01
17/8/10
16:03
Page 1
September 2010
incorporating The Number One magazine for the care sector
no.172 • £4.75 In association with
Immigration changes pose closure threat By Dominic Musgrave UP to a third of all care and nursing homes may be forced to close due to new Home Office rules on immigration, it has been claimed. Philip Longbottom, immigration adviser at Aidmark, says a six-month ban on facilities employing tier two staff such as RGNs or shift leaders from overseas will ‘cause havoc’ for the industry. He told Caring UK that the decision to stop allocating certificates to go with the required licence for recruiting could lead to homes having to close. Philip added: “All care and nursing businesses in the UK need to have a tier two licence costing £300 for four years to employ key staff from overseas once they have proved that there is a shortage in this country and across Europe. “Some roles are very hard to fill, and I would estimate that around 35 per cent of these are filled with people from overseas, so they are effectively keeping them open. “Previously, a care home operator asked for a number of certificates to be put on their licence for the year – some to be used so they could retain the staff they currently employ and
others should they need to replace anybody who may leave. The ability has been taken away due to the removal of certificates and I have clients who because they didn’t need to use them last year have had them taken away for this.” Philip believes many home operators are unaware of the situation, and is advising anybody affected to write to their MP and the minister of immigration in the hope something might change. He added: “I would advise anybody who hasn’t got a licence to get one in place, even though they are effectively worthless at the moment, because a care home will need one to begin recruiting again if and when the Government finally sees sense about this matter. “They are making this up as they go along, and don’t realise it is going to have a shambolic effect on the industry. Up to one million elderly people could be affected by care homes closing. They will have to go somewhere, and that will probably lead to bed blocking in hospitals, which simply cannot cope.” For more on the immigration crisis affecting care homes, Page 7
Supergran hosts themed launch A TRURO care home turned back the clock and hosted a 1950s themed launch party for a local radio station’s new request show. Hosted by Source FM presenter Supergran (Glenys McMahon), the event at Cornwall Care’s Redannick was free for all of the company’s clients across the county and included a buffet, stalls, games and raffle. Chief executive Douglas Webb said: “We were delighted that ‘Supergran’ chose to launch her radio show by broadcasting live from Redannick, and enjoyed welcoming clients from across the county for what was a fantastic afternoon of fun, games and music.” Actor Ryan Thomas opened a new reminiscence room at a Salford care home. Best known for his roles as Jason Grimshaw in Coronation Street, the actor unveiled a plaque at an open day at Highview, which was also attended by the local mayor and mayoress. Full story, Page 8
Glenys is famous in Cornwall for her discos where she plays music for older people, either at private parties, or functions in residential homes and day centres.