News

‘Special measures’ taints south of England – almost half of care homes and agencies not good enough

Almost half of the 87 adult social care providers in the south of England recently inspected by the CQC are either ‘inadequate’ or need to improve.

Of the care homes and agencies supporting people in their own homes across the south, 34 were rated as ‘requires improvement’, while eight were rated as ‘inadequate’. Only one provider was rated as outstanding.

Deborah Ivanova, CQC’s interim deputy chief inspector for adult social care, said: “If we find that a service requires improvement, we will expect them to provide us with a full plan setting out how they will address the issue. We will share our findings with local commissioners and we will return in due course to check that they have made the required improvements.

“Whenever we find a service to be inadequate, we will consider taking further action on behalf of the people who use the service. Providers of those services should take the publication of the inadequate rating as a signal that immediate action is required to improve the service.”

The eight providers rated as inadequate were located in areas across Devon, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey, Somerset, West Sussex and the Isle of Wight.

One of these, a nursing home in Southampton, was rated as inadequate across all five categories, including safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness and leadership, causing it to be placed in special measures.

The CQC asked the provider following its last inspection in September 2014 to take immediate action to improve staffing levels, carry out quality monitoring checks and improving the quality of medical records and care plans.

Despite the provider submitting an action plan stating the home would be compliant by December, the nursing home failed to carry out the crucial improvements. The list drafted by the CQC following its recent inspection criticises all aspects of the provider’s care and governance.

Three of the ‘inadequate’ care homes were also placed in special measures, while two other ‘inadequate’ care homes were failing in all but the ‘caring’ category, for which both were rated as requiring improvement. One of them, in West Sussex, received an extensive list of actions it needs to take in order to satisfy Monitor’s demands. The other, in Devon, is being investigated further.

Nationwide failures

Last month, NHE also revealed that almost half of adult social care services were also failing in the central region. However this was less stark than the situation in the south, as it amounted to 14 providers ‘requiring improvement’ from a pool of 37 total locations.

There were a total of 61 social care providers rate as ‘inadequate’ and 260 as ‘requires improvement’ in recent inspections, although this compares to 355 providers rated as ‘good’.

NHE also revealed yesterday (21 September) that council leaders backed calls from organisations representing consumers, providers and commissioners of adult social care services for the government to ensure “adequate and sustained” funding for services.

A series of associations, including the NHS Confederation, came together to speak out against the threat of a “deepening crisis” compromising the dignity, health and wellbeing of older and disabled people.

In their Spending Review submission, the organisations warn that with more people living longer with more complex needs, this requires more trained and supported staff.

Figureheads in these associations noted that it is “vitally important” that the upcoming Spending Review understands the importance of social care services to vulnerable people and responds accordingly by further funding and integrating services in the NHS.

Ray James, president of ADASS, said that there was a “near-certainty” that without adequate and sustained finances, their ability to carry out duties outlined in the Care Act to maintain a viable home and residential market “will be in jeopardy”.