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SURVEY SHOWS WIDESPREAD SECTOR SUPPORT FOR RADICAL INSPECTION REFORMS

New research has revealed overwhelming support among care providers for the Commission for Social Care Inspection‘s (CSCI) wide-ranging reform programme.

Three-quarters of those who took part in the survey of around 500 care homes say changes to the inspection regime will help to raise standards in poorly-performing homes.

And there is also solid backing for the Commission‘s new AQAA (Annual Quality Assurance Assessment) forms, which require homes to carry out self-assessment.

These are among the findings of the latest survey carried out by The Consortium, the award-winning national procurement and fulfilment company.

The survey also asked care providers when they were last inspected, whether they welcomed the postponement of the introduction of new National Minimum Standards (NMS) until April 2009 and the replacement of annual inspections with three-yearly visits, and finally which area of their business they believe will be most affected by the changes.

Melanie Teal, The Consortium‘s Chief Executive, said: “The findings from our latest survey are fairly unequivocal - most care providers support the broad thrust of what the CSCI is trying to achieve through measures such as the new ‘star rating‘ system, NMS and AQAA.

“No doubt there is a realisation that, like it or not, these changes are happening and that care homes will have to adapt.

“Nonetheless, the attitude of most people who took part in our survey is summed up by the care provider who sees the inspection reforms in their wider context and points out: ‘The more we can, as a nation, make elderly people feel valued and supported, the better.‘”

Some 75 per cent of survey respondents take a positive view of the CSCI reforms – and believe it will achieve its stated aim of raising standards in the worst homes.

The remaining 25 per cent say the proposed changes indicate a loss of confidence in the regulatory system, with one care provider pointing to a perceived lack of stability in the system.

“There is little consensus, despite the inspectors supposedly working to the same criteria,” they commented.

“The CSCI can certainly take heart from this key finding in our survey – that three in four care providers agree that these changes will help improve residents‘ quality of life and produce a more focused inspection process, particularly in terms of the administrative and time burden involved,” said Melanie Teal.

“Nevertheless a quarter of the survey sample disagree, and several make the point that even more action might be needed in order to bring the poorest-performing homes up to standard.”

Meanwhile almost three-quarters – 71 per cent – of care homes questioned in the survey see the introduction of AQAAs as a welcome development, with 29 per cent taking the opposite view.

In total, two-thirds of care providers say they have already had to complete an AQAA (46 per cent) or are in the process of doing so (20 per cent), leaving 34 per cent who remain unfamiliar with the self-assessment process.

“Again, there is good news here for the Commission, with a clear majority of homes stating that AQAA will ensure that the good quality systems they already have in place, are followed,” commented Melanie Teal.

“Nonetheless, a substantial number – 29 per cent – still need convincing of the merits of self-assessment and are more inclined to see this development as another unwelcome addition of the burden of ‘red tape‘ they already have to contend with.

“In fact, one of our respondents pointed out that in their view, the CSCI should consider reducing its fees in view of the fact that self-assessment and less frequent inspections will soon become the norm in care homes.”

More than half – 51 per cent – of the homes taking part in the survey said they had been inspected within the last six months, with 31 per cent having undergone an inspection in the preceding three months.

The largest proportion – 41 per cent – had been inspected between six and 12 months ago, leaving 6 per cent not having been visited by an inspector in the whole of the previous year.

Despite the fact that most homes have undergone a recent inspection, there is broad backing for the postponement of NMS, giving the sector more time to prepare for changes including the new requirement for an inspection every three years, as opposed to one.

The survey also found that just under half, 49 per cent, believe having fewer mandatory inspections will free up more time and resources for their core operations, and another 25 per cent do not see that this will make a substantial difference either way.

As with self-assessment however, there remains a solid minority – 26 per cent – who are opposed and say they would like more frequent feedback on what they are doing right and wrong.

Meanwhile opinion was evenly split among providers when it came to nominating one area which would be most affected by the inspection reforms.

Training was highlighted by 38 per cent, with 37 per cent saying that they would have to make physical changes to their building, and exactly a quarter believing staffing levels will be most affected.

 ENDS             12th September 2007

For further information please contact Neil Fraser, Sturgess Van Damme, on 01275 349011 or email neil@sturgessvandamme.co.uk

 Notes to Editors

The Consortium is a national procurement and fulfilment business focused on meeting the needs of its many customers in the education, training and social care sectors. It also provides free tailored e-procurement solutions, which give its customers central control over non-core supplies purchasing and radically reduces the time and cost associated with paper-based purchasing.

The company has a fast-growing multi-million pound web business. Its product range of over 30,000 products covers four key areas:

• janitorial products
• furniture
• office and business equipment
• educational supplies

Our supplies business is combined with a growing services business, which focuses on fleet management and food contracting. Many organisations find they save time and money by outsourcing these arrangements to The Consortium.

Key dimensions:

• annual sales turnover of over £40 million
• services 25,000 customers per annum
• supplies over 30,000 products per annum
• 250 employees
• 100,000 sq ft warehouse and office complex in Trowbridge, Wiltshire   

The Consortium offers all its customers:

1. Prompt delivery – next day in UK if required
2. One-stop convenience
3. A low-price guarantee (thanks to our £100 million plus buying power)
4. Thousands of branded and own-brand quality-assured products
5. No quibble return and refund
6. Easy ordering by post, fax, telephone or online