CQC raises wider concerns about Castlebeck services
14:36 - 29/07/2011
CQC raises wider concerns about Castl...
Following the high-profile closure of Winterbourne View, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has raised concerns about other services run by the Castlebeck Care Group, which operated the scandal-hit learning disability hospital.
The regulator has taken enforcement action against four of the provider’s services, about which it has serious concerns, and has advised that a further seven are also failing to fully comply with the essential standards of quality and safety.
After BBC’s panorama investigation revealed that serious abuse was taking place at Winterbourne View, the hospital was closed following regulatory action and the CQC launched a review and unannounced inspections of all Castlebeck services for people with learning disabilities.
The review of the 23 remaining services has found that only 12 were compliant with the essential standards. Castlebeck must now demonstrate how it plans to improve its services to ensure that they meet these standards.
The CQC has identified common themes across the services, including a lack of staff training, insufficient staffing levels and poor care planning. They also found that, across the company, services neglect to notify the relevant authorities about any safeguarding issues and also fail to involve people in decisions about their own care.
A national panel has been established to review the outcomes of the inspections and identify any requirements for further examination of the group’s overall performance. Services for people with learning disabilities have only been required to register with the CQC since October 2010. Previous to this, they were only subject to an inspection once every five years. Under the most recent proposals, all services will be inspected at least once annually.
Cynthia Bower, Chief Executive at CQC, said: “Although our reports set out what Castlebeck and individual services need to do, there is a lesson here for all professionals who have contact with these services and those who commission care from them. You have a clear responsibility to stay alert for the signs of problems; take action if you can, and tell us if you have doubts about the safety and quality of care.
“[...] We are following up our inspections of Castlebeck’s services with a major review of learning disability services. We will carry out unannounced inspections of 150 of these services.”
First Response Training offers a wide and diverse range of training for the care sector. Managing Director Perry Leeks explains: “We work to support a number of care providers, including those providing care for learning disabled people, through training and development and would always seek to highlight that there are many care organisations providing a very commendable service.
“The standard of care can always be enhanced through further staff training and development, and that’s where we come in. For details of the extensive range of training courses and range of delivery options that we can offer, please call us today on free phone 0800 310 2300.”
The regulator has taken enforcement action against four of the provider’s services, about which it has serious concerns, and has advised that a further seven are also failing to fully comply with the essential standards of quality and safety.
After BBC’s panorama investigation revealed that serious abuse was taking place at Winterbourne View, the hospital was closed following regulatory action and the CQC launched a review and unannounced inspections of all Castlebeck services for people with learning disabilities.
The review of the 23 remaining services has found that only 12 were compliant with the essential standards. Castlebeck must now demonstrate how it plans to improve its services to ensure that they meet these standards.
The CQC has identified common themes across the services, including a lack of staff training, insufficient staffing levels and poor care planning. They also found that, across the company, services neglect to notify the relevant authorities about any safeguarding issues and also fail to involve people in decisions about their own care.
A national panel has been established to review the outcomes of the inspections and identify any requirements for further examination of the group’s overall performance. Services for people with learning disabilities have only been required to register with the CQC since October 2010. Previous to this, they were only subject to an inspection once every five years. Under the most recent proposals, all services will be inspected at least once annually.
Cynthia Bower, Chief Executive at CQC, said: “Although our reports set out what Castlebeck and individual services need to do, there is a lesson here for all professionals who have contact with these services and those who commission care from them. You have a clear responsibility to stay alert for the signs of problems; take action if you can, and tell us if you have doubts about the safety and quality of care.
“[...] We are following up our inspections of Castlebeck’s services with a major review of learning disability services. We will carry out unannounced inspections of 150 of these services.”
First Response Training offers a wide and diverse range of training for the care sector. Managing Director Perry Leeks explains: “We work to support a number of care providers, including those providing care for learning disabled people, through training and development and would always seek to highlight that there are many care organisations providing a very commendable service.
“The standard of care can always be enhanced through further staff training and development, and that’s where we come in. For details of the extensive range of training courses and range of delivery options that we can offer, please call us today on free phone 0800 310 2300.”
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