Continuing with last week’s more upbeat note, I enjoyed the recent article on the Health Investor News site “Weathering the Storm”.
In it, Kenneth MacKenzie, the Managing Partner of Target Advisers on behalf of AEGON, points to the opportunities for commercial care home providers to take on new work as local authorities close many more of their care homes.
He says that 2011 will see a sharp rise in the number of Local Authority care homes being closed as the necessity to cut expenditure outweighs the political difficulties in closing council run homes.
Whilst nobody rejoices at care home closures, LAs are to be applauded for making tough and sometimes politically sensitive decisions; but closing relatively inefficient and expensive council run homes shows strong and sensible leadership.
Ideal Care Homes have helped several councils recently to make trouble free closures by developing brand new care homes in close proximity to council run homes, enabling residents and their families to move with peace of mind.
Ideal Care Homes sister company, LNT Construction has redeveloped 10 former LA care home sites since 2005 and is currently in discussions with seven LAs about redevelopment programmes.
This is in addition to our current development pipeline of 38 new care homes nationwide, bringing over 2,000 beds in great places to live over the next 20 months.
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Thursday, 19 May 2011
A home should take time to make the first resident feel welcome
Last week in our new Calderdale care home, Savile Park, we welcomed our first resident, Mrs Anne Baines into her new home.
I know that Mrs Baines has lived only a few miles from the Savile Park vicinity for most of her life so I’m really pleased that she will be living in an area which she knows so well. We never under estimate what a big step it is moving into a new environment but I know that Paula, the home manager, and her team of carers will go to every length to make sure the move is as smooth as possible.
We arranged a special buffet lunch for the former secretary of Rawson Infant & Junior School in Boothtown, and also gave her a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Here she is below pictured with our MD Mark Greaves.
Mrs Baines who was a regular tennis player at Crow Wood Park of Sowerby Bridge, was delighted to have her best and oldest friend, Mr Jim Kershaw move into the home on a short-term basis. Savile Park’s third resident, Mr John Ketley, was also at the lunch, where we presented both gentlemen with welcome gifts.
Savile Park is a luxurious, specialist dementia home and provides residency for 55 people. We pride ourselves on making our homes great places to live. We welcome both private and local authority residents, and charge no top-up fees making it - and all homes in the Ideal Care Homes group – a place that people can afford to live.
I know that Mrs Baines has lived only a few miles from the Savile Park vicinity for most of her life so I’m really pleased that she will be living in an area which she knows so well. We never under estimate what a big step it is moving into a new environment but I know that Paula, the home manager, and her team of carers will go to every length to make sure the move is as smooth as possible.
We arranged a special buffet lunch for the former secretary of Rawson Infant & Junior School in Boothtown, and also gave her a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Here she is below pictured with our MD Mark Greaves.
Mrs Baines who was a regular tennis player at Crow Wood Park of Sowerby Bridge, was delighted to have her best and oldest friend, Mr Jim Kershaw move into the home on a short-term basis. Savile Park’s third resident, Mr John Ketley, was also at the lunch, where we presented both gentlemen with welcome gifts.
Savile Park is a luxurious, specialist dementia home and provides residency for 55 people. We pride ourselves on making our homes great places to live. We welcome both private and local authority residents, and charge no top-up fees making it - and all homes in the Ideal Care Homes group – a place that people can afford to live.
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
A more positive portrayal of the social care sector
Reading the new edition of Care Talk, I was warmed by the voice over article in which a selection of front line care staff was asked: “What they would change about social care if they had a magic wand?” One of their key points was to have a more positive portrayal of the sector in the media. I couldn’t agree more.
In my view there has never been a more rewarding time to be developing an elderly care business and at home level there are a lot more good news stories around the country that rarely get reported in the press. I’m not sure whether it’s the satisfaction of knowing one can make a difference to people's lives, or see the appreciation of relatives and even staff as they too, see the results of combined and happy effort - in our case, often started by simply providing really comfortable and attractive care homes. Or is the fact that all of this can be delivered at such fantastic value? Who knows?
However, one could be forgiven for thinking that the social care sector is on the ropes when a lot of people are constantly soaked in bad news most of which is usually ‘complaint’ based, be it financial or regulatory. Banks are tight, local authorities are reigning back on budgets and, of course, CQC has a job to do. But let's be realistic. Money pressures on some companies are largely due to over clever financial engineering, after which there has been no money left to invest in the properties of the care properly. Some care home operators might go under but even Southern Cross is unlikely to completely fail.
