Care Home Plea For Clarity On Policy

The head of a care home network has made an appeal for the Government to clarify the future of social care policy due out soon as the national crisis deepens.

Donna Briggs, managing director of Springhill Care Group with three homes in Accrington, Skelmersdale and Bristol, said: “We along with other providers need to know what we are dealing with for the short and longer term.

“We can only plan based on what information we know to provide the relevant services being demanded from a growing ageing population, and this delay affects everyone including our residents and our staff.

“Developing the skills of our workforce is crucial and a part of Springhill’s commitment to providing the best in care but we need to understand what we are dealing with for the future.”

Springhill Care Group’s Caring Heroes campaign was launched to help raise awareness of the lack of skills and the way care sector employees are undervalued.

The campaign has won the backing of industry bodies including Care England, Skills for Care and the Care Workers Charity along with MPs Graham Jones of Hyndburn and Rosie Cooper of West Lancs.

A Green paper on the future of adult social care with recommendations for new funding was expected before the summer recess of Parliament, then delayed until autumn and now winter.

Springhill Care Group submitted written evidence to the public accounts committee setting out a case for increased awareness of career opportunities within the care sector, how a more joined-up NHS and social care network would reduce hospital admissions and the need for increased funding for workforce development.

Activity in the Caring Heroes campaign can be followed on social media using #caringheroes