A report examined the scope for using costing models in achieving a fair price for care for local authority funded residents in independent care homes.
Source: Achieving a Fair Price for Care, English Community Care Association (020 7793 4620)
Links: Link removed
Date: 2005-Oct
An article reviewed the powers and responsibilities of local councils, and the rights of residents, during care home closures. It said that clarification was needed of councils legal responsibilities and powers.
Source: Jacquetta Williams and Ann Netten, 'English local authority powers, responsibilities and guidelines for managing the care home closure process', British Journal of Social Work, Volume 35 Number 6
Links: Abstract
Date: 2005-Sep
In the year to April 2005, care home capacity shrank by 8,700 places to 476,200, about 100,000 fewer than the 1996 peak.
Source: Care of Elderly People Market Survey 2005, Laing & Buisson (020 7833 9123)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Sep
The government said that it broadly agreed with recommendations to improve the care homes market, in response to an Office of Fair Trading report. But it decided not to require that all care home payments for people receiving local council funding be directed through the council, saying that this would reduce choice for older people and their families.
Source: Government Response to Office of Fair Trading (OFT) Care Homes Study, Department of Trade and Industry (0870 150 2500)
Links: Response (pdf) | DTI press release | OFT report (pdf) | OFT press release | CSCI press release (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Aug
Care capacity in residential settings for elderly and physically disabled client groups shrank by some 8,700 places in the year to April 2005, to 476,200 places.
Source: Care of Elderly People Market Report 2005, Laing & Buisson (020 7833 9123)
Links: L&B press release
Date: 2005-Aug
An updated profile was published of England's home care providers and their workforce. 72 per cent of publicly funded home care came from the 'independent' sector, while there had been a considerable reduction in privately purchased care.
Source: Bill McClimont and Kim Grove, Who Cares Now?, United Kingdom Home Care Association Limited (020 8288 1551)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
A report by the fair trading regulator said that the care homes industry should provide older people with much better information about costs, contracts, and complaints procedures.
Source: Care Homes for Older People in the UK: A market study, Office of Fair Trading (0870 606 0321)
Links: Report (pdf) | OFT press release | CSCI press release | Help the Aged press release | Alzheimer's Society press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-May
A study compared ratings made by care standards inspectors with research measures for homes for people with intellectual disabilities. The research measures focused on the lived experience of residential care, including engagement in meaningful activity, choice, and participation in activities of daily living. Only 2 out of 108 correlations between care standards and research measures were significant.
Source: Julie Beadle-Brown, Aislinn Hutchinson and Jim Mansell, Care Standards in Homes for People with Intellectual Disabilities, Tizard Centre/University of Kent (01227 827373)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
A research report said that a "cultural divide" existed among social services purchasers. Some purchasers valued their home care providers helping older people in ways which supported customers morale and quality of life, and in consequence their providers felt encouraged to use relevant opportunities. But other purchasers discouraged such help.
Source: Charles Patmore and Alison McNulty, Making Home Care for Older People More Flexible and Person-centred: Factors which promote this, Social Policy Research Unit/University of York (01904 433608)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
The fair trade watchdog said that it had obtained commitments from care home operators to alter their contracts to remove unfair terms, such as those that let them make frequent or arbitrary increases in residents' fees, or impose unfair penalties, restrictions or obligations.
Source: Press release 21 March 2005, Office of Fair Trading (0870 606 0321)
Links: OFT press release
Date: 2005-Mar
A national inquiry into self-harm among young people published its third interim report. It said that professionals in residential settings needed a better understanding of self-harm.
Source: Closed Settings, Closed Minds? - Young people who self-harm, Camelot Foundation (020 7828 6085)and Mental Health Foundation
Links: Report (Word file)
Date: 2005-Mar
The social care inspectorate began consultation on the issues surrounding the 'terminal illness category' in care homes in England, and whether or not it should be abolished. It said that the category was outdated, because it suggested that only specially registered care homes could care for people facing the end of their lives.
Source: Consultation on Getting Rid of the Terminal Illness (TI) Category in Care Homes, Commission for Social Care Inspection (0845 015 0120)
Links: Consultation document (pdf) | CSCI press release
Date: 2005-Jan