NEWS


YORKSHIRE HOUSING SCHEME HELPS PEOPLE STAY INDEPENDENT


A housing scheme to support people between leaving hospital and returning home in Calderdale has welcomed its first residents. It is the first of its size and style in the country, supporting adults of all ages.


Heatherstones Court at Skircoat Green, Halifax, has 12 self-contained apartments and offers care, support and the chance to rebuild independence and remain in the community after leaving hospital.


The scheme can also help people who have been living in their own home to


NURSE FELICIA GETS A HEARTFELT SEND OFF AFTER


25 YEARS A much loved nurse at a Nottingham care home has retired after a quarter of a century of loyal service.


HOMECARE SERVICES LOSING OUT ON


VITAL FUNDING Homecare providers are being underpaid for their services by the majority of local authorities in Great Britain and Northern Ireland.


The UK Homecare Association (UKHCA), the professional organisation for domiciliary care providers, has discovered that just one in seven councils in the UK paid independent


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maintain or regain their independence – practical support helps them to return home once adaptations have been made. It can also enable people to manage changes in their physical health and wellbeing.


Care, support and housing advice are provided on site to meet each resident’s needs, from physiotherapy to re-learning everyday activities. The aim is to help people regain full confidence, strength and independence after a short stay.


Three of the apartments are fully accessible for wheelchairs, with


Hugely popular Felicia Onwuagha, a registered nurse at Elm Bank Nursing Home in Mapperley, bowed out after a special party was organised by staff and residents to show their appreciation for her 25 years of service and a ‘lifetime’ of friendships made.


Isabel Mantle, Care Home Manager, said: “We will really miss Felicia as she really is one of a kind. She is


and voluntary sector homecare provider fees at or above UKHCA's minimum price of £15.74 an hour.


This guide price has been calculated to include – as a minimum – compliance with the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the time spent travelling between service users’ homes.


UKHCA was able to gather data from 203 of the 211 councils – or health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland – it approached. It found that just 28 of these bodies were paying the minimum rate or above.


The average price paid for homecare in the UK was £13.66 an hour, with


appropriate equipment inside, and have two bedrooms – so a partner, family member or carer can stay there too.


Heatherstones Court was created by Calderdale Council, NHS Calderdale Clinical Commissioning Group, Connect Housing and Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, bringing a previously unused site back into use and giving people a chance to keep their independence. It is expected to support over 100 residents every year.


someone who has done so much for the care home, her colleagues, our residents, and their families. She is an amazing lady and a very popular member of staff.”


Elm Bank Nursing Home is part of privately-owned Redwood Healthcare Limited and is registered with the Care Quality Commission as a care home for 35 residents.


trusts in Northern Ireland paying the lowest average rate of £11.35 an hour. Councils in Wales were paying the highest amount at £14.28 an hour.


The report makes recommendations for councils, providers and government in all four UK administrations, including effective oversight of authorities' commissioning practices by independent regulators.


It also calls for transparent costing exercises and urges the governments in each UK administration to ensure that purchasing authorities have sufficient resources to pay the necessary fees.


www.tomorrowscare.co.uk


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