Adult Social Care Briefing
Issue 014 | 1 October 2026
This weekly briefing highlights significant developments affecting home managers, registered managers and senior leaders of adult social care services for older people in England. This week includes the government’s announcement on the National Care Service, alongside developments in workforce, digital care, national data and clinical safety.
This Week’s Headline
Government Announces Plans for a National Care Service
On 29 September, the government announced that it intends to establish a National Care Service in the next Parliament, including free personal care for older people based on need rather than ability to pay.
The government has said the National Care Service would be introduced in phases, with its scope increasing as funding, workforce and provider capacity develop.
Baroness Louise Casey’s Independent Commission on Adult Social Care will make recommendations on how and when the service could be developed. The Commission’s report is due in summer 2027.
The government has also announced that the State Pension Triple Lock will remain in place until April 2030. It proposes changing the arrangement after that date, with savings from the revised system intended to contribute towards funding the National Care Service.
What Has Changed?
The government has now made a policy commitment to establishing a National Care Service in the next Parliament and to providing free personal care for older people based on assessed need.
The detailed model has not yet been determined.
Key questions remain around eligibility, commissioning arrangements, provider payment mechanisms, the role of local authorities, the scope and phasing of the service, and how sufficient workforce and provider capacity will be developed.
The Independent Commission will make recommendations on implementation, and further policy detail will therefore be required before providers can fully assess the operational and financial implications.
There is currently no change to existing charging, eligibility, contracting or commissioning arrangements.
Why It Matters
The proposals could eventually result in significant changes to how adult social care for older people is funded and commissioned.
For providers, the eventual impact will depend on the detailed design of the National Care Service, including eligibility, payment arrangements, commissioning responsibilities and the pace at which free personal care is introduced.
The government has acknowledged that implementation will need to develop alongside workforce and provider capacity.
Actions for Providers
No immediate operational change is required as a result of the announcement.
Senior leaders should monitor the development of the National Care Service and the work of the Independent Commission.
Organisations undertaking longer-term strategic planning should consider potential implications for service models, workforce requirements, commissioning relationships, publicly and privately funded care and future capacity.
Providers should avoid making operational or financial assumptions about the future model until further detail is published.
Workforce
New Adult Social Care Workforce Plan and National Pension Scheme Announced
On 30 September, the government announced that a new adult social care workforce plan is expected to be published by the end of 2026.
The government also announced what it describes as the first national collective pension scheme for adult social care workers.
A new national champion for unpaid carers will also be appointed.
The government has positioned these measures as part of the development of the future National Care Service.
What Has Changed?
The commitment to publish an adult social care workforce plan by the end of 2026 provides a further indication that workforce reform will form part of the wider National Care Service programme.
The announcement of a national collective pension scheme could also have implications for providers and the employment offer within adult social care.
However, detailed information about how the pension scheme will operate has not yet been published.
Why It Matters
Workforce capacity is directly linked to the government’s ability to expand access to adult social care.
Providers will therefore need to follow the workforce plan alongside developments relating to recruitment, retention, pay, training, career pathways and workforce capacity.
Further information about the proposed pension scheme will be needed before providers can assess its employment, financial or administrative implications.
Actions for Providers
No immediate change to existing pension arrangements is indicated by the announcement.
Providers should monitor publication of the workforce plan and further details of the proposed pension scheme.
Senior teams should maintain a clear understanding of their existing workforce position, including vacancy rates, turnover, retention, training and competency, progression arrangements and pension participation, to support assessment of future workforce proposals.
Digital Care and Governance
DHSC Publishes New Adult Social Care Digital Guidance
On 29 September, the Department of Health and Social Care published a new collection of guidance and resources supporting digital transformation in adult social care.
The collection covers:
Digital Social Care Records;
artificial intelligence;
digital skills;
digital leadership;
smartphones and devices;
secure email and internet connectivity; and
choosing and managing technology suppliers.
The guidance also provides a national definition of a fully digitised care provider.
A Care Quality Commission registered provider is considered fully digitised where it:
uses an assured Digital Social Care Record solution; and
meets the ‘standards met’ level of the Data Security and Protection Toolkit.
DHSC states that not being fully digitised will not automatically lower a Care Quality Commission rating. However, where paper-based systems limit a provider’s ability to deliver or evidence safe and effective care, this could affect inspection outcomes.
Why It Matters
The guidance provides providers with a clearer national benchmark against which to review digital arrangements.
