Norfolk home care: Care UK Broadland brings in staff

A care provider criticised since taking over services in an area of Norfolk has brought in staff from around the UK in an attempt to improve standards.
Care UK took over home visits to 300 elderly people in Broadland in July.

A survey found a third of users said services had declined under the new provider and the county council said the service had “not been good enough”.

Care UK said it has been working to improve the service and was confident it could do so.

‘Utterly confident’

Russell Baldwin, director of care at home for Care UK, told the BBC extra staff had been brought in over the weekend following concerns raised last week.

“I am utterly confident we can deliver the right standards of care. We have managed to draft in a lot of additional support,” he said.

Care UK, one of the UK’s largest health and social care providers, provides home care for 700 people across Norfolk and has been working in the county for 12 years.

The county council told the BBC the problems being experienced in Broadland were not happening elsewhere in Norfolk.

Catherine Underwood, director of integrated commissioning at Norfolk County Council and Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Groups – which has a contract with Care UK, said: “Care UK have a good record of providing quality services in Norfolk and have brought in a national team to ensure the Broadland service comes up to standard.

“Nevertheless, Norfolk County Council will be monitoring performance and will be in touch with service users, including some visits, to make sure that vulnerable people are receiving the support they need.

“The county council is committed to making sure that people who need home care receive good quality services, and if we do not see rapid improvement further action will be taken, including removing the contract if necessary.”