Tag: Southern Cross
BALHOUSIE CARE GROUP APPOINTS NEW AREA MANAGERS
Leading care provider Balhousie Care Group has recruited two new area managers from rival operators to support its team of 24 care home managers across Scotland. Maxine Beveridge and Carolyn McNiven previously worked for Southern Cross Healthcare and Four Seasons Healthcare and are a key part of the newly strengthened senior management team at Balhousie [...]
Balhousie Care Group Announce New HR Director
Leading care provider Balhousie Care Group has appointed Tricia Stewart as Director of HR, as the company opens new homes and moves into new parts of Scotland. Tricia is the latest addition to the group’s newly bolstered senior management team, ahead of planned growth over the next few years, including the opening [...]
Four Seasons Loans Restructure Goes Ahead
Four Seasons, now the UK’s largest independent care home operator are negotiating the restructure of their £780m debt and are hoping to raise £230m via their shareholders. Four Seasons Healthcare took 140 homes from ashes of Southern Cross to make them the largest provider of elderly care in the UK. The debt, [...]
HPC MARKET REVIEW
HPC MARKET REVIEW January 2012 After a year which has seen a great deal of activity focused on the social care sector, it is likely that 2012 will throw up challenges of its own, in addition to suffering from symptoms of a ‘hangover’ from 2011. The cost of care is likely to figure high on [...]
Four Seasons Under Government Scrutiny
In a written statement to government Paul Burstow Minister of State-Care services has confirmed that Four Seasons have met with senior officials from his department twice in the last 12 months to explain the company’s financial position and his department will continue to keep in close touch with the company. During these [...]
Paul Burstow Minister of Care Comments
Paul Burstow has made the following statements both written and oral to questions regarding care in the UK. ”The proposals we have outlined in the Health and Social Care Bill place a much firmer emphasis on. The importance of integration-better collaboration, partnership working and integration across social care and the national health [...]
Specialist Sector Continues To Feel Impact
SPECIALIST SECTORS CONTINUE TO FEEL IMPACT OF REDUCED DISCRETIONARY SPEND Despite the impact of reduced discretionary spend upon the special sectors (Automotive, Recreational, Licensed and Leisure, Hotels and Healthcare, many operators are beginning to see positive results as they focus on cost control, restructuring and their core businesses according to Colliers [...]
A Positive Outlook From AJ Social Care
With recent announcements causing negative media attention and calls for reform throughout the social care industry, local care provider, AJ Social Care, has called for a more positive outlook to drive change and give greater support to a more progressive social agenda. Jo Guy, Managing Director of AJ Social [...]
Balancing The Books-Paul Burstow Comments
Four Seasons have agreed the transfer of 57 of the 288 care homes from the now failed Southern Cross. A further 88 will be transferred in the 2nd tranche. This arrangement is with the full knowledge of the Care Quality Commission. Four Seasons have assets currently valued at £350m and debts [...]
Orchard Care Take Over 29 Southern Cross Homes
Chief Executive Paul Mancey has confirmed that Leeds based Orchard Care are taking over the running of 29 homes formally owned by beleaguered Southern Cross. Orchard Care recently appointed former Director General of Help the Aged Mike Lake to the board. With plans to secure the future of a further 15 southern [...]
AJ GROUP PLANS EXPANSION WITH TEN NEW ROLES
AJ Group the provider of care, training and recruitment for the social care market, has announced its plans to expand the team with the addition of no fewer than ten new roles, which are available at its head office in Leeds. The business has seen an increase in turnover of 10% with recent account [...]
Paul Burstow Updates The Government On Southern Cross
Paul Burstow updates the government on Southern Cross- A company that will be no more from the end of October. Paul Burstow MP Written Update On Southern Cross September 12, 2011 I wish to update the House further on the situation regarding Southern Cross Healthcare. Throughout, the Government’s overriding concerns have been [...]
Nick Leslau-Owner of Prestbury and Landlord at Southern Cross
If you read the Sunday Times this weekend you’ll have seen the article on Nick Leslau-It’s worth the read! He describes the last few years and the problems he’s encountered with his property empire- Prestbury. I located this article regarding his involvement with Southern Cross. Another article worth 5 minutes. Media [...]