Today is about delivering the care homes of tomorrow. It is not a time to be distracted by the problems that beset a few, however publicly they get aired. Do you know it costs only £2.77 an hour for a private client to live in an Ideal Care Home? What’s happening in the sector at the moment is not the end of the world, but the beginning of a new one.
In my view there has never been a more rewarding time to be developing an elderly care business and at home level there are a lot more good news stories around the country that rarely get reported in the press. I’m not sure whether it’s the satisfaction of knowing one can make a difference to people's lives, or see the appreciation of relatives and even staff as they too, see the results of combined and happy effort - in our case, often started by simply providing really comfortable and attractive care homes. Or is the fact that all of this can be delivered at such fantastic value? Who knows?
However, one could be forgiven for thinking that the social care sector is on the ropes when a lot of people are constantly soaked in bad news most of which is usually ‘complaint’ based, be it financial or regulatory. Banks are tight, local authorities are reigning back on budgets and, of course, CQC has a job to do. But let's be realistic. Money pressures on some companies are largely due to over clever financial engineering, after which there has been no money left to invest in the properties of the care properly. Some care home operators might go under but even Southern Cross is unlikely to completely fail.
Today is about delivering the care homes of tomorrow. It is not a time to be distracted by the problems that beset a few, however publicly they get aired. Do you know it costs only £2.77 an hour for a private client to live in an Ideal Care Home? What’s happening in the sector at the moment is not the end of the world, but the beginning of a new one.
Thursday, 12 May 2011
Law Commission recommendations do not go far enough
After years of the current adult social care arrangements’ being left to result in variable experiences of ageing - in what equates to a post code lottery - the Law Commission’s review of adult social care law reads like a breath of fresh air and brings common sense to the world of residential care.
As a long-established operator of care homes across the North and Midlands, it has been an ongoing source of frustration of mine that the experience of being supported to access and experience residential care, is fundamentally affected by where you live.
My care home operating business, Ideal Care Homes, provides high quality personalised residential provision, which enables an equality of access in line with the underpinning ethos of the Law Commission’s review. This is a model I am keen to promote across the sector.
In some ways, I believe that the recommendations of the Law Commission actually do not go far enough to ensure a fair deal for everyone as they age. Not only should legislation “stipulate basic minimum entitlements to services”, but it should also stipulate a national fee rate for care services that reflects the quality of the offering, and reflects a fair price for care provision.
The national disgrace of the current system is not only the disparity between areas, but also that a number of Local Authorities rely on a combination of private fee payers (who pay a higher rate than the Local Authority funded clients) and third party top-ups (often from people who themselves may be existing on a pension alone) to subsidise their inadequate levels of funding.
This is not the case across all of the country as my own company receives Local Authority funding ranging from £370 to £520 per week for the same type of resident based on where they live. No one could argue that this is in any way equitable or enables providers to deliver the same quality of care.
I would like to see a system that enables Local Authorities and private fee payers to pay the same rate, and also one which has a clear system of quality premiums based on the services provided – too many authorities have their fees set at a single level which continues the “Blackpool boarding house” mentality of acceptability. This is not appropriate now and is certainly unacceptable for a future generation. Everyone should expect - as a minimum; en-suite accommodation, high quality living, communal space and exceptional levels of care.
Perhaps the most powerful message behind the legislation is the need for simplification and raised awareness of the processes involved. Local Authorities need to heed this as far too many people are living in sub-standard care settings when they don’t need to be. Care providers can “market” their offer, but the Local Authorities and care Quality Commission also need to step up to the plate to promote settings which can improve the quality of people’s lives – that is an aim we can all sign up to.
Lawrence Tomlinson
As a long-established operator of care homes across the North and Midlands, it has been an ongoing source of frustration of mine that the experience of being supported to access and experience residential care, is fundamentally affected by where you live.
My care home operating business, Ideal Care Homes, provides high quality personalised residential provision, which enables an equality of access in line with the underpinning ethos of the Law Commission’s review. This is a model I am keen to promote across the sector.
In some ways, I believe that the recommendations of the Law Commission actually do not go far enough to ensure a fair deal for everyone as they age. Not only should legislation “stipulate basic minimum entitlements to services”, but it should also stipulate a national fee rate for care services that reflects the quality of the offering, and reflects a fair price for care provision.
