THE manager of a Malvern care home has launched a professional body to represent the industry at a time of crisis.

Sue Powell, of the Gold Hill Residential Home in Avenue Road, has set up the National Care Managers Association (NCMA) in response to increasing Government regulation.

She said that since its official launch last month, care home managers from all over the country had been in contact to find out about the organisation.

"It is something that I have thought about for a long time, and it just seemed to be the right time to go ahead with it," she said.

New regulations are placing increasing burdens on the managers of care homes.

Ms Powell said: "There are just mountains of paper work and managers are being snowed under with that and not getting out on the floor with the staff and residents."

Jan Harris, the chief executive of the new body, said: the formation of the NCMA was a positive move in helping the care industry to survive the present crisis.

"Care managers are very important to the industry and many are feeling unhappy and disillusioned," she said.

"By joining the association, they will be able to feel part of a professional body which will represent their interests as well as providing advice and communication with others in what has traditionally been a very isolated profession."

Local MP Sir Michael Spicer will be visiting Gold Hill on Friday, July 12, to present Mrs Powell with a badge and certificate.