UKHCA Media Releases

Inaction by the Government in its approach to the social care workforce in England has been roundly criticised in a new report from the National Audit Office (note 1). United Kingdom Homecare Association (note 2) welcomes the NAO report for highlighti...

Full media release: Government criticised for inaction on England’s social care workforce

UKHCA Chief Executive Bridget Warr commented: "It is well established that social care is under unbearable strain, primarily as a result of underfunding for people who are not in a position to pay for their own care. "Any additional resourc...

Full media release: UKHCA's response to the local government provisional settlement

Following today's Autumn Budget, presented to Parliament by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, United Kingdom Homecare Association's Chief Executive, Bridget Warr CBE, commented: The Budget is a huge disappointment fo...

Full media release: Autumn Budget 2017 overlooks social care

Helping people leave hospital quickly and safely to return home is an important for people themselves, and for the NHS and local councils. Home-based care and support is a service which can already be commissioned from homecare providers to deliver the...

Full media release: Accommodation in private homes for people leaving hospitals

United Kingdom Homecare Association is delighted to announce three non-executive directors were elected to join UKHCA's able and committed Board at our recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 10 October 2017. The new Board members are: - David Ch...

Full media release: New appointments to UKHCA's Board

The publication of the Care Quality Commission’s annual State of Care Report (10 October 2017) presents a picture of England’s social care and health system at “full stretch”, with many services having coped well, while others are even more fragile tha...

Full media release: CQC State of Care Report

The ability of the homecare sector to recruit and retain sufficient careworkers will be significantly challenged if proposals contained in a leaked Home Office paper on EU migration policy (note 1) are implemented, says the United Kingdom Homecare Asso...

Full media release: Leaked EU migration policy will create 'a perfect storm'

In a report out today (31 August 2017), Independent Age has revealed that nine out of ten MPs in England agree the current social care system is not adequate for the UK’s ageing population. The survey, drawn from the responses of 101 England MPs this ...

Full media release: Nine in ten MPs surveyed say care system not suitable

Healthwatch report adds to evidence of a fragile homecare system Welcoming an analysis of the views of older and disabled people by Healthwatch England (note 1), Bridget Warr CBE, Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Homecare Association (note 2), sa...

Full media release: Healthwatch report adds to evidence of a fragile homecare system

Today, within the Queen’s speech, the Government has outlined its long terms plans to address the social care crisis. The Government has indicated that the consultation will set out options to improve the social care system and to put it on a more se...

Full media release: UKHCA responds to social care proposals announced in Queen's Speech

The recent election campaign showed the importance of social care to the electorate. However, with the risk of a long-term solution to social care funding becoming a political issue that is too hot to handle for a minority Government, United Kingdom Ho...

Full media release: Open letter to the Prime Minster from the Homecare sector

A rapid resolution of the political leadership of the UK is urgent, so that a new Government can build a consensus to secure proper funding of care services and to ensure there is a sufficient social care workforce following exit from the European Unio...

Full media release: Election result and homecare services

United Kingdom Homecare Association, the professional body for homecare providers, releases the following comments in response to proposals to set the threshold for state-funded assistance for homecare services to £100,000, including housing equity, as...

Full media release: £100,000 threshold for homecare services

UKHCA has just published its manifesto urging political parties and candidates standing for election, to commit to ensuring almost one million older and disabled people can remain healthy and independent in their own homes, while also enabling family m...

Full media release: UKHCA's general election call for change in social care

Commenting on the UK Government submitting an Article 50 notification to leave the European Union today (Wednesday 29 March), Mike Padgham, Chair of United Kingdom Home Association, said: “Today is the start of a major change process for the United Ki...

Full media release: UKHCA's response to Article 50 notification

In the Spring Budget (08 March 2017), Chancellor Philip Hammond announced grant funding of £2 billion for adult social care funding over the next 3 years, including £1 billion available in 2017-18. UKHCA's Policy Director, Colin Angel, said: ...

Full media release: £2 billion for social care good news, if used for front-line services

BBC radio's "File on 4" programme today (28 February 2016) provides figures about allegations of abuse by homecare workers, obtained under Freedom of Information legislation from around half of the UK's local councils (including the...

