ALUM_CARE_LIMITED - Accounts

The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 May 2021.

The results for the year are set out on page 9.

Revenue of £5,027,020 for 2021 represents a decrease of £674,295 (12%) under the £5,701,315 revenue reported for the period 2020. This main reason for the decrease is the continual impact of Covid-19 and Brexit.

However, operating profit increased to £917,438 during the period 2021 from £584,351 for the previous period, an increase of £333,087. This is due, to receiving government grants and a significant reduction in salary costs as a result of lower occupancy.

Profit before taxation differed slightly to the operating profit figures due to a nominal amount of interest income, £904,886 (2021) from £584,354 (2020).

As of 31 May 2021, the financial position of the company has further strengthened from the prior period, with net assets of £4,431,355 compared with £3,532,752 at 31 May 2020.

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the company include the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which has put pressure on the industry as a whole and staff shortages due to Brexit. This has had a serious impact on the occupancy of the home with fewer permanent enquiries and respites along with a reduced ability to admit new residents. Local authorities are driving down fees due to being able to place residents into other homes with poorer occupancies leading to a slower recovery for the Company.

The Company has and continues to take full advantage of the COVID-19 Government grants and financial assistance available. Both staff and residents are tested on a regular basis.

Loss of revenue through lack of demand for places and lower fees driven mainly by the pandemic, reduction in Government funding, external restrictions on new resident admissions, bad debts from existing residents and staff shortages are other risks to the Company.

Management continues to work closely with the Care Quality Commission to ensure that required regulatory standards are maintained.

During the period under review, despite a reduction in average occupancy overall, the Company has maintained a consistent level of occupancy across several different patient cohorts whilst admitting patients with more complex conditions.

The aim for the future is to continue to broaden the patient cohorts that can be admitted to the facility in order to further strengthen the level of occupancy.

The Directors are still reviewing options for altering the structure of the premises in order to increase operational efficiency and increasing the number of rooms by 2.

On behalf of the board

The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 May 2021.

The principal activity of the company continued to be that of operating a care home.

The results for the year are set out on page 9.

No ordinary dividends were paid. The directors do not recommend payment of a final dividend.

The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:

The company's activities expose it to a variety of financial risks. The Board reviews and agrees policies for managing these risks at regular intervals dependant on circumstances. The company's principal financial instruments include assets and liabilities such as trade receivables and trade payables arising directly from its operations. In accordance with company's treasury policy, derivative instruments are not entered into for speculative purposes.

The company manages its cash and borrowing requirements in order to maximise interest income and minimise interest expense, whilst ensuring the company has sufficient liquid resources to meet the operating needs of the business.

The company is exposed to fair value interest rate risk on floating rate deposits, bank overdrafts and loans. The cash flow interest rate risk is managed within the company's business projections and planning, in the monitoring of financial covenants and through negotiation of facility terms with the provider of the borrowing facility at specified intervals.

Investments of cash surpluses, borrowings and derivative instruments are made through banks and companies which must fulfil credit rating criteria approved by the Board. All residents who wish to trade on credit terms are subject to credit verification procedures. Trade debtors are monitored on an ongoing basis and provision is made for doubtful debts where necessary. The company is not exposed to commodity price risk.

During the period under review, despite a reduction in average occupancy overall, the Company has maintained a consistent level of occupancy across several different patient cohorts whilst admitting patients with more complex conditions.

The aim for the future is to continue to broaden the patient cohorts that can be admitted to the facility in order to further strengthen the level of occupancy.

The Directors are still reviewing options for altering the structure of the premises in order to increase operational efficiency and increasing the number of rooms by 2.

The auditor, Morris Lane, is deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.

The directors are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

•     select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

•     make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

•     prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the company website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

So far as each person who was a director at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditor is unaware. Additionally, the directors individually have taken all the necessary steps that they ought to have taken as directors in order to make themselves aware of all relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s auditor is aware of that information.

We have audited the financial statements of Alum Care Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 May 2021 which comprise the statement of income and retained earnings, the statement of financial position, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

•     give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 May 2021 and of its profit for the year then ended;

•     have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

•     have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Material uncertainty related to going concern

In forming our opinion on the financial statements, which is not modified, we have considered the adequacy of the disclosure made in note 1.3 to the financial statements concerning the company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The company is dependent on maintaining the group’s current debt facilities for which the company has provided security by way of a first legal charge over its property and other assets, a debenture and an intercompany guarantee. The group’s current debt facilities are due to mature in March 2023. In addition, the company is dependent on the cash generated from operating activities which are subject to market and macroeconomic factors, including the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 and staff shortages as a result of Brexit. These conditions, along with other matters set out in note 1.3 to the financial statements, indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include the adjustments that would result if the company were unable to continue as a going concern.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:

• the information given in the strategic report and the directors' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• the strategic report and the directors' report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report and the directors' report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

•     adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

•     the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

•     certain disclosures of remuneration specified by law are not made; or

•     we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

As explained more fully in the directors' responsibilities statement, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.

Identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement due to irregularities, including fraud

We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the company through discussion with the directors and from our general commercial experience. The identified laws and regulations were communicated to the audit team in order that they remained alert to any non-compliance throughout the audit.

The company is subject to laws and regulations which have a direct effect on the financial statements and the disclosures contained therein. These have been identified as: the financial reporting framework under which the company operates - Financial Reporting Standard 102; Statutory Instrument 2008/409 – The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2008; the Companies Act 2006; taxation legislation including pay as you earn and corporation tax and pensions legislation together with COVID-19 funding including grant income.

In addition to the above, the company is subject to other operational laws and regulations where non-compliance may have a material effect on the financial statements. Non-compliance of such laws and regulations may result in litigation, the imposition of fines or the closure of the business which could have a material impact on amounts or disclosures in the financial statements. We have identified the following laws and regulations which are more likely to have significant effect: compliance with the Care Quality Commission regulations; food hygiene laws; health and safety laws; General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and employment law.

In order to identify risks of material misstatement due to fraud, we assessed events and conditions where opportunities and incentives may exist within the company for fraud to occur. Our risk assessment procedures included enquiring of directors as to any instances of fraud, their procedures to identify fraud and by using analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships. We identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas: recognition of income; ghost employees and grant income. As required by auditing standards, we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.

The identified risks of material misstatement due to fraud were communicated to the audit team in order that they remained alert to any non-compliance throughout the audit.

Audit procedures designed to respond to the risks of material misstatement due to irregularities, including fraud

As a result of performing our risk assessments as detailed above, we planned and performed our audit so as to identify non-compliance with such laws and regulations, including fraud by undertaking the following:

• Reviewing the disclosures contained within the financial statements and testing to supporting documentation in order to assess compliance with provisions of relevant laws and regulations described as having a direct effect on the financial statements.

• Enquiring of the directors concerning actual and potential non-compliance of laws and regulations.

• Reviewing Care Quality Commission inspection reports in order to identify any potential non-compliance of laws and regulations.

• Performing substantive testing with regard to employees to ensure that identification and employment contracts are on file, the pay as you earn system is operating correctly, pension deductions are made where appropriate and valid right to work documentation is available where required.

• Performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud.

• Revenue recognition was addressed by obtaining an understanding of relevant controls with regard to revenue recognition and undertaking substantive testing to ensure that revenue is recognised in line with the company’s accounting policy and in line with accounting standards.

• The risk relating to management override of controls was addressed by testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments, assessing whether accounting estimates are indicative of potential bias and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are considered unusual or outside the normal course of business.

• The risk relating to the recognition of grant income available in respect of the COVID pandemic was addressed by reviewing the conditions attached to the grant income and the associated claims submitted.

Due to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that, despite properly planning and performing our audit in accordance with accounting standards, some material misstatements may not have been detected.

Auditing standards limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with other operational laws and regulations to enquiry of directors and management and inspection of any correspondence. If a breach of operational regulations is not evident from relevant correspondence or disclosed to us, an audit is unlikely to detect that breach. In addition, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions included in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it.

In addition, the risk of not detecting material misstatement from due to fraud is higher than the risk of one not being detected through error as fraud may involve deliberate concealment through collusion, forgery, misrepresentations and intentional omissions.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's members, as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

The income statement has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.

Alum Care Limited is a company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 31/33 Commercial Road, Poole, Dorset, BH14 0HU. The principal place of business is Kings Cross Lane, South Nutfield, Redhill, RH1 5PA.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

The cost of a business combination is the fair value at the acquisition date of the assets given, equity instruments issued and liabilities incurred or assumed, plus costs directly attributable to the business combination. The excess of the cost of a business combination over the fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired is recognised as goodwill.

The cost of the combination includes the estimated amount of contingent consideration that is probable and can be measured reliably, and is adjusted for changes in contingent consideration after the acquisition date.

Provisional fair values recognised for business combinations in previous periods are adjusted retrospectively for final fair values determined in the 12 months following the acquisition date.

Deferred tax is recognised on differences between the value of assets (other than goodwill) and liabilities recognised in a business combination accounted for using the purchase method and the amounts that can be deducted or assessed for tax, considering the manner in which the carrying amount of the asset or liability is expected to be recovered or settled. The deferred tax recognised is adjusted against goodwill or negative goodwill.

The Board has carefully considered those factors likely to affect the future development, performance and financial position of the company in relation to the ability of the company to operate within its current and foreseeable financial and operational resources.

