UKHCA and the Media

Genuine media enquiries for UKHCA should be directed to:
Colin Angel, Head of Policy and Communication
Telephone: 020 8288 5297
Mobile: 079 20788993
E-mail: media@ukhca.co.uk.
Please do not use this address for general enquiries or unsolicited sales enquiries.

High resolution images of UKHCA's media contacts are available for download.

Journalists will find information on the homecare sector from our information for researchers.

White Paper and the homecare sector 13/07/2010

The leading domiciliary care representative, United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA), gave a cautious welcome to proposals in yesterday’s White Paper on the reform of the National Health Service, “Equality and Excellence: Liberating the NHS”. The ...

UKHCA responds to the Budget 23/06/2010

Leading domiciliary care providers’ representative, the United Kingdom Homecare Association, reacts to the emergency budget of the new Government as follows. While recognising that a 2.5% increase in VAT will affect many businesses, this additional ...

Homecare Sector responds to delay of Independent Safeguarding Authority scheme 15/06/2010

News reports this morning anticipate Government announcing that the roll-out of the Independent Safeguarding Authority in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is to be halted and scaled back, pending a review. The public should be reassured that social ...

Spending cuts must not damage frontline social care 24/05/2010

The leading domiciliary care providers’ association, United Kingdom Homecare Association, responded to the Chancellor’s announcement of £6.2bn cuts in public spending. UKHCA Chair, Mike Padgham said: “We are clearly in a period that calls for courage...

UKHCA welcomes Care Minister's commitment to urgently reform social care 21/05/2010

The country’s leading professional association for homecare providers welcomes the new Care Minister’s commitment to urgently reform the social care system and recognition that the current system is unsustainable. UKHCA is also pleased that the new go...

UKHCA appoints new Chief Executive 18/05/2010

The homecare sector’s premier representative body, the United Kingdom Homecare Association, has announced the name of its new Chief Executive. Bridget Warr has been chosen to take the Association forward into an exciting new era and will take up her p...

New government cannot ignore care challenges 07/05/2010

In the face of a hung parliament, UKHCA, the homecare sector’s professional association, is calling on politicians to have the courage and resolution to address the way social care is resourced both nationally and locally. Mike Padgham, UKHCA’s Chair...

Election offers golden opportunity to transform UK homecare 15/04/2010

The UK’s leading professional association for homecare providers today called on election candidates to seize the opportunity to transform the care available to older and vulnerable people. With three weeks to both General and local elections, and on ...

Action needed now to close care funding gap 30/03/2010

The country’s leading professional association of homecare providers, the United Kingdom Homecare Association has welcomed the Government’s White Paper on the reform of social care but would like to see immediate action to close the care funding black ...

Homecare provider rep supports free care delay 18/03/2010

Commenting on the House of Lords amendments to the Personal Care at Home Bill, Francis McGlone, Senior Policy Officer at the United Kingdom Homecare Association, said: “UKHCA cautioned the Government that more funding was needed for its free care at ...

Homecare provider reps support Health Committee findings 12/03/2010

The United Kingdom Homecare Association has commented on the Health Committee’s report into the reform of the social care system in England. Francis McGlone, Senior Policy Officer, said: “UKHCA supports the Health Committee’s call for the political p...

Adequate funding needed for free care proposal 24/02/2010

The country’s leading professional association for homecare providers has warned in their response to the Government’s consultation on free personal care, which closed today, 23rd February, that additional funding will be needed to fund the proposal. ...

The hunt is on for UKHCA’s new Chief Executive 12/02/2010

The search has begun to find a special individual to lead the homecare industry’s premier representative body forward into the next era. United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) is looking for a new Chief Executive, following the decision by Lesley ...

Call to improve quality of commissioning as well as care is required 08/12/2009

The annual report by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) provides a timely review of social care in Wales, and signals a number of significant improvements made by homecare services. However the report has missed the opportunity to ...

UKHCA responds to forthcoming BBC Panorama Programme 07/04/2009

The United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) understands that BBC Panorama is due to broadcast an investigative documentary on 9 April 2009 about standards of care in the homecare sector. The programme’s pre-release information cites low pay, inade...

Independent homecare sector to rescue as local authorities face increasing demands for care 26/03/2009

New government statistics have highlighted that four fifths (81%) of publicly funded homecare in England is now delivered by independent and voluntary sector homecare agencies, a 3% rise from the previous year. With the data also showing that publicl...

Migrant worker rules need to help not hinder homecare 11/11/2008

New rules for migrant workers will effectively stop senior skilled careworkers from outside of the European Economic Area (EEA) coming to work in the UK, despite the increasing numbers of people who need care and support.

Government rhetoric on homecare must match reality 22/10/2008

UKHCA launches "From Rhetoric to Reality, A Manifesto for Sustainable Homecare" which gives the key actions which local and central government and homecare providers need to take to ensure that high quality homecare continues to be delivered ...

Help in the home can deliver a fairer system of care 22/10/2008

UKHCA has commented on how a national review of access to care services has exposed the lack of investment in preventative, enabling and low-level homecare and has called on councils to work with the independent sector to invest in these services.

Homecare sector welcomes new Skills Academy for social care 07/10/2008

The homecare sector's professional association, UKHCA, has applauded government's decision to give national recognition to the training and development needs of the social care workforce by establishing a new national Skills Academy for socia...

