July 2016
no.241 • £4.75 incorporating
The Number One magazine for the care sector
Country’s care homes should be ‘cherished’
By Dominic Musgrave
A LEADING social care spokesman has urged the country to cherish its vital network of care homes as they face an uncertain future. Speaking ahead of the recent National Care Home Open Day, Mike Padgham says the country has wonderful care homes that are envied the world over. But he fears that serious underfunding and spiralling costs means that some homes are facing a struggle for survival. “National Care Home Open Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and cherish the fantastic work that care homes do, up and down the country, 365 days a year to look after frail and vulnerable people who can no longer look after themselves,” he said. “But we must cherish and protect them as their future looks increasingly uncertain.” This year’s fourth open day had the theme celebration and was an opportunity to showcase the work care homes do and dispel the myths that exist. Mike, chair of the Independent Care Group (York and North Yorkshire), added: “We are truly blessed in this country to have such a wide variety of wonderful care homes, staffed by excellent, dedicated and committed staff who
work round the clock to provide outstanding and compassionate care to people who cannot live without it. “The open day demonstrated that to the country as homes opened their doors to the public to put on show the care they offer. “But at the same time we have to face up to the fact that the future for our care homes is uncertain to say the least. Unless we wake up and properly fund social care, because of funding pressures and rising costs, we will lose some homes altogether. When they are gone and people are struggling to find places for older and vulnerable adults to live, it could be too late to do anything about it.” According to recent research, a quarter of care homes in the UK are in danger of going under within three years. From a market of 20,000 homes (run by 6,000 operators) – some 5,000 are at risk because of debt, difficulty covering loan repayments and rising costs. Laing Buisson say in the 12 months to September 2015, more than 7,700 care beds were lost in England, against 6,100 new beds being opened – a net loss of 1,600 beds. By the end of summer 2016, a further 2,500 care beds will be lost, suggesting a loss of more than 4,000 care beds in just two years.
Line-up of conference speakers is confirmed
UKHCA chief executive Bridget Warr has been recognised in the Queen’s birthday honours list. She was awarded a CBE in recognition of her contribution to social care and the voluntary sector. Bridget said: “I was delighted and humbled to receive this nomination. It is so encouraging that social care in all its guises is becoming well recognised as a vital service. It is essential that people in vulnerable situations can be confident that their health and wellbeing is valued by society.”
THE third of this year’s Caring UK care providers conferences takes place at York Racecourse next month. Featuring a stellar line-up of speakers talking about a range of topics, as well as an extensive exhibition showcasing all the latest products and technology, Elderly Care: Leading the Way is a must-attend event for the region’s care home and domiciliary care operators/ managers. Taking place on Wednesday July 13, speakers confirmed for the event include Nadra Ahmed OBE, chairman of the National Care Association, Angela Thompson, locality manager for Skills for Care, Ros Sanderson, head of inspection for the CQC and Lynn Kennedy, learning and development officer at Stirling University (DSDC). Also speaking will be FISC Healthcare managing director Eddy Fishwick, Care Protect MD Philip Scott, OOMPH! heading of training Steven Gardner and Active Minds founder Ben Atkinson-Willes. n Full details of how to book your place at this event or our conferences later in the year in Plymouth on October 5 and Cheltenham on October 6 are available on pages 25 and 26.