News
UKHSA: More than three-quarters reported RSV outbreaks in care homes
Hallmark kicks off apprenticeship scheme for young people entering social care
Hallmark Luxury Care Homes has opened an apprenticeship programme in England offering up to 32 paid places for college leavers as part of a bid to support the future social care workforce. The provider said the scheme will be
Care homes accounted for more than three-quarters of all reported respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) outbreaks in England during the 2025-26 winter season, according to the latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) surveillance data. There were 274 RSV outbreaks reported
between week 40 of 2025 and week 14 of 2026, according to the data, with 75.9 per cent (208) taking place in care homes. A further 56 outbreaks were reported in educational settings, eight in hospitals, and one each in prisons and other settings. RSV is a common respiratory virus that
can lead to serious illness in older adults, particularly those with underlying health conditions or weakened immune systems. When mixed outbreaks involving RSV and another pathogen are included, care homes accounted for 79.9 per cent (287) of incidents, comprising 208 RSV outbreaks and 79 mixed outbreaks, according to the report. The findings underline the continuing
impact of seasonal respiratory viruses on older people’s care services, with residents among the groups most vulnerable to severe illness.
Infection prevention The UKHSA surveillance programme is used to monitor the spread of RSV across different settings and population groups, helping public health officials identify trends, understand which environments are most affected and inform infection prevention measures. The data also highlights the potential
severity of RSV outbreaks in care home settings. Separate UKHSA research examining English care homes during winter 2024-25 found RSV was identified in 222 outbreaks, accounting for around one in 10 acute respiratory infection outbreaks
reported by providers. Researchers noted that RSV outbreaks frequently occurred alongside other respiratory viruses, creating additional challenges for infection prevention and outbreak management. In a sample of outbreaks examined
through enhanced surveillance, 20 per cent of 350 residents with acute respiratory infection symptoms included in the study required hospital treatment and six per cent died. Researchers concluded that care home residents remain particularly vulnerable to severe RSV-related illness because of advanced age, frailty and underlying health conditions. The outbreak figures come as NHS
England and UKHSA continue to expand the national RSV vaccination programme. All residents in care homes for older adults are eligible for the vaccine because of their increased risk of serious illness and the potential for outbreaks to spread rapidly in communal care settings, according to government guidance.
Wider eligibility Eligibility has been widened further this winter to include certain adults aged 65 to 74 with weakened immune systems or long-term respiratory conditions, alongside existing eligibility for people aged 75 and over and residents of older people’s care homes. UKHSA’s latest surveillance report
suggested vaccination is already having an impact, with the data showing lower RSV activity across several surveillance indicators as vaccination programmes took fuller effect. It also identified a sustained reduction in RSV-related hospitalisation rates among vaccinated adults aged 75 to 80. By the end of May 2026, 65 per cent of eligible older adults in England had received an RSV vaccine, according to the report.
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www.thecarehomeenvironment September 2026
open to 18 to 21-year-olds and will offer an annual salary of £23,000 alongside funded qualifications, coaching, mentoring and leadership development opportunities. Apprentices joining the programme
from the end of September will gain hands-on experience in Hallmark’s care homes while working towards nationally recognised qualifications. The company said participants will
have opportunities to progress through Levels two, three and five during their careers.
Hallmark operates 23 care homes
across England and Wales and said the initiative forms part of its workforce and succession planning strategy. Head of people development and projects Claire Collen said: “Adult social care offers an incredibly rewarding career, but many young people don’t realise the breadth of opportunities available. “Our new apprenticeship programme
has been designed to give college leavers the confidence, skills and support to begin a meaningful career while earning a competitive salary, gaining recognised qualifications and developing valuable hands-on experience.” The announcement comes following the new prime minister Andy Burnham’s announcement that he had asked health and care ministers to take “an immediate focus” on “bigger reform” to “lift up” the social care workforce to address training and integration with NHS staff, alongside the Fair Pay Agreement reforms currently in progress.
Applications for the Hallmark apprenticeship programme are open, with successful candidates due to start at the end of September.
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