CQC tell another care home to improve services

The owners of a care home at Congresbury in North Somerset have been told they must take action to ensure that people are protected from unsafe or inappropriate care.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found that the Leonard Elms care home was failing to meet six of the essential standards of quality and safety. The home provides nursing care for older people, some with dementia.

The CQC identified concerns with the care and welfare of residents, inadequate nutrition, staffing levels, notification of incidents and the home's own systems to monitor the quality of its services. Another concern was that the home had been without a registered manager since December 2010.

CQC has given the registered provider, Mr Paul Bliss, seven days to produce plans showing how he intends to achieve compliance. Providers of care services have a legal responsibility to make sure they are meeting the essential standards of quality and safety.

Do you need assistance with CQC registration? Then contact one of our CQC experts today.

Is the Scottish University Funding System Lawful?

Scotland’s university funding system is being challenged by a human rights lawyer, who claims that the system breaches the European Convention on Human Rights.

The lawyer, Phil Shiner is citing the fact that Scottish universities charge students from other parts of the UK to study in Scotland. There are approximately 22,000 English students who pay tuition fees, however Scottish and EU students have escaped this hefty charge. The Scottish government defends its policy and insists it is acting within the law.

The human rights lawyer is currently representing two students who have been given full judicial review to challenge the tuition fee increase at English universities.

From next year, English students will face tuition fees of up to £9,000 per year and it is anticipated that his legal team will argue that the increase will discriminate against poorer students and those from ethnic minorities.

Mr Shiner is also due to take on the Scottish tuition fee structure with the argument that ministers in Scotland had “misinterpreted the law” and that not only does it breach the European Convention on Human Rights, but it may also breach Britain’s Equality Act.

Scottish government claim that they are “clear that the proposals set out are lawful”.

A spokeswoman for the Scottish Parliament also added that in an ideal world, no students would pay fees and that the main priority for the Scottish Parliament has to be protecting opportunities for Scottish students to study at Scottish institutions.

Scottish students studying in England, where fees will rise to £9,000 per year, will continue to receive financial support from the Scottish government in form of brusaries and loans. Originally the UK government said that the £9,000 per year fee should be set only in exceptional cases, however two thirds of universities have indicated that they want to charge students that amount for all or some courses.

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Patients to Have a Stronger Voice

New plans set out by Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, will see 75 Local HealthWatch pathfinders introduced as part of the Government’s plans to modernise the NHS. These new learning networks will champion patients’ views and experiences, promote the integration of local services and improve choice for patients through advice and access to information.

These all being outcomes promoted by the Care Quality Commission's Essential Standards

Local HealthWatch will provide a collective voice for patients and carers, and advise the new Clinical Commissioning Groups on the shape of local services to ensure they are informed by the views of the local community.

Visiting a new HealthWatch pathfinder in Cambridgeshire, Andrew Lansley said:

“Putting patients and the public at the very heart of the health service is central to our vision of modernising the NHS and today is a huge step forward.

“Local HealthWatch will give patients and carers a real say over how their local health service is run. They will act as patient champions, drive local involvement in the community and ensure patients understand the choices available to them.”

Mike Hewins, Chairman of Cambridgeshire Local Involvement Network, said:

“Cambridgeshire LINk has always worked hard to put patients and service users at the forefront of its work. As a HealthWatch Pathfinder, we’ll be able to reach out and work with many more people in Cambridgeshire and ensure that they are fully involved in health and social care in the county.”

The 75 Local HealthWatch pathfinders established today will pioneer plans ahead of their full establishment across the country in October 2012.

If you need help with the CQC registration process, why not speak to one of our CQC experts today?

Stafford Hospital not meeting Essential Standards

The BBC have today reported that scandal-hit Stafford Hospital is still not meeting some of the CQC's essential standards.

Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors have reported there are still concerns remain about staffing, recruitment, complaints and how medicines are managed.

Hospital bosses are working to have all of the identified issues rectified by December.

Sue Jordan, compliance manager from the CQC, said: "If we were really concerned about the immediate safety of patients, we would be taking enforcement action.

"What we're doing at the moment is allowing the hospital the opportunity to improve."

In a statement, Stafford Hospital said: "The review confirms the hard work undertaken by the trust to improve quality and safety at Stafford Hospital.

"Eight minor concerns have been lifted and we are committed to ensuring that we meet the four remaining standards by December 2011."

If you need help ensuring your service meets the CQC's essential standards, contact one of our CQC experts today.

Ministry of Stories - Helping Young People in London

The Ministry of Stories was founded by Nick Hornby and co-directors Lucy Macnab and Ben Payne; their aim is to encourage young people to get involved with creative writing, in the hope that writing will inspire them to transform their lives. Based in Hoxton, North London, The Ministry of Stories provides a free space for fresh writing by young people, it also provides workshops and one-to-one mentoring delivered by volunteers in the form of local writers, artists and teachers, who all give their time and talent for free.

Not only does the Ministry of Stories provide young people with the tools to be creative but it also supports them to improve language skills, increase abilities in communication, and increase social and educational confidence.

Click here to find out more, or to get involved with the Ministry.

If you've penned a creative gem but need help approaching publishers, why not contact us?

Essex Libraries Summer Reading Challenge - There's Still Time!

There's still time for children to get involved in the Essex Libraries Circus Stars Summer Reading Challenge. The challenge runs from Wednesday 20 July to Saturday 3 September 2011 from all local and mobile libraries in Essex.

Circus Stars is all about giving children a love of books and the opportunity to share some of the libraries' great titles with parents and carers.

Circus Stars is open to children of all ages, even if they can’t yet read independently. When children sign up to the scheme they are given a 3D circus stage, and as they read their books they will receive stickers of characters to place on the stage. Scratch-and-sniff stickers add to the circus atmosphere! Children who read six books will be awarded a Circus Stars medal and all children will receive a certificate.

If you've written a children's book that you think may just be the next big thing, why not come to us for editorial assistance?

Kent Care Home Closed After CQC Take Urgent Action

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has taken urgent enforcement action leading to the closure of a care home in Tunbridge Wells in Kent.

The home, Four Nevill Park, had been registered to provide care for up to 24 adults with autism and challenging behaviour.

In an unannounced visit, inspectors found that the home was not meeting the CQC's essential standards of quality and safety and that people were not experiencing effective, safe and appropriate care, treatment and support.

Inspectors reported a range of concerns, including staff lacking skills and experience, low staffing levels, poor documentation, lack of behavioural support plans, staff being threatened and bullied, and residents’ complaints not being recorded or resolved.

CQC inspectors raised their immediate concerns with the providers, Evesleigh (Kent) Limited, following the inspection in June, working closely with Kent County council social services.

On 23 June CQC served a Notice of decision to vary the registration of Evesleigh (Kent) Limited under Section 31 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This means that this location is no longer registered to care for people and by law cannot continue as a care home.

Kent County Council and other local authorities have found alternative placements for the remaining 13 people who were living at the home which is now empty.

Roxy Boyce, Regional Director for CQC in the south east, said: “We have acted quickly to protect the safety and welfare of people at Four Nevill Park.

“Taking action which leads to the closure of a care home is never a decision taken lightly. These are places where people live and we have to weigh up the potential impact on residents.

"But the provider failed in its duty to provide necessary standards of care. The only way to properly protect residents at Four Nevill Park was to close the home immediately.”

Do you need assistance with gaining or maintaining your CQC registration? Then why not speak to one of our CQC experts today?