July 2019 specialist healthcare business agents If you're thinking about selling, talk to us. We only sell care businesses. That's what makes us specialists.
01937 849 268 www.dccare.co.uk sales@dccare.co.uk
no.273 • £4.75 incorporating
The Number One magazine for the care sector
Time running out to enter your home for awards
Shock figures revealed in new survey SHOCK new figures show that more than 15 per cent of care homes and domiciliary care companies in Wales don’t expect to be in business in five years’ time. According to Care Forum Wales, a survey they have conducted revealed that the way social care is funded by local councils and local health boards is dictating the low levels of pay in the sector. They say the problem caused by their unfair funding formulas is also “perpetuating pay inequality for women” who make up the vast majority of the social care workforce. As a result, it was becoming increasingly difficult to recruit and retain care practitioners who could earn more stocking shelves in budget supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl. The survey was conducted at a series of workshops for providers organised by Care Forum Wales in St Asaph, Llanelli and Cardiff. It showed that 84 per cent of those who responded said low pay in the sector made it more difficult to recruit and retain staff while 96 per cent believed that increasing pay levels would be a big help. Meanwhile, 16 per cent of those who took part didn’t expect to be in business in five years’ time. Chair Mario Kreft MBE said: “There
is a major issue in relation to gender equality. Between 80 and 90 per cent of the people who work in social care are women so the formula used by councils and health boards to determine fees has the effect of discriminating against women and perpetuating low pay. “It shows a complete lack of respect for the sector in general and women in particular at a time when the workforce needs to know that they are valued collectively and as individuals providing an essential service. “This survey has provided us with the most up to date litmus test on the views of the social care leaders on the front line, who are employing tens of thousands of workers in Wales, and it’s very clear that the challenges are many and deep. “The one core issue that’s coming through loud and clear is low fees and the disastrous impact that’s having on the morale of the workforce.” A separate survey conducted by the Welsh Government showed that the spectre of Brexit was making the situation even worse. Care Forum Wales estimates more than 1,500 beds could be lost in Wales between now and 2024, with domiciliary care being equally badly affected.
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TV personality Richard Madeley has backed a homecare company’s efforts raising awareness of dementia. During Dementia Action Week 2019, Home Instead Senior Care celebrated a milestone of creating 22,000 Dementia Friends across the UK. The Alzheimer’s Society initiative aims to give people a better understanding of dementia, and its Champions run awareness sessions to create ‘Dementia Friends’. The homecare business has been working closely with Alzheimer’s Society to raise awareness of the importance of dementia care and was one of the main sponsors of its annual conference, chaired by Richard, which had more than 400 attendees.
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TIME is running out to submit your Caring UK Awards’ entries, with nominations for this year closing on August 30. The free to enter Caring UK Awards, in partnership with Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank, recognise excellence and achievement throughout the care industry and recognising team efforts across the UK. They have been created to highlight and pay tribute to the care home teams who make an outstanding contribution to caring for the elderly. Taking place on Friday November 15 at The Athena in Leicester, there are more than 20 trophies up for grabs at this year’s awards including Regional Care Home of the Year, Care Employer of the Year, Care Team of the Year and Activities Team of the Year. Derek Breingan, national head of health and social care sector at Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank, said: “With so much media attention on the Care Sector currently it is more important than ever to ensure that the fantastic work that is undertaken in care services across the country is positively recognised and highlighted. “As an important sector that Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank supports we are delighted to again be main sponsors of these Awards and to help to further promote everything that is good about the industry.”
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