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The Care Quality Commission (CQC) statement on the quality of adult social care

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) statement on the quality of adult social care, made on 3 December 2009, is based on the findings and information presented in four documents.

Cynthia Bower, CQC Chief Executive, said of its findings:

"It's good to see the steady improvements and this should be recognised. However, I am concerned that many care homes and agencies have more to do to deliver the quality of care expected of them. Those affected should be absolutely clear that we will be very persistent in ensuring they take action in the run up to registration and afterwards, using all the new powers that will be at our disposal.

There are also serious issues for councils to address in areas such as giving people more control over their care, treating people with dignity, and ensuring commissioning is as effective as possible. I want to see the regulator and councils working in tandem to drive poor quality care out of the market."

The Care Quality Commission found the following:

• 95% of local authorities are performing either excellently or well in their commissioning of adult social care (compared to 87% in the previous year).
• One quarter of councils are rated only adequate in terms of giving people choice and control over their care.
• A third of councils must do more to care for people with dignity and respect.

Ratings for adult social care providers have improved but one in six providers are rated only poor or adequate:

• 77% of care homes, home care agencies, nursing agencies and shared lives schemes are rated excellent or good (compared to 69% in 2008).
• Around 400 regulated adult social care services are rated as poor and 3,500 as adequate.
• In care homes for older people, a fifth fail to meet the standard on social contact and activities.

You can find out more and download the related documents from the Care Quality Commission website link below.

More information

• care quality commission website

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