From Next Year, There Could Be Tougher Care Quality Commission Checks On Home Care Providers
- 22 Oct
Care minister Norman Lamb has suggested that, from next year, tougher Care Quality Commission checks on home care providers which would be focused particularly on the length of visits, whether care was delivered with compassion, dignity and respect, and staff turnover rates could be introduced.
There has been worries over the fact that home care visits limited to 15-minute slots are often too short and places huge pressures on both care workers and their clients.
Housing news reported Lamb's speech to the National Children and Adult Services conference last week:
"Fifteen minutes is not enough time to help people who are older or who have a disability to do everyday things like wash, dress and get out of bed. Some do not even get the chance to have a conversation with their home care worker, who may be the only person they see that day,"
"These tougher checks would ask specific questions about the amount of time allocated for visits and whether staff are suitably supported to do this. This is particularly important because these are services delivered in private, behind closed doors."
Nevertheless, Local Government Association responded by saying as long as councils were underfunded then services would suffer.
Katie Hall, chair of the LGA's wellbeing board also said:"The bottom line is that the standard of care will not be substantially lifted until more money is put into the system.
"Councils have worked very hard to protect social care services from the full impact of cuts to their funding because they know that helping the old and vulnerable to maintain their independence and dignity is one of the most important things they do. But councils need an extra £400m each year just to maintain services at current levels. Instead of that they are seeing a 42 per cent cut in funding from central government."
On concerns that councils were contracting providers who paid staff below the National Minimum Wage, Hall said councils were not deliberately seeking out such contractors.
She also added:"There is clearly a problem with the way some third parties bid for contracts. We are fully engaged with this issue but there needs to be a recognition by all involved that a sustainable solution cannot be delivered in isolation from the other competing pressures on local government."
Image source: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/14582
Related articles
- 25 May
CARE HAS IMPROVED CONSIDERABLY IN ENGLAND
Almost three fourth of 372 care homes rated inadequate in 2014 and still operating have improved.205 care homes have improved from a low rating to requiring improvement, 68 are now rated good and 99...
- 24 May
NHS ADJUSTMENTS TO BUDGET CUTS
NHS trusts which have been previously rated good or outstanding will not be inspected as frequently as before, but those rated as inadequate will be regularly visited by the CQC.The Guardian reports...
- 19 Mar
Government to inspect if housing can reduce NHS costs
In the Budget document the government have said it's looking at the ‘cost-effectiveness of options to integrate spending around some of the most vulnerable groups of people.' This includes...
- 15 Oct
End of life patients are lacking support
The charity has found that almost 92% of NHS clinical commissioning groups do not provide round the clock telephone helplines, reports the BBC.Guidelines say there should be 24-hour telephone...
- 15 Sep
Social care is being limited due to council cuts
ADASS are warning that cuts are making the care system "unsustainable" with charities saying hundreds of thousands of people are struggling without help, even though the government says councils have...
- 17 Jul
Young people should not be placed in B&Bs says MPs
The Commons Education Select Committee has said that B&B accommodation is "threatening and frightening" and should only be used in emergency situations reports the BBC.MPs say that young people...
- 16 Jul
Special measures system designed to improve failing care homes
A scheme similar to special measures of hospitals will be introduced for care homes and home care agencies next year, ministers will say, reports the BBC.This will cover 25,000 services and could...
- 14 Jul
Research says that one in three Alzheimer's cases can be prevented
The research says that the main risk factors of Alzheimer's is lack of exercise, smoking, depression and poor education, reports the BBC. Alzheimer's Research UK said age was still the biggest risk...
- 10 Jul
NHS boss says those with vulnerabilities need joint health and care budget
Simon Stevens wants to see older people, those with disabilities and people with serious mental health problems given joint pots from the NHS and council-run social care services, reports the...
- 17 Jun
Council falters in reviewing autistic man’s care plan
According to Community Care:"The ruling was made by the Local Government Ombudsman after the man's mother complained that his physical and mental health deteriorated in the two-year period after...
Support Solutions 5th National Housing Support & Social Care Conference 2014 Good organisation from beginning to end. Excellent keynote speaker. Relevant and important topics for discussion which were to everyone's advantage within the supported housing sector. B.H - Stevenage Haven
