The care sector’s pursuit of fair and realistic fees took a huge leap forward this month following the ground-breaking Judgment in The Sefton Care Association & Others v Sefton Council. The background facts will resonate across the sector. Sefton Council froze care fees in response to budgetary pressures without consulting care providers or taking into …
It’s all too easy to be negative about the care sector, so this month, as Christmas approaches, I thought it was time to reflect on some of the positive messages around care. Here are some of them. There has never before been such focus on the welfare and choice of service users. Regulatory requirements, adult …
Any health and social care provider that has read the new legislation and CQC’s subsequent Guidance about Compliance: Essential Standards of Quality and Safety (the “Guidance”), will know that the entire ethos of the new regime hinges on the rights and experiences of the service user. The language of the Health and Social Care Act …
Quality & Compliance Magazine: Evidencing the inclusion of service users in their care Read More »
CQC have given me 5 days to complete Provider Compliance Assessment forms. This is not long enough – what can I do? The 5 days request is CQC internal guidance only, however, where such a timeframe can be adhered to then it should. As explained by Neil Grant in last month’s Q & A, you …
Providers need to be aware of a little known enforcement power which CQC can rely upon whenever it believes that service users will or may be exposed to unnecessary and serious harm to their safety and welfare if it does not act immediately. Under section 31 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, CQC …
Caring Times: Urgent enforcement action by CQC could be entering a new realm Read More »
Whilst a caring character is a necessary quality to be a good carer, it is not sufficient. Even the most caring person needs to be trained how to care in a way which complies with good practice and regulatory requirements. It is fundamental that carers have all necessary training and equally important that a workable …
I recently wrote about how exclusive use of framework agreements by PCTs was found to breach NHS competition rules. PCTs are beginning to wake up to that point. We were instructed on another similar case recently, and the PCT quickly conceded our submissions when we drew its attention to the relevant decision of the Co-operation …
Care Agenda: A Brief Guide to Preferred Provider Lists Read More »
If the Law Commission’s recommendations are implemented, the role of adult protection will be put on a statutory footing. The three key recommendations are that local authorities will have a statutory duty regarding adult protection, there will be a duty to investigate cases in defined circumstances and there will be a statutory duty for stakeholders …
Care Agenda: Help Shape a Better Future for Adult Protection Read More »
The scathing criticism of CQC by the Health Committee in its annual report will come as no surprise to the sector. Last year, providers were scratching their heads wondering why so much time and effort was being invested in re-registering providers who were already providing services. The idea, of course, was nonsense. In practice, it …
Healthcare Business: CQC’s Obvious Errors: Why Won’t It LISTEN???!!! Read More »
Frontline carers are first to be at risk of adverse criticism and damaging action. The Panorama film appears to show highly abusive deliberate ill treatment. Such behaviour by staff is to be condemned at all times but may arise for a variety of reasons, such as: service users may be very provocative in their challenging …
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