The national disgrace of the current system is not only the disparity between areas, but also that a number of Local Authorities rely on a combination of private fee payers (who pay a higher rate than the Local Authority funded clients) and third party top-ups (often from people who themselves may be existing on a pension alone) to subsidise their inadequate levels of funding.
This is not the case across all of the country as my own company receives Local Authority funding ranging from £370 to £520 per week for the same type of resident based on where they live. No one could argue that this is in any way equitable or enables providers to deliver the same quality of care.
I would like to see a system that enables Local Authorities and private fee payers to pay the same rate, and also one which has a clear system of quality premiums based on the services provided – too many authorities have their fees set at a single level which continues the “Blackpool boarding house” mentality of acceptability. This is not appropriate now and is certainly unacceptable for a future generation. Everyone should expect - as a minimum; en-suite accommodation, high quality living, communal space and exceptional levels of care.
Perhaps the most powerful message behind the legislation is the need for simplification and raised awareness of the processes involved. Local Authorities need to heed this as far too many people are living in sub-standard care settings when they don’t need to be. Care providers can “market” their offer, but the Local Authorities and care Quality Commission also need to step up to the plate to promote settings which can improve the quality of people’s lives – that is an aim we can all sign up to.
Lawrence Tomlinson
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
New Ideal Care Home given seal of approval by Mayor and Mayoress of Calderdale
Staff at Calderdale’s newest care home were delighted to showed off its specialist dementia facilities to members of the caring profession on Wednesday 27th April 2011, to mark its opening in the local community.
Savile Park of Mellor Street, which is operated by Ideal Care Homes, provides a home for 55 people living with dementia. The brand new, luxurious facility, which is managed by Paula Finn, was visited by over 50 sector workers as the care home opened its doors for the very first time.
Guests included local care workers, district nurses, Councillor Pauline Nash and the Mayor and Mayoress of Calderdale, Keith and Eileen Watson, who met with Ideal Care Homes’ Chairman, Lawrence Tomlinson. The Mayor and Mayoress were hugely impressed that Savile Park will provide a valued service for their community. They both commented how ‘lovely’ the home was, and the Mayor even went on to say: “If I was ever to live in a home, Savile Park is where I want to live.”
In a presentation by Ideal Care Homes Managing Director, Mark Greaves, guests were given an insight into Ideal Care Homes and its aim to change the face of dementia care in Calderdale. Tours of the three-storey home also took place before guests joined for a buffet lunch.
Mark Greaves commented: “Savile Park is a stunning care home by anybody’s standards and the team relished the opportunity to show off its first rate facilities to Calderdale. Paula and her team were able to showcase just why our homes are a great place to live and they very much look forward to Savile Park becoming an integral part of the local community.”
Savile Park is now accepting residents from both the community and also those who chose to move from existing residential settings. Visit www.idealcarehomes.co.uk for more info.
Topping out ceremony for Sutton-in-Ashfield’s newest care home
A topping out ceremony at Sutton-In-Ashfield’s latest care home, Ashcroft Court, took place on 5th April 2011 to mark the structural completion of what is set to be a leading residential and dementia facility in the area.
The new three storey bespoke facility situated on Langford Road, will be operated by Ideal Care Homes and has been built by LNT Construction – both part of the LNT Group owned by Yorkshire-born entrepreneur Lawrence Tomlinson.
It was Lawrence Tomlinson (pictured below) - who has 25 years’ experience in designing, developing and operating purpose built residential homes; that placed the final ridge tile on the home to complete its build. Ashcroft Court will offer a home for 48 people - 18 beds for residential care and a further 30 for those living with dementia.
As well as providing 100% en-suite accommodation, fully landscaped courtyard gardens, a hairdressing salon and stunning floor to ceiling windows, the home will also serve to create fifty jobs for the local area. Care home manager Shaun O’Grady is looking to recruit a range of staff from care assistants to kitchen staff and night managers, ready for the home’s opening in August 2011.
Lawrence Tomlinson, Chairman of the LNT Group said: "I’m thrilled to see the roof going on at Ashcroft Court and to know that local residents will benefit from having such a first rate facility on their doorstep and at prices that they can afford.”
Ideal Care Homes Managing Director Mark Greaves, who has over 25 years’ experience in the sector added: “With a growing elderly population, high quality care provision is absolutely essential and I’m very pleased that we’re able to offer this facility to Sutton-In-Ashfield and its surrounding areas. We’ll be hosting a number of open days in the coming months for local residents and professionals and I encourage as many people as possible to come along and see what we can offer in these fantastic new facilities.”
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