MEMBERS VIEWS

These are some of the views expressed by members about the councils' fees and the Association's work in improving them
"I am grateful for the efforts of the NCA in their quest to achieve a fair fee for care." [53]

"I am extremely concerned that the existing levels of fees are so low in Nottinghamshire that it is impossible for providers to give proper training and pay staff at an appropriate level." [162]

"Especially in our present economic climate where foodstuffs, aids, bed linen have increased so intensely, a fair price is paramount to maintain the quality of care we provide for our residents." [198]

"The constant talk of increased funding should now be backed up with a commitment from government agencies to provide a fair price for good standards." [92]

"Just to let you know that we wholeheartedly support you and thank you for your great efforts on our behalf." [172]

" I totally support the Association in terms of the work carried out in pushing for the Fair Price for Care.  We need to continue with this further to achieve the real cost of care"  [188]

"Continue the battle!"  [120]

 

These are just some of the views expressed by our members (anonymised, but identifiable through the numbers in brackets). Please feel free to express any views of your own through the 'Contact Us' page.


Complete list of comments made by members of the NCA

 

Each bullet point is from a different member.

·        I am writing in support of your ongoing efforts to secure a fair fee for elderly care in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.

·        I want to thank the NCA for their hard work and for what they have achieved so far. I thank [the councils] for at long last realising that private care homes earn a merit for fair prices of care, and I continue to support the Association in improving fees to reflect true costs.

·        We are happy to express our support for the tactics outlined in your letter regarding fair price for care negotiations. Good luck.

·        I would like to express my support for the Association’s stance in trying to secure a significant increase in this coming financial year. Care homes in Nottingham are being placed in an intolerable situation by local authorities who are very vigorous in their pursuit of quality service but who are more than willing to use their monopoly purchasing power to falsely suppress fee levels. This divide and rule strategy has worked very well up until now and I hope your letter is the beginning of a genuine fight back by care homes in Nottingham who want to provide a quality service but who are being disabled from doing so by current outrageous fee levels.

·        [We] need better fee levels to pay better wages. This sector needs intelligent and caring staff on better rates than [the] minimum wage. Staff should be paid £7 an hour to get the right quality staff.

·        We support your claim all the way for a fair deal and will stick it out to the end if needed.

·        A better fair price for the elderly in care would help to promote the industry as an even higher quality of care could be given.

·        We fully support NCA in their negotiations for a fair price for care. The fees we receive have been inadequate for far too long. I support the Association's campaign to win fair fees for care homes.

·        I have been both a Care Home provider and a member of the Nottinghamshire Care Association for the last fifteen years. I have attended most meetings held by the association and have given them my full support with regard to the many issues that our sector has had to deal with. Over the years we have seen an increase in operating costs which have not been supported by a comparable increase in fee levels. The association, on behalf of its membership, has been in discussions for many years with the councils to try and maintain a fair balance between costs and funding.

·        The introduction of the minimum wage has had a huge impact in operating costs for care providers. Operating costs are affected by the continual increase in the minimum wage, together with other increases in staffing and regulatory costs, increases in utilities and consumables including food. These costs have increased year upon year and continue to increase in excess of both the inflation rate and the annual increase in fees paid by the local authorities; both of which are beyond our control.

·        Care providers are expected to provide and maintain a high standard of care to service users and in addition keep pace with changes in regulation to be compliant with their regulatory bodies. It is therefore of paramount importance that we receive a significant increase in funding levels to enable us to continue to meet these standards.

·        I understand that the association has had a positive response from the councils and is actively working towards an agreeable framework with regard to funding levels and I continue to give them my full support in achieving a fair price for care for all providers.

·        I am grateful to the efforts of the NCA in their quest to achieve a fair fee for care.

·        We support the campaign for fairer prices and support for small homes.

·        Quite simply it is increasingly difficult to provide a quality service on the limited amounts paid by the county council for care.

·        With ever increasing food, wage and energy prices and the demands made of us by CQC and social services; it has become a desperate need for home owners in Nottingham to achieve a fair price for care in order for us to maintain the high quality of care we provide for our residents.

·        I am supporting a fight for a fair price for care. Current fees are still inadequate.

·        We truly support [the] NCA to fight for a fair price for care. Overhead expenses such as heating, lighting, water rates, foods and staff wages and training need to be met with a fair price for care.

·        We write to confirm our support for the NCA stance in respect of the fee negotiations currently taking place with the PCTs and councils.

·        I fully support NCA in its fight for a fair price for elderly care fees.

·        I am extremely concerned that the existing level of fees are so low in Notts that it is impossible for providers to give proper training and pay staff at an appropriate level.

·        I support your fight for a fair price. The present level of funding is woefully inadequate to provide the level of care we wish [to give] our residents and the demands made of us by CQC and social services.

