Join the West Midlands Care Association

MEMBERSHIP 2010

With the help and strength of our rapidly growing membership, WMCA continues to help members; practically, with care advice and training, and financially, with access to a huge range of financial benefits to support the viability of the business.

Even the smallest of providers can save many thousands of pounds, so don't delay. JOIN TODAY.

WMCA strives to continually raise, develop and enhance the profile of quality providers across all of the West Midlands, and to have some genuine influence on the environment you work in, and the quality of care our members can deliver.

The challenges for 2009 include broadening the focus beyond older people's services and addressing more effectively the needs of providers working with younger adults, and in mental health and learning disability fields. Efforts must be made to improve the dialogue between care providers, local authorities and health bodies. This will require strength, commitment and patience on all side.

What does the Association do?

The Association aims to provide a means of supporting the members in their endeavours to provide quality of care in their businesses. There are many ways in which this is achieved. Here are some of them:

• Care Advice
  The association offers members advice and guidance about running a care business. The office has answers to many frequently asked questions or can signpost you to other members or agencies who can help
• Financial Benefits for members
  WMCA has worked hard, and continues to do so, to develop a huge range of financial benefits for its members. Some of the biggest suppliers to the care sector, Care Shop, Brakes, JLA, Fireco, and Aid Call now offer our members substantial discounts on there products, and these benefits continue to grow. We also offer our members business support services from the likes of RBS, Brunswicks and Energy Advisors, again these services are normally discounted and in some cases
• Free Legal Help Line
  The Association in conjunction with Shakespeares Solicitors in Birmingham and Brunswicks can now offer a free legal advice! The phone numbers are available to members through the office
• Free Fire Help line
  STK who run specialise in fire advice for Care Homes operate a help line for members. The number is available on the help line
• Rates Negotiation
  Members of the Association's Board work hard for the whole membership in negotiating a fair and equitable rate for the services provided. All such negotiations are then subject to agreement by the Members
• Liaison, Representation and Lobbying
  A regular and positive flow of information is maintained between our Members and Social Services departments, Members of Parliament, CQC and training agencies. This flow of information is provided with the profile achieved by speaking with a single voice
• Bed Vacancy Data
  Details of vacancies available, including respite and day-care beds, are provided to the Association by members on a weekly basis and circulated to key individuals in the Local Authorities, Health Service, on the Web Site and in local libraries
• CRB Disclosure
  By operating as an Umbrella Group for Disclosure, the Association ensures that members have their staff checks at the lowest rate available in the industry and processed as quickly and efficiently as possible. The Association has been praised by the CRB for its quality of service. NOW enhanced disclosures are £40 each, plus £7 for an ISA Adult First. Non Members are charged at £46 each, plus £10 for an ISA Adult First.
• Training
  Dialogue is maintained with all local agencies and fund holders to access training for our members and their staff. The Association also organises training courses which are not available elsewhere.
• Jobs
  Members will be able to notify the office about vacancies which will be added to the web site
• Free listing
  In developing our new website we would encourage all WMCA members to fully utilise the FREE listing on the website that your membership entitles you too. Hundreds of thousands of people can access this information from all over the country when looking for a care provider for a relative or friend, just email in your descriptive write up and a photograph to info@westmidlandscare.org.uk and we'll make sure they can see you.

How to join

For immediate information on how to join the WMCA, contact us on 0845 456 6785, email info@westmidlandscare.org.uk or complete an application form:
DOWNLOAD YOUR WMCA APPLICATION FORM

NB: the application form is a small PDF file which should open automatically. If not, you can download the latest PDF reader from Adobe here.