RECENT NEWS

Care UK is to pay more than £1m in refunds for NHS-funded residents at the provider’s premium homes in England deemed to have paid an unfair additional fee towards essential care.

The National Care Forum (NCF) and the University of Leeds have presented the findings from research into the experiences of front line care home and NHS staff caring for older people with Covid-19 in England.

CareTech, a UK provider of specialist social care services for adults and children, has acquired a majority stake in Smartbox Assistive Technology in a deal worth up to £10.6m.

A government-funded project is to help researchers develop a digital staff training programme to improve and personalise care for people with dementia in hundreds of care homes hard-hit by Covid-19.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson reiterated the Conservative election manifesto promise to fix social care in his keynote party conference speech.

Care providers are calling on the government for greater clarity on key issues in the fight against Covid-19 as deaths from the virus in care homes inched higher.

Scottish care home investor Target Healthcare REIT has reported a rise in annual profits of 5.8 per cent in the year to 30 June as portfolio rents increased by a fifth.

Amnesty International has launched a campaign calling for an inquiry on care homes after a report claimed residents were abandoned to die during the early stages of the pandemic.

The National Care Forum (NCF) has condemned an around 50 per cent cut to the government’s Infection Control Fund available to care homes amid a rise in Covid cases.

Care UK has held topping out ceremonies to mark the end of building work at two care homes – Dashwood Manor and Ancasta Grove - in Hampshire.

Retirement community developer McCarthy & Stone and not-for-profit care provider Anchor Hanover have established a development partnership to deliver a range of ‘affordable for all’ later living communities across England.

Care Quality Commission management service provider Quality Compliance Systems (QCS) has appointed Christine Asbury its new director of insight and innovation.

The government will be taken to court over care home visitor guidelines by John’s Campaign, according to media reports.

Barchester Healthcare is to trial at its care homes a drug often used to treat arthritis as a potential way to tackle coronavirus.

The Independent Care Group (ICG) has called on the government to allow a single nominated and tested visitor to see family members in care and nursing homes.

Care leaders have backed the launch of the Championing Social Care initiative dedicated to recognising the work and value of the sector.

The government should introduce a universal care service free at the point of use as part of a radical transformation of the British economy, according to the Women’s Budget Group (WBG).

A key Home Office immigration committee has advised the government to boost social care pay to avoid a post-Brexit jobs shortfall when freedom of movement ends.

The Liberal Democrats have urged the government to open cross-party talks on undertaking reform of the social care sector.

HC-One, the UK’s largest care provider, has established an ‘Infection Control Army’ to protect residents, staff and visitors against Covid-19.