RECENT NEWS

A plan co-developed with the sector including care providers to ‘respond to future threats’ will be created as part of the government’s new pandemic strategy.

Almost half of providers surveyed by Care England and Sona say they are short-staffed at least some of the time

Dementia and complex care specialist provider Fortava has acquired three Nottinghamshire homes, taking its total to five facilities since it launched with the acquisition of two 50-bed Peterborough facilities last year.

Two of the homes – 60-bed Long Eaton View and 79-bed Stapleford View have not yet been inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), while 83-bed Wilton View facility received an outstanding CQC rating last year.

Fortava founders, care specialist Johann van Zyl and healthcare finance expert Jamie Stuart, said in a statement that the firm’s approach is ‘rooted in cognitive stimulation therapy - a research-based method of treatment and care aimed at improving well-being and potentially slowing the progression of dementia’.

The firm is backed by private equity company Downing, which said in a statement that the newly acquired Nottingham homes ‘are modern, purpose-built homes designed to support residents with complex dementia needs’, which will be ‘integrated into Fortava’s operating model focusing on therapeutic environments, advanced workforce training, and clinically informed cognitive stimulation programmes designed to enhance quality of life and support cognitive wellbeing’.

Care homes are changing hands increasingly frequently as demand from expanding and new providers continues to escalate amid rising demand.

Stay up to date with the latest mergers and acquisitions via our TCHE weekly updates.

An established 28 bed care home has been acquired by an existing local operator Eversley Care.

The Old Rectory care home, which is registered to offer care to 30 residents is situated in a ‘semi-rural’ location in Bramshall, near Uttoxeter, has become the third home in the local provider’s portfolio, which provides a range of services for older people over the age of 65 rated as good by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The home was previously run by Restassured Residential and received a ‘requires improvement’ rating by the CQC in February 2024. It was sold by Christie & Co for an undisclosed amount

A 16-bed care home that had been rated as requires improvement by the CQC has been bought by new operator Sussex Care.

The sale was handled by Christie & Co and was sold for an undisclosed amount to Sussex Care owners, Shaji Mathew and Jincy Francis who have a background in nursing and medical equipment and also run a retail business.

Growing large care home operator Crown Care Group has taken on the development of a 72-bed home in Leicestershire after acquiring the land with planning permission in place from developers Charterpoint Group earlier this month.

Crown – which has 23 homes providing residential, nursing and dementia care, and a further five in development across the midlands and the north - will build a ‘mostly two storey’ home on the 2.7 acre site with ensuite bedrooms, lounges and dining areas, a café/bar, and ‘extensive activity areas’, the developer said in a statement.

It added it expects to create 35 new jobs when the home opens. The sale was brokered by Christie & Co.

The government is considering making it unlawful to restrict visiting rights in health and care settings after its review showed lower than expected compliance with regulations.

The government has this week issued more guidance on what changes it expects on the ground in the short to medium term from its neighbourhood health reforms – as set out in its 10 year plan, which aims to shift care away from hospitals and into the community.

Dementia specialist care home group B&M Care have acquired a development site with planning permission for a 74-bedroom care home in Woking, Surrey, taking its portfolio to over 30 homes spanning the Greater London and home counties areas. The new home will feature en suite wetrooms, communal resident areas, including a care, cinema, hair salon and choice of lounges, gym, balcony access and landscaped gardens, according to Christie & Co, who handled the sale to the group for an undisclosed amount.

Carehome.co.uk report reveals strongest growth in purpose-built homes with over 60 beds last year, while self-funded fees leapt by 10 per cent amid rising cost pressures for providers.

Care England chief warns government must use their “huge majority” to push through urgent reforms needed in social care.

Baroness Glenys Thornton appointed as chair elect at the Social Care Institute of Excellence and will step into the full role when Paul Burstow steps down in June.

NHS workers paid more than a quarter more than equivalent frontline care staff.

The Competition and Markets Authority ((CMA) inquiry will also probe “merger situations” between Care UK and Aria Care, and Apex Healthcare Properties and HC-One.

The CMA has invited comments on the takeover of several UK care homes by US elderly care housing giant Welltower for a second time.

The move comes after it announced in January that it was investigating completed acquisitions by Welltower of over 600 active care homes managed by Barchester, HC-One, Aria Care (including Asprey) and Danforth Care, and a further undisclosed number of care homes with planning permission to proceed with construction.

Nearly half of providers who responded to a government survey - who said they use technology to provide care and support - use monitoring equipment technology.

Health secretary backs Baroness Casey’s call for a ‘strong and meaningful’ dementia leadership role and other immediate actions she said are urgently needed in dementia and motor neurone disease care, and adult safeguarding.

Former senior union staffer Liz Chinchen appointed as aide to health secretary to advise on industrial relations

Baroness Louise Casey calls on government to take immediate action to tackle urgent reforms needed in dementia and motor neurone disease care and adult safeguarding.