Whether you run a care home, home care agency, supported living service or other adult social care service you are subject to regulation.
Find out how Ridouts can help your business, by clicking the boxes below.
ADULT SAFEGUARDING & LADO INVESTIGATIONS
Safeguarding investigations by the local authority can be lengthy and troublesome and can lead to embargoes being placed on your business restricting your ability to admit service users and often impacting a business’ financials.
APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION
If you wish to run certain health and social care businesses you have to register with the CQC or Ofsted. If you do not register when required, you will be carrying on a criminal offence.
CANCELLATION, SUSPENSION, OR VARIATION OF CONDITIONS
The CQC and Ofsted can take draconian enforcement action, either restricting how you run your business and sometimes preventing you from carrying it on. Read more about:
A Notice of Proposal (NOP)
A Notice of Decision (NOD)
A Section 31 Order
A Magistrates’ Court Order
Notice to Restrict Accommodation
CONTRACTS
Commissioner fees for the social care sector have long been a concern. Fees that go unpaid, low fee levels and even commissioners attempting to reduce fees further can negatively impact a business.
INQUESTS
It is likely that a provider will be involved, in some form, with an inquest during their time running a social care service. Whilst the purpose of an inquest is to establish facts, not to apportion blame, negative conclusions can be drawn and they can prompt other action being taken by regulators, local authorities and even the police.
INSPECTION REPORTS
The CQC and Ofsted produces inspection reports which, if inaccurate, can adversely affect a care provider’s reputation. It can result in ratings that are not reflective of the service and can lead to enforcement action.
MENTAL CAPACITY
The MCA can afford a high degree of legal protection to carers and providers, whilst ensuring the rights of incapacitated adults, when used correctly.
POLICE INVESTIGATIONS
The Police may investigate a death or a serious incident, such as an allegation of abuse. Such investigations need to be handled with care and are often interwoven with other action being taken, frequently by the regulator and local authority.
PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINARY
Professional regulators and provider regulators share information more often and this can lead to individuals being required to account for their actions in front of their professional body.
REGULATOR PROSECUTION
The CQC, Ofsted and the Health and Safety Executive can all take steps to prosecute providers for failing their regulatory obligations. Put your case forward for the best chance of successfully defending such action and reputation protection.
REGULATORY DUE DILIGENCE
We can help undertake a review of a business you wish to purchase or assist you to prepare your business for sale, to manage issues, reduce or eliminate problems identified and therefore impact purchase price.
"SAR" & "SCR"
Safeguarding Adults reviews and Serious Case reviews take place when an adult or child has been harmed or dies in care. These can be long and gruelling processes that can have significant knock-on effects for businesses.
SPECIAL MEASURES
If an adverse inspection report from the CQC is issued, the regulator has the power to place the service into 'Special Measures' which can negatively impact your business.
TRAINING
Ridouts can provide in-house training to providers on matters of importance to their businesses. We can, for example, provide training on preparing for an inspection and the steps a provider can take to help achieve the best outcome.
WARNING/FIXED PENALTY NOTICES
Warning Notices and Fixed Penalty Notices are often the first formal enforcement used by the CQC and should not be ignored.
