June 6, 2011 3.18 pm This story is over 125 months old

Lincoln care home staff in redundancy talks

Job losses: Staff at a Lincoln care home earmarked for closure has now entered redundancy talks.

Staff at Lincoln’s Park View residential care home received letters this weekend informing them that consultation on their redundancies starts on Monday, June 6.

Lincolnshire County Council, which runs the care home, announced in January that the home would close in September.

Park View currently provides 21 beds for dementia care and 70 day care sessions per week. The service will now be outsourced to private companies.

Its closure is part of a wider reform of adult care services in Lincolnshire. The authority is seeking to save £2 million from this area over then next two years and a couple of hundred jobs will go as other care homes in the county are closed.

UNISON, a trade union that represents around 2,000 workers at Lincolnshire County Council, reacted angrily.

John Sharman, Lincolnshire Branch Secretary for UNISON, said: “This announcement is a very deliberate slap in the face for everyone—service users, their families, local communities, and the County Council’s own staff.

“Extensive consultation showed massive public support for the high quality care provided in these homes.

“They offer a range of specialist services, including intermediate, respite and day care to some of the most vulnerable older people in society.

“The County Council used to describe its care staff as ‘second to none’. Today it looks set to issue 300 redundancy notices.

“It is ignoring the views of the people of Lincolnshire, and leaving them to the vagaries of the market—at the very time when we are seeing how dangerous that is.

“The people who are responsible for today’s proposals should hang their heads in shame.”

Terry Hawkins, Interim Assistant Director for Adult Social Care, said: “The proposal is for no change to our original schedule for five homes to close in September as alternative services are in place.

“The remaining three homes won’t close until further analysis and work in the market is carried out and suitable alternatives are ready.

“The previous consultation was to do with the change of services and what would be in place when the homes close.

“This current consultation is to do with staff changes. We remain committed to high quality care as we move towards personalisation, giving people more choice and control.”

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20 mins ago

Grantham

Luxury home with swimming pool and equestrian facilities asking £1.3m
Fit for keen horse riders or an avid car enthusiasts

Glebe Farm is on the market for a guide price of £1.3 million. | Photo: Fine & Country

By Ellis Karran Local News Reporter

If you are a keen horse rider or an avid car enthusiast with a bit of money to spare, this wonderful property near Grantham with a swimming pool annex and stables included could be your dream home.

Glebe Farm, situated in the rural village of Little Bytham near Grantham and Stamford, has been listed on the housing market by estate agents Fine & Country, at a guide price of £1.3 million. See the full listing here.

For that, you get an eight acre plot with a four-bedroomed family home, a converted stone barn annex with a swimming pool, and excellent equestrian facilities, including stables and a riding school.

Don’t worry, there’s a hot tub too! | Photo: Fine & Country

As well as this, the corrugated barns at the property include three garages, one of which has a lift for easy maintenance of vehicles, and another with a built-in dehumidifier for specialist sports cars.

Lets take a closer look at the property:

The high beamed ceilings create a traditional barn feeling to this rural gem. | Photo: Fine & Country

Integrated appliances and worktops in the kitchen. | Photo: Fine & Country

One of the bathrooms, which comes with a walk-in shower and stylish tiling. | Photo: Fine & Country

A lot of the home’s features are a nod to the building’s roots. | Photo: Fine & Country

The property comes with two bathrooms, one of which has a bathtub. | Photo: Fine & Country

A peek inside the stone barn converted into a luxurious swimming pool annex. | Photo: Fine & Country

Where better to settle down and enjoy a meal than in your very own stone farmhouse. | Photo: Fine & Country

An indoor swimming pool with a view! | Photo: Fine & Country

Wooden design of the furniture gives a homely feel | Photo: Fine & Country

Comes with four decent sized bedrooms. | Photo: Fine & Country

| Photo: Fine & Country

One bedroom up in the loft area. | Photo: Fine & Country

Open plan with great views of the rural countryside. | Photo: Fine & Country

A great open plan room to socialise in. | Photo: Fine & Country

Open log fires in here during the winter would be amazing! | Photo: Fine & Country

If the house’s features weren’t enough, how about a riding school too? | Photo: Fine & Country

Stables for equestrian lovers. | Photo: Fine & Country

The property sits on an eight acre plot. | Photo: Fine & Country

51 mins ago

Greater Lincolnshire

Vaccine passports, face masks and home working: Prime Minister confirms plan B measures to tackle Omicron variant in England
Vaccine passports, tighter rules on masks and working from home return

Boris Johnson at the podium on Wednesday, December 8.

By Daniel Jaines Local Democracy Reporter

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed the Government’s plans to enact its Plan B measures in response to the growing numbers of new Omicron COVID-19 cases.

In a press briefing on Wednesday Mr Johnson said: “It’s become increasingly clear that Omicron is growing much faster than the previous Delta variant and it’s spreading rapidly all around the world. 568 cases have been confirmed through genomic sequencing across every region of the UK, and the true number is certain to be much higher.

“We can’t yet assume that Omicron is less severe than previous variants. So, while the picture may get better and I sincerely hope that it will, we know that the remorseless logic of exponential growth could lead to a big rise in hospitalisations so, therefore, sadly, in deaths.”

