Friday, September 9th, 2011

Transfer of care homes to begin

COUNCILS have begun writing to residents in Southern Cross care homes as the first wave begin to transfer to new operators.

Durham County Council has recently sent out letters to residents of seven homes in the county and other councils are following suit.

The letters, signed by Rachel Shimmin, corporate director of adults, wellbeing and health at Durham County Council, give details of each new operator and when any change will be effective from.

She states the national regulator for care – the Care Quality Commission – will register the new operating company and the council will ensure that the new operator is of a high standard and capable of running the home well.

In a separate briefing note for council members, Ms Shimmin said there was no evidence that residents were anxious to leave care homes in large numbers because of uncertainty over their future.

Nick Whitton, head of commissioning for adult services at Durham County Council, said: “As part of the ongoing process of transferring Southern Cross homes to new providers, we are in regular contact with all parties concerned, including residents.

“We want to reassure residents that we are continuing to work with Southern Cross to ensure that the transfer is a smooth one with no adverse impact on the quality of care that people can expect to receive.”

There are 27 homes run by Southern Cross in County Durham. Two are in Darlington, 12 in the Teesside area and five are in North Yorkshire.

Homes are transferring broadly in two tranches – one on September 30 and the remainder on October 31.

Staff working in the affected homes are expected to undergo so-called TUPE transfers, which will secure their existing terms and conditions, as the law requires, although the future of back-office staff working at Southern Cross’ Darlington headquarters is less clear.

Southern Cross has been criticised for the “sale and leaseback” model it pursued which saw the firm rack up big profits by selling the homes it owned to private landlords and then renting them back.

It ran into financial difficulties when local authorities began cutting back on the fees they pay to place the elderly into its homes.

The firm subsequently was unable to keep up with its rental obligations and announced in July that it was to shut.

It is expected to be wound up by the end of the year.

From the Northern Echo Website. To view please follow this link: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9241695.Transfer_of_care_homes_to_begin/

Topics: Failing Care, Care