CQC failings provide a new opportunity for care sector

LONDON – 26.07.24  Responding to today’s independent review of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) identifying ‘significant internal failings which is hampering its ability to identify poor performance at hospitals, care homes and GP practices’, Debbie Harris, founder and Managing Director of later-living and online care directory Autumna, said:

“We welcome the publication of the independent review’s findings of the systemic failures at the CQC, and the acknowledgement by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, that it is not fit for purpose.

“Those of us supporting frontline care providers have known for a long time that the issues the CQC has faced with introducing its new regulatory framework have meant it is failing both providers and consumers of care.

“Providers have had their businesses put in jeopardy because they have been unable to get their operations reinspected, while inconsistent inspections have made it challenging for them to maintain compliance and improve their services.

“As Wes Streeting has acknowledged, the inspection reports need to be taken ‘with a pinch of salt’ and consumers cannot rely on them as an accurate assessment as to whether a provider can meet their needs or that of their loved one.

“The publication of the independent review and the government’s commitment to turning the organisation around is to be welcomed. But we call on the government and the sector to use this new culture of transparency to assess honestly how far the regulator can provide the sector with the accurate scrutiny and direction that it needs and consider imaginative solutions to provide greater clarity for both providers and consumers to improve standards across the sector.

“The demands on the CQC will continue to increase in line with our ageing population. It is unrealistic to think that the regulator will ever have sufficient resources to be able to provide real-time assessments of providers, which is what consumers need to inform their care decisions.

“Today’s findings and the government’s commitment to improvement provide the perfect opportunity to explore alternative solutions to complement the regulatory provision.

“At Autumna, we have developed a data aggregator that allows care providers to demonstrate to consumers immediately what improvements they’ve made. Called OpenScore, it gives providers and the consumers of care a solution now. We’ve had fantastic feedback on it, and we’ve already got over 2,000 care homes using it. 

“Independent assessments are not a substitute but can complement ratings from regulatory bodies. They offer consumers a broader perspective and help providers more proactively identify and address areas of improvement.

“We urge the government and the sector to consider all solutions as we look to rebuild vital confidence in the care sector, starting with the quality of the information available to providers and consumers. to ensure we provide the best quality care to those in need of it.

“This is supported by Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, who has commented: ‘We all want proportionate and effective regulation, and the challenge now is for CQC to take action and work with organisations across the sector to deliver it’.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

Debbie Harris is the founder of Autumna, the UK’s largest and most comprehensive later-life living and elderly care directory. Specialising in the self-funding market, it helps families and individuals make informed choices and identify services with the highest standards of care. Autumna is the leading voice and champion for self-funders and has the UK’s most substantial database for the social care industry, obtaining access to invaluable statistics from more than 26,000 care and retirement providers in the UK.

FOR MORE INFORMATION including interviews:

Siobhan Stirling: siobhan@sharpminds.agency  01892 570863, 07990 543829
Ellie Knight: ellie@sharpminds.agency 01892 570863