26.06.12
Half of care providers fail to meet government standards
The CQC has found that half of learning disability services do not meet government standards, with private providers twice as likely to fail to meet standards of care and safety.
The watchdog carried out unannounced inspections at 145 NHS, private care and social care services and found that care was generally not tailored to the individual, people were admitted for long periods and discharge took too long to arrange. The report also recommends staff receive appropriate training in restraint techniques.
The inspections follow uncovered abuse at Winterbourne, but chair Dame Jo Williams said nothing similar was discovered in the 145 providers investigated and problems were down to bad organisational culture rather than bad staff.
Safeguarding concerns were identified in 27 care services and only 35 of the 145 providers inspected fully met the government standards with no concerns at all.
Dame Jo said: “All providers need to look at what we found, question themselves day in, day out about whether or not they are meeting the standards and really keeping people safe. There is plenty of room for improvement to help a group of people whose circumstances make them particularly vulnerable. We believe it's really important that those new commissioning bodies, the clinical commissioning groups, really do pay special attention to people with a learning disability.”
Care services minister Paul Burstow said: “Our national actions will mean that people have access to good care, closer to home. They will make sure those who provide care, commission care and care staff know exactly what part they must play and what standards are expected of them.”
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