Norfolk home care: Care UK Broadland ‘not good enough’
Care UK says it is “determined to resolve the problems” being experienced in Broadland.
Care UK took over visits to 300 clients in Broadland in July. One third of users have now reported a decline in services from the new provider.
Norfolk County Council said the service had “not been good enough”.
A Care UK spokesman apologised for “the problems” and said plans were in place “to resolve the issues”.
The council, which awarded the contract for the Broadland area to Care UK, said it had received complaints that carers were arriving early, up to three hours late, or not at all.
Scottish Health Awards: Nomination for Scot who helps dementia carers after going through the same with his mum
VOTING ENDS TODAY
TOMMY Whitelaw is devoted to helping improve the lives of those who care for dementia sufferers through his campaign Dementia Carer Voices.
TOMMY WHITELAW spent five years as a full-time carer to mum Joan as she suffered from dementia.
The 51-year-old, of Glasgow, gave up his job handling merchandise on concert tours to care for her as the progressive disease took its toll.
Initially, he struggled but after getting help he set out to make sure other carers didn’t suffer in silence.
Joan died a year ago, aged 73, but Tommy is still working to improve the lives of other carers.
Norfolk charity to pioneer care home volunteers scheme
Norfolk charity to pioneer care home volunteers scheme
Volunteer Mary Knights, right on one of her visits to see Thorpe St Andrew pensioner Beryl Forkes. Photo: Steve Adams.
Mark Shields Thursday, September 5, 2013
5:36 PM
A new scheme being pioneered by a Norwich-based charity could see the lives of care home residents enriched by visiting volunteers.
The programme will see volunteer activity coordinators placed in homes to get residents relieve pressure on care staff and allow unpaid workers to take responsibility for getting residents involved in social activities.
Norfolk County Council and Voluntary Norfolk, the two bodies behind the scheme, believe it could not only help older people to get more out of life but help the next generation of professional carers to develop.
The coordinators will start work at some private care homes in north Norfolk next month, and though they will be specifically trained for the role, they will not replace paid staff or do any of their duties.
Linda Rogers, Voluntary Norfolk’s head of operations, said: “While placing volunteers in private care homes is something of a new step, many of Voluntary Norfolk’s existing volunteers already help older people in the community with social and leisure activities, so to some extent the new scheme is an extension of something that we know works well and is greatly appreciated.
“The new scheme will benefit the residents, the volunteers themselves and, we hope, the caring profession in years to come.”
