Regulators are receiving more than 150 allegations of abuse of users of adult social care services every day, the Observer reported this weekend. Responding to a freedom of information request, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), revealed it was notified of 30,000 claims of abuse involving service users in the first six months of this year – double the rate of reports in 2011.
Andrea Sutcliffe, chief inspector of adult social care for the CQC, told the Observer: “The social care sector is certainly under stress and strain. And that is a combination of all sorts of factors – the increased numbers of people who need care and support, the increased complexity of their needs. But the other thing I would pick up on with the stresses and strain on the system, and the impact on quality, is the role of the commissioners and the funders.”
While Sutcliffe said that better reporting procedures were partly responsible for the increase in abuse allegations, she did raise concern at the “numbers of people directly affected”. She also said that some people working in care “end up being the sort of care worker that you wouldn’t want them to be because the system around them isn’t supportive”.
What are your views on the increase in allegations of abuse, and what might have caused them? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below, or on Twitter @GdnSocialCare.
Responses from the sector
Clare Pelham, chief executive of Leonard Cheshire Disability: “The remarks by Andrea Sutcliffe ... mark a turning point. There are many reasons why care might not always be as good as it should be. There has been a proper focus on frontline care staff. But Sutcliffe is right also to mention the role of commissioners and the funders. And the Department of Health is wrong to say ‘treating someone with dignity and compassion doesn’t cost anything’. Because if there is only sufficient funding for a 15-minute care visit, it is simply impossible in many cases to treat someone with dignity and compassion.”
Roy Lilley, healthcare commentator: “Andrea Sutcliffe chief inspector of care homes blames everyone and everything but herself. On her watch complaints about care are double what they were in 2011. Increase in demand, increasing in complexity and diminution of funding is pushing safe care out the reach of the CQC and the public. Sutcliffe is a spectator.”
No @RoyLilley real managers do not say it's too difficult & give up; they get stuck in & work with others to make a difference for people.
— Andrea Sutcliffe (@Crouchendtiger7) August 10, 2015
@RoyLilley I have concerns about #CQC but I don't believe personal attack on @Crouchendtiger7 who highlighted her concerns helps the debate
— Shirley Ayres (@shirleyayres) August 10, 2015
@1adass @HadBodmer so important to reinforce important message from @Crouchendtiger7
— Ray James (@rayjjames) August 9, 2015
Reading Andrea Sutcliffe article on Crisis in social care http://t.co/blLl1kW07r Been worrying me for years - I hope she helps people focus
— diana smith (@mulberrybush) August 10, 2015
Social care chief savages failing system for elderly http://t.co/JONjRbVEMq Good for Andrea Sutcliffe. Not that anything will change.
— Brian Aird (@HealthManNet) August 9, 2015
After shocking CQC figures on adult abuse just beefed up Key Training Academy’s abuse section in our mandatory and Care Certificate courses
— Ashlyn Cartwright (@training_ash) August 10, 2015
@mancunianmedic @gordonpierce191 @Crouchendtiger7 @RichardatKF @CareQualityComm social care is an essential part of all our futures
— Rob Webster (@NHSConfed_RobW) August 9, 2015
@RichardatKF @Crouchendtiger7 But, CQC track record of not allowing resource, staffing/upheaval as mitigation for under-performance. #tricky
— david oliver (@mancunianmedic) August 8, 2015
Spot on from @Crouchendtiger7 again. Leads by example. Brave, strong & absolutely correct. https://t.co/NHNZ4KGqzb
— Social Work Ops (@RobMitch92) August 8, 2015
@ShaunLintern @Crouchendtiger7 great move! Now, how about a bit less 'shining a light' and using those new powers for a bit more 'stamping?'
— Kate (@katemasters67) August 9, 2015
@Crouchendtiger7 we cant keep on blaming the ref (@CareQualityComm ) for poor pitches and under-strength, poorly paid, inexperienced players
— andy.tysoe (@dementiaboy) August 9, 2015
Trouble is, those making national social care funding decisions live in a parallel universe http://t.co/v6CvS4BH9q
— roger kline (@rogerkline) August 9, 2015
