The Sector’s Friend – August 2025

Big Changes Ahead: What the Second Half of 2025 Means for Care Providers

If there’s one certainty in the UK care sector, it’s that change is constant. Regulation, funding, workforce pressure, compliance, it’s a moving target.

That’s why The Sector’s Friend exists: to cut through the noise and help you stay informed, prepared, and one step ahead.

Here’s what you need to know this month:

Mandatory Digital Care Records – Deadline Approaching

If your care home hasn't yet implemented a compliant Digital Social Care Record (DSCR) system, you’re now behind schedule. The government set out its ambition in 2022 that 80% of CQC-registered providers should be using DSCRs by March 2024 and while that deadline has passed, new inspections are increasingly focusing on digital maturity.

Why it matters:

CQC is already piloting new digital scoring as part of its revised assessment framework, and providers without demonstrable digital care planning may face lower ratings on "Well-led" and "Safe."

What to do now:

• Review your digital system against the NHS Assured Supplier List
• Allocate training time for all staff to embed new processes
• Consider integration with eMAR and incident tracking for added assurance

Workforce Licensing & Mandatory Training Underway

The introduction of mandatory registration for care workers is progressing through its consultation phase. The Department of Health and Social Care has proposed a “licence to practice” model, much like social workers or nurses.

Expected rollout:

Late 2025 or early 2026  

Immediate action:

• Stay updated via Skills for Care and CQC bulletins
• Begin tracking training compliance more rigorously now
• Prepare to align job descriptions and contracts to support this change

National Living Wage Adjustment Impact (Autumn Review)

The Low Pay Commission is reviewing a potential further uplift to the National Living Wage in Autumn 2025, with an expected increase of 6–8%, depending on inflation and GDP trends.

Impact:

This could add thousands in payroll costs annually per full-time employee. Providers are urged to review budgets and renegotiate local authority contracts before Q4.

Action points:

• Forecast your wage bill impact for multiple uplift scenarios
• Begin conversations with funders on fee increases early
• Review staffing models to ensure efficiency and sustainability

New CQC Provider Portal – Now Live for All Providers

After months of phased rollout, the CQC’s new single provider portal is now live for all registered providers. This replaces legacy systems like Provider Portal and PIR email submission.

Why this matters:

All statutory notifications and service updates must now be submitted through this platform

Your “quality statements” and evidence will feed into your new continuous assessment profile

To do this month:

• Ensure your management team has full portal access
• Upload updated service evidence before your next inspection window
• Familiarise yourself with new feedback mechanisms and analytics features

The Sector’s Friend: Tip of the Month:

Don’t wait for policy to land, prepare like it’s already here.

Whether it’s digital care records or workforce licensing, the providers getting ahead now will be tomorrow’s “Outstanding” services. The direction of travel is clear:-  proactive beats reactive, every time.

Next Month:

• The hidden risks in care sector insurance policies
• What the CQC’s new evidence model really means for your documentation
• Autumn budget preview: What social care can expect

Contact us for more information around the subjects raised in this months edition.