The Access Group ties Care Workers' Charity funding to new business
The Access Group, a leading provider of business management software, has agreed a structural financial commitment to the Care Workers' Charity (CWC), with an annual contribution that grows in line with new business performance in its Care division. The commitment formalises a relationship that began with Access as a named sponsor of CWC. Under the new arrangement, every time a new care provider joins Access, a share of that business will directly fund crisis grants, mental health support, and advocacy work for the care workforce that provider relies on.
The commitment is expected to translate into significant contributions to CWC spread across the financial year, growing in line with Access's performance in the care sector.
The Care Workers' Charity, founded in 2009, is the only UK charity dedicated solely to supporting care workers. Since 2020 it has distributed £6.4 million in grants to more than 12,900 care workers in crisis, including 864 grants totalling £366,316 in 2025 alone. CWC works with the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and Skills for Care, runs free counselling for frontline staff through Red Umbrella, delivers Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training, and collaborates with the University of Oxford on research into the sector's wellbeing challenges.
Simon Baines, Managing Director, Access Health, Support and Care said: "This partnership moves us beyond goodwill and annual fundraising into something structural. Every time we welcome a new care provider to Access, we're now directly funding support for the workforce that provider depends on. It's a commitment that scales as we grow, and one we're proud to stand behind publicly. We hope to see others in the sector follow our lead”
Karolina Gerlich, Chief Executive of the Care Workers' Charity said: "We're incredibly grateful to The Access Group for this commitment. Every care worker we support is one who might otherwise go without help, whether that's a crisis grant to get them through an emergency, advocating on their behalf, a counselling session when things get too much, or training to protect their wellbeing. This partnership means that support is now directly tied to Access's own growth in the care sector, so as they succeed, so does the workforce underpinning it. It's exactly the kind of structural, ongoing commitment our sector needs, and we're proud to have Access standing behind us in this way."
Willow Lodge: Furnishing an 80-bed dementia care home
Furncare has delivered the complete FF&E package for Willow Lodge, a purpose-built 80-bed care home in Redhill designed specifically for people living with dementia, turning Stylesmith Interiors' design vision into 2,319 individual items installed while the building was still under construction.
The project involved 400 bespoke product styles, 130 windows dressed with made-to-measure curtains and blinds, and coordinated furniture supply across all 80 bedrooms. More than 30 van loads were delivered over the course of the fit-out, adding up to over 725 driver hours on site.
With a large number of bespoke elements, the home required detailed planning across product development, manufacturing, procurement, logistics and installation. The project shows both the scale of a modern care home fit-out and the coordination needed behind the scenes to bring a detailed interior specification to site successfully.
From moodboard to furniture package
Willow Lodge was developed by Zephyr X, is operated by EQ Care Group and was designed by Stylesmith Interiors. The designers established the creative vision for the home and defined the schemes used across it.
Furncare's involvement began while Stylesmith Interiors were still developing the initial moodboards. Its role was to turn that specification into a tangible furniture package. The aim was for the final furniture to closely reflect the designers' original specification while also meeting the practical requirements of a care environment.
A bespoke specification
The specification did not apply a standard scheme across the building. Instead, it included considerable variation between rooms and areas. Bedrooms formed a major part of the work, with both fitted and freestanding pieces supplied throughout the home.
One of the more distinctive elements was the bespoke fitted bedroom furniture. It included substantial 2.1m-high triple wardrobes in a cashmere finish. Their scale gives the bedrooms a strong, built-in appearance, and they also provide the storage each room needs.
Fitted elements need more coordination than a straightforward freestanding furniture order, because they have to work with the dimensions and layout of the building. Manufacturing tolerances and site measurements had to align before installation could be completed.
The finer details
The bedroom furniture was only one part of the bespoke specification. Across Willow Lodge, a number of pieces needed further development to achieve the details set out in the interior scheme.
In total, 130 windows were dressed with bespoke curtains and blinds. The café is one of the most distinctive examples, where curved pelmets were produced instead of standard straight ones. The curved design highlights the architecture and character of the interior, and it needed a more bespoke approach to both manufacture and installation.
Delivering at scale
With more than 2,300 individual items to bring to site, delivery and installation were a significant part of the project. More than 30 van loads were coordinated over the fit-out, adding up to over 725 driver hours on site.
Installation took place while work was still progressing across the building. Decorating was under way in some areas, and external groundworks were at an early stage. Because rooms became available at different times, deliveries had to be carefully planned around progress on site.
