Thanet’s Changed Home Care Landscape

If you live in Thanet and receive domiciliary care through social services you may be aware of the controversial change that has come into effect this year, 2014.  

Home care in Thanet, like home Care throughout Kent, is provided by a number of private companies under contract with Kent County Council (KCC). Until this year, KCC worked with over 120 providers throughout Kent. From 2 June 2014, this was reduced to 23. In Thanet there will be just 3 home care providers. New contracts were issued in July 2017. You can see the providers for each area in Kent here.

Why Have KCC Reduced the Number of Home Care Providers They Work With?

The reduction in providers was clearly a highly contentious decision by KCC. The UK Home Care Association (UKHCA), a body that represents domiciliary care providers, commented that any loss of support could be catastrophic. Saying that something could be catastrophic is a use of pretty strong language. Bridget Warr from the UKHCA is on record as saying that her concern “…is that what we’ll end up with is vulnerable people not getting the support they need at the time they need it.”

No-one at KCC could have imagined that the move to reduce providers would be met with universal acclaim. So why do it? Well let’s look at things from KCC’s perspective. The social care pot is finite. And as with other local government services; it is a finite pot from which savings had to be made. To add to the Council’s burden, social care needs continue to increase. Working with fewer providers will save the council about £2.7 million per year. The council has stated that the care and length of visits that people receive will remain the same. You can read more on the changes made by KCC here.

What Are The Effects For People in Thanet Receiving Home Care from KCC?

If you live in Thanet and currently receive domiciliary care through social services it may well be the case that you will notice very little difference. You may be in the fortunate position where the care you had before the change continues, following the change, in exactly the same way with exactly the same carers. But it may not. 

If your care does not continue to be delivered to the high standard that you have been used to in the past the major consequence of the change is that the choices open to you to select care from a provider which can meet your needs is significantly reduced.  

Remember that care from social services is provided by private companies on behalf of KCC; not by social services itself. The selection of just 3 providers to provide care to you has excluded a number of Thanet domiciliary care providers from being able to provide care to you: even though these companies, and their excellent care staff, may have been providing you with outstanding care for some considerable time. Reducing your freedom to choose in this way is manifestly unfair.

What Can You Do?

If you are receiving home care through social services, fortunately, there is something that you can do. And it is something that is very simple. All you have to do is ask that KCC provide you with a direct payment so that you can buy your own care from the provider of your choice. There are a small number of cases where you will not be entitled to a direct payment, but these are very rare. In most cases, you have a right to have a direct payment. Have a look here for more information on direct payments from KCC. 

A direct payment allows you to buy care services from a provider of your choice. This will include the provider responsible for your care prior to the change introduced by KCC. Direct payments work in a very straightforward way. KCC pay an amount of money into your bank account or onto a Kent Card. The Kent Card is a Visa debit card and you can find out more details here. 

The changes introduced by KCC start from 2 June 2014. If you want to chat, without obligation, about switching to direct payments contact Jayne Costain, the Care Manager, or Garry Costain, the Managing Director at Caremark Thanet. You can speak with them on 01843 235910 or email them at thanet@caremark .co.uk.

 

Garry Costain is the Managing Director of Caremark Thanet, a domiciliary care provider with offices in Margate, Kent. Caremark Thanet provides home care services throughout the Isle of Thanet. Garry can be contacted on 01843 235910 or email garry.costain@caremark.co.uk. You can also visit Caremark Thanet's website at www.caremark.co.uk/thanet.