Fuel prices could break the back of homecare's camel 12/08/2008

64% of homecare providers anticipate being forced to turndown packages of care in the next three months 'wholly' or 'mainly' because travel costs have become uneconomic.

Long awaited Standards welcomed by sector 17/07/2008

Homecare commentators have welcomed the publication of the long awaited Domiciliary Care Agencies Minimum Standards.

Conference sends out strong warnings over care 01/07/2008

A major conference by the homecare sector has sent out three strong warnings over the future of homecare. The issues are damage caused by increased fuel prices, costs of introducing the ISA and councils commissioning inadequate time for homecare.

Bringing home the reality of dementia care 19/06/2008

UKHCA has welcomed the government's consultation on a National Dementia Strategy and called for more resources to be placed into homecare and the end of commissioning of short care episodes for people with dementia

Homecare sector recognised by OBE for Lesley Rimmer 16/06/2008

Lesley has made a major contribution to the success of voluntary and independent homecare providers, helping them deliver safe, quality-driven care by providing good practice guidance, access to training funds and learning resources.

Reform of social care law welcomed by homecare sector 13/06/2008

UKHCA, has welcomed the announcement of a major review of adult social care law by the expert body on legislative reform, the Law Commission

Councils must work with providers to develop respite care 11/06/2008

The new National Strategy for Carers is a real opportunity for local authorities to work with private and voluntary homecare providers to develop respite care at home services, homecare commentators said today.

New agenda for homecare promised by policymakers 11/06/2008

Homecare commentators have welcomed a series of actions promised by health officials in Northern Ireland to maximise the potential of homecare services and make better use of the independent homecare sector.

Councils continue to squeeze care providers 29/05/2008

Providers frequently report examples of authorities failing to meet the legitimate costs of regulatory requirements, such as increased holiday pay, and recognition of the high cost of staff training.

UKHCA chairman calls on Home Office to waive ISA fees for homecare sector 16/04/2008

The Chair of the United Kingdom Homecare Association, Mike Padgham, has called on Meg Hillier, the Home Office Minister responsible for the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) scheme, to waive the membership fee for ISA for homecare workers.

Influential committee calls for more help for the independent homecare sector 11/04/2008

The influential Public Accounts Committee in Northern Ireland has issued its report on Older People and Domiciliary Care and is clearly convinced more needs to be done to aid the independent homecare sector.

Safeguarding scheme will cost employers dear 01/04/2008

A new Independent Safeguarding Authority is due to register anyone working with vulnerable adults from October 2009 onwards. The fee will be £64 in England and Wales and £58 in Northern Ireland, a huge amount for homecare providers to absorb.

New good practice guide helps homecare providers protect adults from harm 18/02/2008

In many cases homecare workers and their managers are the only people who recognise and raise the alert to situations of domestic abuse and neglect, so their role is crucial.

Eligibility review to target those who need low-level help at home 30/01/2008

The injustices operating in the social care system are a symptom of the underfunding of social care and the lack of attention it receives when compared to health.

Social care report shines a spotlight on those who pay for care 29/01/2008

Irrespective of how someone purchases their homecare, whether with public money or with their own funds, they are served by a sector which is continually improving.

MPs right to raise concerns about health and social care reform 09/01/2008

Health and social care approach their services from different directions, health concentrating on patient safety while social care focuses on the importance of user choice and our inherent right to take informed risks.

Wales care report misses commissioning link 08/01/2008

Society needs to see the whole picture. Local councils continue to exert a downward pressure on prices paid to homecare providers, while trying to buy more care for less money.

Concordat signals commitment to social care 10/12/2007

The agenda is an exciting one for homecare providers, recognising the need for people to remain independent in their communities and to have the freedom to choose services that best meet their needs.

More choice from personal budgets, but caution needed 10/12/2007

UKHCA welcomes the increased emphasis from Government that home-based care is the best option for many people, and are committed to working with Government to turn policy into action.

UKHCA members elect robust new Board to represent homecare providers 09/11/2007

Members of UKHCA, the homecare sector's professional representative association, have elected a robust new Board to represent the range of UK homecare providers at its Annual General Meeting this week.

New regulator spells end of National Minimum Standards 24/10/2007

With so much change on the horizon, we question the wisdom of the current social care regulator, CSCI, in implementing a star ratings system in 2008.

Brown’s boost for homecare needs a budget to match 25/09/2007

We welcome the Prime Minister's high level commitment to homecare. However, at grassroots, service users, their families and carers are living with the reality of services restricted to those deemed in critical need.

A fair price for homecare 11/09/2007

At a local level, councils frequently abuse their dominant purchasing position to drive down the price they pay to independent and voluntary homecare providers.

Councils must commission innovative homecare 04/09/2007

Concerns by UKHCA that local authority contracting arrangements impede the development of innovative social care were further evidenced by a report from CSCI: “Safe As Houses? What Drives Investment in Social Care?”

Elder abuse survey sends vital message to homecare sector 14/06/2007

With the increasing social isolation of older people, homecare workers and their managers have a vital role in identifying and responding to abuse of the people they care for.

UKHCA Chief’s Guarded Welcome for Action Teams 17/04/2007

UKHCA is committed raising the standard of homecare, and we support CSCI's ongoing efforts to stamp-out bad practice by irresponsible providers.

New Code of Practice for UK’s Homecare Providers 02/04/2007

Regulation has been a fundamental part of improving home-based care for some of the most vulnerable people in society. However, UKHCA's Code of Practice enables our member organisations to operate above the minimum requirements enforceable by regu...

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