Furncare's white-glove delivery service went beyond getting furniture to the door. Drivers took each item directly to its intended room, where they assembled it and positioned it ready for use. On a project of this scale, that approach helped keep installation as smooth as possible for the home.
The completed home reflects the level of detail carried through the project, with each bedroom and communal space showing its part of the overall scheme.
What the partners said
Justine Kirkham, Design Director at Stylesmith Interiors, said: "Stylesmith Interiors had a good experience working with Furncare on our recent care home project. The communication throughout the project has been key and our dedicated project manager has been responsive and helpful at each turn. The team work throughout the process made the process run smoothly and gave us confidence at each stage. The fit out team were professional and a pleasure to work with, nothing was too much trouble and they approached each adjustment and request positively and with a solutions focused attitude. We will be working with Furncare again!"
Carl Southall, Managing Director at Furncare, said: "Willow Lodge has been a fantastic project to be part of. Stylesmiths have designed something truly impressive, setting an incredibly high standard throughout, and we're proud to have brought that vision to life."
Ubley relaunches yogurt range with “Naturally Delightful” positioning and new recipes
Ubley relaunches with new “Naturally Delightful” positioning and ambition to become leading nourishing brand in price-sensitive channels
British dairy brand Ubley is embarking on a major brand relaunch, bringing a new identity and proposition, reformulated recipes and product innovation to its growing range for foodservice and retail.
Rooted in the British countryside, Ubley brings together quality British milk and simple, honest ingredients to create yogurts that are nourishing, affordable and naturally delightful. The relaunch is designed to give customers across education, healthcare, care and hospitality a wider choice of great-tasting, nutritious and affordable yogurt options, with formats and flavours suited to different needs, occasions and budgets, alongside its retail presence in Lidl.
From October, Ubley yogurts will roll out with a colourful, eye-catching new design that brings its new “Naturally Delightful” positioning to life – combining affordability, nourishment and enjoyment. The range has also been reformulated, with recipes developed around simple, honest ingredients and enhanced nutritional credentials, helping foodservice customers deliver appealing everyday choices without compromising on value.
The transformation follows extensive qualitative and quantitative research into the needs and expectations of customers and consumers across Ubley’s key channels. The research identified three core brand pillars – nourishing, affordable and delightful – with natural ingredients, nutrition and value emerging as particularly important purchase drivers across healthcare, care and education.
Ubley’s range spans single-serve pots, Chef’s Pots, 1kg pots and multi-flavour packs, with formats and flavours tailored to different channels and occasions. Made with British milk, the range includes nutritionally targeted single-serve pots for healthcare, care and education, providing protein, calcium and vitamin D, alongside versatile Chef’s Pots for decanting or use as an ingredient, and accessible 1kg retail formats for family nourishment and sharing.
“Ubley has already demonstrated strong momentum, outperforming its category in an amalgamated wholesaler dataset,”*said Hannah Flannery-Cahill, Marketing Manager, Ubley.
“We wanted to build on that momentum with a much clearer proposition that captures what makes Ubley distinctive and reflects the needs of the people we serve.
“Our research highlighted the importance of affordability and nutrition, alongside simple, honest ingredients and great taste. We’ve brought those insights together in a complete brand transformation, spanning our identity and packaging through to our recipes and new product development.”
“We’re confident that our new proposition of naturally delightful, affordable and nourishing yogurt, combined with our bold new look and strengthened product range, gives customers even more choice when it comes to serving great-tasting, nutritious yogurt at an affordable price. Whether it’s in a healthcare environment, care home, school, or hospitality, we want Ubley to make it easier to provide appealing, nourishing options that meet the needs of both customers and the end consumer, while delivering value.”
Ubley is available from all leading wholesalers.
Lovett Care Opens 78-Bedroom Care Home in Kings Hill
Cllr Sarah Hudson, Deputy Mayor of Kings Hill, joined the Lovett Care team at the official opening and ribbon cutting of its brand new, purpose built 78 bedroom care home on Warwick Way.
Offering residential, nursing, residential dementia and respite care, combined with exceptional facilities and innovative technology that enhances safety and wellbeing of residents, Kings Hill Care Home is a much welcomed addition to the village.
Claire Skinner, home manager at Kings Hill Care Home, personally welcomed Cllr Sarah Hudson and hosted a preview tour, starting in the stunning lobby area, and taking in the stylish communal spaces, on site salon as well as the beautiful bedrooms.
Whilst at Kings Hill Care Home, Cllr Sarah Hudson was also able to meet the first three residents, taking time to sit and speak with them in the lounge.
