Care Home News
Your trusted healthcare accountant specialists
Biggest challenge for care homes is to recruit and retain staff
According to global property adviser Knight Frank, staffing is still the most difficult challenge in terms of cost and recruitment. The ‘Care homes trading performance review – 2019’ has shown that there is a lot of difficulty in attracting qualified nurses and...
Hawsons lead in the sale of Dr Anderson Lodge Care Home
Hawsons Chartered Accountants are pleased to announce that they have completed the sale of Dr Anderson Lodge care home in Doncaster. The home provides elderly nursing and dementia care to 60 service users. Hawsons have a dedicated team of specialist healthcare...
Government announces scheme to help social care providers
The government has recognised the difficulty that the National Living Wage (NLW) and the National Minimum Wage (NMW) is causing for employers of social care providers with regards to sleep-in shifts and is therefore exploring options to minimise the impact...
Sheffield care home fee review and market analysis 2018/19
Residential care providers received much welcomed news that local authority care fees would rise up to 19% in 2018/19 following a cost of care exercise performed by the city’s council, in consultation with care home operators. Surprisingly we also see a change to the...
Tax Rates 2018/2019
Introduction We have summarised the key rates and allowances which are fundamental to our business and personal lives. We are sure that you will find them a useful point of reference and have set out below a few examples of how they can be used. The cost of...
Report finds almost half of workers in care sector leave job within a year
The Government has been called upon to address the pressing threats to social care provision, after a report found that almost half of care workers leave their job within a year. The study, conducted by the Communities and Local Government Committee, found that 48% -...
Report shows one in 10 councils cut social care funding
A think tank has found that one in 10 councils have cut funding to social care, and has caused protesters to say that the system can no longer cope with the increasing demand. According to the Institute of Fiscal Studies, in real terms, between 2009 and 2015/16,...
What businesses need to know about the new GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is set to come into force from May 2018. It will replace the current Data Protection Act and is the biggest overhaul of data protection legislation for over 25 years. GDPR will change the way organisations...
Input Tax – Beware of the pitfalls!
VAT expert Tony Nickson outlines the pitfalls to avoid when reclaiming input VAT. 1. Reclaims for purchases made before VAT registration It is important to ensure that the maximum amount of input VAT is reclaimed on your business expenditure. This includes...
The Election result: What are the tax implications?
The general election has ended in a hung parliament – the Conservative party have the most seats but do not have an overall majority. Theresa May has announced that she will form a government with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). What does this...
Figures reveal 900 carers quit every day as social care system faces difficulty
Figures have revealed that in England last year, more than 900 adult social care workers quit their job every day. These growing staff shortages are putting vulnerable people at risk of receiving poorer levels of care, according to service providers. The ageing...
Care home 2017 Budget review and analysis
The Chancellor Philip Hammond presented the last Spring Budget on Wednesday 8 March 2017. In his speech the Chancellor was keen to point out that he wanted the tax system to be fair, particularly in relation to the distinction between employed and self-employed...
Sheffield care home fee review and market analysis 2017/18
Following the introduction of the new National Living Wage on 1st April, this years care home fee review brings mixed feelings for the sector. While the increase is welcome, it is felt that it is not enough. Sheffield City Council have recommended that fees in 2017/18...
National living wage – rising wage costs for employers
The National Living Wage From 1 April 2016, following the introduction of the new National Living Wage, all workers aged 25 and over are legally entitled to at least £7.20 per hour. This was, however, until the Chancellor delivered his Autumn Statement, where he...
Small business 2017 Budget review and analysis for SMEs
The Chancellor Philip Hammond presented the last Spring Budget on Wednesday 8 March 2017. In his speech the Chancellor was keen to point out that he wanted the tax system to be fair, particularly in relation to the distinction between employed and self-employed...
Tax Rates and Allowances 2017/18
Tax Rates and Allowances 2017/18 Many of the tax rates and allowances are fundamental to our business and personal lives and the most important ones for the 2017/18 tax year are summarised here. We are sure that you will find it a useful point of reference throughout...
How is your care home performing?
All care home managers and owners ought to know how their business is performing against its competitors. We realise that each home is different but an analysis of margins, costs etc. against the competition can help highlight areas of concern and, of course,...
Care sector 2016 review – What does the future hold?
Scott Sanderson, Partner at Hawsons and Care Home Specialist gives his thoughts on the events of the past year: “Throughout 2016 the care sector continued to be challenging for operators, with staffing shortages in nursing care, continued funding pressures from local...
Care Home Autumn Statement review 2016
Philip Hammond delivered his Autumn Statement on Wednesday 23rd November 2016. His speech set out both tax and economic measures the government will implement. In this article, we summarise the key points arising from the Autumn Statement and focus on what the changes...
The Autumn Statement 2016 predictions
The Autumn Statement 2016 on Wednesday is set to be an important event. It will be the Chancellor’s first opportunity to outline his plans for taxes & spending in the wake of the Brexit vote. But what tax changes can we expect in the upcoming Autumn Statement? ...
5.2% reported increase in care home fees
Care home fees have seen a substantial increase, rising by over £1,500 over the past year, according to national provider Prestige Nursing Care. This years growth rate is the largest since the company began collecting data four years ago, and the annual growth rate...
New polymer banknotes start circulation with £5 note
The 13th September marked the first day of the brand new polymer banknotes being issued. The £5 note is the first of the banknotes to be launched in England and Wales. The polymer made banknotes are much more durable than the old banknotes and can withstand getting...
Reminder: National Minimum Wage to rise again October 2016
This article is a short reminder that National Minimum Wage will increase from 1 October 2016, following the Government's decision to accept recommendations from the Low Pay Commission (LPC) earlier this year. The main National Minimum Wage rate (for 21- 24 year olds)...
Advice on buying or selling a care home – key considerations
If you are about to purchase a new care home or embark on the sale of an existing care home, this article is a worthwhile reminder of some of the key accounting and tax-related considerations you should be thinking about. Buying a care home considerations The care...
Care home Minimum Wage and Living Wage update
The government announced increases to the National Minimum Wage, effective 1 October 2016, after accepting recommendations for the new rates from the Low Pay Commission (LPC). The main National Minimum Wage rate (for 21- 24 year olds) will rise by 3.7% from £6.70 to...
Brexit: implications for care homes and tips to increase profitability
It is impossible to predict the full impact that Brexit with have on the care sector at this stage – many questions still remain unanswered. The impacts could be wide ranging, bringing about both opportunities and challenges. The key areas likely to be affected are...
Brexit: tax implications as the UK votes to leave the EU
From the argument over selling bendy bananas to the threat of an emergency Budget, the EU referendum campaign has undoubtedly had its share of the headlines over the past couple of months. The biggest headline now though is of course that the UK has voted to leave the...
£17m funding available for training in the Sheffield City Region
Do you know about the new Skills Bank for the Sheffield City Region? The Skills Bank is a government/LEP initiative aimed at workforce training and development in the Sheffield City Region. It is a £17m fund - new for 2016 - comprising of funding from the European...
New EU GDPR rules – 12 things you should be doing to prepare
After over four long years of political processes, detailed discussions and business lobbying, the final text of the new EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules was released in April 2016. As nearly all businesses and other entities use some form of...
Changes to business rates announced in the 2016 Budget
The Chancellor recently announced a number of positive measures to reform business rates in the UK: Firstly, business rates have been devolved to Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Secondly, there will be cuts on business rates for approximately half of all...
