Close monitoring of contract firms would slash costs in care homes

Close monitoring of contract firms that offer catering and cleaning services to care homes could save the homes money, according to a boss of an award scheme for catering and cleaning services.

A recent Panorama programme found fraud is costing the NHS billions a year, with some of the fraud caused by overcharging by contractors.

Ian Jackson, managing director of the CAP Awards, the Continuous Advancement Programme - an annual award scheme for catering and housekeeping/cleaning services, believes close performance management of contract firms is key to ensuring care home residents receive good food and clean facilities and the providers themselves don’t waste valuable funds.

Mr Jackson said: “The BBC show suggested that rogue suppliers are exploiting their position and pocketing the cash which could instead be used to employ 330,000 new nurses.

“At the CAP Award Programme we work in partnership with care homes to monitor the quality and performance of their housekeeping and catering teams.”

“In short, where effective contract monitoring is in place, costs are controlled and the quality of the service enjoyed by care home residents improves - food gets better and homes become cleaner.

“With ever increasing pressures on budgets those care home providers which appreciate the power of monitoring and evaluation will ultimately deliver a better quality service for their residents, enjoy a competitive advantage and avoid the type of financial mishap which seems to have blighted the NHS.”