Commenting on her visit, Cllr Sarah Hudson says: “I was looking forward to visiting Kings Hill Care Home and have not been disappointed. The tour was a great way to see the fantastic facilities and excellent technology incorporated within the home, whilst meeting the residents was just lovely and really insightful.
“It’s evident the care home has been carefully designed, with warmth and homely touches throughout. It is an impressive facility to have in Kings Hill and I was thrilled to be a part of this special milestone.”
“Welcoming Cllr Sarah Hudson to Kings Hill Care Home was a pleasure,” adds Claire Skinner. “We are so proud of the home, the team we have recruited and the services available, and with the first residents already moved in, it was wonderful for her to see this first hand. We are very looking forward to becoming an integral part of the Kings Hill community, building strong relationships with local groups, organisations and businesses.”
Cath Fairhurst, managing director at Lovett Care, says: “We have been overwhelmed by the level of interest in Kings Hill Care Home to date. We received enquiries throughout the build process and are thrilled to have opened the doors and welcomed our first few residents, with more admissions planned in the coming weeks.”
“This care home is our first in Kent and today has been wonderful, with the staff, residents and their loved ones plus the local community all involved,” concludes Keith Crockett, Chief Executive Officer at Lovett Care. “It is very much for the elder people of Kings Hill and the surrounding areas, and we are fully committed to creating a vibrant and joyous place to live in later life.”
With a vision to create caring communities in which our elders thrive, Lovett is one of the UK’s leading care home groups with 29 homes across the UK including Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Merseyside and now the South East. Filled with joy, togetherness and love, Lovett Care homes are places where life is truly lived. For more information, visit lovettcare.co.uk.
Sona appoints former Hft COO Becky Speight as Director of Health and Social Care
With more than 20 years of experience across frontline support, care operations and executive leadership, Becky Speight brings a deep understanding of the realities facing social care providers to her new role as Director of Health and Social Care at Sona.
Becky started as a Mencap support worker and built a senior social care career supporting individuals with learning disabilities and autism across supported living, registered care, day opportunities and community services. Her experience includes serving as Operations Director and Regional Managing Director at Dimensions UK, and most recently as Chief Operating Officer at national charity Hft, leading nationwide Operations and Quality.
She also brings first-hand experience of Sona itself. As Director of Operations at Style Acre, Becky led the implementation of the Sona platform from the provider side, giving her direct experience of introducing workforce technology into a busy care environment and understanding what it takes for technology to work in practice for the people using it.
Becky said: “I’ve spent more than 20 years working across health and social care and one thing has remained constant: the pressure on services and the people delivering them continues to grow. Technology has a huge role to play in changing that, but it has to work for care teams, not create more complexity for them. When I started as a support worker, so much of what we did was on paper, or if you were lucky, a spreadsheet. We’ve come a long way since then, but sometimes I think we’ve digitised the complexity rather than removed it. The opportunity now is to think differently, to take work away, simplify things, and give people more time to focus on the people they’re there to support. Having experienced Sona as a customer, I know the difference the right technology can make, and that’s what excites me about joining the team.”
At Sona, Becky will lead the company’s strategy for health and social care, bringing her experience of running services and working through complex operational challenges into how technology is built and used across the sector. She will work closely with care providers and Sona customers, helping shape the development of the platform around the realities of delivering care, while also contributing to wider conversations around workforce, funding and digital transformation.
Her experience spans workforce, quality, technology, transformation, organisational design and operating models, giving her a broad understanding of the factors that shape how care is delivered and where technology can make a practical difference.
Paul Watson, VP at Sona, said: “Becky brings something incredibly valuable to Sona because she understands social care from every angle. She has been on the frontline, she has run services, she has led operations and quality at executive level, and she has sat on the other side of the table as a customer implementing Sona. That combination is rare, and it gives her a very clear understanding of what providers actually need from technology – not just what looks good on paper, but what makes a difference when you’re running services day in, day out. As Sona continues to deepen its work with the care sector, having that experience and challenge within our own team will be hugely important.”
Becky’s appointment comes as Sona deepens its focus on social care, with a particular emphasis on interoperability and bringing together the information providers need to make better decisions. This includes helping organisations better understand the relationship between commissioned hours, workforce capacity and support delivered, surfacing the right information to plan effectively both for the person and for the sustainability of the business. Becky’s extensive operational experience in social care brings an important provider perspective to that work, grounded in the realities of delivering high-quality, person-led support at scale.
