CT December 19 Cover.qxp_Layout 1 08/11/2019 10:13 Page 1 www.careinfo.org Staff / recruitment... Property marketplace... Innovation... Expert analysis... Managers: ‘we need Falls prevention: to be in the office’ managing the risk Suspension of ratings: Staffing remains fair to all concerned? the big worry December 2019 Social care business management DESIGNS FOR LIFE RETIREMENT LIVING TAKES UP THE CARE CHALLENGE 02-17CT1219gh.qxp_Layout 1 08/11/2019 14:28 Page 2 02-17CT1219gh.qxp_Layout 1 08/11/2019 14:28 Page 3 December 2019 www.careinfo.org ## # #### ## ## # inside### ## # OFF THE FLOOR Survey shows most managers think 4 their time is best spent in the office INTERIM MEASURE Ridout’s CAROLINE BARKER questions 12 the fairness of suspension of ratings 30-33 RETIREMENT LIVING FALLS PREVENTION Lester Aldridge’s SARAH PRICE 14 advises on managing the risk TAKES UP THE CARE CHALLENGE NATIONAL TREASURES Care workers continue to be undervalued, 23 says Care Forum Wales’s MARIO KREFT MEET THE REGULATORY RISK Caring Times editor GEOFF HODGSON FINALISTS! 26 reports on the Ridouts 2019 Symposium SEE PAGE 18 MARKET SURVEY Knight Frank report shows staffing 42 remains the biggest concern Join us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Find us on LinkedIn facebook.com/pages/Caring-Times/412487745449499 twitter.com/caring_times uk.linkedin.com/pub/richard-hawkins/16/118/28a 3 02-17CT1219gh.qxp_Layout 1 08/11/2019 14:28 Page 4 December 2019 news www.careinfo.org Research suggests managers’ time is better spent in office Market research conducted by the Professional divi- time caring for residents, and 38% said sion of Miele at Health Plus Care suggests that most their time is spent 50/50 between the care home managers believe their residents would two. When asked how highly they rated get greater benefit if they spent more time focusing themselves, care home managers were on management and back office responsibilities. generally confident in their skills in finance, More than half of respondents said they felt they operations and new business, marking spend too much time personally carrying out care, themselves at five out of 10 or above. Yet rather than managing the business. skills in HR and technology were generally The survey sample was taken from care home not rated as highly. managers who attended this year’s Health Plus Care Clare Humphrey, business account show at ExCeL London. Participants were asked how manager for care at the Professional highly they rated their business skills, and where they division of Miele, said it was promising thought their time was best spent. 44% of respon- to see that care home managers were dents said they don’t spend enough time managing generally confident in their ability to the business, with 6% saying they spend most of their carry out operations effectively, and that they realised the benefits of dedicating appropriate attention to the vital ‘behind the Editorial & advertising scenes’ administration. “Striking the ideal balance between time spent in Investor Publishing Ltd, 1st Floor, Greener House, 66-68 Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4RF “By dedicating time to managerial tasks, such as the back office and on the floor is difficult, but Tel: 020 7720 2109 • Fax: 020 7451 7051. recruiting and sourcing the most cost-effective managers should aim for a ratio of around 75% to Website: careinfo.org equipment and provisions, managers can drive 25%, so they can effectively manage the business, Annual subscriptions: UK £70 pa, efficiencies throughout the business to help it be but also take time to focus directly on the residents Europe £90 pa, Rest of world £100pa profitable and remain open despite the challenging to ensure all their needs are being met and that Cheques payable to: “HAV 2018 Ltd” 1st floor Greener market conditions,” said Ms Humphrey. they’re receiving the best standard of care possible.” House, 66-68 Haymarket, London, SW1Y 4RF Tel: 020 7104 2000 • Fax: 020 7451 7051 Editor Geoff Hodgson – 01929 556827 [email protected] Best wishes of the season to all our readers, advertisers, Design and production Andrew Chapman [email protected] residents and care workers everywhere. Editor-in-chief Dr Richard Hawkins Sub-editor Charles Wheeldon Managing director Vernon Baxter Caring Times is published eleven times a year by COMPANY INDEX Investor Publishing Ltd. ISSN 0953-4873 Printed by GD Web Offset Ltd, Wath-upon-Dearne Average net circulation of 9,606 (July 2017 – June 2018) Abbeyfield North Northumberland Hightown Support . .40 © Investor Publishing Ltd 2019 Extra Care Society . .8 Housing Plus . 41 Deadlines forJanuary issue accomplish . .8 Kepplegate House . .9 4 Display advert. space booking: November 18 Audley Group . .16 Display advertising copy: November 26 Malhotra Group . .16 Product news copy: November 26 Balhousie Care . .34 McCarthy & Stone . .33, 36 Editorial copy: November 22 BishopshouseRCG & StBenetsRCG . 