What’s New in Adult Social Care? – 2nd June 2025
Welcome to the latest What’s New in Adult Social Care, a regular update for care teams and managers across Sussex.
In this issue:
Author: Juliet Smith
The New Immigration Rules – Essential update for providers
Join East Sussex Partners in Care (ESPiC), in partnership with Lester Aldridge and Alium Care Training, for this essential in-person workshop exploring the impact of the immigration rule changes introduced on 9th April, and what they mean for you as a provider.
Date: Wednesday 9th July 2025
Time: 11:00am – 13:30pm
Venue: East Sussex National Golf & Spa Hotel, TN22 5ES
Cost: Free
The workshop will cover:
- What the new rules mean in practice: including new minimum salary thresholds, who they apply to, and updates on sponsoring in-country migrant workers
- Best practice and maintaining ethical standards
- Training and development opportunities for international workers
- A chance to ask your questions in an interactive Q&A.
Training opportunities with St Michael’s Hospice
St Michael’s Hospice is offering a series of training opportunities for anyone working in local care homes or health and social care.
Both in-person and online options are available. In-person sessions will be held at the Arthur Easton Centre, 25 Upper Maze Hill, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN38 0LB. You’ll find the training options listed below, along with links to book. Sessions are free unless stated otherwise.
Schedule & booking links:
Bereavement Training
- Monday 23rd June 2025, 12:30pm – 16:00pm (in-person) – Book now →
- Thursday 20th November 2025, 10:00am – 13:00pm (in-person) – Book now →
- Tuesday 20th January 2026, 10:00am – 13:00pm (in-person) FEES APPLY – Book now →
Frailty as a Condition
- Wednesday 2nd July 2025, 09:30am – 12:30pm (online) – Book now →
- Wednesday 15th October 2025, 09:30am – 12:30pm (online) – Book now →
Dementia as a Palliative Care Condition
- Wednesday 2nd July 2025, 13:00pm – 16:00pm (online) – Book now →
- Wednesday 15th October 2025, 13:00pm – 16:00pm (online) FEES APPLY – Book now →
Suicide Awareness
- Wednesday 16th July 2025, 09:30am – 16:30pm (in-person) – Book now →
- Thursday 26th March 2026, 09:30am – 16:30pm (in-person) – Book now →
Recognising Dying
- Thursday 17th July 2025, 13:00pm – 16:00pm (in-person) – Book now →
- Friday 17th October 2025, 13:00pm – 16:00pm (in-person) – Book now →
Verification of Expected Adult Death (VoEAD) (for RNs only)
- Wednesday 10th September 2025, 09:30am – 12:30pm (in-person) – Book now →
- Wednesday 14th January 2026, 09:30am – 12:30pm (in-person) – Book now →
Syringe Pump Training (for RNs only)
- Wednesday 10th September 2025, 13:00pm – 16:00pm (in-person) – Book now →
- Wednesday 14th January 2026, 13:00pm – 16:00pm (in-person) – Book now →
Challenging Conversations
- Tuesday 23rd September 2025, 10:00am – 13:00pm (in-person) – Book now →
Palliative Care Emergencies
- Monday 27th October 2025, 10:00am – 13:00pm (online) – Book now →
- Monday 9th February 2026, 10:00am – 13:00pm (online) FEES APPLY – Book now →
Recruitment and retention revisit
With recent changes to immigration rules requiring care providers to prioritise international care workers already living in the UK, and with overseas recruitment set to end entirely later this year, we’ve gathered a range of resources to help you navigate this shifting landscape. From the latest updates and practical tools to learning opportunities for leaders, this edition is here to support you in attracting and retaining the talent your service needs to thrive.
Spotlight on #RecruitRight
This May, Skills for Care is supporting providers with practical guidance, expert insights, tools and seminars to help recruit the right people in adult social care.
Their latest campaign aims to help employers:
- Build more diverse and inclusive workforces
- Use values-based recruitment approaches
- Create welcoming environments that encourage people to stay
The campaign supports the Workforce Strategy for Adult Social Care, which highlights the importance of improving recruitment practices and retaining a skilled, motivated workforce.
Stay updated by following #RecruitRight on LinkedIn and Facebook, or visit the campaign page linked below.
Visit the campaign page: Recruiting the right people.
Looking for recruitment support?
Skills for Care also offers a dedicated hub of tools and resources to support your recruitment process.
Explore Skills for Care’s recruitment resources: Recruitment support.
What’s New in Adult Social Care? – 19th May
Welcome to another update on What’s New in Adult Social Care, where we share the latest courses and resources for health and social care managers and teams in Sussex.
University of Chichester Research Methods Conference
INSIGHT – Research Methods Conference
Date: Thursday 19th June 2025
Time: 09:30am – 15:30pm
Cost: Free
Venue: University of Chichester, College Lane, Chichester, PO19 6PE
Map of venue location: https://maps.chi.ac.uk/#room=C80-0-01
This full-day event hosted by the University of Chichester will explore practical and inclusive approaches to research in health and social care. The event is aimed at leaders, managers, practitioners, and early career researchers. Hear from expert speakers on key themes including:
- Co-producing research with the public and service users
- Big data in the NHS
- Social media in research
- Research as a journey and a practice resource
The conference includes:
- Free refreshments and lunch
- Certificate of attendance
Free legal helpline extended until 18th July!
Due to popular demand, SESCA’s international recruitment legal helpline has been extended until Friday 18th July 2025.
During this period, CQC-registered adult social care providers based in the South-East can book a free 30-minute phone consultation with an immigration law expert from Lester Aldridge Solicitors. There’s no obligation, and the advice is tailored to support providers navigating international recruitment.
Helpline details:
Phone: 01202 786 126
Email: [email protected]
Hours: 09:00am – 17:00pm, Monday to Friday (voicemail available outside these times).
For full details and terms, visit the SESCA website: Free international recruitment legal helpline.
compassion: the key to care
Whether you’re leading a team or supporting someone one-to-one, adopting and embedding a compassionate approach shapes the culture of care settings, supports wellbeing, and enables us to respond with humanity in every situation.
This edition of the MILE newsletter brings together courses and resources on compassionate leadership, team wellbeing, and ways to strengthen the human connection at the heart of care.
SAGE & THYME: Foundation level communication skills training
SAGE & THYME is a foundation-level workshop designed to support staff in having better conversations with patients or clients who may be distressed. It introduces a simple, evidence-based structure to guide these conversations with empathy and confidence.
This course is ideal for anyone working in health or social care, including professionals and support staff across all roles.
In Sussex, there are two upcoming opportunities to take part in an online SAGE & THYME workshop:
- St Wilfrid’s Hospice: Tuesday 3rd June 2025, 13:00pm – 15:45pm (funded) Book your place here →
- St Barnabas House: Thursday 31st July 2025, 13:30pm – 16:15pm (£50) Book your place here →
Mile Pathway
Enhanced Leadership Pathway