With Becky bringing provider-side experience into the business, Sona is looking to push the conversation around technology in care beyond simply digitising existing processes, towards creating smarter, more sustainable ways for providers to plan their workforce, run their services and support their teams.
For further information about Sona and its digital workforce management platform, visit https://www.sona.ai/
Barchester Healthcare enhances resident dining experience with Rational cooking systems
Barchester Healthcare is one of the UK's leading care providers, operating more than 220 care homes across the country. At Farley Gardens in Bracknell, a purpose-built care home providing residential, dementia and short stay care, Rational iCombi Pro combi ovens and iVario cooking systems are helping the kitchen team deliver high-quality meals while meeting a wide range of dietary and nutritional needs.
For care home residents, mealtimes are an important part of daily life and wellbeing. Creating enjoyable dining experiences while catering for individual preferences and modified diets requires both skilled staff and reliable equipment. According to Mervyn Knights, Hospitality Commissioning and Academy Manager at Barchester Healthcare, "The dining experience is very important for us as a part of our offering." He adds: "we want to make sure that the food is homemade and it's always the best quality we provide for our residents."
At Farley Gardens, the catering team prepares breakfast, three course lunches, afternoon tea and three course evening meals, with snacks and refreshments available throughout the day. The kitchen must also cater for a variety of tastes and dietary requirements. As Peter Nash, Head Chef at Farley Gardens, explains: "Everyone's tastes are different. Everyone's diets can be different."
Providing nutritious meals is a key priority across the organisation. Szymon Siewniak, Senior Head Chef at Barchester Healthcare, says: "In Barchester we need to provide nutritional meals. The biggest challenges in care sector we face is the modified diets."
To support chefs in meeting these demands, Barchester Healthcare has equipped its kitchens with Rational cooking technology. According to Mervyn Knights, "To get good quality food, you need to have good equipment and ensuring that the chef is well equipped." He adds: "Rational equipment is some of the best equipment I've worked with."
At Farley Gardens, the kitchen operates with an iVario technologically advanced bratt pan and two iCombi Pro combi-ovens. According to Peter Nash, the equipment has significantly improved efficiency and flexibility. "The iVario gives you the ability to do multiple dishes where you've got the two pans. you can boil your pasta in one side and make the sauce in the other side, and then they can both be ready together." He adds: "So within 15 minutes you can go from your raw ingredients to having a completed dish, which really helps the speed of cooking and the service time."
The kitchen team has also seen improvements in cooking consistency and food quality. Szymon Siewniak explains: "Back in the day, with our gas oven, one side was burnt and one side was uncooked. With Rational, we have that consistency across everything we make"
For staff, the benefits extend beyond food production. Peter Nash comments: "They've cut down the time for preparation and cooking, probably by about 30%." He adds: "It makes your day-to-day work a lot easier and a lot faster. The end result is a lot better as well"
The technology is also helping teams deliver a consistently high standard of dining across care homes. Mervyn Knights explains: "the consistency has been phenomenal we're able to deliver good quality dining experience to our residents. across our sites."
Resident feedback reflects the impact of this approach. According to Simona Cioinac, Senior General Manager at Farley Gardens, "I'm very proud the feedback about our food is very positive."
Looking ahead, maintaining these standards remains a key focus. As Simona Cioinac explains, "The hope and ambition from the future of Farley Gardens is to maintain the high-quality care and a fantastic dining experience."
Experience the iCombi and iVario cooking systems live at a free product demo near you: https://www.rational-online.com/en_gb/see-for-yourself/rational-live-events/
Electrolux Professional Unlocks Endless Possibilities with Launch of Generation 7000 Range
Electrolux Professional has announced the launch of Generation 7000 – an entirely new platform of professional laundry solutions and the company’s most significant launch since Line 6000 in 2018 – beginning with the Compact Power undercounter 6kg, 7kg, and 8kg models.
Designed for Small Spaces, Ultimate Performance, the Compact Power offers the longest lifespan and lowest cost per cycle on the market for its class, helping to usher in a new era of smart innovation and sustainable impact for the sector. Both the washer and dryer are tested for up to 40,000 cycles, with the heat pump dryer being the only appliance of this type in the industry assured up to this figure.
With 60% fewer components than ever before, the Compact Power is also designed with ease of serviceability in mind, facilitating simple service and repair, and allowing service engineers to save time and money through lower need for spares.
