no.324
incorporating
January 2024
The Number One magazine for the care sector
Recruitment claim angers care sector CARE providers have reacted angrily to claims that they are “broadly relaxed” about changes in overseas recruitment which will hamper them from bringing vital staff to this country. Health Secretary Victoria Atkins told the Health and Social Care Committee that she had been told the social care sector was broadly relaxed about the measures the Government has put in place, including a ban on care workers bringing over dependents. Independent Care Group chair Mike Padgham said: “This comment beggars belief and illustrates how little the Government understands the current situation in social care. To say we are ‘broadly relaxed’ could not be further from the truth – the sector has been plunged further into crisis by these latest measures. “The banning of dependents will deter many people from coming to work for social care when we have 152,000 vacancies and desperately need overseas staff to keep delivering care to older and vulnerable adults who rely upon us on a daily basis. The Government is taking draconian and knee-jerk actions to cut overseas workers but failing to do anything to help us recruit more from this country. “At the moment many providers would not be able to fill their shifts
without their overseas staff, who we should be welcoming with open arms. Instead, the Government is putting measures in place to reduce numbers without having an alternative in place to provide us with the staff we need. By reducing available community care, the Government will undoubtedly increase the number of people who cannot be discharged from hospital, also contributing to rising hospital waiting lists.” The ICG says long standing underfunding of the sector, compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic, has left the sector in its worst ever staffing crisis. “Social care provision is on its knees,” Mike added. “The last thing we need is tinkering with the lifeline of overseas workers that we have been thrown. “Damaging social care provision goes against the Government’s desire to cut delayed discharges and reduce waiting lists. “Of course we want to recruit in this country but we need to see a proper workforce strategy that brings sufficient funding into social care that makes it an attractive place to work compared to other sectors and on a par with the NHS. “Then we might see a reduction in the workforce shortage that is threatening proper, safe care delivery.”
St John’s House care home in Norwich was named National Care Home of the Year at the sixth annual Caring UK Awards at the Athena in Leicester recently. The Castlemeadow Care operated facility took the top award having picked up the Regional Care Home of the Year Midlands and Wales prize earlier in the evening. The home won the Best Initiative in Care category in 2022. Host for the night was television personality Des Coleman. Full round up starts on page 13.
Charity launches interactive app THE UK’s largest charity care provider MHA has launched MHA Active, an app offering tailored lifestyle and wellbeing content for older people, with the aim of keeping minds and bodies active. Through MHA Active, individuals can access a growing library of more than 600 videos, articles, games and quizzes. Activities such as yoga, tai-chi and arts and crafts are available, with the app also offering a dementia friendly section. Jonathan Mace, director of communities at MHA, said: “We want our app to become the go-to for people over 65 who are looking to stay healthy and active. It’s easy to use and our content is very much user-led, which is what makes it unique. “We already have more than 1,000
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