News

Colleagues provided domiciliary care services for more than 30 years, but at the start of 2023 we began phasing out our four programmes in Berkshire and Surrey that were rated ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission, amid the growing challenges faced by the wider care sector.

We remain committed to helping those in vulnerable circumstances and our Specialist Housing team will continue to provide vital support services, including for retirement living, young people and parents, student and key workers, as well as those at risk of domestic abuse and homelessness.

As part of the business changes, we will appoint a new director to lead the Specialist Housing team, with the existing post-holder Jo Evans moving to become our first Director of Repairs and Maintenance.

Michael Reece, Chief Property Officer at A2Dominion, said: “We’d like to thank all our colleagues, partners and everyone else involved in helping us to deliver high-quality care services to our customers over many years.

“It was not a decision we took lightly and as a housing association with a social purpose we remain committed to helping those in vulnerable circumstances in any way we can, including through retirement living, our supported services and community investment programmes.

“Looking ahead our core focus remains unchanged and we will continue to work hard to deliver for all our customers and provide homes people love to live in.”

We commissioned a review into our care and support services in 2022 as the wider sector faces growing pressure over funding and labour. The Group board made the tough decision to exit amid the squeezed margins involved in delivering front-line services. In our new corporate strategy, we outlined our commitment to providing value-for-money to customers, stakeholders and investors, and we were not prepared to compromise on the quality of service.

We worked closely with the local authorities in Reading, Spelthorne and Woking to ensure a smooth transition of its domiciliary care provision that provided personal care and practical support, including assistance with medication, to those in need.

The four tenders were transferred to new providers at the natural end of the contract. All 65 colleagues affected were protected under TUPE and the business retains a significant interest in services going forward as it continues to manage the buildings where care is provided.  

Key information about care services:

• Three A2Dominion extra care schemes in Surrey received ‘Good’ ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in 2021. The report said “people received a safe and reliable service” across the board.
• Four extra care schemes in Reading received ‘Good’ ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in 2021. The report praised the services for having “respect for privacy and dignity at the heart of their culture and values”
• All 65 colleagues protected under TUP
• All care and support colleagues are paid the London Living Wage
• We provide support services across 16 local authority areas
• We manage more than 2,250 homes for those in vulnerable circumstances, including homes for young parents, retirement living, domestic abuse refuges and specialist schemes to tackle homelessness
• The number of vacancies in adult social care have increased by 52% in one year and it is now the highest rate since records began in 2012/13, (Skills for Care 2022)
• The care sector has 152,000 vacancies on any given day between 2022 and 2023 (Skills for Care)
• Funds committed to reforming adult social care in England have been cut by 58% (National Audit Office).