The latest changes include:

Vaccine-only COVID passports becoming mandatory for entry to nightclubs and venues of more than 500 indoors, 4,000 unseated outdoors and any venue of more than 10,000 capacity. A negative lateral flow test would also be sufficient. This will come into effect in a week’s time.
Face masks becoming a legal requirement in most indoor venues, including cinemas and theatres from Friday
Asking people to work from home, if they can, from Monday
Daily tests for contacts instead of isolation

“We will give businesses a week’s notice so this will come into force in a week’s time, helping to keep these events and venues open at full capacity, while giving everyone who attends them confidence that those around them have done the responsible thing to minimise risk to others,” said Mr Johnson.

Face masks are already a legal requirement in shops, banks, post offices, hairdressers and on public transport as of November 30.
However, the latest round of restrictions tightens the rules further.

There were 51,342 new Covid cases confirmed in the UK on Wednesday and 161 new deaths.

A further 131 Omicron infections were also reported across the UK.

The latest COVID stats for Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday are:

821 new cases of coronavirus with 560 in Lincolnshire, 136 in North East Lincolnshire and 125 in North Lincolnshire.
Two further deaths were recorded in the government figures including one Lincolnshire and one North East Lincolnshire resident
No further hospital deaths were recorded in the latest NHS figures

Greater Lincolnshire has seen its coronavirus infection rates bounce up again but continues sit below the national average in terms of infection rates for the past seven days, with a figure of 474.6 per 100,000. The England national rate is 483.7.

Before the announcement today, council and business bosses had said more clarity was needed on support for businesses across the UK if Plan B was enacted.

The latest announcement comes amid controversy surrounding alleged Christmas parties held at 10 Downing Street in the middle of lockdown last year. Many have responded to the scandal by saying they won’t carry on complying with restrictions if the country’s leaders cannot lead by example.

In a busy news day, it was also confirmed that over 40s can book now book booster jabs after three months — as the NHS celebrates one year of the vaccination programme.

Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Wednesday, December 8

164,016 (up 821)

109,883 in Lincolnshire (up 560)
26,289 in North Lincolnshire (up 125)
27,844 in North East Lincolnshire (up 136)

2,524 deaths (up two)

1,846 from Lincolnshire (up one)
341 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
337 from North East Lincolnshire (up one)

of which 1,512 hospital deaths (no change)

933 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
45 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
533 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (no change)

DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF THE LATEST UPDATE. POSTCODE DATA INCLUDES DEATHS NOT IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES OR IN HOSPITALS OUTSIDE AUTHORITY BOUNDARIES.

1 hour ago

Lincoln

The Lincolnite tries: Dough LoCo’s festive menu
Festive pizza, garlic bread and mince pies!

Dough LoCo head chef Danny Thorpe and Owner Matt Barnes tuck into the festive menu. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

By Joseph Verney Local News Reporter

It’s the season to be jolly, and that includes Christmasy food, so The Lincolnite went to check DoughLoco’s new festive menu.

Dough LoCo was previously called Weirdough’s Pizza Emporium, which was initially started as a fundraising initiative by husband and wife team Matt and Rachel Barnes.

After being made redundant from a previous job the initiative turned into a business, running from local pubs in the city before moving in September this year into the building formerly occupied by Jackalope on Drury Lane in uphill Lincoln.

The local business also joined The Lincolnite cocktail trail earlier this year.

The Christmas Special pizza contains Dough LoCo San Marzano Marinara, Fior di Latte mozzarella, maple curled smoked bacon, balsamic & port caramelised onions, brie, and cranberry sauce. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The ‘ Xmas Garlic Bread With Cheese’ contains homemade garlic butter and is topped with red onion chutney and goats cheese. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

With December now upon us, Dough Loco has added a festive menu in additional to their usual offering. The starters include a new Xmas Garlic Bread With Cheese, which is made using homemade garlic butter and topped with red onion chutney and goats cheese.

In addition to the usual pizzas on the menu, customers can also choose from the new Christmas Special. It contains Dough LoCo San Marzano Marinara, Fior di Latte mozzarella, maple curled smoked bacon, balsamic & port caramelised onions, brie, and cranberry sauce.

A vegetarian option is available without the bacon.

A trio of mince pies are among the dessert options on the festive menu at Dough LoCo. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Why not try the mini cheese board? | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The desserts have also been added to for the festive menu. There is a trio of mince pies including a brandy-infused classic, winter berry, clementine and gin, and a cookie cup, as well as a gluten free option.

There is also a mini cheese board, including crackers, red onion chutney, brie, Italian gorgonzola, and a locally sourced pizza cheddar infused with tomato and basil from Lincoln-based The Mouse House Cheese Company.

The festive menu at DoughLoco includes a Christmas Special pizza, a mini cheese board and a trio of mince pies. | Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Owner Matt told The Lincolnite: “In true Dough LoCo style we’ve decided to move away from the classic turkey and stuffing Xmas flavours and go a little bit different. Everyone is going to have enough turkey over the next few weeks!

“The flavours of this pizza complement each other perfectly and leave you feeling very Christmasy. We make our own caramelised onions using top quality port… sweet, sticky and very festive!”

Dough Loco is usually open from 5pm-10pm Wednesday-Thursday, 4pm-10pm on Fridays, and 12pm-10pm at the weekend.

During the Christmas period, it will be open with longer hours of 12pm-10pm between December 18 and 23. It will close Christmas Eve until December 28, before reopening with normal hours the following day.

Meanwhile, Dough LoCo were visited by food hygiene inspectors on Wednesday, December 8 and were awarded the maximum five star rating.