Praise for not-for-profit care homes vs. those in the private sector in COVID-19 report

Under extreme pressures, being motivated by people not profits makes a crucial difference to well-being for all argues our Chief Executive Stephen Hammersley

Led by Warwick Business School, the report bears the title ‘Bailed out and burned out?’ and explores the financial impact of COVID-19 on UK care homes for older people and their workforce.

The purpose of the report was to analyse the financial support provided by Government and recommend how any future support to the sector might be organised. A key point is that the financial support from Government worked – care homes didn’t fold.

But the authors of the report are also very critical of some of the private sector operators, particularly the private equity-backed larger groups. They highlight how some providers increased dividend payments during the pandemic, with opaque reporting structures making it difficult to track cashflows. The allegation is that instead of being used to support older people and staff, grant support payments given by Government went into the hands of investors.

The report also makes clear how, overall, staff working in private sector homes were less satisfied with the support they received and the way things were managed than those working in not-for-profit homes like ours.

I’d argue that at the heart of the matter is motivation. Why at Pilgrims’ Friend Society do we care for those who are older and vulnerable? Not because we’re interested in making profits for investors, but because the Bible tells us to. James 1:27 tells us ‘… to look after orphans and widows in their distress…’ Why do we prioritise our staff? Because our work is shaped by the belief that humans are made in God’s image and have inherent value – ‘God created man in his own image, in the image of God created He him’ (Genesis 1:27).

During the pandemic, care homes experienced levels of challenge never seen before. In the face of such pressures, homes founded on principles that align with God’s own heart delivered where it really counts.

What we need is a care system that is resilient to withstand both the unforeseen challenges of the future and the normal daily pressures that come with working with care.

To do so, organisations like ours need to claim a bigger share of the market. At Pilgrims’ Friend Society, we’re actively looking to expand through our Growth and Renewal Programme. We’d love your support in this. One way you can do this is by signing up to our new Prayer News email where each fortnight we’ll update you with ways you can be praying for us. We know that God works powerfully through prayer.