SHROPSHIRE PARTNERS IN CARE

The above organisation is an amalgamation of the Shropshire Care Homes Association founded in 1985 and the Nursing Homes in Shropshire group that was founded in 1989. These bodies represent the interests of Nursing, Residential homes and Home Care Agencies in the county, and are affliated nationally to the National Care Homes Association and the Registered Nursing Homes Association. the merger of the two groups took place on 17th December 1999. This was chaired by Mr John Weeks, Director of Social Services Shropshire. Mr Paul Marsden MP was also present who answered questions put to him from members.

Membership to Shropshire Partners In Care is open to all independent sector providers of care and is committed to ensuring its members offer equal opportunities to all and do not discriminate on the grounds of sex, colour, race, religon, sexual orientation, marital status or disibility. Shropshire Partners are committed to working with the necessary regulatory authorities to ensure that the committed
standards are followed.

The aims of the organisation are :-
  • To represent the interests of care companies, proprietors and service users.
  • To use its best endevours to affect and maintain high standards of care and conditions.
  • To make representation to any such body whos function may at any time have an affect on the welfare of the members of the association, their clients and service users.
 
Best Regards,
Shropshire Partners In Care

SHROPSHIRE PARTNERS IN CARE CONSTITUTION

Name: The name of the Association shall be Shropshire Partners In Care.
 
Catchment Area: The catchment area for the Association shall include all of the county of Shropshire including Telford and Wrekin.
 
Aims: The aims of the Association shall be: -
    To represent the interests of Care Companies, Proprietors and service users.
    • To use its best endeavours to effect and maintain high standards of care and conditions in Member Homes.
    • To make representation to any such body who’s function may at anytime have an affect on the welfare of the members of the Association, their clients and service users.
    • To affiliate to any other organisation which has the same or similar aims to the Association or who may be able to assist the Association in achieving its aims.
 Membership: Membership of the Association shall be open to all independent providers of care within the catchment area, regardless of class, colour, culture, ethnic origin, race, religion, disability, sexuality or marital status.
The Association shall, within six months of its formation, evolve and introduce a quality standard which shall with agreement of a simple majority of its members, become the minimum standard by which the Care Company or Proprietor is admitted to the Association.
Member Homes shall conduct themselves in such a manner as to bring no discredit on themselves, the membership or on the Association.
Care Companies and Proprietors shall be entitled to one vote per registered member.
All members must belong to a recognised national organisation solely representing care provision and proof must be provided.
 
Termination of Termination of membership may be necessary at the discretion of the
 
Membership: committee if a member is involved in any indiscretion, which brings the care sector in disrepute.
Representation at executive committee meetings to discuss termination of membership on the grounds of indiscretion shall be the right of the member involved.
Appeals against the executive committee’s decision can be made through a Special General Meeting within 28 days of the executive committee’s decision. The decision made by members at the Special General Meeting and voting will be final.
 
Membership Fee: There shall be a registration fee and an annual subscription, which shall be set annually at the Annual General Meeting. All incoming money shall be expended for the benefit of the Association and its members.
The executive committee shall be empowered to set the registration fee and annual subscription, which shall be notified, to the members in November and payable by the end of December each year.
 
Executive Committee: The executive committee shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and six (6) other executive committee members who shall all be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting Representation on the executive committee shall be shared equally amongst the different care sectors wherever possible.
The executive committee shall meet on a regular basis and no less than four (4) times a year.
Any member of the association can be co-opted onto the executive committee by the executive committee for the purpose of filling a vacancy or vacancies arising from the resignation of an executive committee member.
Posts shall only be filled in this way until the next Annual General Meeting.
Minutes of the executive committee meetings shall be made available to any member of the association on request.
 
Members Meeting: Members of the Association shall meet on a regular basis.
Written notification of a Members Meeting shall be sent to all members at least 14 days in advance of the meeting.
 
Annual General There shall be an Annual General Meeting held every January
 
Meeting: commencing January 2001.
The main business of the Annual General Meeting shall be to:
    • Agree the statement of accounts for the previous year
    • Vote on any resolutions put before the Annual General Meeting
    • Accept the resignation of the executive committee for the previous year
    • Elect a new executive committee for the current year
 
Written notification of the Annual General Meeting shall be sent to all members of the Association at least 21 days in advance of the date of the meeting. The notice shall give the date, time and place of the meeting.
 
Special General A Special General Meeting can be called if 10 or more members
 
Meeting: submit a request for such a meeting in writing to the Secretary. The requests shall state the purpose for which the meeting is being called.
The secretary shall give all members at least 14 days notice in writing of any Special General Meeting. The notice shall state the purpose, date, time and place of the meeting.
Quorum: All executive committee meetings shall only be deemed quorate if at least 5 executive committee members are present and voting at the meeting.
If an executive committee meeting is deemed not quorate the meeting can still take place but no decisions shall be made.
The Annual General Meeting and Special General Meetings shall only be deemed quorate if at least 10% of members of the Association are present and voting.
 
Finances: The Treasurer shall open a bank account in the name of the Association.
All cheques written on behalf of the Association be signed by at least two of three named signatories. The named signatories shall be the Treasurer and one other of the two named signatories.
Reasonable expenses incurred by executive committee members or nominated representatives on behalf of the membership shall be reimbursed.
 
Accounting: The accounting year of the Association shall end on 31st December with its Annual General Meeting in the January following, commencing 2001.
Accounts shall be audited by an independent auditor elected by the executive committee.
 
Changes To The Changes to this constitution can only be made by a majority of
 
Constitution: members present and voting at an Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting.
Any request for changes to the constitution must be submitted to the Secretary in writing at least 28 days before the date of the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting.
 
Dissolution Of The Any decision to dissolve the Association can only be taken at a *******
 
Association: Special Meeting called for the purpose of voting on such a decision.
The decision to dissolve the Association can be made by the majority of those present and voting at such a meeting.
Any surplus assets shall go to charities, decided by a vote of those present, having the welfare of people within their objectives.
Shropshire Partners in Care adopted this constitution at its inaugural meeting held on Friday December 17th 1999.

 About SPIC

Shropshire Partners in Care (SPIC) is a not-for-profit company registered as a company limited with guarantee representing independent providers of care to the people of Shropshire.  SPIC was established on December 17th 1999 with the merger of the Shropshire Care Homes Association and Nursing Homes in Shropshire.

Members of Shropshire Partners In Care provide care in residential, nursing and domiciliary settings and benefit from several exciting services such as an interactive web site on which many members feature their business in full colour.  Shropshire Partners In Care has gone from strength to strength and it now employs Care Liaison Officers to promote quality provision of care.  In consultation with the sector, we have developed a Quality Assurance Scheme to which all members publicly commit their organisation.

The Association also assists members to identify their long-term training needs, circulates a newsletter to members summarising local and national policies affecting them and lists training and development opportunities which can further improve the quality of care provided by their well trained staff.

SPIC forges closer links with health and social care agencies and has significantly increased its representation on local and national bodies in order to raise awareness of the issues affecting the independent care sector.  SPIC hosts an annual conference which brings together delegates associated with care provision in Shropshire in order to explore the advantages of working together.

Any one considering care facilities within Shropshire can view, from a computer, a variety of services offering, the highest standards of professional care.  An on-line, bed-booking service is also available here online click here detailing vacancies in SPIC member’s homes.  People who are choosing care services for themselves or their relatives can be assured that by contacting members of SPIC that they are talking to an organisation whose staff continually strive to improve the care they provide.