CQC annouces a new approach to their social care establishment inspections

The CQC (Care Quality Commission) have today annouced their intention to change the way that care homes and other social care services are monitored, inspected and regulated.


Below we've summarised the key changes proposed by the CQC:

1. Rating care homes

Every care home and adult social care service in England will be awarded one of the following ratings by March 2016.

• Outstanding.
• Good.
• Requires improvement.
• Inadequate.

These ratings will be made available to the public so that they can make better informed decisions about the care they or their loved ones receive.

2. Bigger and improved inspection teams

Inspections of adult social care services will look at whether the service is:

• safe.
• effective.
• caring.
• responsive to people’s needs.
• well-led.

It is proposed that inspection teams will also include more expert inspectors, specialist advisors and people who have experience of receiving social care services. 

3. Other changes

The CQC have pledged to also:

• monitor the finances of 50-60 care home providers that would be difficult to replace if they were to go out of business (subject to the Care Bill – a change relating to the care and support for adults – becoming law).
• take tougher action on services that do not meet standards, particularly those that do not have a registered manager in place.
• check that services that are applying to be registered have the right values, motives, ability and experience to provide care to people.
• discuss the risks and potential benefits of mystery shoppers and hidden cameras to monitor care, and whether they could contribute to promoting a culture of safety and quality while respecting people’s privacy and dignity.
• encourage residential homes to get more involved in their local community.
• work with local Healthwatch to get its views on care homes in the community.

The CQC have said that they will be releasing a consultation document and asking for public opinion on these changes in Spring 2014.
Andrea Sutcliffe, Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, said: “This is a fresh start for how care homes, home care, and other adult social care services are inspected and regulated across the country. I will be leading CQC’s new approach by making more use of people’s views and by using expert inspection teams involving people who have personal experience of care.

“We will always be on the side of the people who use care services. For every care service we look at, I want us to ask, is this good enough for my Mum? If it is, this should be celebrated. If not, then as the regulator, we will do something about it.”