Full media release: Safeguarding alerts in homecare services

Speaking after the announcement of Government’s proposals for increasing council tax-raising powers for social care services in England, UKHCA’s Policy Director, Colin Angel, said: “Government’s announcement is welcome to the extent that it acknowledg...

Full media release: Care Funding - Short term solution not enough

Following today’s Autumn Statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, United Kingdom Homecare Association’s Chief Executive, Bridget Warr CBE, said: “The absence of reference to funding social care services in the Chancellor...

Full media release: Autumn Statement 2016

United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) makes the following comments in response to the Alzheimer’s Society’s report “Fix Dementia Care Homecare”, published today (note 1). UKHCA’s Policy Director, Colin Angel, said: “It is never acceptable that ...

Full media release: Alzheimer's Society "Fix Dementia Care Homecare" report

UKHCA welcomes today’s report from the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) analysing complaints which it received from people who use social care services in 2015-16. LGO’s report contains an encouraging picture that more people are willing to speak out ...

Full media release: Local Government Ombudsman's Adult Social Care Complaints Review 2015-16

UKHCA Chair Mike Padgham congratulated UKHCA Chief Executive, Bridget Warr, who has just received the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) award from Her Royal Highness, Anne, the Princess Royal, on 27 October 2016: “UKHCA’s Board and executive team ...

Full media release: Bridget Warr receives her CBE award for social care and voluntary sector services

A new report exposes the widespread and systematic underfunding of homecare services for older people (note 1). The findings provide further evidence of genuine risks to the viability of state-funded homecare services, and the possible consequences fo...

Full media release: Older people's homecare at risk from £513 million UK deficit

The Care Quality Commission is proposing a 60% increase in homecare providers' fees from next April in a consultation launched today.This means the fee for a single location provider will increase from £1,369 to £2,192. The proposals are in respo...

Full media release: UKHCA's response to CQC's substantial fee increases from April 2017

Following this week’s UKHCA’s annual general meeting, the Association welcomed new board members and said farewell and thank you to non-executive directors at the end of their terms (notes 1 and 2). The Association welcome three new directors:- • R...

Full media release: New UKHCA board members appointed

Read more about new board members being appointed for UKHCA and also the farewells made to those who have served the board and championed homecare on behalf of providers over the years.

Full media release: UKHCA appoints new board members

Serious threats to the quality, safety and stability of England’s social care services are highlighted in the Care Quality Commission’s “State of Care” report, published today (note 2), adding to the body of evidence that state-funded care is already a...

Full media release: CQC State of Care Report

The Kings's Fund published their report 'Social care for older people - Home truths' earlier today. The publication examines in depth the factors (including demands for services and shortages of staff) which are putting extreme pressure ...

Full media release: UKHCA responds to King's Fund's 'Social Care for older people' - Home truths report

United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) believes that the skills and commitment of homecare workers should be rewarded well above the National Living Wage. For visit based care, where care is usually purchased by reference to "contact time...

Full media release: Skills and commitment of homecare workers should be rewarded well above National Living Wage

UKHCA welcomes the formation of the Cavendish Coalition of social care and health representatives, created to ensure that sufficient numbers of workers are available following Britain’s exit from the EU (note 2). The Coalition aims to assist those lea...

Full media release: Care and health providers highlight importance of overseas workers

In reviewing the findings in Unison's Careworker Survey, UKHCA draws attention to the dramatic effect of 15 minute visits for older and disabled people at home which according to the careworkers surveyed, appear to be used far more often than loca...

Full media release: UNISON Scotland's care workers' survey

On behalf of United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) Chief Executive, Bridget Warr CBE said: “Congratulations to David Mowat MP, on his new role as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health with responsibility for adult social care. ...

Full media release: UKHCA’s response to the ministerial appointment of David Mowat MP

Media Release United Kingdom Homecare Association Ltd 21 July 2016 Following the sad announcement about the loss of ADASS President Harold Bodmer, Mike Padgham, Chair of the United Kingdom Homecare Association said: “On behalf of the United Kingdo...

