no.268 • £4.75 incorporating
February 2019
The Number One magazine for the care sector
Conference dates and speakers revealed
‘Give elderly hope’ urges group chair By Dominic Musgrave
A PROVIDER has called on the Government to publish the Green Paper on social care and give 1.4m people currently going without care some hope for 2019. Mike Padgham, chair of the Independent Care Group, has published a New Year message, urging the Government to take action on the crisis in social care in the coming 12 months. In his message he said: “This year all the noise was about Brexit. Important as that undoubtedly is – and will be for many, many months to come – it is appalling how that debate has dominated all else. “Crime, education, health and the care of the youngest and oldest people in this country have all been pushed down the priority list. “Whichever side of the Brexit debate you are on, that cannot be a healthy state of affairs for Britain as we head into 2019.” He said the Government Green Paper on social care has now been delayed at least four times, with no date set for when it will be published. “If Brexit has a backstop, then social care should have a backstop too, over when the Green Paper is published, as we cannot wait any longer,” Mike added.
“Carers didn’t get much of a break this festive period. If the Government was truly concerned about the care of our most vulnerable they should have worked a day longer or should go back a day earlier, to start tackling the crisis. “Let’s see real change in social care in 2019 and not another year of drift. Then we can all have a Happy New Year.” In the message he called for: n An overhaul of the way social care is planned and funded, merging it with NHS health care. n Support for care providers, including making care zero-rated for VAT. n Proper reward for care staff, including a minimum wage above the National Minimum Wage. n Dementia to be treated as a health issue. n A cap on social care costs, including ‘hotel’ charges. n A whole new model for delivering care based on catchment areas like GPs operate. n Greater power for the CQC to oversee commissioning to ensure that people are getting the care they need. n What do you think? Let healthcare editor Dominic Musgrave know by emailing dm@ scriptmedia.co.uk
A former art student who discovered a talent for chainsaw sculpture has created a magnificent menagerie of woodland creatures. The collection of giant squirrels, owls and hawks carved by Paul Morris now adorn the grounds of the Pendine Park Care Organisation in the leafy suburbs of Wrexham. Paul, who is a skilled member of Pendine’s gardening and maintenance team, wanted to add colour to the rolling 11-acres at the and give the residents something extra to enjoy. He is currently working on one of his most ambitious projects yet as he carves out a grizzly bear at the personal request of proprietor Mario Kreft MBE.
THE line-up of speakers has been revealed for Caring UK’s conferences, which begin in April. The way to ‘Outstanding’ care events takes place at Ashford International Hotel and Bournemouth Football Club on April 10 and 11 respectively. Speakers already confirmed for this year’s events include National Care Association chairman Nadra Ahmed OBE, Dr Michele Board, principal academic in nursing older people at the Faculty of Health and Social Science at Bournemouth University and Vic Rayner, executive director of the National Care Forum. Delegates will also hear from representatives from the CQC, Skills for Care and Oomph! Wellness. An exhibition showcasing the latest products, advice and technology for a care home will run alongside all of the conferences. Further events are planned to take place on July 9 and 10 at St Mellion International Resort, Plymouth and Webbington Hall, Weston-super-Mare respectively. Conferences will also be held at Colchester United Football Club on October 23 and York racecourse on November 6. For more information visit www. caringukconferences.co.uk or see the adverts in this month’s magazine.
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