Digital governance extends beyond whether a service uses electronic care records. Providers need assurance around information security, staff capability, devices, data quality, system selection and the appropriate use of emerging technology.
The new Adult Social Care Digital Skills Framework identifies seven areas of digital capability:
using technology to support person-centred care;
technical skills for using technology;
communicating using technology;
using and managing data;
being safe and secure online;
ethical use of technology; and
digital learning, development and wellbeing.
The framework includes skills expected of all staff and additional skills for people in supervisory, management, leadership, digital champion and care technology roles.
Artificial Intelligence in Adult Social Care
DHSC has also published specific guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in adult social care.
The guidance covers potential uses including care planning and assessment, data analysis, administration, meetings, business planning, human resources and auditing.
Where artificial intelligence is used to support care planning, a member of care staff must review the resulting care plan to ensure it is accurate.
DHSC also states that providers must comply with data protection legislation when using artificial intelligence. Personally identifiable information should not be entered into free or online artificial intelligence tools where the organisation has no contractual assurance about how the information will be protected or used.
DHSC recommends human review of artificial intelligence-generated outputs and advises organisations to consider having an artificial intelligence policy, including where the organisation’s position is that staff should not use artificial intelligence for work purposes.
Actions for Providers
Providers should review the new guidance against existing digital governance arrangements.
This should include:
confirming that the organisation uses an assured Digital Social Care Record solution where applicable;
checking current Data Security and Protection Toolkit status;
reviewing digital skills within induction, supervision and staff development;
reviewing governance for smartphones and other devices used for care;
confirming arrangements for information security and data protection;
establishing clear organisational expectations for the use of artificial intelligence;
ensuring human review of artificial intelligence-generated outputs; and
ensuring staff understand what information must not be entered into public or free artificial intelligence tools.
Data and Planning
Adult Social Care Activity Data Publication Delayed
On 29 September, the Department of Health and Social Care changed the publication date for the Adult Social Care Activity Report, England: 2025 to 2026.
The report had been scheduled for publication on 22 October 2026.
DHSC states that the release has been delayed because of a processing error and the need for further quality assurance.
The current provisional publication window is November to December 2026.
The Adult Social Care Client Level Data quarterly update to June 2026 has also been delayed. It had been scheduled for 1 October and now has a provisional publication window of October to November 2026.
DHSC has separately confirmed that the identified processing error affects its latest published client-level figures up to March 2026. It is investigating the extent of the error and will publish corrected figures if it determines that this is proportionate under its revisions and corrections policy.
The Adult Social Care Finance Report, England: 2025 to 2026 remains scheduled for publication on 22 October.
Why It Matters
There is no additional reporting requirement for individual providers.
However, organisations using national adult social care datasets for benchmarking, strategic planning, commissioning discussions or governance reporting should be aware of the identified processing error and revised publication timetable.
Previously published client-level figures up to March 2026 should be used with appropriate caution while DHSC investigates the issue.
Actions for Providers
Update governance and planning calendars where the Adult Social Care Activity Report had been scheduled for review in October.
Where client-level data up to March 2026 have been used within analysis, benchmarking or strategic planning, note the DHSC processing issue and review conclusions when DHSC provides further information or corrected figures.
Ensure national data used within governance reports are clearly identified by source and publication date.
Clinical Governance
MHRA Issues Advice on Filters for Parenteral Nutrition
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency published its September Safety Roundup on 29 September.
The roundup includes advice on the administration of parenteral nutrition in all care settings.
The MHRA advises that all parenteral nutrition solutions should be administered using a filter with a pore size no larger than 1.2 micrometres.
Where an aqueous or lipid-free parenteral nutrition solution is being administered, use of a 0.2 micrometre filter is considered good practice where available.
The advice follows adverse incidents associated with the administration of parenteral nutrition without a filter, including an embolism resulting in death.
Filters and administration sets should be changed with each new parenteral nutrition container, taking account of the parenteral nutrition shelf-life, local infection-control requirements and filter shelf-life.
Integrated filters are preferred, although add-on filters are considered a suitable alternative where infection-control guidance is followed.
Actions for Providers
Services supporting people receiving parenteral nutrition should:
review current clinical protocols;
confirm that appropriate filters and administration sets are available;
check staff training and competency;
clarify responsibilities between the care provider and specialist healthcare teams;
ensure local infection-prevention requirements are reflected in practice; and
update local guidance where necessary.
The September MHRA Safety Roundup also includes the patient hoist and sling National Patient Safety Alert covered in Issue 012. There has been no material change to the actions previously reported, so it is not repeated here.