Full media release: UKHCA's response to the death of Harold Bodmer, ADASS President

Inadequate state funding continues to threaten social care services for older and disabled people in England. Underfunding has also contributed to an increasingly fragile homecare market, according to the United Kingdom Homecare Association’s analysis ...

Full media release: Homecare sector response to ADASS Budget Survey

Public statements from homecare providers withdrawing from local authority contracts on the grounds of commercial viability demonstrates the increasing fragility of social care markets (notes 2 and 3). UKHCA notes that many more withdrawals from contr...

Full media release: Provider withdrawal from local state-funded contracts

Following the declaration of the UK's referendum on exit from the European Union (24 June 2016), Mike Padgham, Chair of the United Kingdom Homecare Association said: "No matter how people voted in the referendum, it is crucial that we work t...

Full media release: UKHCA response to the EU referendum

UKHCA welcomes the new Quality Standard for Homecare for Older People issued by NICE today; 22 June (note 1). The Association is confident that homecare providers and front line care workers will find it helpful in their daily practices. UKHCA's ...

Full media release: UKHCA response to NICE homecare quality standard

Media Release United Kingdom Homecare Association Ltd 11 June 2016 For immediate release Social care and voluntary sector CBE for Bridget Warr UKHCA Chair Mike Padgham today (11 June) congratulated UKHCA Chief Executive, Bridget Warr, for her rec...

Full media release: Social care and voluntary sector CBE for Bridget Warr

In an interview with Local Government Chronicle today, CQC's Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care, Andrea Sutcliffe, talked about the possibility of undertaking a corporate level interview of larger provider organisations, similar to a Registered...

Full media release: UKHCA responds to CQC on corporate level interviews

Over twice the number of older people than previously thought may be left waiting in hospital despite being ready for discharge, according to a National Audit Office (NAO) report today, 26 May 2016 (note 1). Delayed discharge from hospital significant...

Full media release: Homecare key to improving NHS discharge delays

UKHCA welcomes the publication of CQC’s five-year strategy and commends the regulator, for the extensive engagement undertaken with people who use services and a wide range of stakeholders. UKHCA’s Policy Director, Colin Angel, said: “We are pleased ...

Full media release: UKHCA response to CQC's five year strategy

Channel 4 “Dispatches” presented a wide range of issues facing homecare services, including what appears to be care disappointingly below the standard that the public expect (note 1). United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) makes the following con...

Full media release: Homecare - Channel 4 Dispatches - 4th April 2016

The introduction of the statutory National Living Wage comes into effect from Friday 1 April 2016, providing workers aged 25 and over with a wage increase from £6.70 to £7.20 per hour. UKHCA’s Policy Director, Colin Angel, said: “UKHCA supports measu...

Full media release: UKHCA welcomes the new National Living Wage

Responding to the publication of the fees that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will charge health and social care providers for regulation of care services, UKHCA's Policy Director, Colin Angel said: "The recognition by CQC and Government ...

Full media release: CQC fee increases

United Kingdom Homecare Association makes the following comments on the Good Care Guide’s analysis of 900 self-reported ratings submitted by people who use homecare services and their families through the organisation’s website. Individuals’ experienc...

Full media release: UKHCA responds to the Good Care Guide’s findings

UKHCA welcomes Unison’s report ‘Suffering alone at home’ released today which highlights the acute lack of time in the homecare system. Unison found that 74% of councils in England are still commissioning homecare visits of 15 minutes or fewer and th...

Full media release: Councils still using 15 minutes for personal care

Media release: Association of Directors of Social Services Cymru and the National Provider Forum (Wales) EMBARGOED UNTIL 9:30AM, 11 JANUARY 2015 Following the budget announcement for spending plans in Wales, social care commissioners, providers and...

Full media release: Sector warns of serious threat to care and support from underfunded National Living Wage

Homecare services in Northern Ireland are being pushed to the brink of collapse leaving older and disabled people at risk of inadequate care; increasing the number of people left waiting to be discharged from hospital and placing valuable homecare work...

