THE boss of a town firm providing domestic care for the elderly is refusing to pay new registration fees ordered by the Government.

To comply with latest legislation, Sandy Phillips, who runs Young 'N' Old, must pay £1,400 to register with the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC).LAW FORCES DOWN-SIZING: Sandy Phillips

Sandy is scaling down her business, which has been based in Suffolk Way for six years, to avoid the charges.

The NCSC regulates and monitors social care, plus private and voluntary health care services.

Organisations giving hands on help, for example bathing or dressing, must register to ensure they meet National Minimum Standards.

Sandy said registering involves stacks of form filling and paying for medicals, police checks and extra training for her staff.

"We provide excellent services for all our clients, whether it be shopping, cleaning or bathing," she told the Advertiser.

"The NCSC want me to put all staff on NVQ courses, but I provide in-house training and many of my carers are in their fifties and don't want to take on college courses."

"My priority is providing care for the elderly and our standards are excellent."

The deadline for registration applications is March 31 and there will be a £750 annual fee.

She added: "I'm refusing to pay but this means we will no longer be able to serve client's hands on needs.

Protect

"What will happen to them?"

A NCSC spokesman said registration is a national requirement and aims to reduce the likelihood of vulnerable people being abused or ripped off.

"We are here to protect people who need care," he said.

"If a company's registration application is not with us by April 1, when the new laws come in, it cannot legally offer hands on care."