At the heart of the washer is the new FlowDrum design, built to enhance dewatering and deep cleaning, preserve fabric integrity, and deliver best-in-class washing performance and efficiency. Thanks to the Adaptive Cycle Process, the Compact Power washer uses just 29L of water per cycle for a 6kg load, compared to 45L for a standard washer. Here, automatic load detection and intelligent dosing ensure that only the exact amount of water and detergent for each load is used, helping to ensure the lowest total cost of ownership in the industry.
This is backed up by 600 G-force Xtracta40 technology with AI-powered automatic speed adjustment, resulting in industry-low moisture retention of less than 40%. This helps to save money in the drying process, and makes the Compact Power the fastest dry-to-dry solution on the market.
The Compact Power heat pump dryer also comes equipped with a range of money- and energy-saving features. Residual Moisture Control offers an extra 15% in energy savings versus previous generations, and up to 65% energy savings versus a standard condenser dryer.
The first dryer on the market with Integrated Load Intelligence, the Compact Power adjusts its cycle in line with the weight of the load, delivering up to an additional 8% energy saving, while the Moisture Balance feature automatically switches off the dryer when the desired dryness is achieved, saving energy and preventing textile damage through overdrying.
With a five-star Ergocert rating, the Compact Power range is designed around human experience and can be easily operated via the full-HD 4.3-inch UniVibe touchscreen interface, which has been built from the ground up for Generation 7000. The washer’s programs have been designed by Electrolux Professional’s specialized textile engineers, and even feature a pause button for the first time, allowing missing items to be easily added to the drum.
Both the washer and dryer are able to tap into Electrolux Professional’s OnE Connected digital ecosystem, which allows all of a user’s machines to be connected, monitored and controlled remotely from OnE platform. This enables users to access advanced insights into machine usage, total operating hours, loading factors, energy consumption, and more, for more informed decision-making and workflow optimization.
Francesco Maso, Interim President Business Area Laundry at Electrolux Professional, said: “Generation 7000 is the culmination of years of innovation, and is central to ensuring that we continue to serve our customers in a way that is both sustainable and supportive of their laundry goals. With higher cycle guarantees than ever before, the lowest cost per cycle on the market, and the fastest dry-to-dry speed in the industry, this is truly a next-generation solution that will revolutionize the market.”
Find out more about Generation 7000 and Compact Power.
Building a Safer Recruitment Process in Care Beyond DBS Checks
DBS checks are an important part of safer recruitment in care, but they are only one part of the picture. As identity fraud evolves and recruitment becomes increasingly digital, care providers need to know they are checking the right person, carrying out the right checks for the role and maintaining a clear record of the decisions behind each hire.
Recruiting into care comes with a particular responsibility. Employers need people with the right skills and experience, but they also need recruitment processes that help establish whether someone is suitable to work with people who may be vulnerable.
For care providers regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), this is reflected in Regulation 19. Providers must establish and operate effective recruitment procedures and confirm specified information about candidates before they are employed. CQC guidance also makes clear that where recruitment checks are carried out by another party, the provider still needs to assure itself that those checks are complete and satisfactory.
That makes safer recruitment much broader than completing a DBS application.
A strong process brings together identity, criminal-record checking, Right to Work, employment history, references and, where relevant, professional registrations or qualifications. Just as importantly, employers need to understand what each check establishes, what it does not, and which checks are appropriate for the particular role.
Start with the role, not the check
It can be tempting to think of a DBS check as a standard requirement for anybody joining a care organisation. In practice, the level of DBS check an employer can request depends on the role and the activities the individual will undertake.
A Basic DBS check can be requested for any position or purpose and shows relevant unspent convictions and cautions.
A Standard DBS check is only available for eligible positions and shows spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions held on the Police National Computer, subject to filtering rules.
An Enhanced DBS check is also restricted to eligible roles. It contains the relevant information included at Standard level and may include information held by police that is considered relevant to the role.
Where a role is eligible, an Enhanced check may additionally include a check of the Children’s and/or Adults’ Barred List. For the adult workforce, regulated activity can include activities such as providing healthcare or personal care in the circumstances set out in legislation and DBS guidance.
This distinction matters. DBS warns that knowingly requesting a higher-level check than the legislation permits is unlawful. Care providers should therefore assess the duties of the role against current DBS eligibility guidance rather than assuming that every person working within the same organisation requires an identical check.
Identity comes before the DBS result
Before asking what a DBS certificate says about an applicant, there is an even more fundamental question: are you confident the person being checked is who they say they are?
