Social care sector may be safeguarded from post-Brexit immigration laws

Care Home Professional, 13 August 2019

The government is looking at plans to exempt the social care sector from a proposed post-Brexit migration policy over fears that it could worsen the workforce crisis. The news came from a Whitehall source, who said a no-deal Brexit could lead to the social care system collapsing by Christmas. “Leaving the EU in October is a different prospect from March, creating a perfect storm. Some workers leave the social care system to take up seasonal retail work as it is better paid,” the source told The Times. “This will be coupled with the potential exodus of the migrant workers and an influx of expats.” The government has proposed that migrants coming to the UK post-Brexit would face a £30,000 minimum salary threshold.

Brexit planning guidance published

Department of Health and Social Care, 12 August 2019

The planning guidance for adult social care providers covers:

• Supply of medicines, medical devices and clinical consumables
• Supply of non-clinical consumables, goods and services
• Business continuity plans
• Workforce
• Recognition of professional qualifications
• Data sharing, processing and access
• Help and who to contact

The rise and rise of self-pay fees

Care Home Management, 6 August 2019

As local authority care home fees remain frozen in many areas, the prices paid by self-funding residents are sharply rising year-on-year. This feature explores the reasons.

Kate Terroni talks innovation and technology in care

Care Home Professional, 6 August 2019

Kate Terroni, the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, discusses how technology and innovation can enhance the quality of care.

Ombudsman issues annual review of complaints

Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman, August 2019

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has launched its annual review of local government complaints for 2018-19, and with it an, interactive map to make each council’s information easily available. The report shows the Ombudsman registered 16,899 complaints and enquiries over the period, more than a third of which were about Children and Education Services, and Adult Social Care. The North East has the highest proportion of Adult Care complaints upheld, with the East Midlands area having the lowest.

Barchester issued with letter before action over admin and after death fees

Care Home Professional, 26 July 2019

A letter before action has been issued by the CMA to Barchester Healthcare in relation to administration fees and charges following a resident’s death. The action comes as part of the CMA’s probe into potential care home breaches of consumer law for which it was handed new powers to fine by the government in June.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson vows to fix the social care crisis

Care Home Professional, 25 July 2019

In his first speech after becoming Prime Minister he said: “My job is to protect you or your parents or grandparents from the fear of having to sell your home to pay for the cost of care.”

Tribunal upholds CQC decision to refuse ‘campus style’ accommodation

Laing Buisson, 8 August 2019

In April 2018 the support services care provider applied to add an additional care facility at Springside in Walsall, West Midlands. The regulator visited the location in April last year and found the proposed care home had an ‘institutional appearance’ and looked more like a hospital. The regulator also found it did not follow the national guidance which advocates small domestic models of care and dispersed settings.

In September, the CQC confirmed it would refuse the variation in registration. Lifeways submitted an appeal against the CQC’s decision in October. The panel’s unanimous view was that it ‘was obvious the proposed care home had an institutional look to it and clearly had characteristics of a campus style setting’ and the proposal was ‘completely inappropriate’ with reference to the national guidance and policy.

DHSC announces £6.4bn Better Care Fund for 2019-20

Care Home Management, 22 July 2019

The DHSC describes this year’s funding arrangements as a “year of minimal change for the fund, with the national conditions remaining the same and the average delayed discharge target maintained. The planning requirements are available here.