Homecare
60% of homecare providers rejecting referrals
Almost two-thirds of homecare providers are turning down referrals due to staff shortages, according to new research.
ADASS: More than half a million people now waiting for social care
More than 500,000 people are now waiting for social care and since spring 2021 there has been a seven-fold increase in the number of hours a week of home care that could not be delivered.
Counting the cost of care in Wiltshire
Wiltshire CC has been considering the potential ‘eye-watering’ cost of implementing the Government’s reforms to adult social care, says Cllr Richard Clewer. It is imperative the council is fully funded to achieve the changes, he adds.
We need action, not a taskforce
The Levelling Up White Paper announced a taskforce into the lack of housing with care for the retired. Michael Burton argues this poorly-provided sector is another example of the dearth of policy for reducing long-term pressures on the NHS and care.
Celebrating those helping to keep us safe
Hertfordshire is proposing to use the adult care precept to increase pay for those working in care. The funding is the latest in a series of policy decisions to invest in frontline health and social care roles. Cllr Richard Roberts explains.
What reform of adult social care should look like
Ahead of the National Children and Adult Services Conference this week, ADASS trustee Cath Roff outlines the four elements she believes should be at the heart of social care reform.
We need a complete overhaul of who owns and delivers adult social care
Proposals to fund social care through National Insurance Contributions are not only wrongheaded but they miss the wider point of what ails the sector, argues Tom Lloyd Goodwin.
Delivering on the potential of home care
Chris Thomas says other countries have identified the chance to put care at home at the centre of their social policy agenda – ‘and the UK should have the same ambition’.
Welcome to ‘the Age of Intermediate Care’
An additional £1.3bn in COVID emergency funding last March ‘jump-started’ Intermediate Care, say Iain MacBeath and Ralph Cook. If this focus continues the results would be game-changing, they add.
Government should invest wisely to harness ‘robot power’
Steve Carefull examines how we can create the conditions for initiatives such as cobots to be scaled into the mainstream to mitigate the UK’s social care workforce challenge.
Give local councils freedoms on workforce vaccination
Councils need the freedoms and flexibilities to determine which parts of their workforce should be prioritised for vaccination, whether they fit the official ‘key worker’ definition or not, says Paul Najsarek.
One in nine care workers not tested weekly
A government pledge to test all care home staff every seven days is not being met, according to a survey published today.
No place like home
Building on its experiences earlier in the pandemic, Reading Council’s ‘Home First’ is its embedded approach for those leaving hospital or needing more support. Cllr Tony Jones explains why.
Digitising the front door to care
A new 'white paper' report by consultancy Agilisys outlines how technology can help lead the rethink of the care sector. Author Steve Morgan talks to Michael Burton of The MJ about some of the solutions.
Using technology to help in the second wave
The pandemic has opened people’s eyes to the possibilities of technology in social care and this winter the benefits are going to be more important than ever, says Mark Kennion.
Pay boost for care workers following tribunal
A group of homecare workers have been awarded £100,000 in backdated pay in a tribunal ruling that could have further implications for the sector.
A Sisyphean task for health and social care?
Magda Stainton at Veredus looks at the issue of health and social care integration, and ponders if things would improve under ownership of the NHS.
Is COVID-19 the turning point for commissioning?
The coronavirus crisis has tested care to the limit, but it could serve as a turning point for commissioning, writes Ewan King.
The very big and the very small
Chief executive of Shared Lives Plus Alex Fox outlines three ways we might move from thinking big to thinking small as the crisis moves into its ‘new normal’ phase.
The challenge of discharging post COVID-19 patients - an OT perspective
Councils need to focus on ensuring their services are in as good a shape as possible for the incoming wave of need. OT can play a significant part in this, says Nikki Thompson.