Methods and apparatus for encoding and decoding a downlink control channel transmission, such as but not exclusively a High Speed Signalling Control Channel, HS-SCCH, transmission, in a wireless communications network. A method in a network node for encoding a downlink control channel transmission, comprises determining that channel conditions are below a threshold level, and in response to determining that channel conditions are below the threshold level, performing at least one of: encoding one or more predetermined control information bits into the downlink control channel transmission, and encoding a reduced number of control information bits into the downlink control channel transmission by omitting one or more control information bits, wherein the one or more omitted control information bits are predetermined control information bits. The method further comprises transmitting the downlink control channel transmission to a user equipment. A method in a user equipment for decoding a downlink control channel transmission, comprises receiving the downlink control channel transmission, and decoding the downlink control channel transmission based on knowledge of the predetermined control information bits.