That question is becoming increasingly relevant as identity fraud evolves. According to Cifas, nearly 130,000 identity-fraud cases were recorded to the UK National Fraud Database in the first half of 2026, a 9% increase on the same period in 2025. Cifas has also highlighted growing concerns around synthetic identities, AI-enabled impersonation and digitally manipulated documents.
These figures are not specific to recruitment or the care sector, but they illustrate a wider change in the identity-risk landscape. Visual document checking alone is increasingly being supplemented by digital verification designed to establish a higher level of confidence in someone's identity.
For care providers, identity is particularly important because it sits underneath other parts of screening. If the identity information supplied is inaccurate, the integrity of checks that rely on that information can also be affected.
DBS itself recognises this. Identity verification forms part of the DBS application process, and its digital identity guidance sets minimum confidence levels for digital verification. Standard, Enhanced and Enhanced with Barred List applications require a High level of confidence through the digital route.
This is where technology such as DBS HI-ID from EBC Global. can support the process. Rather than treating identity verification, Right to Work and the DBS application as disconnected stages, HI-ID brings them into an automated digital journey, with candidate consent, live selfie and identity-document capture forming part of the process.
The objective isn't automation for its own sake. It is to establish greater confidence in who is actually being screened while reducing unnecessary manual administration.
DBS and Right to Work answer different questions
This distinction is particularly important.
A DBS check helps an employer make a safer recruitment decision by providing criminal-record and, where eligible, barred-list information.
It does not establish that somebody has the right to work in the UK. DBS explicitly states that a separate Right to Work check is required.
Employers must therefore carry out the appropriate Right to Work check before employing someone. Current Home Office guidance provides different routes depending on the individual's circumstances. These include a manual document check, a Home Office online Right to Work check and, for eligible British and Irish citizens, a digital identity check using an Identity Service Provider.
Bringing identity, Right to Work and DBS processes into a connected digital journey can reduce duplication and make administration easier, but they remain distinct checks with different purposes.
That distinction should be reflected in recruitment policies, workflows and staff training. Technology can connect the journey, but employers still need to understand what each check establishes and why it is being carried out.
Bringing the screening journey together
For care providers, a criminal-record check should not become a substitute for the rest of the recruitment process.
CQC's Regulation 19 guidance specifically refers to areas including qualifications, competence, skills and experience, full employment history where required and relevant professional registration.
As with DBS eligibility, additional screening should reflect the role and circumstances. This might include employment history verification, references, or other role-specific checks.
The challenge is not simply completing those checks, but deciding what needs to be established for each role and managing those checks as part of a consistent process.
A role-based approach can help avoid two opposite problems: missing an important check, or collecting information that isn't necessary for the role.
Technology can then help bring the relevant stages together. Rather than treating DBS, identity verification, Right to Work and wider employment checks as disconnected processes, screening workflows can be structured around the requirements of the role, reducing unnecessary manual hand-offs and giving recruitment and people teams greater visibility.
What about DBS Adult First?
There are also exceptional circumstances where an eligible employer may use DBS Adult First while the full Enhanced DBS process continues.
Adult First is available where strict criteria are met, including that the position requires a criminal-record check by law, is eligible for access to the Adults' Barred List and the employer has requested an Adults' Barred List check as part of the DBS application.
The result will state either that the Registered Body must wait for the DBS certificate or that no match exists for the person on the current Adults' Barred List.
Crucially, Adult First is only the first part of the criminal-record checking process. A “no match” response is not an Enhanced DBS certificate and does not provide the wider criminal-record or relevant police information that may appear on the completed certificate. Depending on the result and circumstances, an employer may decide to allow the individual to begin work under supervision, but the full DBS process still needs to continue.
Care providers should therefore view Adult First as an option available in eligible circumstances, not as a general replacement for completing the appropriate Enhanced DBS process.
Consistency matters as much as speed
Faster checks can be useful, but speed isn't the only measure of an effective screening process. Visibility matters too.
See what is happening
When several people are moving through recruitment, those responsible for screening need to understand who has completed their checks, what is still outstanding and where action may be required.
Screening technology can bring those stages together. EBC Global's employment screening platform, for example, provides candidate progress tracking and status updates, helping teams see what has been requested, completed or still requires attention.
Reduce repetitive administration
Workflows can be configured around the checks required for particular roles, while automation can handle repetitive tasks such as application and form reminders. This can reduce reliance on manual chasing while recruitment and People teams retain oversight.
A guided digital journey can also make the process easier for candidates, with features such as secure document upload, digital forms, progress updates and auto-save functionality.
