We’re delighted to welcome James Bullion as our Interim Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care, following Kate Terroni’s appointment as our Interim Deputy Chief Executive. James brings huge experience to CQC, having most recently been the Executive Director of Adult Social Services (DASS) at Norfolk County Council and a member of the Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board. Over the last six years at Norfolk, James has overseen a transformation of adult services with a strong focus on community development, strengthening social work and integrated services with NHS partners.
James was President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) in 2020-21, helping to support and advocate for people during the pandemic. We’re thrilled that James is joining us – especially at the time we’re starting to assess local authorities. Over the past year, James has been working closely with us as ADASS’s representative to support the development of our new assessments of local authorities. We look forward to working together.
Improving lives
We’re always looking to showcase examples of good practice when we see them. We’re especially keen to share stories of innovation and improvement. Recently in Norwich we inspected Belvoir House, a residential home for older people and younger adults, some of whom live with dementia. We were pleased to see that the service had improved from inadequate and being in special measures to good overall.
Hazel Roberts, Deputy Director for Operations in the East and London, said, ‘We found a significant change for the good. We saw a person-centred culture for people using the service where staff engaged, listened and knew people well. People received individual one-to-one support, which included activities outside of the home. We found staff were attentive to people, gently supporting them whilst encouraging independence.’
An important part of every inspection is having conversations with people who use the service, their relatives and the staff working there. During this inspection, people and relatives told us the care and support at Belvoir House had improved significantly. People are supported by kind, attentive staff, who encourage their independence. People’s privacy and dignity is respected and promoted. New systems are in place to ensure people and their relatives are able to express their views on the support they receive.
This kind of person-centred care is key to helping people living with dementia to feel supported to have as much choice and control over their own lives as possible. As we reach the end of the Alzheimer’s Society’s Dementia Action Week, it can be useful to reflect on the effects that dementia can have on people and their families and the impact that good,
person-centred care can deliver. This is something which remains high on our list of priorities.
Change in action
Our operational colleagues have now moved into their new integrated inspection and assessment teams. Over the coming months, these new teams will begin to reach out to providers and other local stakeholders. These teams bring together our specialist sector teams (adult social care, hospitals and primary medical services) to help break down barriers that previously separated the sectors. This mix of expertise and experience means we can share specialist skills and knowledge about all sectors. For the time being, though, there are no changes for providers. You will still be assessed by CQC colleagues who are experts in your service type, using the same methodology. The new teams will ultimately enable better conversations with you about how things are working between you and other services in your local area.
Don’t forget that there are lots of resources on our YouTube channel and website to help explain our ongoing transformation.