The State Of The UK Care Industry
If you were to look in a mirror and ask yourself if the provision for care in the UK is; 1. Good enough for you or a loved one? 2. Affordable and accessible to you? 3. Fit for the aspirations & expectations of future generations? If you could [...]
Survey On CQC and Perception Of Care
More than 40 per cent of people have a lower perception of the quality of care services available after high-profile incidents in the health and social care sector, according to a survey by Portsmouth-based Choosemycare.com. And almost 40 per cent of people in the survey said that their perception of the [...]
Mr Burstow, Your Comments Please
Good afternoon Mr Burstow I am currently running a story on www.careindustrynews.co.uk regarding the possibility of other care groups/providers being potentially insolvent and I have run the written response between you and Tom Blenkinsop MP but if you read the comments the story has received plus comments regarding the debacle [...]
Whatever Happened To Philip Scott Of Southern Cross?
www.careindustrynews.co.uk contributor Kristian Starkey, University Graduate thought that it would be interesting to follow the tracks of former Southern Cross Chief Executive Philip Scott. He seems to be one of a small number who made a profit out of Southern Cross and now finds himself involved with another [...]
Care Industry News Asks What Now For Southern Cross?
Care Industry News investigates the Southern Cross story and where they go from here. So Southern Cross are handing their homes back; this news doesn’t come as much of a surprise to those of you who’ve followed the story. What about the families who are concerned about whether or not their particular [...]
Age UK Comments On Southern Cross
“This has been a really worrying few months for Southern Cross residents and their families, with these latest developments only adding to their concern. “We would urge everyone involved in the potential transfer of the Southern Cross homes to put the needs of the residents first, remembering that those [...]
Share Trading On Southern Cross Suspended
Share trading in Southern Cross has been suspended due to the current landlords wanting to reclaim their homes. A statement just issued has said of Southern Cross that, ” It is currently envisaged that the existing group will cease to be an operator of homes” The landlords have also confirmed that [...]
Four Seasons Take Back Homes
Four Seasons have announced taking back some of the 45 care homes they currently rent to Southern Cross. According to the Financial Times some of these homes have been mooted as being ‘unfit for purpose’ by Southern Cross but Four Seasons have opted to take them back and look to run them-Certainly [...]
Homes With Care To Resolve Long Term Care
Assisted Living – A Real Opportunity To Help Resolve Long Term Care Problems For The Elderly? The Care Home Sector The long term care sector is a very difficult one to be in. Even though, fundamentally, the demographics are in favour, the mechanics of the business is rife with [...]
‘Paul Burstow Comments On Southern Cross’
Paul Burstow made the following statement regarding Southern Cross; ”The Government have made it very clear that the welfare of residents living in Southern Cross homes is paramount. We appreciate that recent events and media speculation have caused concern to residents in Southern Cross care homes, to their relatives and families and [...]
Employee Contracts In Negotiations-Southern Cross
As part of the negotiations with their landlords employee contracts may be renegotiated. Southern Cross staff are being ‘invited’ to renegotiate various fundamental parts of their contracts which may involve a change in hours, where they work and reduction in pay and possible further voluntary redundancies. Most staff are already on the [...]
‘Southern Cross…..Latest News’
Darlington based Southern Cross agree terms to secure the future of the company and the its residents. A restructure of the company involves a committee made up the company and landlords. A joint statement was issued last night where the landlords confirmed their ”support” and jointly that they ”would work towards a [...]
‘Priority Should Be Residents’
Age UK issued the following statement today regarding Southern Cross; “It is deeply worrying that the Southern Cross situation has reached this crisis point as families and residents of their homes will be greatly concerned. “Providing continuing and quality care to those 31,000 residents must be the highest priority for all those [...]
‘Emergency Meeting Takes Place Right Now!’
