HOW predictable of modern day ‘management’ to blame everyone but themselves for the demise of the latest local care home to close, Avonmead in Devizes (Gazette & Herald, December 22).
Allegedly, it was the fault of the CQC who, for once, saw through the carefully created smoke screen and reported their findings accordingly.
One week before Christmas, when it came to delivering the devastating news to residents, their families and staff alike, more hierarchy attended the meeting than had ever appeared during the preceding two years. Safety in numbers, perhaps?
Some modern day management leaves much to be desired.  – generally involving individuals promoted beyond their ability and experience, whose only weapon is to attack. A sweeping visit by a power-dressed ‘executive’ who finds fault with everything, criticises the staff (most of whom are exhausted) and who, after a free lunch, drives back to a comfortable office in their company car (both of which are financed purely by the homes) is apparently all that’s needed to ‘motivate’ the staff who work at the sharp end.
There are many genuinely good, caring and professional people working in the care industry. 
However, because they’re good, they’re deemed to be a threat and can find themselves working longer and more anti-social hours than they’re contracted to do and on querying this, the standard response is ‘you know where the door is if you don’t like it.’ 
Once large companies take over care homes, it’s all about making money and we know that good care is costly and eats into profits. It’s my belief that no one should make money out of old age – life is very short and we’ll all be old one day (if we’re lucky).
Farewell Avonmead Care Home; the economic climate has been difficult for some time but this shouldn’t have happened. We all know the absence of effective, permanent management over the last three years led to this happening. As a former employee of the care home myself, I met some of the most hardworking, decent and loyal people who I’m proud to have known and call my friends. They, and the residents, deserve better than this.
Finally, Sir Richard Branson says: “If you look after your staff, they’ll look after your customers – it’s that simple.” We could all learn from this. If management showed a little more respect to their staff; if everyone felt valued and worth acknowledging rather that regarded as an expendable nuisance, the recruitment and subsequent retention of the right staff would not have been an issue.
ANGELA BAISH
Yards Lane
Hilcott
Pewsey