Should we continue to run care homes ourselves? [Topic now closed]
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Cllr David Alston
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Tuesday 01 June 2010 9:31:38 am
Should we continue to run care homes ourselves? [Topic now closed]
83% of care home places are currently provided, at lower cost, by the private and voluntary sector. The remaining 17% are in 18 Council-run care homes for older people. Should we concentrate our effort, and our Council provision, in remote and rural areas where private/voluntary providers are unlikely to run care homes? And in the main areas of population, should we buy services from other providers in the private/voluntary sectors, where they provided at lower cost? This could save up to £2.9m.
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Isabel Harris
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Wednesday 02 June 2010 11:26:23 pm
Care Homes
What proof have you of this?
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James MacDonald
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Friday 04 June 2010 1:46:46 pm
Should we continue to run care homes ourselves
I have queried this matter face to face with a number of Councillors over the past few weeks. The main arguments put forward were based on money only one Councillor Alasdair Christie appeared to understand my concerns and took the time to explain in detail that it should be looked at more from providing the service needed for clients to ensure their quality of life rather than just about the money.
James MacDonald - Inverness
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Liz V
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Friday 04 June 2010 8:50:42 pm
Care Homes and Care Services
How does the private sector keep the costs down? Highland Council needs to study this so the same service can be provided at the same price.
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Zan Dunn
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Saturday 05 June 2010 8:49:43 pm
Care Homes
I am very curious about the disparity between private and council care costs. How can there be no quality differences? Why are council costs so much higher if the care is the same? This is when private care must also have an element of profit. Efficiency is good but skimping is not when caring for vulnerable people.
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Cllr David Alston
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Monday 07 June 2010 2:45:06 pm
Private and council care costs
The independent care sector has always been able to provide residential care at a cheaper price than Councils, both in Highland and across the country.
There are three primary reasons for this:
1. Most care providers focus on this as their main business, where they have accumulated specialist knowledge and expertise and often a dedicated infrastructure, whereas Councils provide a range of services. This includes small proprietors who may have single homes (which they are likely to manage themselves), up to large corporate providers who operate tens of thousands of beds across the UK. As this is their primary concern, they are well placed to focus on delivering the most efficient operation, whilst delivering quality services.
2. Independent sector Homes tend to be organised on the basis of the most cost effective models, taking account of size and the physical layout of the building.
3. There are significant differences in the traditional local authority and independent sector staffing models,
a.) pay rates in the independent sector are lower than those in local authorities;
b.) other terms and conditions of employment are more generous in local authorities, including sickness leave and pension entitlement;
c.) many independent providers use demarcation across a range of posts, including posts at lesser salaries with reduced responsibilities;
d.) shift patterns in independent sector establishments are maximised through the use of split shift and peak time working (with higher numbers of part time staff) and shorter handover periods between shifts.
These differences in staffing arrangements are in place across Scotland, and would take significant time (and probably national negotiations) to address in any local authorities.
It should also be noted that the rate for independent sector care placements is negotiated at a national level by CoSLA.
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Anthony Chamier
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Tuesday 08 June 2010 4:40:11 pm
Should the Council continue to run care homes?
I feel I can comment on this because, aged 75, moving to a care home is something I have to start seeing as a possibility.
I have no problem about going into a privately-run home. For two reasons. One, sadly, is that privately-run homes appear to more accountable to public comment and criticism than homes which are protected behind a wall of Council bureaucracy. Another is that the staff of privately-run homes seem to be more flexible and therefore likely to provide a better service to those in care.
It would be good if the Highland Council could cut the costs of running its own homes, but since it seems unable to do so, it should opt now to close all its homes in areas where private providers can be found.
Anthony Chamier
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