A Dorset care organisation is planning to launch its own Care Academy as a way of tackling an on-going shortage of care staff.
Care Dorset, which has around a thousand staff at more than 20 sites across the county, has told councillors that extra training will allow it to offer nurse-led care to people in greater need than it is currently able to assist.
The business operates independently but is wholly owned by Dorset Council which commissions care services from it, including residential and day facilities.
Managing director Chris Best, pictured, told councillors that its new five-year plan aims to increase revenue by 60 per cent over the period and provide additional services, including new buildings.
He said the Care Dorset Academy would be capable of awarding recognised industry qualifications and will introduce nurse-led care, allowing it to offer care and support to people with a greater severity of need than Care Dorset is currently able to accommodate.
The five-year Strategy – named Your Life, Your Way – was presented in outline to Dorset Council at a shareholders meeting at County Hall.
Mr Best said: “Care Dorset was created in October 2022 to provide and improve adult social care for the people of Dorset, taking over from previous supplies, Tricuro.
“We know most people want to live healthy, independent lives in their own homes. Our new five-year strategy aims to deliver that.
“It’s fundamentally about expanding our organisation to support more people – especially those with learning disabilities, autism or mental illness.
“Growing our market share enables us to achieve greater economies of scale and bring improved efficiencies.
“Supporting more people provides the opportunity for Care Dorset to enable more people to live their lives, their way.”
At the last shareholders meeting in October, councillors were told that the organisation was unlikely to report a profit this financial year, with the projected budget almost £900,000 adrift,.
Dorset Council’s own projections indicate that by 2035 the county could require an extra 2,384 adult care beds to accommodate increased demand – a 67 per cent hike on current provision.