Independent Care Group is Registered in England. Company Registration Number 4433126. Registered Office 10 North Park Road, Harrogate , HG1 5PG.
What benefits do you get from being a member of ICG?
ICG works hard on behalf of the independent sector and looks to independent providers to support its work. These are some of the benefits we provide:
The support of a full time paid senior officer who is willing to talk through issues with you and provide support and information and where needed, to take forward your concerns with the statutory sector. You can call Keren Wilson on 01423 816 582.
We represent your interests in negotiations with the local authorities and the PCT to get the best possible fee increase for your publicly funded clients. Our aim is to work closely with the local authority. We put the case for the cost of care to North Yorkshire County Council and City of York Council.
We represent your interests in numerous meetings where we aim to ensure that the sector is taken into consideration and we pass on information of interest to you, for example: Safeguarding Adults, Mental Capacity Act, Flu pandemic with CQC.
We have supported our members through a range of problems. We are able to raise issues on behalf of the sector and this carries much more weight than an individual.
Regular e-mail updates to make sure that you are kept abreast of information, both national and local, which will aid you in running your organisation. Whether it is local training opportunities, regulation changes or best practice guidance you need to know about, the documentation you need is sent to you directly by e-mail. We also keep you up to date on issues locally which affect the care sector. And much more. Members with a special interest can request information.
Free legal helpline. We have a much valued legal helpline service which is free to ICG members. Law firm RadcliffesLeBrasseur (RLB) with offices in London, Leeds and Cardiff provide us with a free legal helpline. RLB is one of the top law firms in the UK with particular expertise in the healthcare sector.
All paid-up ICG members are entitled to call RLB on 0207 227 7308. You can have a free 20 minute consultation with a RLB solicitor on any legal query connected to health and social care. (Your calls will be limited to one call per topic). When you call please give the name of your business so that you can be identified as an ICG member. RLB holds a list of all current ICG members. Should you require further action for example a solicitor’s letter then this will be charged at a slightly reduced normal rate.
A free legal helpline on employment matters: we are pleased to announce that Harrogate law firm Davidson Large is now offering ICG members a free telephone consultation of up to 20 minutes on any employment issue relating to your business - Tel: 01423 72 72 72.
A regular newsletter to keep you abreast of local issues. Independent Care Matters is sent out quarterly and covers all the hot topics for our area including a page for your letters. By sending the newsletter to County Councillors, City Councillors, MPs, MEPs, Chief Executivess of Borough and District Councillors and NHS Trusts and senior managers at the local authorities and the PCT we ensure that a wider audience is made aware of the issues which are affecting our sector.
A personal invitation to free local meetings within your locality where you can hear the news, give your views and network with others.
Website: we are developing the ICG website at www.independentcaregroup.co.uk
Conference: most years the ICG holds an annual conference and offers special rates to ICG members. We make sure that the conference addresses the issues that our members are concerned about. In 2008 we changed our focus and organised the highly successful Great North Care Awards 2008 to celebrate excellence in our sector at a gala evening held at The National Railway Museum. Full details on our website.
Training: we work closely with Skills for Care to bring you the latest information on training and where to get funding. We also send notification of free places available on NYCC training courses, and other training opportunities.
Networking: ICG can put you in touch with other care providers who would be willing to talk through an issue with you.
Special Events: we identify a need and work to provide support for the sector. An example would be the legal seminars on the changes brought about by the Mental Capacity Act. With the help of RadcliffesLeBrasseur, law firm, and working with local authority partners, we have organised free legal seminars around the key aspects on the Act - for example, the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS). Members are always given priority booking opportunities.font>
And these companies offer special rates to ICG members:
Citation - health and safety and employment law
Winners of the Queens Award for Enterprise, Citation offers a service which ensures that your business is compliant with health and safety and employment law. Keeping up to date with the numerous changes can be a nightmare for small businesses. Should you face an employment tribunal or other action from an enforcing authority after adopting the systems and advice from Citation, their promise is to pay defence costs and Tribunal awards up to £1m per annum. ICG has negotiated a 5% reduction for it’s members. For more information:
Tel: 01565 682 013
E-mail: enquiries@citation.co.uk
Website: www.citation.co.ukCHIS & PrimeCare- insurance services
CHIS & PrimeCare offer preferential rates on care home and on home care insurance policies. CHIS & PrimeCare’s specialist rates make them the most competitive insurance broker for care providers and they have also guaranteed a further 5% discount on these rates. The best insurance cover will be made available exclusively to ICG members. For more information:
CHIS for Care Homes
Tel: 0845 058 2040
E-mail: simon@chis.net
Website: www.chis.net
PrimeCare for Domiciliary Care Providers
Tel: 0845 604 8222
E-mail: katie@primecareinsurance.net
ebsite: www.primecareinsurance.netHET Software - software solutions
We have a special offer for ICG members from a major provider of effective software solutions for homecare and supported living/housing. ICG members will get 10% discount on all HET software applications and services. For more information:
Tel: Paul Patarou on 01440 782 200
E-mail: paul.patarou@hetsoftware.co.uk
Website: www.hetsoftware.co.ukSmith Smalley ArchitectsSmith Smalley Architects offers a free initial consultation to ICG members on development ideas. It will then give ICG members a 5% reduction in professional fees for architectural services. Smith Smalley has broad experience in the design and construction of schemes across all building sectors and expertise in the care sector. It has completed and on-going schemes within residential care, extra care, dementia care as well as learning and physical disability units. We are extremely pleased to be able to offer this member benefit. For more information:
Tel: Ken Earl on 01423 531 100
E-mail: kenearl@smithsmalley.co.uk
Website: www.smithsmalley.co.ukCollective buying:
ICG works with A J Purchasing to find ways to save you money. AJP will come to your organisation and conduct a free assessment to find ways of saving you money—often without you having to change your favourite brands. A J Purchasing specialises in providing a comprehensive purchasing service to the care home sector. Unlike other similar groups, they take a pro-active role in helping our clients reduce costs without compromising on quality. For more information:
Tel: John Jeffrey on 01903 264 907 or 07850 901 739
E-mail: jeffrey369@btinternet.comAnd more to come - ICG is liaising with top companies to bring you more benefits. For more details call ICG on 01423 816 582.