Norfolk County Council Progresses Plans for Care Home Management Transfer
Norfolk County Council has made significant progress in its search for a new provider to manage its care homes, with Stow Healthcare emerging as the leading candidate. The council initiated this search last year as its contract with Norse Care, a private company owned by the council, approached its conclusion. According to Council Leader Carl Jamieson, Stow Healthcare was identified as the “front runner” after a comprehensive evaluation process, positioning the Suffolk-based care provider to potentially take responsibility for 20 care homes across the region.
The decision to seek external management comes after the council’s modernization efforts for these care homes stalled due to rising interest rates, creating a need for outside investment to improve facilities and services. Stow Healthcare, which was recently acquired by US company CGEN Care, would assume control of the 20 properties, including three facilities that had previously been closed. The proposed arrangement would also include the transfer of Norse Care itself, creating a comprehensive solution for elderly care services in Norfolk. This potential partnership represents a significant shift in how care is delivered in the county, with the council moving from owner-operator to a partnership model with a private healthcare provider.
Under the proposed agreement, continuity of care remains a priority, with assurances that current residents would be able to remain in their homes during the transition. Similarly, existing staff members would be transferred to the new provider, helping to minimize disruption to both those receiving and delivering care services. This approach acknowledges the importance of stability for vulnerable residents and the value of experienced caregivers who understand their needs. Council Leader Jamieson emphasized that his primary objective has consistently been “to transform and modernize our care homes,” suggesting that this partnership could provide the investment needed to achieve these improvements when the council alone could not.
The council is approaching this potential transfer with appropriate caution, with Jamieson noting that if a sale agreement progresses, “we will do further detailed work, including consultation of residents, before any final agreement is reached.” This commitment to consultation indicates the council’s recognition of its responsibility to care home residents and their families, ensuring their voices are heard in decisions that will directly affect their living arrangements and care. The council appears to be balancing the practical need for external investment with its duty of care to some of Norfolk’s most vulnerable residents.
This development reflects broader trends in social care across the UK, where local authorities are increasingly seeking partnerships with private providers to maintain and improve services amid financial constraints. The involvement of CGEN Care, a US company that recently acquired Stow Healthcare, also highlights the growing internationalization of the care sector, bringing both potential benefits in terms of investment capacity and questions about long-term commitment to local communities. For Norfolk residents, particularly those with family members in affected care homes, this transition represents both an opportunity for improved facilities and a period of uncertainty about future care standards.
As discussions progress, the council will need to ensure robust safeguards are in place to maintain quality standards and protect the interests of residents if the transfer proceeds. Transparent communication with all stakeholders, including residents, families, staff, and the wider community, will be essential in building confidence in this new approach to care provision. While external investment may provide the resources needed for modernization that the council could not deliver independently, the success of this initiative will ultimately be judged by the quality of care experienced by residents and the working conditions of care staff in the years to come. Norfolk’s approach to this transition could potentially serve as a model for other local authorities facing similar challenges in the provision of elderly care services.
