The latest issue of Healthcare Business (February 2017) contains our article about the impact of the National Living Wage on the care home sector. We have carried out analysis showing the impact on an operator's profits based on the NLW increases coming soon. Our findings show that an increase in weekly fees of 2% per annum will result in profits dropping to 70% of current levels by 2021. An increase of 3% will not be enough to keep profits at the current level beyond 2019. We explain how care homes need to take immediate steps now to ...
Ten steps care home operators should take to combat impact of National Living Wage
Care homes are facing a “fight for survival” following the introduction of the National Living Wage, according to care home specialist Caresolve. The company has carried out analysis showing the likely impact on an average operator’s profits based on the phasing in of increases in the NLW during the period 2016-21. The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement in November confirmed that the NLW will increase to £7.50 per hour from April this year. Previous announcements have put in place a target of £9 per hour by April 2020. The analysi...
Helping care homes become Outstanding
What makes an Outstanding care home? We have been working with Paul Rowley of Heathfield Ladies Residential Home, one of the first in the North West to be awarded Outstanding. Heathfield Residential Home in Grappenhall, Warrington, is one of less than 1 per cent of homes in the country to be rated as ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission. Family owned and operated, the 22 bed ladies only home prides itself on its elegant living, varied programme of activities and culinary excellence. We started working with the team at Heath...
Creating a well-led care home
The Care Quality Commission uses five key questions as the basis of its inspection of care homes in England. We know from our experience working with owners and their managers that the most complex and, often most difficult question they have to answer is: Is my service well-led? The main reason for this is that the subject covers a multitude of issues and challenges relating to both staff and residents. Ultimately, we are talking about the very culture of the organisation. The CQC defines “well-led” as: “The leadership, manageme...
Care in crisis
In The Times, columnist and interviewer Janice Turner recently wrote a moving article about her 93 year old mother and her ‘dread of dealing with the care system again’. “I wonder if a care home exists where I would be happy for my mother to go, if she needed it – or where I could imagine living myself,” she asked. Turner believes a ‘perfect storm’ is threatening to engulf the care industry as hospitals become more and more full of elderly people who are not able to return to their homes because there is not enough home help...
The care home trouble-shooters
Few sectors are under as much scrutiny and financial pressure as the care home industry. Recent figures produced by the Care Quality Commission revealed how over 1,500 homes have closed in the past six years. Operators of care homes are having to negotiate the ever-changing landscape determined by the CQC. A poor inspection report can have a hugely damaging impact on a care home. Worst case scenarios include loss of support from local commissioning teams to home closure. Caresolve are specialists in care home transformation and our ...
Caresolve Financial launched to give care homes clear insight
We are delighted to announce the launch of Caresolve Financial. Headed up by Finance Director Richard Shore, our new service has been designed to offer financial solutions to care homes. Caresolve Financial works with care homes to provide them with a clear insight into their operational, financial and compliance position. Our team can also help clients to negotiate CQC guidelines. As well as finance director services, our key services include comprehensive reviews, financial management support and advisory services including trading p...
Caresolve ‘invaluable’ to its clients
We have recently been working closely with the MD of Springhill Care in Accrington, Lancashire. Called in to offer interim management support, we have worked together to put a number of new structures and processes in place for the company. Here is what Donna Briggs, Managing Director of Springhill Care, said about our work. She said: “Caresolve came to my rescue when I needed interim management support. Within days, we had discussed the challenges I was facing and they had come up with solutions. “On his first day, Ben immedia...
Warrington care home awarded Outstanding rating by CQC
Congratulations to Heathfield Residential Home in Grappenhall, Warrington, which has been rated as Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission following a recent inspection. The family owned and run home, praised for its innovative use of technology, provides personal care and support for up to 22 ladies aged over 65. In its report, the CQC highlighted the person-centred care provided by the home, its well-trained caring and respectful staff and the home’s homely atmosphere. Caresolve’s Co-founder and Consultancy Director Ben Cha...
Caresolve launches new brand identity and a new website
Welcome to the new look Caresolve. Over the past few months, we have been working with HM Creative in Chester to create a new brand identity for the company and an informative new website for our customers. The new brand will be unveiled at The Lancashire Care Conference on Thursday, September 22. Our new logos, with their strong colours, depict the three distinct elements of our business: Caresolve, Caresolve Financial and our new Caresolve Recruitment service. With our unrivalled care sector know-how, our aim is to enable our ...