Read the latest update from Care England below concerning Support for Care Providers.

"Reports from key care sector stakeholders over the last two weeks paint a bleak picture; the needs of our population are growing but the money allocated for social care is not increasing to match. With no further funding from central government on the horizon and an increasing number of councils struggling to maintain their financial viability, care providers are forced yet again to look within and find efficiencies to sustain provision.  As part of our 26 discounts and free support offers campaign, and by building on our support of leveraging the buying power of care services, we want to showcase further ways in which care providers can combine their buying power and reduce their costs. 

We’re also offering an exclusive FREE care home-only broadcast of the Nutcracker this December.
 
Securing the lowest possible energy rates available:
100% of care providers have reduced their energy costs since January 2023 by adopting the Care England energy tender or participating in a free audit.  Care providers whose energy renews in the next 3 years can still participate. See here for contact details or review the following links for more information: Tender, Renewals, Free Audit, and Feedback.
 
Reduced agency costs by up to 20%: 
Agency staffing costs the sector around £360m per annum. Neuven offer a best-in-class solution for health and social care agency staffing, reducing agency costs by up to 20% whilst enhancing the agency service to over 1,000 care services offering 99.9% fulfilment and 100% compliance.  To cut your agency costs and for further information and contact details, please see here.
 
Catering costs are up by 35% in the last 3 years: 
Care providers can reduce recent food and beverage inflation in a variety of ways such as an audit and by leveraging their spend with other care providers via our care sector catering tender as well as making appropriate substitutions without risking quality, reducing waste, and moving to semi-pared items.  To understand how, contact Creed Foodservice, here, for inflation-busting solutions designed to sustain or increase quality and reduce cost, or to participate, enter your contact details here or review more information here.
 
Recovering £30 per week per resident in VAT: 
Care providers can recover VAT via local authority and NHS-funded placements. If your current local authority or ICB have not yet permitted VAT recovery, now is the time to lodge a claim. To lodge a claim please review here for further information and contact details.
 
Feedback on how the sector functions is critical and the following are two ways you can influence your services and the sector as a whole.
 
Have your say on care home catering:
One of the most important parts of a care home residents’ day is mealtimes. We want to understand the impact mealtimes, the dining experience, and the dining environment have on residents and loved ones and welcome your views via two short 3-minute Apetito led surveys each of which will offer you a chance to win a Fortnum and Mason hamper for you or your care service to enjoy and you will also receive a copy of the final report.  Your input will help to understand how services compare to help shape and improve mealtimes across the sector. Survey 1, Survey 2.
 
And lastly, a Free Nutcracker Performance for your care home:
Care England warmly invites your care home to experience the enchantment of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, this festive season on the 14 December at 2pm with this timeless ballet that captivates hearts and brings families and loved ones together, around the magic of Christmas.  Please register for this exclusive free broadcast here to ensure your residents can enjoy this amazing festive ballet.
 
We hope you find this support helpful."
 
Yours sincerely
 
Richard Ayres
Care England