Heat-health alert for East of England

A red heat-health warning has been issued by the UKHSA. The warning is in effect from the morning of 24 June 2026 through to the night of 25 Jun 2026. Please ensure you keep up to date with weather reports reports and plan accordingly.

UKHSA weather warning guidance

The Supreme Court's judgment on deprivation of liberty

You may be aware that the Supreme Court has recently issued a judgment which significantly changes the legal approach to determining whether a person is deprived of their liberty. The judgement can be seen here A Reference by the Attorney General for Northern Ireland of a devolution issue under paragraph 34 o….

We would encourage you to familiarise yourselves with the judgment and carefully consider the implications for your services and practice. Please see the following links for further information: CQC statement on the Supreme Court's judgment on deprivation of liberty - Care Quality Commission and 2026-UKSC-16-Summary-for-website.pdf.

We ask that you refer to this updated position when making any new referrals to the DoLS team.  In addition, as the change came into effect immediately from 2 June, please review any recent DoLS referrals you have made. You should consider whether, in light of this revised approach, any of these referrals may no longer be appropriate.

We hope this offers reassurance whilst we wait for additional National guidance to be disseminated.  At this stage we don’t have further information, but if you have a specific query, you can contact the MCA DoLS Duty Team at Dolforms@essex.gov.uk

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Emergency Planning and Business Continuity

Why It Matters

Being prepared for emergencies and business continuity incidents is essential for the safety of employees and those in your care. Robust plans and regular checks help ensure quick, effective responses when needed.

 

Essential Checks and Actions
  • Fire Drills
    Conduct drills at least annually. Record results and implement improvements.
    Reference: Fire Safety in the Workplace – gov.uk
  • Fire Alarm Testing
    Schedule tests with the Fire Service or qualified professionals every six months.
    Reference: PHS Compliance
  • Emergency Equipment
    Review emergency equipment stocks regularly. Assign responsibility or use a rota system.
  • Fire Risk Assessments
    Review and update assessments whenever significant changes occur.
    Reference: Essex Fire and Rescue
  • Business Continuity Plans
    Review plans annually. Use the toolkit for guidance:
    Reference: Business Continuity Management Toolkit – gov.uk

 

Case Study: Ramsey Care Home Fire (2024)

A successful evacuation during the Ramsey Care Home fire highlights the importance of emergency preparedness and robust Business Continuity planning.
Watch the video:

✅ Take Action Today: Review your plans, schedule checks, and ensure your team is prepared.

Last updated: 12/01/2026