More Southwark care homes are signing up to standards charter

Six care homes in Southwark have now signed up to the council’s residential care charter – a document that aims to drive up standards for both staff and residents.

The tie-ups should lead to better working terms and conditions for about 500 care home staff who make up three-quarters of the council workforce.

They care for more than 400 residents across the six homes, which is roughly 86 per cent of all those living in care homes in the borough.

Cllr Evelyn Akoto, cabinet member for health and well-being, said: “The people who look after our older loved ones do invaluable work on behalf of us all. It is only right that they are better paid and better supported to provide the high quality care that residents deserve.”

The council is committed to having 100 per cent of care homes compliant with the charter by 2026. It was set up in 20222 and six out of the 16 in the borough have now signed up.

They are: Bluegrove, Greenhive, Rosecourt and Waterside – which are all run by Agincare – Camberwell Lodge which is run by Country Court, and Tower Bridge, which is run by HC-One.

Improvements under the charter include all care home staff being paid at least the London living wage, all staff receiving occupational sick pay instead of statutory sick pay, and all staff being paid extra for unsocial hours.

Pictured top: From left to right: Raina Summerson, Jake Rollin (Director of Commissioned Care and Commercial Support at HC-One), Jo Galloway, Lauren Gordon (Camberwell Lodge Care Home Manager of Country Court Care Homes), Cllr Gavin Edwards (Social Care Lead for UNISON) and Cllr Evelyn Akoto.