Full media release: The State of Homecare Funding in Northern Ireland

UKHCA through the Care Provider Alliance support the open letter to the Chancellor and Secretaries of State for Health and Communities issued Wednesday 9 December (note 1). Colin Angel, UKHCA’s Policy and Campaigns Director said: “There is an urgen...

Full media release: Chancellor urged to take action to save care sector

Despite frontloaded funding for the NHS the Government’s Spending Review and Autumn Statement offers little consolation for homecare providers or older and disabled people supported at home. United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) is not confident...

Full media release: Spending Review offers minimal reassurance to homecare providers

Homecare provider representatives hit out at dramatic increase in regulatory fees proposed by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England (note 1). CQC has proposed a 313% increase in fees for homecare agencies, phased over the next 2 or 4 years. Th...

Full media release: Steep increase in CQC fees proposed

United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) this week elected new board members following their recent annual general meeting (note 1). The Association would like to welcome new directors:- • Mike Smith, Trinity Homecare Group Limited • Jane Townson...

Full media release: UKHCA appoints new board members

Nine actions for change have been called for to inspire dementia care in the community, with care providers, commissioners, regulators and health sector partners all urged to take action. These are contained within a new report that demonstrates how sk...

Full media release: Homecare & Dementia: Driving Quality & Innovation

Today (15 October), the CQC published its annual report on the state of health care and adult social care in England, covering the period 2014/15. UKHCA Policy and Campaigns Director, Colin Angel said: “UKHCA welcomes the publication of this report. ...

Full media release: UKHCA’s response to the CQC state of health care and adult social care in England 2014/15

Independent and voluntary sector homecare providers receiving low fees from local authorities could be forced into withdrawing from care, or going out of business, according to a recent United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) survey. The findings c...

Full media release: Homecare market under threat from low council fees

UKHCA welcomes the NICE Homecare Guideline issued today and believes that homecare providers and front line care workers will find it beneficial in their daily practices. UKHCA Policy and Campaigns Director, Colin Angel said: “The guideline highli...

Full media release: UKHCA's response to the NICE homecare guideline

Leading homecare providers, who deliver over 47 million hours of homecare each year today warn the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the additional costs of the new National Living Wage could lead to a catastrophic failure of home-based care services, u...

Full media release: Open Letter to Chancellor of the Exchequer on National Living Wage

Responding to Government’s announcement that the policy to cap care costs in England will be delayed until 2020, the United Kingdom Homecare Association’s Policy Director, Colin Angel, said: “Government’s announcement will cause additional distress fo...

Full media release: Government cap on care costs to be delayed until 2020

Responding to the Chancellor's announcement of a new compulsory National Living Wage of £7.20 an hour for workers of 25 or over from April 2016, rising to over £9 an hour by 2020, UKHCA Policy Director Colin Angel commented: "UKHCA supports...

Full media release: Chancellor to bring in National Living Wage from 2016

The professional body for the homecare sector, United Kingdom Homecare Association, today welcomes recommendations from The National Assembly for Wales’ Health and Social Care Committee on the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Bill. The...

Full media release: Regulation of social care in Wales

Commenting on the ADASS Budget Survey 2015 report released today, Mike Padgham, Chair of United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA, the professional association for homecare providers), said: “Further cuts this year of £1.1bn, on top of £4.6bn in cu...

Full media release: Rapid action must be taken to protect people who need homecare

The training of homecare workers is fundamental to safe and effective services, particularly with the growing number of people with increasingly complex care needs expected to remain at home, rather than live in institutional settings. Homecare worker...

Full media release: UKHCA comment on Unison's homecare training survey

Over the last couple of days there have been widespread reports of pledges made by the Labour Party regarding zero-hours contracts. Where used appropriately zero-hours contracts can offer benefits of flexibility to employees as well as employers. Many...

Full media release: Homecare and Zero-Hours Contract

United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA), the professional organisation for domiciliary care providers, today (4 March 2015) releases the national and regional picture of under-funding of homecare services for older people across the United Kingdom,...

Full media release: The Homecare Deficit: Funding of Older People's Homecare

Responding to interim estimations of underpayment of the National Minimum Wage in the social care sector by the Resolution Foundation, United Kingdom Homecare Association notes the following: The front-line social care workforce undertakes exception...