·        Fees should not be a set rate and should be judged on the home and the choices [it] offers.

·        Gas, electricity, food, etc., have gone up. Social services requirements are high but not the fees. We support your fight for a fair price and for your efforts on our behalf. We … support your fight for a fair price for care of the elderly and we wish you fervent success.

·        The constant talk of increased funding should now be backed up with a commitment for government agencies to provide a fair price for good standards.

·        Fees have only increased by £6 per resident in a year {refers to previous year}, yet utilities, i.e. gas electricity, food, cleaning have gone sky high. Also social service requirements are very high, but not the fees. We are finding it extremely hard to continue with the high standards we think our residents deserve. WE know that social services have a hard task but the government needs to react.

·        We support NCA in their efforts of achieving fair price for care homes.

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·        You certainly have my support on this matter.

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·         May I first thank you for the hard work that has been done to obtain a fair price for care in our area, and also to congratulate you on the results that have been achieved. I … assure you of my continued support in the future. Social services are promoting quality care. They entrust independent providers with the care of their clients but will not agree to pay a fair price for that care. They WILL pay a fair price if the client chooses a local authority home. This is not a level playing field.

·        We are in agreement with and support the Association in not signing any contract with the county until satisfactory agreements have been reached with the Association.

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·        The costing of care supplied by the county council is very inadequate currently to meet the needs of the service users to a very good standard. We would very much appreciate and are in need of an increase as soon as possible to remain a viable business.

·        These 'talks' have been going on long enough! How many more good quality homes have to close? A fair price for quality care provision is PARAMOUNT. I wholeheartedly thank the NCA.

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·         {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·         [We] fully support the actions and stance [that] NCA are taking on our behalf.

·        Council fees are not keeping pace with the ever-increasing costs in running a home for the elderly.

·        We agree that we should receive fair pay towards the care given to the elderly. We strongly support the effort you are making … to achieve it.

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·        We would like to thank NCA for all their hard work and dedication in fighting for a fair price for care. Nottinghamshire fees are still low despite recent increases and we wholly support the NCA and desperately need their continued efforts to be successful.

·        I confirm that I fully support the campaign for a fair fee for elderly care in Nottm and Notts.

·        We definitely require a fair fee for our residents and, as you are aware, we have to pay for all the other costs such as training, entertainment, outings and other stimulations to meet resident needs.

·        The elderly of our society should be deemed equal as all the other groups of people in our society who require financial assistance. There is no equality in the assisted cycle of life.

·        We wholeheartedly support you and thank you for your great efforts on our behalf.

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·        We feel the fees paid at the moment are very low and do not match the quality of care that we give our service users. We support a fair price for care

·        I request that a fair price be awarded to care homes for the excellent work we do.

·        We support this due to rising running costs and the current economic climate.

·        [The] present rate of LA funding is DERISORY. An increase is IMPERATIVE!

·        I support your efforts in our negotiations on achieving a fair fee with both County and City SSDs and the PCTs on continuing care.

·        Please take note of the evidence that tells us the [current] fees are not a fair price for care.

·        I confirm that we are in full support of NCA's efforts to achieve a fair fee for elderly care in Nottm and Notts.

·        Especially in our present economic climate, where foodstuffs, aids, bed linen have increased so intensely, a fair price is paramount to maintain the quality of care we provide for our residents.

·        I fully support the fee situation that NCA are fighting for.

·        I am supporting everyone in this matter and hope it helps our homes in the UK.

·        We wholeheartedly support you.

·        A better fair price for the elderly in care would help to promote the industry as an even higher quality of care could be given.

·        A fair price is urgently needed to support us to deliver quality care and dignity in our home.

·        Whilst we are very grateful for the increase in care fees it is still only a small contribution which does not give any extra for essential costs on running the business and give our staff the pay rates they deserve.

·        Whilst all [costs] have increased drastically over the past year the Notts care rates are still  very low and inadequate to provide [the] high standard of care that is required.

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·        If social services won't give us adequate financial support, are they prepared to give  advice [as to] where we can cut costs?

·        I support your fight for a fair price. The present level of funding is woefully inadequate to provide the level of care we wish to afford our residents and the demands made of us by [CQC] and social services.

·        We need fair fees as without them our home could not be viable. Fair fees means a full home and consequently a happy home for residents and staff.

·        I fully support the fight for a fair price.

·        Whilst [the prices of] all amenities have increased dramatically over the past year, Notts care rates are still very low and inadequate to provide such a high standard of care that is required.

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·        {Message of support received. No specific comment recorded}

·         I fully support NCA in their fight for fair prices for all. Demands on standards are so high, fees are inadequate and this makes it impossible to meet these standards. My residents have the same rights to a high standard as those that are in council-run homes.