Disclosure Log

social care services and policies and procedures (FOI/6592)

Message from Nottinghamshire County Council - 02 December 2025

Dear *********,

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000 – REQUEST FOR INFORMATION REFERENCE FOI/6592

Thank you for your request for information relating to social care services and policies and procedures.

We are now able to provide the following information:

1.How many subcontractors do you have

Homecare 35
Residential/Nursing 173
Supported Living 77

2. How long have each of these subcontractors been working with you

Homecare - Current framework from 1^st July 2018

Residential/Nursing/ Younger Adults - No framework. Individual providers sign up to a
Dynamic Purchasing System. The earliest date was 28^th July 2016. The latest 30^th October 2025
Older Adults - Current framework from 22^nd February 2024
Supported Living - Current framework from 4^th September 2025

3. What policies and procedures do you require each of your social care providers to hold
Summary Table – Policies and Procedures

Policy / Procedure	Purpose	Update Frequency
Safeguarding (Adults & Children)	Protect vulnerable individuals	Annually or when legislation changes
Health & Safety	Ensure safe environment for staff & service users	Annually or after risk assessment
Data Protection & Confidentiality	Comply with GDPR and protect personal data	Annually or when regulations change
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion	Promote fairness and prevent discrimination	Annually
Complaints & Feedback	Handle concerns effectively	Annually
Medication Management	Safe handling and administration of medication	Annually or after clinical guidance updates
Whistleblowing	Enable staff to report concerns safely	Annually
Recruitment & Vetting	Ensure safe recruitment practices	Annually or after policy changes
Supervision	Ensure effective supervision takes place	Annually or after policy changes
Incident Reporting & Risk Management	Manage and learn from incidents	Annually
Staff Training & Development	Maintain workforce competence	Annually
Infection Prevention & Control	Meet requirements detailed in Care Act 2014	Annually or when regulations change
Pressure Care	Maintain healthy skin, pressure ulcer prevention and mgt	Annually or when regulations change

The Provider will stay informed and work closely with the relevant Responsible Bodies involved in implementing the new law to ensure that the Provider’s responsibilities are known and complied with as defined by the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019, its accompanying Code of Practice, Regulations and locally defined policies and procedures.
The Provider will understand their responsibilities and work within the principles of the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019, the Liberty Protection Safeguards and accompanying Regulations, Code of Practice and local guidance, policies and procedures as these become known.
Ensure the care home has the policies and procedures listed as requested within the Health and Social Care Act (2008)
Social care providers must have policies and procedures that ensure compliance with key legislation and standards, including:

Mental Capacity Act (2005)
Mental Health Act (1983)
Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (2007)
Care Act (2014)
Safeguarding Adults
Health and Safety Act (1974)

They should also reflect national guidance such as:

Death by Indifference (2007), Healthcare for All (2008), Six Lives (2009)
Confidential Inquiry into Premature Deaths of Adults with Learning Disabilities (2013)
Health Equalities Framework (2013)
Public Health, Adult Social Care, and NHS Outcomes Frameworks

Additionally, providers must have:

Clear safeguarding and anti-bullying procedures
Complaints procedures that are accessible and easy to understand
Policies for communication standards, assistive technology use, falls prevention, pressure ulcer prevention, and serious incident reporting
Positive Behaviour Support plans for challenging behaviour

4. How often do you require social care providers that work with you to update their policies and procedures
The specification does not state an exact frequency for updating policies and procedures. However, it requires that:

Providers maintain compliance with current legislation and best practice at all times.
Support plans and risk assessments are reviewed at least monthly or whenever there is a change in the service user’s needs.
Training plans are updated annually and reported to the Authority for audit.

This implies that policies and procedures should be updated whenever legislation, guidance, or best practice changes, and providers must ensure they are always current and aligned with regulatory standards

We trust this now satisfies your request and that you find this information to be helpful, however if you are unhappy with the way in which your request has been handled, then please email us at [email protected] quoting the reference FOI/6592 and we will be happy to review your request

For future reference, Nottinghamshire County Council regularly publishes previous FOI requests and answers on its website, under Disclosure logs, that may provide details relating to your query. (see link) Your privacy: we use your personal information such as name and address so that we can comply with our legal obligations to respond to FOI requests. For further details about the use of information about you, please see the information handling privacy notice on our website at https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/media/4323566/informationgovernanceandinformationrightsprivacynotice.pdf

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Requests should be submitted within 40 working days of the date of receipt of the response to your original request and should be addressed to: Complaints and Information Team, Nottinghamshire County Council, County Hall, Loughborough Road, West Bridgford, NOTTINGHAM, NG2 7QP or [email protected].

Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, WILMSLOW, SK9 5AF or https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/global-content/privacy