Leadership Reflection
This week’s developments operate across different timescales.
The National Care Service announcement establishes the government’s intended direction for adult social care reform, but significant detail remains unresolved. There is no immediate change to current provider charging, contracting or commissioning arrangements.
The new DHSC digital guidance has more immediate relevance. It provides providers with updated national guidance covering Digital Social Care Records, digital capability, devices, information governance and artificial intelligence.
The delay to national adult social care statistics should also be reflected where organisations use these datasets for benchmarking, governance reporting or strategic planning.
Providers should distinguish between developments requiring action now and announcements that require monitoring as further policy and implementation detail emerges.
Five Things I’d Be Thinking About This Week
Do our senior leaders understand what has actually been announced about the National Care Service and what remains to be determined?
Does our organisation meet DHSC’s current definition of a fully digitised care provider?
Do we have clear governance for staff use of artificial intelligence, including data protection and human review?
Are any governance, benchmarking or planning reports relying on adult social care data affected by the DHSC processing error?
If we support anyone receiving parenteral nutrition, have we reviewed our arrangements against the latest MHRA advice?
Looking Ahead
11 October — registration closes for invited households wishing to express an interest in joining the Independent Commission on Adult Social Care’s Public Panel on Care.
14 October — Skills for Care will launch The State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England 2026, including updated analysis of workforce size and structure, recruitment and retention, demographics, pay, training, qualifications and future workforce forecasts.
22 October — the Adult Social Care Finance Report, England: 2025 to 2026 remains scheduled for publication at 9:30am.
October to November — provisional publication window for the delayed Adult Social Care Client Level Data quarterly update to June 2026.
November to December — provisional publication window for the delayed Adult Social Care Activity Report, England: 2025 to 2026.
By the end of 2026 — the government says it intends to publish a new adult social care workforce plan.
Summer 2027 — Baroness Louise Casey’s Independent Commission on Adult Social Care is due to report.
Sources
GOV.UK — Prime Minister Andy Burnham sets out plans for a new National Care Service Published 29 September 2026https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-andy-burnham-sets-out-plans-for-a-new-national-care-service
GOV.UK — Adult social care workforce announcement Published 30 September 2026https://www.gov.uk/government/news/support-for-families-and-babies-rolled-out-to-all-family-hubs
Department of Health and Social Care — Digitising adult social care Published 29 September 2026https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/digitising-adult-social-care
Department of Health and Social Care — Becoming a fully digitised care provider Published 29 September 2026https://www.gov.uk/guidance/becoming-a-fully-digitised-care-provider
Department of Health and Social Care — Using AI in adult social care Published 29 September 2026https://www.gov.uk/guidance/using-ai-in-adult-social-care
Department of Health and Social Care — Adult social care digital skills framework Published 29 September 2026https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/adult-social-care-digital-skills-framework/adult-social-care-digital-skills-framework
Department of Health and Social Care — Adult social care activity report, England: 2025 to 2026Updated 29 September 2026https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/adult-social-care-activity-report-england-2025-to-2026
Department of Health and Social Care — Adult social care client level data, England: quarterly update to June 2026Updated 29 September 2026https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/adult-social-care-client-level-data-england-quarterly-update-to-june-2026
Department of Health and Social Care — Adult social care client level data, England: quarterly update to March 2026https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/adult-social-care-client-level-data-england-quarterly-update-to-march-2026
Department of Health and Social Care — Adult social care finance report, England: 2025 to 2026Publication scheduled for 22 October 2026https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/announcements/adult-social-care-finance-report-england-2025-to-2026
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency — MHRA Safety Roundup: September 2026Published 29 September 2026https://www.gov.uk/drug-device-alerts/mhra-safety-roundup-september-2026
Skills for Care — The State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Workforce in England 2026 launch event14 October 2026https://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/news-and-events/Events/October/The-state-of-the-adult-social-care-sector-and-workforce-in-England-2026-Launch-event.aspx
Editorial Note
This briefing covers significant developments reviewed between 25 September and 1 October 2026.
The National Care Service section distinguishes between the government’s stated policy commitment and the detailed delivery model, which has not yet been determined. The Independent Commission on Adult Social Care is due to make recommendations on implementation in summer 2027.
The Why It Matters, Actions for Providers, Leadership Reflection and Five Things I’d Be Thinking About This Week sections provide professional interpretation of the verified source material for adult social care providers.
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