I am delighted to be joining CQC at such a critical time. Not just for the organisation, as we work together to restore trust and credibility, but for social care, too. I have spent the last several years as Director of Adult Social Care at Hertfordshire County Council and in that time have also worked as an adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care. I have had experience as a commissioner and provider of adult social care services, so I understand both the importance and impact of regulation.
Effective regulation is vital. I am clear, though, that regulation is not just about compliance. Effective regulation is permissive, not restrictive; it needs to support and encourage improvement and innovation, not stifle it. My number one priority at CQC is to get out and inspect services. We are working to increase the number of assessments we are doing, so that providers, commissioners, the public and, most importantly, people using services, are assured of the quality of care.
I am looking forward to getting out and about in the coming months, visiting providers and seeing at first-hand what I know is a sector brimming with compassion and commitment to high-quality care. Meeting people using services and those dedicated to their care helps me appreciate and showcase innovation and best practice.
I know that workforce challenges remain significant in adult social care. Although vacancy and turnover rates have continued to fall, there is a concern that changes to the social care work visa system may exacerbate the problem. We have long called for long-term sustainable funding for adult social care, with a focus on clear career development and better pay and conditions for staff. The focus on adult social care of the Casey Commission is welcome and will be an important milestone in reform of the sector.
As well as the focus on external activity, there is a lot going on in our internal staff teams. Crucially, over the coming months, we are going to return to teams that specialise in adult social care. As well as ensuring that our teams have expertise in adult care, I want this to help rebuild relationships with providers at local level. CQC colleagues and providers have both told me how important relationships on the ground can be, for example in spotting issues early before they become bigger problems.
I am keen to promote best practice and was pleased to read about a supported living service in Manchester which has recently improved from ‘Good’ to ‘Outstanding’. Creative Support in Wythenshawe provides personal care to autistic people and people with a learning disability in their own home. Inspectors found strong leadership delivering outstanding, person-centred care that ensured people felt truly involved and valued. As well as exceptional understanding of people’s communication needs, the service worked well with other healthcare organisations. This meant that when people were moving between services, they continued to receive person-centred care to meet their individual needs.
This is a local example, but as we develop and maintain our specialist adult social care regulatory function, it is important to recognise and influence how social care works as part of the wider system. There is true interdependency in health and social care. Both sectors face challenges, but working together, can find solutions. I will be using my voice as Chief Inspector to keep drawing attention to that.
What does effective regulation look like in your view? Comment on this column or join the conversation to share your thoughts.
Chris Badger is Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care at CQC. Email: [email protected] X: @CQCProf