Care homes come together for major conference

Councillor Dale Mulgrew

Representatives from care homes across the borough are attending a special conference next week to share best practice and talk about strategies for delivering high quality care of older people. It follows on from the success of the first ever such event held here last year.

Delegates will take part in a series of workshops on subjects ranging from dealing with changes in mental health legislation to the impact of Data Protection laws. There will also be a session on how independent care homes can maximise the potential of their staff through Skills for Life training with an emphasis on maintaining the dignity and respect of older people.

Around a hundred people from both private and council-run care homes are due to attend the event at Rochdale Football Club next Monday (3 March 2008). Staff from Rochdale Borough Council’s Adult Care service will be leading the day, and there will also be representatives from the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust available to talk to attendees and answer their questions.

Councillor Dale Mulgrew, cabinet member for health and social care, said: “This is the second time that we’ve run an event like this - it’s a superb opportunity to bring together a wide variety of like-minded people who are involved in commissioning and providing residential care in the borough and for them to share their experiences. Our top priority is ensuring that care standards are as high as they possibly can be, so we are committed to helping improve the services provided in both public and private sector care homes.”