Notwithstanding the ongoing challenges presented under the Covid-19 pandemic and staff shortages as a result of Brexit, the company has navigated the financial challenges this has presented to the care sector by way of ensuring they have access to and have taken advantage of government backed funding and available grants to assist cash flow management.

The group is also dependent on the support of its bankers. In this connection, the group has failed to deliver on banking covenants attaching to current borrowings. Notwithstanding, the group maintains a currently positive relationship with its bankers and continued support has nevertheless been provided as a result of ongoing discussion relating to potential cash flow uncertainties and notification of measures being taken by the parent company to address these.

A number of the above factors indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going concern. However, the financial statements do not include the adjustments that would result if the company were unable to trade as a going concern on the basis that the directors consider on balance that having committed to provide financial support to the company for at least 12 months from the date of signing of its financial statements, with reliance on financial support from the parent company and fellow subsidiaries and on the basis of its current relationship with its bankers, the group would be in a position to meet its liabilities as they fall due. As such, the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Revenue is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, and is shown net of VAT and other sales related taxes. The fair value of consideration takes into account trade discounts, settlement discounts and volume rebates.

When cash inflows are deferred and represent a financing arrangement, the fair value of the consideration is the present value of the future receipts. The difference between the fair value of the consideration and the nominal amount received is recognised as interest income.

Revenue from the supply of care services represents the value of services provided under contracts to the extent that there is a right to consideration and is recorded at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable. Where payments are received from customers in advance of services provided the amounts are recorded as deferred income and included as part of payables due within one year.

Interest income is recognised when it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the company and the amount of revenue can be measured reliably. Interest income is accrued on a time basis, by reference to the principal outstanding and the effective interest rate applicable.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisition of unincorporated businesses over the fair value of net assets acquired. It is initially recognised as an asset at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is amortised over the FRS 102 default period of 10 years on a straight line basis, as the directors consider that it is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the useful life of the assets.

For the purposes of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to the cash-generating units expected to benefit from the acquisition. Cash-generating units to which goodwill has been allocated are tested for impairment at least annually, or more frequently when there is an indication that the unit may be impaired. If the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit is less than the carrying amount of the unit, the impairment loss is allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the unit and then to the other assets of the unit pro-rata on the basis of the carrying amount of each asset in the unit.

Intangible assets acquired separately from a business are recognised at cost and are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.

Intangible assets acquired on business combinations are recognised separately from goodwill at the acquisition date where it is probable that the expected future economic benefits that are attributable to the asset will flow to the entity and the fair value of the asset can be measured reliably; the intangible asset arises from contractual or other legal rights; and the intangible asset is separable from the entity.

Amortisation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Property, plant and equipment are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Freehold land is not depreciated.

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is credited or charged to profit or loss.

At each reporting period end date, the company reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell.

Cost is calculated using the weighted average cost method.

At each reporting date, an assessment is made for impairment. Any excess of the carrying amount of inventories over its estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell is recognised as an impairment loss in profit or loss. Reversals of impairment losses are also recognised in profit or loss.

Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

The company has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the company's statement of financial position when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

The best evidence of fair value is a quoted price for an identical asset in an active market. When quoted prices are unavailable, the price of a recent transaction for an identical asset provides evidence of fair value as long as there has not been a significant change in economic circumstances or a significant lapse of time since the transaction took place. If the market is not active and recent transactions of an identical assets on their own are not a good estimate of fair value, the fair value is estimated by using a valuation technique.

Basic financial assets, which include trade and other receivables and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments which are not subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures, are initially measured at fair value, which is normally the transaction price. Such assets are subsequently carried at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss, except that investments in equity instruments that are not publicly traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.

Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through profit and loss, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date.

Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected. If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.

If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in profit or loss.

Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the company transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities.

Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other payables, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies and preference shares that are classified as debt, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade payables are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derivatives, including interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts, are not basic financial instruments. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognised in profit or loss in finance costs or finance income as appropriate, unless hedge accounting is applied and the hedge is a cash flow hedge.

Debt instruments that do not meet the conditions in FRS 102 paragraph 11.9 are subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss. Debt instruments may be designated as being measured at fair value through profit or loss to eliminate or reduce an accounting mismatch or if the instruments are measured and their performance evaluated on a fair value basis in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

Equity instruments issued by the company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the company.

The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The company’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.

Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the timing difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting end date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when the company has a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority.

The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or non-current assets.

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessees. All other leases are classified as operating leases.

Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets at the lower of the assets fair value at the date of inception and the present value of the minimum lease payments. The related liability is included in the statement of financial position as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are treated as consisting of capital and interest elements. The interest is charged to profit or loss so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.

Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged to profit or loss on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease except where another more systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which economic benefits from the leases asset are consumed.

Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received.

