Updated Better Care Fund framework for 2026–27 

The government has published the formal Better Care Fund framework for 2026 to 2027, setting out how integrated care boards and local authorities are expected to collaborate on planning and expenditure for pooled health and social care resources. The guidance emphasises closer alignment between NHS services and local authority care pathways, particularly intermediate and neighbourhood health services, to support independence and prevent avoidable hospital admissions.  
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£400 cash boost for disabled adults to help with cost of living 

The government has announced that more than 150,000 disabled adults who receive social care will benefit from at least £400 extra per year to help with living costs. The uplift comes through an increase in the minimum income guarantee from April 2026 and represents the largest above-inflation increase in over a decade. Alongside this, £723 million has been confirmed for Disabled Facilities Grants to support home adaptations that help people live independently and safely, potentially reducing pressure on health and care systems.  
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AI note-taking tools raise safeguarding and accuracy concerns 

An investigation has highlighted risks linked to AI transcription and summarisation tools being used in social work, including “gibberish” transcripts and inaccurate implications (such as suicidal ideation) entering official records. The reporting draws on research across councils and includes calls for clearer guidance and stronger checks before AI outputs are relied on in casework.  
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LGA launches major adult social care consultation: “Care where we live” 

The Local Government Association (LGA) has launched a consultation and engagement series (webinars, in-person events and an online platform) to gather views on what a reformed adult social care system should look like, including councils’ roles, barriers/enablers to reform, and how to ensure people get the support they need. Insights will feed into the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care chaired by Baroness Casey.  
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CQC chair Professor Sir Mike Richards steps down 

Professor Sir Mike Richards has resigned as Chair of the Care Quality Commission, agreeing to remain in post until a successor is appointed. The announcement lands as scrutiny of regulation remains high, with many providers watching closely for what leadership changes might mean for confidence, consistency and the pace of reform.  
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Landmark study delivers a standardised dataset for care homes 

A major NIHR-funded study (DACHA), led by the University of Hertfordshire, has shown how linking care home data with NHS and social care records could improve outcomes and decision-making. It sets out a proposed minimum dataset (MDS) drawn from information already recorded, aiming to reduce duplication and support more joined-up, person-centred care.  
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Homecare immigration: what 2026 could bring (and how providers can prepare) 

The Homecare Association has shared reflections on the post-2025 immigration landscape, pointing to stronger enforcement, more scrutiny of sponsorship compliance, and the need for providers to build robust, repeatable processes (rather than relying on manual workarounds). The message: 2026 may be more about stable “execution” than surprises, for organisations that are prepared.  
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Care England warns fiscal drag could undermine Fair Pay Agreement impact 

Care England has published analysis arguing frozen tax thresholds will strip significant value from pay uplifts, potentially leaving care workers feeling little benefit in take-home pay even as reform approaches. They warn that this could weaken the Fair Pay Agreement’s intended effect on recruitment and retention unless mitigations are considered. 
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