Springhill Care Group calls for social care policy clarity

Springhill Care Group managing director, Donna Briggs, has called on the government to clarify future policy as the social care sector crisis deepens.

The chief of the care home group, which has three homes in Accrington, Skelmersdale and Bristol, said: “We along with other providers need to know what we are dealing with for the short and longer term.

“We can only plan based on what information we know to provide the relevant services being demanded from a growing ageing population, and this delay affects everyone including our residents and our staff.

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“Developing the skills of our workforce is crucial and a part of Springhill’s commitment to providing the best in care but we need to understand what we are dealing with for the future.”

Springhill has launched a Caring Heroes campaign to help awareness of the lack of skills in the sector and of how its employees are undervalued (see Caring England chief hailed as a Caring Hero).

The campaign has won the backing of industry bodies, including Care England, Skills for Care and the Care Workers Charity, along with MPs, Graham Jones of Hyndburn and Rosie Cooper of West Lancs.

A Green Paper on the future of adult social care with recommendations for new funding was expected before the summer recess of Parliament, then delayed until autumn and now winter.

Springhill Care Group has submitted written evidence to the public accounts committee setting out a case for increased awareness of career opportunities within the care sector, how a more joined-up NHS and social care network would reduce hospital admissions and the need for increased funding for workforce development.

Activity in the Caring Heroes campaign can be followed on social media using #caringheroes