Keep a clearer record
Visibility shouldn't stop once the checks are complete. A Final Vetting Report can bring completed background checks, screening results and compliance certificates into a single downloadable report, giving teams a clearer record of the screening completed for an individual.
For care providers, that can make completed screening easier to review and evidence without changing who makes the final recruitment decision.
Automation doesn't remove accountability
Human judgement remains essential. Technology cannot decide whether a particular DBS level is legally appropriate for a role, assess the significance of information disclosed during recruitment or determine whether an individual is ultimately suitable to work within a care setting.
Those decisions remain with the employer.
A useful question for care providers
Rather than asking simply, “Have we completed the DBS check?”, there is a broader question care providers can ask:
“Can we clearly demonstrate that we checked the right person, carried out the right checks for the role and made an informed recruitment decision?”
That changes the focus from completing an individual check to building a safer recruitment process.
It means establishing identity accurately, choosing the appropriate DBS level, confirming Right to Work separately, completing relevant employment and role-specific checks, maintaining visibility while those checks are underway and keeping a clear record of what was completed.
Technology can make that journey more consistent and less administratively demanding. Digital identity verification can strengthen confidence at the beginning of the process. Automation and progress tracking can provide greater visibility while screening is underway. And structured reporting can bring the evidence together once screening is complete.
But the foundation remains the same: understand the role, understand what each check tells you, and make informed recruitment decisions based on the complete picture.
Author/company bio
EBC Global provides automated employment background screening software solutions for employers, recruiters and compliance teams. Its solutions support DBS checks, digital identity verification, Right to Work, references and wider pre-employment screening, helping organisations manage candidate screening with greater automation, visibility and consistency.
Paragon surpasses £125 million in care home funding
Paragon Development Finance has committed more than £125 million of funding to care home schemes, supporting the delivery of over 550 beds across the UK since expanding into the sector last year, as demand for purpose-built care facilities continues to grow.
The milestone marks a significant step in Paragon Development Finance's diversification strategy, which has seen the business expand into sectors including build-to-rent, later living, purpose-built student accommodation, light industrial and, recently, care homes.
The specialist proposition, designed and led by Senior Relationship Director Adrian Reeves, was established to support experienced developers and operators delivering high-quality care accommodation nationwide, helping meet growing demand from an ageing population and the need for modern care infrastructure.
Following the strong start in this sector, the bank has built a strong pipeline of future opportunities and in response to growing demand, Adrian Reeves, and Lilly Sargeant, Senior Portfolio Manager, are now working exclusively with developers in the care home market, providing specialist expertise throughout the funding process.
Neal Moy, Managing Director of Development Finance at Paragon Bank, said: "This is a significant milestone and demonstrates the confidence developers and operators have in Paragon as a funding partner.
"As the UK's population ages, the need for high-quality care provision will only increase. Supporting experienced developers and operators to deliver the facilities communities need is a natural extension of our diversification strategy.”
Adrian Reeves, Senior Relationship Director at Paragon Development Finance, added: "The response to our care home proposition has exceeded expectations. Developers and operators tell us they are looking for funding partners who understand the unique characteristics of the sector, from construction and planning considerations through to operational requirements and long-term value drivers.
"By dedicating specialist resource to the market, we're able to provide the expertise, responsiveness and certainty that experienced care home developers require. We've built strong momentum in a relatively short period of time and have a substantial pipeline of opportunities that gives us confidence in the long-term prospects for the sector."
Schemes Paragon is supporting include a 71-bed home in Birmingham, a 75-bed facility providing residential and nursing care in Chester, and an 84-bed home in Middleton, Greater Manchester.
Paragon Development Finance works with hundreds of SME developers and operators across England and Wales and has funded the delivery of more than 16,000 homes since 2018.
To find out more about Paragon Bank’s Development Finance offering, visit: www.paragonbankinggroup.co.uk.
New Brain Health Centre marks a step change in dementia diagnosis and prevention
New Brain Health Centre marks a step change in dementia diagnosis and prevention
A UK-first brain health clinic that is set to transform how dementia is diagnosed, slowed down or prevented launches today (Monday 21 September), World Alzheimer's Day, in Manchester. Designed as a scalable model that could be adopted nationwide, it represents a major step forward in reshaping the UK's approach to brain health and dementia care.
Around one million people are living with dementia in the UK, yet at any time, a third do not have a diagnosis. Dementia risk is shaped by a mix of health, lifestyle and environmental factors, but there are positive steps people can take to reduce their risk.
