Care firm says existing carers will remain with clients where possible

A care firm set to take over council contracts has said existing carers will remain with clients where possible. 

Care Quality Services will be responsible for providing care at home for an increasing number of clients in Monmouthshire after the county council retendered its domicilary care contracts. 

The council has said it has awarded contracts to three “highly experienced” providers, who  all currently operate in the south of the county, under its new arrangements intended to use providers on a framework with agreed rates rather than having to purchase care packages on an adhoc basis at greater cost. 

But Conservative opposition councillors hit out at the awarding of the contract, covering Caldicot, to Essex-based Care Quality Services with Lougher Care, that is based in Magor, now holding a smaller number of contracts. 

Conservative leader Richard John said it is feared older people could have to build relationships with new carers. 

Helen Davies, regional operations manager at Care Quality Services, said she has “lived and worked in the local community for 25 years” and its local teams, including senior management, are “all local residents who have been working in the area for over 30 years and are highly invested in the community”. 

Ms Davies said: “We do recognise that changing care providers can be a stressful time for people.  

“We want to reassure existing clients that we will be working very closely with Monmouthshire council and the outgoing provider to ensure, where possible, that they keep their current care workers and that this transition is smooth and stress-free for them. 

“We know how important the relationship between clients and care workers is, and we will endeavour to ensure that all care workers are able to transfer to CQS and continue to provide care to the clients they have built relationships with.” 

Monmouthshire council has said staff will be able to transfer under TUPE arrangements though Lougher Care said a majority of its staff, when previously surveyed, said they would likely leave the industry if no longer working for it. 

Care Quality Services which already operates in Newport, Torfaen, Caerphilly and Ebbw Vale as well as the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff says it uses “sector-leading technology” to provide carers with data and alerts about the health and wellbeing of clients to enable early actions to support them and reduce hospital admissions. 

It also has an app so family members can track care and be updated on their loved one’s needs.