WATCH: Highland care home boss tells incoming First Minister Humza Yousaf social care has been 'Cinderella service' for too long
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THE boss of a Highland care home company which closed a facility in Ullapool just months after taking it over has issued a heartfelt plea to the incoming First Minister.
Parklands Care Homes operates a total of nine care homes, amongst them Tain, Fortrose and Muir of Ord in Ross-shire.
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The bombshell closure of Mo Dhachaidh in Ullapool last month thrust the issue of social care into the spotlight amidst comments from managing director Ron Taylor that he was encountering the toughest economic climate in three decades.
Since then, another Ross-shire care home provider HC-One, has announced its intention to close Castle Gardens in Invergordon, citing staff shortages amongst the challenges it faces.
Mr Taylor has recorded a video message to newly elected First Minister Humza Yousaf, outlining the challenges facing the care sector.
In his message, Ron Taylor highlighted the impact of inflation, recruitment and retention, agency costs and inadequate funding for care services.
Mr Taylor stressed the need to reduce inflation, particularly rising utility costs which have spiralled "out of control".
He also addressed the recruitment and retention crisis in the sector, stating that "the number of people just aren't there", forcing care homes to rely on expensive agency firms.
Commenting on the current state of social care in Scotland, Mr Taylor said: "Social care in Scotland has always been seen as the Cinderella service and I think it now needs to be elevated and given far more prominence in the delivery of long term care."
On the proposed National Care Service, Mr Taylor said the new body could help eliminate inconsistency in the delivery of care but expressed concerns about its timing, calling for a 12-month postponement.
He said: “I don't think this is the time for the National Care Service. I think it should be postponed for at least 12 months. I think the amount of money that's currently being spent on that should be hitting the front line services immediately.”
Mr Taylor described the current level of funding offered under the national care home contract as "woefully inadequate" and called for an immediate increase in funding to address the crisis in social care.
He said: "We're very blessed to look after people who have reached old age and these people deserve to be treated properly but, in order to do that, we need to get funding delivered at a higher level."
He added: “There's been a lot of talk over the last few years from national government about dealing with social care, but nothing's been done. I think if we elevate social care up to a comparable service to the NHS, you'll see a huge difference in the flow and the delivery of the way care is being delivered in Scotland.”
Parklands Care homes has nine care homes in Tain, Fortrose, Muir of Ord, Grantown, Aberlour, Keith and Buckie and employs around 700 care staff. The company also manages two homes in Keith and Cullen on behalf of Craigard Care Limited, now in administration.
