CQC falls into ‘trap’ its own guidance warns against
A tribunal has concluded that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) ‘failed to properly’ evaluate an application from a care home provider to vary the conditions of its registration. Judge Ian Robertson concluded at a First-Tier Tribunal that the regulator had not exercised its discretion appropriately…
Future of Allied Healthcare secured
Allied Healthcare has been bought by healthcare provider CRG for an undisclosed sum, securing the future of the troubled homecare provider. All of Allied’s care and support services contracts, including its Primecare and Firstcall businesses, will be transferred to CRG as part of the deal so…
Civitas makes ‘strong progress’ in first half
Real estate investment trust Civitas Social Housing completed purchases of properties totalling £150.7m, its half-year results for the period ended 30 September 2018 show. The investor in regulated social housing in England and Wales had a property portfolio valuation of £678.7m at the end of the…
Care UK to launch wearable connecting older people to 111
Care UK is launching an electronic wrist watch for older people, which will alert NHS 111 services if the user falls ill or has an accident at home. The watch, expected to launch during 2019, will have an ‘SOS’ button and will be able to…
Ombudsman upholds two-thirds of unfair charging complaints
The Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman upheld 67% of complaints about unfair charging in adult social care in 2017/18, its annual review has revealed. The number of charging-related complaints made to the organisation grew by 9% to 324 over the 12-month period, the report…
EBITDA at Four Seasons parent company dips
Lower care home occupancy and increased use of agency staff resulted in EBITDA at the parent of Four Seasons Health Care (FSHC) falling to £12.7m during the third quarter of 2018, from £13.9m in Q3 last year. Across its three brands – FSHC, brighterkind and…
Sovereign Capital seeks buyer for Outcomes First
Private equity firm Sovereign Capital Partners has instructed Macquarie Group to sell its education and care business Outcomes First Group, sources close to the deal have revealed. According to industry sources, the process is likely to begin early next year, with Macquarie expected to target…
Action needed on health inequality, report says
Increasing spending on the NHS and social care will not change health inequalities and improve life expectancy on its own, a report by The King’s Fund has said. The document, A vision for population health: Towards a healthier future, said that improvements in life expectancy…
Consultation on care transformation agreed
A consultation will take place in the new year on plans to modernise care services for older people in Rhondda Cynon Taf in South Wales. Around 300 extra care beds are proposed to be built following recommendations made to the county borough council in an…
Partnerships in Children’s Services up for sale
Foster care company Partnerships in Children’s Services is being sold by private equity firm Sovereign Capital Partners for an asking price of £100m, according to the Financial Times. The operator, which supports around 1,100 children, is rumoured to have attracted interest from Graphite Capital, Priory…
