Out and about Nourish Care’s Paul Antonioni on building solutions for increasingly complex home care In p In p In p In p In pn p artnartnartnart sh er sh er s er s erer ip wp w i ith h ur No ur No u ish ishish Car e Car e MARCH 2026 (ISSUE 30) AN ITP MEDIA GROUP PUBLICATIONWhy Choose Nourish? Nourish is the most trusted digital care management and rostering system in the UK, used by care workers to deliver 1/3 of all home care hours in Britain. We work with our users and their communities to co-produce systems that promote actionable information, in-depth customisation and better care outcomes. Find out how Nourish can set you up for the future of care, book a personalised demo with us on 023 8000 2288 or email hello@nourishcare.com nourishcare.com “The app is so straightforward, documenting appointments is quick, easy to share and it gives our carers more time with the people we support.” Jacqualine Moyo, Ness M Care NHS ASSURED SOLUTION NHS Transformation Directorate “Straightforward, quick and easy”18 26 20 Specials Abicare’s ascent 18 Home care provider discusses why it is serious about ramping up its operations Out and about 20 How Nourish Care is working with providers to build solutions for increasingly complex home care False economy 26 Fiscal drag could strip billions from care workers and undermine the Fair Pay Agreement March 2025 homecareinsight.co.uk In this issue HOMECAREINSIGHT.CO.UK / 3“There is a disconnect that needs addressing” Page 18 14 09 Regulars Providers 08 Belong at Home makes Merseyside debut Technology 09 Ireland gathers feedback on use of AI in care People 10 New Home Instead chief sets out goals Business 11 Routes Healthcare maps out Midlands expansion Comment 14 ICG’s Mike Padgham urges government action 5 things on my mind 34 Lausa Biragi, founder of You & I Care “The fragility of home care is not abstract” Page 32 In this issue 4 / HOMECAREINSIGHT.CO.UK 10 Report highlights lack of planning around care HRM’s Lynn Laughland on the challenges for careIN ASSOCIATION WITH The Leading Women in Care Awards will return to London in 2026, in celebration of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. This prestigious gathering will highlight the remarkable success stories of women in social care. It will feature two all-star panels, fine dining, and a glamorous awards ceremony. Thursday 19th March 2026 58VE 7th floor, 58 Victoria Embankment, London, EC4Y 0DS Stephen Hall Editor, CHP stephen.hall@itp.com FOR MORE INFORMATION OR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES Michael Murray Commercial Manager michael.murray@itp.com SUPPORTING PARTNERSPANEL SPONSOR NOMINATE & GET TICKETS NOW DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS 20TH FEBRUARY 2026Foreword Nothing will ever alter the fact that the foundations of home care are built on human interaction and empathy. But what is becoming increasingly clear is that technology is having as much of a transformative effect on the market as any other people-led sector. If workforce shortages and funding pressures define home care today, I’m certain that technology will define how it operates tomorrow. Digital tools are rapidly moving from being operational add-ons to strategic enablers. We can already see from the case studies and reports that land on our desk every week that many of the providers thriving today aren’t only using technology to simply to digitise paperwork, but to redesign how care is delivered, monitored and improved. Digital care planning systems are becoming standard, replacing manual records with real-time, shareable information. The next evolution will be interoperability – systems that connect seamlessly with GP practices, community nursing teams and hospital discharge units. That connectivity has the potential to reduce duplication and ensure that everyone involved in a person’s care is working from the same, up-to-date information. Remote monitoring will also play a larger role. From wearable devices tracking vital signs to home-based sensors identifying changes in movement patterns, technology will increasingly support early intervention. For providers, this means the ability to spot deterioration sooner and respond proactively. For commissioners and families, it offers reassurance that care is both responsive and evidence-based. Workforce technology will be equally transformative. Smarter scheduling platforms, powered by data and artificial intelligence, can optimise rotas based on geography, skillset and continuity of care, reducing travel time and improving consistency for clients. Digital tools must enhance human connection, not erode it. The essence of home care remains relational, with trust and compassion at its core. Successful providers will deploy technology to free up carers’ time, reduce administrative burden and strengthen communication, rather than replace the human touch. For a sector under pressure, smart adoption offers not just efficiency gains, but the chance to build a more responsive and sustainable model of care. From the editor The smart way to deliver home care 6 / HOMECAREINSIGHT.CO.UK Andrew Seymour Editorial Director ITP Media (UK) Ltd 140 Old Street, London, EC1V 9BJ Tel: +44 (0)20 3176 4228 Editorial Editorial Director Andrew Seymour andrew.seymour@itp.com Tel: +44 (0)20 3176 4234 Commercial Publisher Michael Murray michael.murray@itp.com Tel: +44 (0)20 3176 4235 Design Senior Designer Ogo Ikeogu ogo.ikeogu@itp.com Production & Distribution Senior Production & Distribution Manager Balasubramanian P balasubramanian.p@itp.com Digital Outsourcing manager Sonika Mattoo sonika.mattoo@itp.com Database management Vinod Alath vinod.alath@itp.com ITP Media Group CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Managing Directors Lee Cashman, Martin Chambers, Marne Schwartz, Ahmad Bashour Deputy Managing Director Holly Sands Circulation & Subscription Tel: +44 (0)20 3176 4228 subscriptions@itp.com Web www.homecareinsight.co.uk www.itp.com The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions in this publication, however caused. 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An exception is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review. 