise,” urging government to treat pay reform as both a moral and economic imperative. The statement reflects growing workforce frustration and keeps pay, parity and progression high on the policy agenda. 
Read more here