45 The views expressed in Caring Times are not necessarily Meallmore . .40 Borough Care . .17 those of the editor or publishers. MHA . .24 Brunelcare . 16, 17, 22 Caring Times™ and the CT® logo are registered trademarks of Outlook Care . 17 HAV 2018 Limited Bupa . .8 Priory Adult Care . 8 CareUK . .8 Reach the right audience... Caring Homes . .34 Randolph Hill Nursing Homes . 17 Runwood . .40 Contact Caroline Bowern to discuss your Cornerstone Healthcare . 17 advertising or sponsorship requirements Exemplar Health Care . 17 Silver Healthcare . .6 on 07974 643292 or email Hallmark Care Homes . .10 St Anne’s Community Services . 8 [email protected] Hft . .16 Whiteley Homes Trust . .38 02-17CT1219gh.qxp_Layout 1 08/11/2019 14:28 Page 5 02-17CT1219gh.qxp_Layout 1 08/11/2019 14:28 Page 6 December 2019 news www.careinfo.org Nurse shortage and underfunding compel the closure of a nursing home in Sheffield Inadequate government funding and qualified staff “Care providers like myself have been shortage are the reasons given by a Sheffield care desperately hanging on for the Government's home operator for closing his only nursing home. social care green paper which has promised to Roy Young, whose Silver Healthcare runs three address underfunding in the sector. This has now homes in Sheffield, says it was the hardest decision been delayed six times in the past 18 months and of his 30-year career in social care to close the has left me with no choice but to cease trading at 40-bed Fulwood Lodge at the end of September. Fulwood Lodge and concentrate my efforts on He has assured relatives that the seamless providing the very best care at my Rosebank and relocation of all residents is his top priority and he is Leahyrst homes.” working closely with Social Services and the NHS Mr Young said there were major differentials in on the transition. fee levels from area to area and city to city and care Silver Healthcare's two other homes – Rosebank homes in Sheffield were without doubt underfunded and Leahyrst, which specialise in dementia care when compared to other areas in the country. Shrinking provision: staff costs and and have substantially lower running costs as they “It is very difficult to understand, and confusing, inadequate fees have forced the closure don't require registered nurses like Fulwood does – why such significant differences should exist,” he of the 40-bed Fullwood Lodge. are unaffected by the closure. said. "The shortfall in fees can be very substantial “Government cuts, increased staff wages, and financially challenging of my career and I have with the difference in fee levels running into well agency costs and reducing local authority budgets ploughed a considerable amount of personal over six figures a year per home – this fact alone have made the future of the home unsustainable,” funding into Fulwood Lodge in a bid to keep it open highlights very strongly that we're not competing on said Mr Young. and maintain the highest standards of care possible.” a level playing field. More than 100 care homes “Central government's underfunding of the care Mr Young said his decision to close the nursing ceased trading across the country in 2018. sector has been a highly publicised issue for many home was purely a financial one and had nothing “I have always considered it totally unfair to rely years. Care providers have had to deal with to do with how the home is being run. on the continual increase in the fee level expected increasing expenditures year-on-year, making the “Fulwood is rated ‘Good' by the CQC , employs from private funders to help support the long-term future of many homes unmanageable. a good manager, a good deputy manager and a underfunding from the local council. Without it “The last two years have been the most stressful good staff team throughout,” he said. however, the majority of homes may not survive.” Younger people will consider a career in care Younger people in England aged 18-34 are the right values to help fill the 122,000 vacancies Caroline Dinenage: most likely to consider applying for a job in adult across the sector. ‘We have over a million brilliant social care, according to a survey commissioned by The interest from younger people who will form people working in the sector, the Department of Health and Social Care. The the next generation of adult social care workers has but we urgently need new survey of 2,020 adults shows: been welcomed. The average age of those working talent to ensure we can I 64% of 18-34 year olds would consider a career in in the sector is 45 years old, and around 385,000 continue to provide support jobs are held by people aged 55 years old who are adult social care. for those who need it.’ likely to retire in the next ten years.