Government grants relating to turnover are recognised as income over the periods when the related costs are incurred. Grants relating to an asset are recognised in income systematically over the asset's expected useful life. If part of such a grant is deferred it is recognised as deferred income rather than being deducted from the asset's carrying amount.

Credit risk

The company implements appropriate credit checks on residents and service users prior to providing services. This reduces the exposure of the company in respect of credit risk.

Liquidity risk

The policy of the company is to maintain a mix of short and long term borrowings to effectively manage liquidity risk.

Cash flow and interest rate risk

The company's interest rate risk arises primarily from long-term borrowings issued at variable rates which exposes the company to cash flow interest rate risk. The cash flow interest rate risk is managed within the company's business projections and planning, in the monitoring of financial covenants and through negotiation of facility terms with the provider of the borrowing facility at specified intervals. In addition, the group hedges against variations in interest rates by entering into appropriate interest rate management products with their lenders.

In the application of the company’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

An analysis of the company's revenue is as follows:

Government grants received in the year relate to various Covid-19 support schemes.

Amortisation of intangible assets is included in administrative expenses.

The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the company during the year was:

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

Investment income includes the following:

The actual charge for the year can be reconciled to the expected charge for the year based on the profit or loss and the standard rate of tax as follows:

Intangible fixed assets with a carrying amount of £11,200 (2020 - £7,668) have been pledged to secure borrowings of the Group. Details of these borrowings are given in notes 15 and 20.

Property, plant and equipment with a carrying amount of £6,841,251 (2020 - £6,846,164) have been pledged to secure borrowings of the Group. Details of these borrowings are given in notes 15 and 20.

Inventories with a carrying amount of £2,601 (2020: £2,737) have been pledged to secure borrowings of the Group. Details of these borrowings are given in note 15 and 20 respectively.

Trade and other receivables with a carrying amount of £691,817 (2020 - £743,596) have been pledged to secure borrowings of the Group. Details of these borrowings are given in notes 15 and 20.

Bank loans included above totalling £600,000 (2020: £nil) are secured by way of first legal charges over the properties and other assets of the group, a debenture and an intercompany guarantee. Interest is payable at a rate of 4.5% over the Coutts Base rate. The interest charge in respect of the first 12 months of the loan is met by the Government under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. The loan matures in December 2026.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset where the company has a legally enforceable right to do so. The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances (after offset) for financial reporting purposes:

Of the deferred tax liability set out above, an amount of £nil is expected to reverse within 12 months and relates to accelerated capital allowances.

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund.

The company has two classes of shares, Ordinary 'A' shares and Ordinary 'B' shares, which hold voting rights of one vote per share. Each class of share has proportionality of dividends within the class and carry no right to fixed income or fixed repayment of capital.

The share premium reserve contains the premium arising on issue of equity shares, net of issue expenses.

Retained earnings represents cumulative profits or losses, including unrealised profit on the remeasurement of investment properties, net of dividends paid and other adjustments.

At 31 May 2021, the company had contingent liabilities amounting to £236,128 (2019 - £236,128) in respect of possible additional charge to stamp duty land tax and corporation tax resulting from the initial apportionment on purchase of the values attributable to freehold property and goodwill. The determination of any liability to charge remains under assessment as at the end of the financial period.

At 31 May 2021, the company had secured borrowings of its ultimate parent company, The Buckinghamshire Group Limited, by way of a first legal charge over the property and other assets, a debenture and an intercompany guarantee up to an amount of £13,000,000. At 31 May 2021, the maximum exposure of the company in respect of amounts drawn by the parent company was £9,016,970 (2020 - £9,389,224).

In a prior year, Affinity Care Management Limited, a fellow group undertaking entered into a lease agreement to occupy premises for a period of four and a half years whereby it is committed to pay rent, service charges and insurance costs totalling £54,196 (2020: £108,392)  Alum Care Limited has entered into the agreement as guarantor.

At the reporting end date the company had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:

The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.

Included above are amounts totalling £nil (2020 - £129,157) in respect of the remuneration of key management personnel paid on behalf of fellow subsidiaries and the parent in the company's group, and £nil (2020 - £2,230) paid by other subsidiaries on behalf of the company.

During the year the company entered into the following transactions with related parties:

Services received and expenses recharged to the company were conducted on a normal commercial basis.

The following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date:

The following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date:

The ultimate parent company is The Buckinghamshire Group Limited, whose registered office is 31/33 Commercial Road, Poole, Dorset, BH14 0HU.

Alum Care Limited is a subsidiary of The Buckinghamshire Group Limited, by way of 75% direct control of the company and 25% indirect control of the company via Ballinderry LLP, a subsidiary of The Buckinghamshire Group Limited.

The ultimate controlling parties are the directors of The Buckinghamshire Group Limited by virtue of their 80% shareholding of the issued share capital in the company.

The smallest and largest group into which the company is consolidated is The Buckinghamshire Group Limited.