Southern Cross are having an emergency meeting with landlords, banks and the government to avoid going in to administration- The meeting is taking place right now-3pm Wednesday afternoon Southern Cross are unable to meet their rents on 750 care homes. They have asked for a break in payments for 4 months [...]
‘Significant Financial Concessions’ For Southern Cross
Darlington based Southern Cross the largest elderly care operator in the UK have won a reprieve from closures by agreeing a cut in rents payable to landlords for the next few months. No care home will close until at least October. Southern Cross have announced that they will continue operating but possibly [...]
NACC Warn Will It Be Heat Or Eat?
Derek Johnson Chairman of National Association for Care Catering has warned that many eldery people face the dilemma of heating over eating. Scottish Power have recently announced a sharprise in prices and it’s expected that the other suppliers will follow with similar announcements. Derek Johnson commented “It is vital that [...]
Name The Homes-Southern Cross
Southern Cross should name the homes they believe should be closed, off loaded or are ‘unfit’ for purpose. There will be various meetings this week between the board and between the landlords, which includes Four Seasons- Whom according to Unison is another group with enormous financial problems. Southern Cross has received [...]
Four Seasons Deny Financial Problems
Jim McCall Chief Executive of Four Seasons for Northern Ireland announced today ”As far as we are concerned today I am recruiting staff and looking for care assistants and nurses, and offering reasonable jobs with training with a reputable company. “This week we have 92% of our available beds occupied. We [...]
Southern Cross To Give Back 132 Homes
In moves to secure their debts and reassure landlords Southern Cross are negotiating the return of 132 homes by September or at the end of their working life (by 2016). Southern Cross have identified 47 homes that they wish to ‘release’ by September and a further 85 they believe they will have [...]
Southern Cross Axe 3000 Jobs!
Southern Cross have just announced the axing of 3,000 jobs before the end of October. Following their agreement to reduce payments of rents to their landlords they are now reducing staffing levels although they claim this will not compromise care. This is disputed by the the unions and calls into question-Just [...]
Southern Cross-The story behind the story.
Here we go; ‘A very close and trusted aide to Tony Blair Mr Jeremy Heywood and now tipped to be David Cameron’s Cabinet Secretary was head of the team at Morgan Stanley Investment Bank- That acted as advisers on the flotation of Southern Cross in 2006. He stood to gain indirectly from the £425 Million [...]
In The Business Of Caring
David Murray, a lawyer with law firm Morgan Cole discusses the implications of insolvency in the care home sector The perfect storm of spiralling rents, increased regulation, declining income from Councils and tighter economic circumstances has seen increasing numbers of businesses in the care home sector face the risk of insolvency. [...]
Southern Cross-Cap In Hand?
So Southern Cross looks as though it may be bailed out by Government- That means you and me are now going to pay, again- How can this work and will anyone be held to account? The story leading up to today’s news is a mine field. Nevertheless various directors received millions by selling [...]
An Iceberg For Southern Cross Care Homes
How to raise £100million? Off load over 200 Care Homes! Southern Cross have seen their shares plunge to new depths. Their Chairman Ray Miles stepped aside in April- Handing over to Christopher Fisher whose back ground includes being Managing Director of Lazard Investment Bank and Vice Chairman of Corporate Finance for KPMG . As well [...]
Falling Fees, Fewer Referrals & Rising Costs
Colliers comment on the care sector: The care home market is seeing falling fees, fewer referrals and rising costs. The large corporate organisations have already exhausted most economies of scale. The government is poised to step into the breach to prevent closures in the event of corporate administrations. • Fee growth has [...]
The Begining Rather Than The End For Great Care?
When care staff were recently asked what they would change about care, if they had a magic wand; their response was quite surprising but very thought provoking. One of their points was to have a more positive portrayal in the media. You can understand why they feel this way and yet [...]
Southern Cross Healthcare Crisis
Civil servants are in talks with a Darlington-based company that provides care home beds for more than 30,000 elderly residents amid fears it could collapse. Commons Leader Sir George Young told MPs that officials were in discussions with Southern Cross Healthcare about plans to “address their financial difficulties”. News of the talks was revealed as [...]