The Manchester Brain Health Centre (MBHC) is a two-year pilot spearheaded by Alzheimer’s Society in partnership with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, The University of Manchester and supported by NHS Greater Manchester.
MBHC is a unique joined-up, single service bringing together psychiatrists, vascular specialists, clinical academics, and a multidisciplinary team to identify and support people at the earliest stages of memory loss. People will benefit from advanced diagnostic techniques such as MRI scans, lumbar punctures, heart health checks, and behavioural assessments, delivering an earlier and accurate diagnosis. This approach will also help identify underlying risk factors and inform the most effective treatment and support plan for individuals.
People who meet the requirements for the MBHC will be identified through existing memory assessment services and referred directly. Those who take part in the pilot in central Manchester will also be given the chance, if they are eligible, to take part in research and clinical trials.
Alzheimer’s Society Brain Health Advisers will work alongside NHS clinicians to offer personalised support, guidance and information to people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an early stage of memory and thinking changes, or dementia, as well as to anyone looking to improve their brain health through achievable lifestyle and health changes.
Michelle Dyson CB, Alzheimer’s Society Chief Executive Officer, said: “Dementia is the UK’s biggest killer, but it is not an inevitable part of ageing. Nearly half (45%) of dementia cases worldwide could be prevented or delayed by addressing health and lifestyle factors, throughout our lives, like high blood pressure.
“If we can identify people early enough, we can significantly improve their brain health and help put the brakes on dementia. The Manchester Brain Health Centre really is changing the game, and we are proud to be a partner. This model could be replicated in other regions, transforming the future for thousands of people at risk of dementia or in the early stages of memory loss.”
Professor Adam Greenstein, Consultant Geriatrician at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Clinical Scientist at University of Manchester and Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador, said: “The Manchester Brain Health Centre is a game-changing approach which brings together partners who believe that greater collaboration can help diagnose more people at an earlier stage and improve health outcomes. We are combining clinical and research expertise to identify people earlier, address risk factors such as high blood pressure, and support patients to live better for longer.
This is an innovative step towards a proactive approach to brain health, and we are creating a model which we believe could be adopted more widely. Through this pilot, we will be generating the evidence to support future service collaboration and development by clinical, research and academic teams across the country.”
Dr Ross Dunne, Consultant Later Life Psychiatrist and Dementia Research Lead at Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, said: “The Manchester Brain Health Centre is crucial to advancing our understanding and treatment of the diseases that cause dementia. Right now, the system is not set up for people when memory and thinking problems first appear. That is exactly when early diagnosis and treatment could have the greatest impact.
“We want the UK to be the best place in the world to get an early and accurate diagnosis. We can be a world leader in the research that will change the future of dementia. Together with our partners in Greater Manchester and Alzheimer's Society, our aim is to develop a model for brain health clinics nationwide.”
Dr Helen Beaumont's husband, Clive, was diagnosed with Young Onset Dementia at the age of 46. He died five years after his diagnosis, aged 51. Speaking about the importance of an early and accurate diagnosis, Helen, 75, from Manchester said: "Looking back now, it is clear that the signs were there for a while. Clive first went to his GP when he was 40 because he was struggling with reading and writing, but we were reassured it was nothing serious. As his symptoms worsened, he lost his job and gradually became unable to do the things he had always done with ease. We spent years searching for answers without understanding what was happening.
"When Clive was finally diagnosed with Young Onset Dementia, he was just 46. It took years to receive a diagnosis, and when we did, it was given to us over the phone from a consultant - after that we were largely left on our own. We had two young children and very little support. The diagnosis explained what had been happening, but it came far too late to spare our family years of uncertainty.
"As both a carer and now a dementia researcher, I know first-hand how much difference an earlier and more accurate diagnosis can make. It can help people understand what is happening, access the right support sooner and, increasingly, open the door to treatments and research opportunities.
"If a service like the Manchester Brain Health Centre had existed when Clive first began experiencing symptoms, it would have made an enormous difference to him and to our family. I hope it will mean future families have a very different experience from ours and more people affected by dementia can access the answers, support and opportunities they need at the earliest possible stage."
The Manchester Brain Health Centre’s pilot clinic is hosted at the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Clinical Research Facility (CRF): Manchester at Manchester Royal Infirmary.
If you’re worried about yourself, or someone close to you, then Alzheimer’s Society’s symptom checklist can help you start a conversation with a GP.
Visit alzheimers.org.uk/checklist or call their Dementia Support Line on 0333 150 3456.