10th May, 2012
 
 
Editorial
 
Crisis? What Crisis? This Crisis!
 
Following on the March Care and Support Alliance organised mass lobby of Parliament - calling on the Government to "end the care crisis"-  MP, and Shadow Minister for Care and Older People, Liz Kendall, is asking for provider views in a national survey.
 
We want to encourage all providers in the Lancashire, Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen areas (as well as colleagues across the North-West) to respond.
 
You can return your completed questionnaire to LCA by return (for the response to be anonymised) or you can return the questionnaire directly to the Office of Liz Kendall MP by emailing: anna.wojnilko@parliament.uk
 
The deadline for returning the survey is 17.00 on Friday May 18th, 2012.
 
This survey is being undertaken by Liz Kendall MP as Shadow Minister for Care and Older People in order to research the experiences of residential care providers in England. The content of individual responses to this survey will be kept strictly confidential. If you have any questions about this survey, please email: anna.wojnilko@parliament.uk
 
This link http://www.lizkendall.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Liz-Kendall-MP-IPPR-older-people-speech-23rd-Feb-2012.pdf takes you to Liz Kendall's IPPR speech in February this year, "Reforming Support and Care for Older People".
 
Please let LCA know your views as we will prepare an association position from members’ views and from the current work through the Social Care Partnership: sarah.luton@lancashirecare.org.uk  We will work with colleagues and associations around the country to try and ensure as good a response as possible. 
 
We have raised the issue with the Shadow Minister that domiciliary care is in the midst of the same care crisis as the care homes sector, that it is broader; too, than older people's care, although that involves the bulk of expenditure, and that the underpinning workforce issues are substantial. We will work to ensure the broadest possible provider voice is heard on the care crisis we are facing.  
 
LCC 'Open Days'
 
LCC area providers will have received a letter from LCC regarding 3 Open Days facilitated by Spikes Cavell as part of the review of the current bandings scheme. By the time you see this we will be in the middle of that part of the consultation process with the Open Days facilitated by Spikes Cavell (One Connect Ltd) on costs of care and the current bandings system (for care homes). There are three 'Open Days' and further small group work to follow reviewing the current bandings system (for care homes) and exploring provider cost. 
 
We have negotiated agreement, in principle, for a non-disclosure agreement to be in place and for there to be a clear 'firewall' between the data collected and who sees that data and how it is managed. There will be a joint public statement about this project shortly, from the Social Care Partnership. 
 
If you have any queries email me paul.simic@lancashirecare.org.uk or ring me 01772 455574.
 
 
LCA Spring Seminar: 25th April 2012
 
Thanks to all of you who attended our spring seminar. The delegate feedback we have received was very positive about focus and content. The programme can be seen here http://www.lancashirecare.org.uk/members/pages/966/seminars/workshops_2012  A write up and some pictures will be on the website shortly. The next seminar will be end June/early July.
 
If you want us to run seminars on specific issues please let us know what you want: feedback@lancashirecare.org.uk 
 
 
 
 
 
Read our previous Editorials:

28th March 2012

5th March 2012

14th February 2012

2nd February 2012

January 2012

December 2011