The CQC have issued the first guidance of its kind on relationships and sexuality in adult social care services. The guidance sets out that inspectors will check to see if person-centred care is being carried out for sexual needs by all adult social care providers including care homes. The guidance is called ‘Relationships and Sexuality in Adult Social Care Services’. One of CQC’s aims is to make care homes more accommodating for residents with physical and learning disabilities and LGBT residents.
The guidance is available on CQC’s website. It appears to be a much long awaited guidance that will hopefully provide framework for providers of health and social care and their regulatory responsibilities.
Providers should be aware that as per the guidance, CQC inspectors can now ask providers whether they have a relationship and sexuality policy and in what way does the home encourage and support residents to develop relationships.
