Tag Archives: Norfolk

Norfolk home care: Care UK Broadland ‘not good enough’

About 100 elderly and vulnerable people in Norfolk have complained about the standard of home care offered since a new provider was brought in.

Carer and patient hold hands 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.

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. Volunteer Mary Knights, right on one of her visits to see Thorpe St Andrew pensioner Beryl Forkes. Photo: Steve Adams.

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.”

Families come together at Nelson’s Journey memorial walk at Blickling Park

Families united by grief came together in north Norfolk to remember loved ones and share their experiences at a poignant memorial walk.

Sunday, September 1, 2013
3:34 PM

Families united by grief came together in north Norfolk to remember loved ones and share their experiences at a poignant memorial walk.

The event was the first of its kind organised by bereavement charity Nelson’s Journey, which supports children and young people across the county dealing with the death of a significant person.

More than 130 people took part in the 1.8 mile walk round Blickling Park yesterday, with many wearing specially printed t-shirts paying tribute to the loved one they had lost.

Organiser Sophie Berry, funding officer with Nelson’s Journey, said the charity had long wanted to host a memorial walk to help bring youngsters and adults together.