6 / HOMECAREINSIGHT.CO.UK Published by and copyright 2026 ITP Media (UK) Ltd, incorporated and registered in the United Kingdom under company number 10982417.Sign up now at hoommeecccaaarrreeeiinnnsssiigght.ccccooo..uuuk//dnna8 / HOMECAREINSIGHT.CO.UK Warning over legal obstacle for families Thousands of families across England and Wales risk being overruled on care decisions because they lack a single legal document, according to new research. At the centre of the issue is Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) – a legal safeguard designed to protect personal choice – which experts have warned is widely misunderstood and frequently incomplete. There are two types of Lasting Power of Attorney: a Property and Financial Affairs LPA, covering money, bills, pensions and property; and a Health and Welfare LPA, covering decisions about medical treatment, daily care, and crucially, where a person lives. Research from Noble Live-In- Care in conjunction with legal care specialist Care Necessities says the Health and Welfare LPA is far more likely to be missing – and that absence can have serious implications as without it families have no automatic legal right to decide whether care should take place. Kirsty Prendiville La wes, operations manager at Noble Live-In Care, commented: “The law recognises the importance of independence, familiarity and psychological wellbeing. But without the right legal authority in place, families can lose control at exactly the moment they need it most.” In the headlines Essential news for home care professionals Belong at Home makes Merseyside debut ahead of care village project Belong at Home has made its Merseyside debut by launching a branch in Southport. The investment comes as it aims to create more than 200 jobs in the area over the next 12 months by opening a specialist care village in Birkdale. The Southport team is headed up by longstanding senior carer Debbie Moore, who will oversee a dedicated workforce providing one-to-one personal care, housekeeping and food preparation. Andrew Shield, head of operations at Belong at Home, said: “Our goal is to help our customers enjoy later life by supporting them to live as independently as possible. And, once Belong Birkdale opens, customers and their families will be able to take advantage of the full range of amenities and services available.” Belong Birkdale is the company’s first state-of-art care village in the county. Set to be home to more than 100 people, customers will be able to choose between 24-hour residential care with nursing support available, or buying or renting one of 30 one- and two-bedroom independent living apartments. The compay’s specialist day care service, Experience Days, will also be available to those who wish to access it. It will be the ninth site in the group’s portfolio, adding to existing locations across the North West and West Midlands. The Homecare Association has responded to the Department of Business and Trade’s call for evidence relating to options for reform of non-compete clauses in employment contracts and how this may impact Adult Social Care. It said non-compete clauses were “not a significant barrier to growth or labour mobility” in the home care sector. Non-compete clauses for frontline care workers are already largely unenforceable under current law given their low wages. However, The Homecare Association said the reform proposals do engage with a concern that there is a risk that care workers leave regulated employment to become self- employed, taking the people they support with them into unregulated arrangements. Non-compete clauses up for debateNews digest HOMECAREINSIGHT.CO.UK / 9 Subscribe to our daily news alerts online News dig o our daily rts online Ireland gathers public feedback on use of artificial intelligence in care Ireland’s Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is set to begin poring over feedback on its Draft National Guidance for the Responsible and Safe use of Artificial Intelligence in Health and Social Care Services following a public consultation that took place earlier this year. The purpose of the draft guidance is to build awareness and good practice among services and staff around the responsible and safe use of artificial intelligence to ensure safer, better care for people using health and social care services. It is underpinned by four principles: accountability, a human rights-based approach, safety and wellbeing, and responsiveness, and aims to educate and empower people using services on what to expect when AI tools are used in their care. The development of the draft guidance comes at a time when the health and social care system in Ireland is facing rising costs, increased demand due to an ageing population, prevalence of chronic and complex conditions, and a shortage of healthcare staff to meet demand. AI has already begun to be used across health and social care in Ireland, with its role expected to grow significantly. HIQ said the feedback it receives will be “carefully considered” and used to inform the National Guidance for the Responsible and Safe Use of AI in Health and Social Care, which will be published later this year. Care decisions still made at point of crisis Families across Britain are still leaving care decisions until a health crisis forces their hand, according to Tinga Umera, managing director of Nexus Care Services. Tinga’s comments follow the release of new research by Ageing Britain, which shows that more than half of care enquiries are made within a month of care being needed. Tinga said the findings reflect what his teams see every day. “Most families do not come to care planning calmly or early. They come to it when something has already gone wrong,” he said. “Decisions are often made during shock, exhaustion and fear, rather than with time to think about what would actually suit the person needing care.” Tinga said home care has an important role in protecting capacity in high-pressure areas. “Many people entering care homes are not unsafe at home, they just don’t have the support they need. With the right care plan and continuity, people can often remain at home safely for much longer. That helps ensure care home places are available for those who genuinely need round-the-clock supervision.”Next >