Prima Fairburn-Dorai, who chairs the Suffolk Association of Independent Care Providers (SAICP ), has rung the alarm after recent data shows that the number of homes rated ‘inadequate’ or ‘requires improvement’ has nearly doubled since 2019.
Data released by Care Quality Commission shows the percentage of homes with such ratings has jumped from 9% in 2019 to 15.8% in 2025.
Prema Fairburn-Dorai, chair of the Suffolk Association of Independent Care Providers (SAICP). (Image: Newsquest)
While there is currently only one ‘inadequate’ care home in the county, Baylham Care Centre, compared to three previously, homes requiring improvement boomed from 14 to 26.
Mrs Fairburn-Dorai said this has “real-world consequences for families and workers”, with caregivers inserting catheters without any training and residents being left crying and soiled, being revealed in recent reports.
Meanwhile, families have raised concerns about staffing shortages and residents being left alone at ‘requires improvement’ homes.
Baylham Care Centre, near Ipswich, is the only ‘inadequate’ home but there are more sites ‘requiring improvement’ than before.
Mrs Fairburn-Dorai said: “It’s really worrying as nothing is done about funding to solve the quality dropping.
“I don’t know what the future is like, but it looks pretty bleak.
“Care homes are in survival mode and need sustainability, but that costs.
“Care is at the end of its tether, but we will keep on having to fight against these pressures.”
The care boss noted that National Insurance increases, increasing staff costs, the everlasting impact of lockdown, difficulty recruiting international workers and getting the right management were key factors in “more horrible incidents creeping up”.
15.8% of rated care homes in Suffolk now are below standard. (Image: Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
She also says the upcoming £500 million fair pay agreement for carers may be unlikely to help staffing issues if not backed with further investment.
“There’s a really finite number of people willing to work in care homes today”, she added, “and they are also becoming more expensive.
“Unless you get the right number of people, everything crumbles.
“But young people are less and less interested in this sector, and many just want to finish the job and get home.”
She also described bad ratings as having a “vicious spiral” impact on homes as it becomes harder to fill rooms and get funding, leading to further struggles with funding.
This paper also understands from conversations with care home bosses across Suffolk that this is an issue.
A CQC spokesman added: “Our annual state of care report found more people were struggling to access social care, the average vacancy rate for staff was still nearly three times higher than in the national workforce, and care workers remained among the lowest paid members of society.
 “Everyone deserves high-quality care, and we’ll continue to promote good practice and hold providers to account where this is not the case.”