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Category Archives: Adult Social Care
Perry’s cut-price carers support provider is failing to deliver
This is what “success” looks like under Jason Perry, Croydon’s failed Mayor. It is now little more than a year since the Tory Mayor decided to end years of successful collaboration and hard work by dedicated local charities and volunteers … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Business, Carers First, Charity, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Whitgift Foundation
Tagged Carers First, Carers Support Centre, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Carers Support Centre, Croydon Council, George Street, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory, Whitgift Foundation
2 Comments
Croydon’s rewards for failure laid bare in Town Hall Rich List
Katherine Kerswell, Croydon’s chief executive who issued three Section 114 notices of effective bankruptcy during her time in charge at the council, was taking home salary and pensions totalling £223,838 in the year before she left Fisher’s Folly. Yet Kerswell … Continue reading
Posted in Annette McPartland, Bromley Council, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Elaine Jackson, Helen Bailey, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Lambeth Council, Outside Croydon, Richard Simpson, Southwark Council, Susmita Sen, Sutton Council
Tagged Ade Adetosoye, Althea Loderick, Annette McPartland, Bromley Council, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Conservative, Corporate Director of Resources, Croydon, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Helen Bailey, Jane West, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, Lambeth council, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Richard Simpson, Section 151 officer, Southwark Council, Susmita Sen, Sutton Council, Tax Payers Alliance, Town Hall Rich List, TPA
10 Comments
Council rushes through £200,000 finance job ahead of elections
Government-appointed Commissioners are pushing through the appointment of a new finance director at the Town Hall – regardless of who might become Croydon’s new Mayor. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon Council, which has debts of £1.4billion, is about to hire … Continue reading
Posted in 'Future Croydon', 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Annette McPartland, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Elaine Jackson, Jane West, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Susmita Sen
Tagged Annette McPartland, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Conservative, Corporate Director of Resources, Croydon, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jane West, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 151 officer, Susmita Sen
3 Comments
Commissioners: council lacks focus and robust delivery plans
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Government releases report critical of the lack of progress and slow pace of improvements in finances under Tory Mayor Jason Perry. By WALTER CRONXITE, Political Editor Six weeks out from the local elections, the government has published … Continue reading
Posted in Abi Brown, Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Debbie Warren, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jackie Belton, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Stabilisation Plan
Tagged Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Tory
8 Comments
Whatever could they mean? Commissioners call for ‘honesty’
In what is overall a highly critical report from the government-appointed Commissioners after six months working closely with the council run by successive chief execs Katherine Kerswell (until she left in October with a £50,000 pay-off) and Elaine Jackson, and … Continue reading
Posted in Abi Brown, Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Commissioners, Conrad Hall, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Debbie Warren, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jackie Belton, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Stabilisation Plan
Tagged Commissioners, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Elaine Jackson, Ged Curran, Jenny Rowlands, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Tory
4 Comments
Perry begs for another £119m to balance his busted budget
Croydon’s Conservative Mayor, who has hiked Council Tax by 33% since 2023, still needs another £119m government bail-out to make his council budget balance. By STEVEN DOWNES Jason Perry, Croydon’s Conservative Mayor, has got his begging bowl out again to … Continue reading
Posted in 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon Mayor election, Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Commissioners, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Lambeth Council, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Section 114 notice, SEND
Tagged 2026 council budget, 2026 council elections, 2026 Croydon mayoral election, 2026 local elections, Budget, Capitalisation direction, Commissioners, Conservative, Council budget, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, EFS, Exceptional financial support, Labour, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, S114, S114 notice, Section 114 Notice, Steve Reed OBE, Tory
8 Comments
Funding review for English councils could finally help Croydon
Croydon could actually be among the “winners” of the next review of local authority funding from government, according to a report from the country’s leading independent economics research institute. The Institute for Fiscal Studies report, published today, probably doesn’t tell … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Business, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, London-wide issues
Tagged Angela Rayner MP, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, IFS, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Labour, London, London Borough of Croydon, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Westminster, Whitehall
8 Comments
Surrey, Lambeth and Bromley beat Croydon as rotten boroughs
