SCOTLAND’S social care regulator the Care Inspectorate is backing National Care Home Open Day today, with the message that by working together, people who use care services, care providers and the public can help improve care for everyone.
Almost everyone in Scotland will use a care service at some point in their lives, and ensuring care is of the highest standard has never been more important.
There are almost 1,500 care homes registered with the Care Inspectorate.
Almost 80% of all care homes for adults and older people in Scotland were rated good, very good or excellent for the quality of care provided at their last inspection, but the regulator says there is always room for improvement.
Paul Edie, chair of the Care Inspectorate said: “We know that most care homes in Scotland perform well.
“And that’s why we are always keen to celebrate and share excellent practice across the sector whenever we find it, to help drive standards up even further.
“For example, since the start of the year, five care homes for older people in Scotland have been awarded the highest possible grades of excellent across the board at two inspections in a row.
“But where things aren’t up to standard, they need to improve, quickly.
“In the past year, 20 care homes in Scotland improved their care standards from weak or unsatisfactory across the board to adequate or better.
“As Scotland’s care regulator we will continue to champion good practice at a front-line and senior level, but we remain equally committed to dealing robustly with services that fail to improve.”
Annette Bruton, the Care Inspectorate’s chief executive said: “To drive improvement, it is vitally important that people know what to do when they feel the care they or their loved ones receive is below what is acceptable.
“We take all complaints very seriously and every concern raised with us is fully investigated. "To ensure that our robust inspections continue to give us an accurate picture of care across Scotland, we are also currently carrying out a review of the way we inspect.
“This will help us ensure that the expertise of our inspectors will increasingly be used to support improvement and highlight the best practice.
“Where we are not happy with the quality of care in any sector, from children to older age, we will step up efforts to support rapid improvement.
“Everyone in Scotland has the right to safe, compassionate, good quality care which meets their needs and respects their rights and where there are concerns we don’t hesitate to take action so that services improve.
“Anyone who wants to raise a concern about a care service can call our helpline on 0345 600 9527.”
Note to Editors
For more details on National Care Home Open Day and to find a home participating in your area, log on to: www.nationalcarehomeopenday.org.uk
For stats on how care homes in Scotland perform, broken down by sector, click here:
http://www.careinspectorate.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8485:care-homes-for-adults-and-older-people-registered-at-31-march-2014-by-quality-grade&catid=598:About-Us
Contact
Care Inspectorate Press Office
Office: 01382 207171
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