North Wales care homes unite against proposed council contract

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 3 Nov, 11:37 · Archive

North Wales care home operators have formed an action group to challenge a proposed Pre-Placement Agreement headed by Denbighshire County Council on behalf of the North Wales Regional Partnership Board. The providers claim the contract unfairly favours public bodies and fails to guarantee 'fair and sustainable' fees for independent care and nursing homes.

According to the action group, providers are being pressured to sign the complex 90-page document by early December despite it being issued only a few weeks earlier. They are calling for a six-month extension to scrutinise the terms properly and want implementation delayed until April 1, the start of the new financial year, to allow time for a fair agreement to be negotiated.

Providers say another reason for forming the group was the growing disparity in fees between North and South Wales. Some care homes in South East Wales receive up to £17,000 per resident per year more than those in North Wales for providing the same level of publicly funded care subject to the same regulations.

Kevin Jones, Regional Manager of Vshans Care which has five homes in Conwy, said residents were being 'badly short-changed' by what he described as a 'totally flawed' document. He said providers needed 'time to ensure the agreement is robust enough and that it's meeting the needs of the independent providers'.

Ceri Roberts, a director of Cariad Care, said providers supported the principle of an agreement if it was fair to all parties. Steffan Robbins, Managing Director of Orme View Residential and Dementia Care Home in Llandudno, said fair and sustainable fees were essential to protect future care provision, adding that the issue ultimately concerned 'our parents, grandparents and loved ones, who will suffer if we cannot maintain a sustainable care sector'.

North Wales care homes unite against proposed council contract — Image: North Wales Chronicle

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How it is being reported

North Wales care homes unite over proposed agreement and funding gapCare home operators across North Wales have joined forces to form a new action group aimed at securing fairer funding and a stronger voice for independent providers.North Wales Chronicle · 3 Nov, 11:06
North Wales care homes unite over proposed agreement and funding gapCare home operators across North Wales have joined forces to form a new action group aimed at securing fairer funding and a stronger voice for independent providers.North Wales Pioneer · 3 Nov, 11:06
Care home operators claim some North Wales councils use 'bullying tactics' in contract rowProviders claim contract unfairly favours public bodies and fails to guarantee fair fees for independent care and nursing homesNorth Wales Live · 3 Nov, 04:48

In this story: Denbighshire County Council · North Wales Regional Partnership Board · Vshans Care · Cariad Care · Orme View Residential and Dementia Care Home · North Wales · Conwy · Llandudno

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