Care Markets

Care Minister Norman Lamb could oversee calls for care commissioners to be rated in the same way that care providers are, following a debate held with independent providers at last month’s Social Care Forum. During questions from delegates at the Laing & Buisson hosted event, in response to an exhange focused on funding issues and a concern that commissioners more often than not adopt the lowest cost models, the minister said that among the raft of measures he would like to roll out across the social care sector (including a clamp down on any companies failing to pay the national minimum wage for carers – see this issue news) was a concept to introduce a rating system for commissioners, similar to the Jeremy Hunt announced plan to usher in Ofsted-style ratings of providers (CCMn April 2013). Mr Lamb told a packed Westminster audience made up of senior care executives: We seem to have created a model of commissioner/provider where we focus on the quality of the provider. I think that is a good thing because people can aspire to get to the next level in terms of quality but we do not do the same with commissioners.

Specialist international investor HCP healthcare REIT has bought what is believed to be £175m of care provider Barchester’s junior debt from Project Isobel.Project Isobel,...

The four companies that together comprise Bupa’s UK care home division have each reported their results for calendar 2012 - Bupa Care Homes (CFG)...

The Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) met with the Department of Health last month to...

Kent county council is set to appoint consultancy Newton Europe to find ways to make efficiency savings in adult social care and cope with...

The number of care homes going bust rose by 12% last year according to accountancy firm Wilkins Kennedy due to council budget cuts. The firm...

Shaw Healthcare’s Ledbury care unit, which rehabilitates patients with acquired brain injuries, was recognised by leading charity Headway last month as an approved provider....

The government is set to award the Care Quality Commission (CQC) new powers to oversee the financial responsibility of the largest care providers in...

Charitable learning disabilities provider Mencap is asking the public to petition the government to find more money for social care services. In a new online...

Private care homes have the capacity to support hard-pressed acute hospitals in winter. This is because private care homes are busier in summer than in...