Based on official Ombudsman figures, our council remains among the most complained about in England. But might there be a glimmer of improvement in the figures, or has our borough just been overtaken for rotteness by others? EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Planning
Tagged Amerdeep Somal, Bromley Council, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Lambeth council, LGO, Local Government Ombudsman, London, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Surrey County Council, Tory
16 Comments
Council told to ‘get a grasp’ over repeat homelessness failures
Ombudsman issues withering criticism of Croydon’s failing council: ‘Sadly this is not an isolated case in the borough’ Mayor Jason Perry’s council has been chastised again by the Ombudsman over its mistreatment of one of the borough’s most vulnerable residents … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Commissioners, Croydon Council, Housing, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Stabilisation Plan
Tagged Amerdeep Somal, Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, homeless, Homelessness, Jim McMahon, Katherine Kerswell, Local Government Ombudsman, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, MHCLG, Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government, Ombudsman, Tory
9 Comments
‘Council’s finances remain broken’ MP Irons tells Commons
Local government minister admits that Croydon’s finances ‘are not small problems to deal with’ Natasha Irons, the Labour MP for Croydon East, yesterday made an 11th-hour plea to government ministers to act to salvage something from the wreckage of Croydon … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Natasha Irons, Section 114 notice
Tagged Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, EFS, Exceptional financial support, Government Spending Review, Jim McMahon, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Natasha Irons MP, Rachel Reeves, Section 114, Section 114 Notice, Spending Review, Tory
4 Comments
Carers Centre users claim to be excluded from CQC inspection
CROYDON IN CRISIS: An internal council memo warns staff to be on their best behaviour in Fisher’s Folly while inspectors from the Care Quality Commission are on the premises this week, looking into the borough’s adult social care provision. EXCLUSIVE … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Annette McPartland, Carers First, Charity, Croydon Council, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Whitgift Foundation
Tagged Adult Social Care, Annette McPartland, Care Quality Commission, Carers First, Conservative, CQC, Croydon, Croydon Carers Centre, Croydon Carers Support Centre, Croydon Council, George Street, Katherine Kerswell, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory, Whitgift Foundation
7 Comments
Complaints against Perry’s council on rise, Ombudsman says
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Our Town Hall reporter, KEN LEE, on another year where our council is close to the top of a league table – for most upheld complaints Katherine Kerswell, Croydon’s £204,000 per year chief executive, if she bothered … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Bromley Council, Children's Services, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Lambeth Council, Planning, Southwark Council, Surrey, Sutton Council
Tagged Amerdeep Somal, Bromley, Children's Care, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Lambeth, LGO, Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Local Government Ombudsman, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Ombudsman, Planning, social care, Southwark, Surrey County Council, Sutton, Tory
4 Comments
CQC inspectors are being ‘nobbled’ by the council, carers claim
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Carers accuse council and their new contractors of trying to distort the findings of a supposedly independent quality inspection. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon’s carers, already reeling from the changes imposed on their services by Mayor Jason … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Business, Carers First, Charity, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Whitgift Foundation
Tagged Care Quality Commission, Carers Centre, Carers First, Carers' assessement service, Conservative, CQC, Croydon, Croydon Carers Centre, Croydon Council, George Street, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Toby Lee-Manning, Tory, Whitgift Foundation
2 Comments
Carers First move to axe managers’ jobs from Croydon centre
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Mayor Jason Perry promised a seamless transition and no job cuts – but now two senior managers at the Croydon Carers’ Support Centre have been told they are to be made redundant. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Carers … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Business, Carers First, Charity, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Whitgift Foundation
Tagged Carers Centre, Carers First, Carers' assessement service, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Carers Centre, Croydon Council, George Street, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory, Whitgift Foundation
4 Comments
Protests mount as Perry rejects petitions with 5,000 signatures
CROYDON IN CRISIS: MP Natasha Irons says that ‘democracy is being undermined by Croydon Council’, as the Conservative-controlled authority is refusing to debate the situation at the carers’ centre on George Street and the on-off-on-again sale of listed building Heathfield … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Carers First, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Heathfield House, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Natasha Irons, Ria Patel, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Stuart King
Tagged Cllr Ria Patel, Cllr Stuart King, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Carers Centre, Croydon Carers Support Centre, Croydon Council, Croydon East, Heathfield House, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Natasha Irons MP, Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense, Tory
11 Comments
Perry slammed for £439,000 in ‘golden hellos’ paid to new staff
