AN URGENT review is to be launched into care home placements in Oxfordshire, amid concerns about standards, finances and value for money.

County councillors unanimously backed a review of the fees paid by the council for places in care homes.

The move follows a critical report by the Care Quality Commission into the Brookfield Christian Care Home in Oxford and a report which questioned whether care at some of the county’s homes was as good as it could be.

There are 4,500 care home beds at 142 care homes in Oxfordshire, with 1,400 places partially or fully paid for by the council.

The council will examine whether it is paying enough money to ensure high standards of care for residents it funds, and whether homes offer good value for the public money they receive.

The report will also look into what standards, including complaints systems and monitoring processes, can be built into contracts drawn up between the council and the owners of the homes.

Last month, the CQC reported that its inspectors had found pensioners were left in pain without their medication and others were not given help to get out of bed at the Brookfield home, in Greater Leys, run by struggling care home operator Southern Cross.

And patients’ group Oxfordshire Local Involvement Network (LINk) visited 28 care homes in the county, finding “bland food” and a lack of stimulating activities for some residents.

Its report said: “We found a wide range of practice in the homes we visited, even when their populations seemed similar.

“Given the high level of charges and allowing for differences in style, it is vital to consider whether value for money is given in all cases and whether the care received by residents is always as good as it can be.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Janet Godden, who proposed the motion that launched the review process, said the situation at Brookfield was “not a crisis, but certainly not good enough”.

She added: “Alas, we cannot assume that this is unusual either nationwide or in Oxfordshire.

“The report by our Local Involvement Network concludes that in many homes care is not as good as it should be.

“It highlights the use of unqualified staff and recommends that the council reassures itself that it is getting value for money.”

Arash Fatemian, the council’s cabinet member for adult social care, said a recent questionnaire showed 93 per cent of residents were satisfied with their care homes.

He said: “There are many care homes in the private sector and the vast majority of them do a good job, and it is unfair to label them all based on the issues facing one particular provider.”

The council pays between £350 and £612 a week to homes for residents’ placements.

Councillors also questioned whether they could rely on the CQC to provide detailed enough checks on standards of care in the Oxfordshire homes it uses.

And former GP Dr Peter Skolar and fellow Conservative councillor David Robertson said that councillors should be given back the power to inspect care homes.

  • What are your experiences of care homes in Oxfordshire? We want to hear your views. Call Liam Sloan on 01865 425431 or email him by clicking on his name at the top of this story.