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Individual budgets successfully give people more choice, flexibility and control over their personal care, according to
an evaluation report launched by the newly appointed care services minister Phil Hope last month. However, while the
results were generally positive for younger service users – those with both physical and mental disabilities - the study
found that older people were experiencing trouble with the new scheme and on the whole have not taken well to the concept
of managing their own care packages
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The existing Fair Access to Care Services (FACS) framework should be thrown out and replaced with an approach based on
‘priorities for intervention’ where vulnerable people would be appraised on the urgency with which they need care support, according to the sector’s watchdog. What’s more, the Department of Health (DH) should develop a single, national resource allocation formula to increase clarity and transparency and move towards equality between different areas across the country.
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The Local Government Association (LGA) is desperately continuing talks with the treasury over whether it will extend a
guarantee made to retail holders of accounts with the failed Icelandic bank Icesave to cover those councils which had
banked millions of pounds with it.
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Wirral and Northamptonshire county councils both felt the wrath of the Registered Nursing Homes Association (RNHA) last month after the sector body claimed that poor funding policies on the part of their social services departments was working to the detriment of their regions’ nursing homes.
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Following a summer of headlines which suggested that Ivan Lewis’ position as care services minister was at best tenuous,
the sword hanging over the outspoken minister’s role in social care finally fell in early October when the Prime Minister
announced that a cabinet reshuffle would see him move to an office within international development.
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As the government’s vision of self-directed care, individual budgets and direct payments moves forward, local authorities
must do more to ensure that people taking up the option of increased control can access appropriate and individually
tailored safeguards.
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With community-cased facilities for people with learning disabilities stepping up the government's personalisation
agenda, how are these changed being received at an average council-run facility? Robert Potter reports
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| Southern Cross refinances in the nick of time |
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The fate of the country’s largest care home operator was secured last month - at least for the next five years - after Southern Cross Healthcare announced on 31 October that it had successfully concluded refinancing discussions with its banking syndicate.
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| Future of Four Seasons still in doubt as debts given new year extension |
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Despite attempting to throw cold water on rumours of a rushed, bargain-priced sale of Four Seasons Healthcare last month just days after they ignited when the company revealed that it had been given an extension to the standstill agreement it has arranged with its senior creditors, the Priory Group seems keen to let it be known that it is holding talks with a number of backers about a possible merger.
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| August equity to ‘buy-and-build’ in homecare |
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Private equity firm August Equity has re-entered the care scene with the acquisition of two homecare providers which it plans to use as a springboard for a buy-and-build strategy in the domiciliary care market.
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| Voyage sets sail for an IPO |
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Specialist provider Voyage Care, formed over twelve months ago when the Paragon Healthcare and Milbury brands consolidated (CCMN October 2007), has announced its intention to float on the London Stock Exchange in the first quarter of 2009 as part of a plan to seek new capital to fund expansion.
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NOVEMBER 2008