Political Editor WALTER CRONXITE on the latest revelation about the spendthrift council under its Tory Mayor Croydon Council, which came under fire after this website revealed that it had paid a “golden handshake” of £437,000 in a hush money settlement … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Children's Services, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Jo Negrini, Mayor Jason Perry, Uncategorized
Tagged 'Golden hellos', Conservative, Council Tax, Croydon, Croydon Council, Daily Torygraph, Jo Negrini, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Social workers, Tory
5 Comments
Woman broke her back after Croydon Council cut her care aid
The Local Government Ombudsman has ordered the council to pay a resident thousands of pounds in compensation and issue a proper apology A woman fractured her spine using a bed-turning aid installed by the NHS which Croydon Council thought could … Continue reading
Carers file mass complaint to CQC over council’s failures
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Registered carers have written to the independent watchdog to investigate the council’s bungled procurement process, dozens of them volunteering to be interviewed as part of an upcoming inspection. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon’s carers, feeling betrayed by … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Business, Carers First, Croydon Carers, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Whitgift Foundation
Tagged Adult Social Care, Care Quality Commission, Carers Centre, Carers First, Conservative, CQC, Croydon, Croydon Carers Centre, Croydon Council, George Street, Katherine Kerswell, Labour, London Borough of Croydon, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory, Whitgift Foundation
1 Comment
Carers’ Centre staff now face redundancy under new provider
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Valued workers based in George Street look set to pay with their jobs so that Mayor Perry can dodge criticism. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Just days after Mayor Jason Perry denied he was performing a U-turn when … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Business, Carers First, Charity, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Whitgift Foundation
Tagged Carers Centre, Carers First, Carers' assessement service, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Carers Centre, Croydon Council, George Street, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory, Whitgift Foundation
9 Comments
People’s protests force Perry into U-turn over Carers’ Centre
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Mayor forced to change cost-cutting plans after just a fortnight, following his confrontation on Katharine Street, a choral protest at the Town Hall and more than 2,000 signatures on a petition. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES The Croydon … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Business, Carers First, Charity, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Whitgift Foundation
Tagged Carers Centre, Carers First, Carers' assessement service, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Carers Centre, Croydon Council, George Street, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory, Whitgift Foundation
5 Comments
Perry confronted outside Town Hall over Carers’ Centre closure
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Senior council official tells meeting held in George Street that he and his staff ‘had no knowledge about the closure of the centre or new service provider’. PLUS: Protests planned for Wednesday night against more service cuts … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Business, Carers First, Charity, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Whitgift Foundation, Youth Services
Tagged Carers Centre, Carers First, Carers' assessement service, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Carers Centre, Croydon Council, George Street, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Tory, Whitgift Foundation
13 Comments
Hundreds sign petition to protest at Carers’ Centre closure
CROYDON IN CRISIS: Mayor Perry accused of ‘shallow hypocrisies’ as the borough’s carers question whether council has conducted proper equalities impact assessments over the switch of contracts from local charities A petition set up by users and supporters of the … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Business, Charity, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Whitgift Foundation, Youth Services
Tagged Carers Centre, Carers First, Carers' assessement service, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Carers Centre, Croydon Council, Croydon Mencap, George Street, Katherine Kerswell, Katie Rose, Mayor Jason Perry, Mind in Croydon, Tory, Whitgift Foundation
2 Comments
‘Council is gas-lighting us over support services’ say carers
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The Carers’ Centre on George Street becomes the latest casualty of Mayor Perry’s cuts, as consultants hired by the council for £1m are thought to be behind the cost-trimming changes Hard-pressed residents who use the Croydon Carers’ … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Business, Charity, Croydon Council, Mayor Jason Perry, Whitgift Foundation, Youth Services
Tagged Carers Centre, Carers First, Carers' assessement service, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Carers Centre, Croydon Council, George Street, Mayor Jason Perry, Mind in Croydon, Newton, Off the Record, Roisha Hughes, Tory, Whitgift Foundation
2 Comments
Carers ‘devastated’ as new council deal sees ‘sanctuary’ close
CROYDON IN CRISIS: The hollowing out of the borough continues with the announcement to staff this morning that the Carers’ Centre is to close next month, after the council handed a service contract to another provider. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES … Continue reading
Posted in Adult Social Care, Business, Charity, Croydon Council, Whitgift Foundation, Youth Services
Tagged Carers Centre, Carers' assessement service, Citizens Advice Bureau, Citizens Advice Croydon, Conservative, Croydon, Croydon Carers Centre, Croydon Council, George Street, Mayor Jason Perry, Roisha Hughes, Tory, Whitgift Foundation
5 Comments