Full media release: Estimation of minimum wage underpayment in social care services

Commenting in advance of Ed Miliband’s address on Labour's "10-year plan" for the NHS, UKHCA’s Policy and Campaigns Director Colin Angel said: "UKHCA welcomes the importance placed in Labour's proposals to help people meet the...

Full media release: More homecare workers welcome but could be undermined by underfunding

Congratulations to Home Instead Senior Care (West Lancashire and Chorley), who are UKHCA members, and Domiciliary Care East Devon (Exeter). These two organisations are among the first three adult social care providers to be judged by the Care Quality C...

Full media release: Homecare providers hailed as ‘outstanding’

A radical rethink on the commissioning of services for people receiving care at home and the terms and conditions of the homecare workforce is urgently needed, says United Kingdom Homecare Association (UKHCA) as it welcomes the publication of the Burst...

Full media release: Burstow Commission on Homecare Workforce

United Kingdom Homecare Association, the professional association for employers delivering home-based social care, welcomes the work to promote the Living Wage and the London Living Wage. Improving low wages in the UK is important work. Recognising th...

Full media release: Living Wage and the homecare sector

Commenting on an enquiry made under the Freedom of Information Act to local councils in England by Unison on the commissioning of homecare services (note 1), United Kingdom Homecare Association notes the following: Payment of at least the National Min...

Full media release: Homecare Workers' Travel Time

United Kingdom Homecare Association, the professional body for domiciliary care providers, today (Wednesday, 16th July 2014) welcomes the Secretary of State for Health’s proposals to develop a new regime to deliver rapid improvement in those small numb...

Full media release: Special Measures regime will support failing social care providers

UKHCA, the professional association for homecare providers responds to estimates undertaken by the UK's largest care home provider, Four Seasons Health Care, suggesting that "providing just a few hours of care visits a day for elderly people ...

Full media release: People prefer care at home

Today’s Queen’s Speech includes plans for legislation that will substantially increase penalties for non-compliance with National Minimum Wage (NMW). March this year saw penalties rise from up to £5,000 to up to £20,000 per employer. We understand the...

Full media release: Minimum Wage penalties to increase further

Renewed commitments to personalise social care services have been made by UKHCA and a wide range of organisations, as the Think Local Act Personal partnership is re-launched today (4 June). Since TLAP started in 2011, headed up by the Care Provider Al...

Full media release: Renewed commitment to personalised care

The newly published Kingsmill Review "Taking Care - An independent report into working conditions in the Care Sector" by Labour peer Baroness Denise Kingsmill CBE makes a series of recommendations to combat "exploitation" of care wo...

Full media release: Kingsmill review – a good start but more realism needed to provide workforce solutions

UKHCA welcomes Deputy Minister for Social Services Gwenda Thomas AM’s vision for the future of regulation and inspection of care providers in Wales, set out in her recent written statement. We are pleased to see the Deputy Minister remains committed t...

Full media release: UKHCA welcomes Welsh reforms that put citizens at the heart of care regulation

Andrea Sutcliffe, Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care at the Care Quality Commission (CQC), is reported today (The Times, 28th April 2014, note 1) as intending to penalise homecare providers willing to supply short visits of around 15 minutes to peopl...

Full media release: CQC unable to hold councils to account for homecare

The Low Pay Commission's recommendation of a 3% increase in National Minimum Wage by the Low Pay Commission will, if accepted by Government, benefit low-paid workers, including many who work in social care. However, without these additional costs ...

Full media release: National Minimum Wage: recommendation from Low Pay Commission

In response to figures highlighted today by the Labour Party that show an 81% rise in the number of over-90s in England brought to A&E by ambulance, UKHCA Chair Mike Padgham said: “Andy Burnham is absolutely right to say that a crisis in care has ...

Full media release: Cuts in social care are the root cause of A&E crisis

United Kingdom Homecare Association today provided the following summary of issues connected with the payment of National Minimum Wage in the homecare sector. The following highlights some of the complexities around this technical issue for journalists...

Full media release: National Minimum Wage in Homecare Sector