Regulation of nursing homes: news and guidance

ENGLAND

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From 1st April 2009 the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has taken over the functions of CSCI, including the registration and inspection of nursing homes.?The CQC was formed from a merger of three previous bodies ? CSCI, the Healthcare Commission and the Mental Health Act Commission.?In effect, the regulation of health and social care is now under one roof.

Resignation of Baroness Young, chairman of the Care Quality Commission

It was announced on 5th December 2009 that Barbara Young, the Chairman of the Care Quality Commission (CQC), has decided to stand down as chairman with effect from 1st? February 2010.?
? Barbara Young said: "Having overseen the major task of creating a single regulator for health and social care and pointed it in the right direction, I have decided that it will be for others to take it forward.? I wish all success to the Commission and its staff and to Dame Jo Williams who has agreed to act as Chairman until a successor is appointed.? Jo will start to take up the reins in January."
? Cynthia Bower, chief executive of CQC, said: "Barbara joined CQC in May 2008 and her strong leadership has seen us successfully through the transition from three predecessor organisations. She has put CQC on the map as the regulator of health and social care and will be a tough act to follow. We wish her all the best in the next stage of her career."
? Jo Williams, deputy chair of CQC, said: "CQC's board were sad to hear that Barbara has decided to move on, both on a professional and personal level. Barbara has played a major role in forging CQC's strategy for the next five years. The Board is fully signed up to take this strategy forward and our focus now is building on the momentum we have and delivering our important work on registration.?
? Dame Jo Williams CBE is Deputy Chairman of the CQC and a non executive member of the CQC's board since its inception in shadow form in October 2008.?? Most of her working life was spent in local government, including ten years as a Director of Social Services in Wigan Metropolitan Borough and Cheshire County Council. From early 2002 until November 2008 Dame Jo was Chief Executive of Mencap, the leading charity for people with a learning disability.

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CQC consultation on new registration standards guidance

On 1st June 2009 the Care Quality Commission launched a consultation on guidance outlining what health and adult social care services will need to do in order to meet new legally enforceable registration standards.? It is anticipated that, by 1st October 2010, all nursing homes will be subject to these arrangements.
? The guidance focuses on what constitutes a positive outcome for a person receiving care and what providers of services should be doing to achieve that outcome.?
? The criteria published in the guidance will be used by CQC to decide whether a particular service provider should be registered, whether that provider?s registration should be maintained, and whether further action is needed by CQC in respect of any deficiencies it has identified.
? The CQC is now seeking feedback on the proposed guidance and is asking whether the guidance reflects what should be expected of a safe, quality health or adult social care service.? Consultation closes on 24th August 2009.
Click here to access the CQC consultation documents.

Commission for Social Care Inspection

The registration and inspection of nursing homes in Scotland is undertaken by the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care, which was set up in April 2002 to regulate all adult, child and independent healthcare services in Scotland and ensure that care service providers meet the national standards set by the Scottish government. Its non-executive board is led by Convener Professor Frank Clark.

Click here to access the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care web site

Click here to access RNHA news releases and reports relevant to the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care

The registration and inspection of nursing homes in Wales is carried out by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate for Wales, which operates as a division of the Department of Public Services and Performance of the Welsh Assembly Government. The Director of CSSIW is Rob Pickford.

The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority

The registration and inspection of nursing homes in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority, which is chaired by Dr Ian Carson.