News How quality of care varies across England


A stark variation in the quality of care homes at a regional and local authority level across England has been highlighted by new research. The North West is the worst performing


region in England when it comes to the proportion of satisfactory care homes, while London is the best performing region. In areas such as Stockport and Salford, older people and their families face little choice of quality care, with three in five homes rated not good enough. That’s according to new analysis by Independent Age, the older people’s charity.


The analysis is based on inspections by the


Quality Care Commission (CQC), which rates homes as ‘outstanding’, ‘good’, ‘requires


improvement’ or ‘inadequate’. Performance at local authority level shows even greater variation. Five areas have more than half of homes rated ‘inadequate’ or ‘requires improvement’: Stockport – 62.9 per cent; Salford – 61.5 per cent; Tameside – 54.8 per cent; Manchester – 51.3 per cent; Kensington and Chelsea – 50 per cent. By contrast, five local authority areas


have less than five per cent of homes rated ‘inadequate’ or ‘requires improvement’, including three that have no care homes with those ratings: Isles of Scilly, Islington and Rutland – 0 per cent; Richmond upon Thames – 2.3 per cent; and Thurrock – 2.9 per cent. Commenting on the findings, Simon


Bottery, director of policy at Independent Age, Nationwide employee experience award


Care UK has been named one of the country’s top employers in this year’s Employee Experience Awards, which recognise employers delivering an exceptional employee experience, including promoting continuous improvement, learning and personal development. The care home division of the Colchester-


based provider took the title in the sector specific category Government and Public Services. The winners of the awards were selected by a panel of independent judges made up of customer and financial professionals, following a presentation by the finalists in front of the panel. Care UK, which provides support for more


than 7,000 residents in 113 care homes, took the top slot in the category for differentiating the company in a competitive market to attract, retain and nurture the right people, to improve service and performance. HR director Leah Queripel says: “We were all delighted to have won the award, coming as


says: “No one should be forced to live in an unsatisfactory care home, but our analysis shows this is the grim reality in some parts of the country. “The market is simply not providing a


decent choice for older people and their families, but there is little indication that local authorities or the government are giving the problem the attention it deserves. “Money is likely to be one reason for this, but is not the only one. The government has an opportunity to address this in its upcoming green paper on social care, but in the meantime councils must demonstrate that they understand the reasons for care home failures and are working to resolve them.”


CQC prosecutes owner of care home


From left: awards judge Donna O’Toole; Leah Queripel, HR director, Care UK; Greg Searle MBE, Olympic gold medallist rower


it has from two years of concerted creativity, planning and work. “We subscribe wholeheartedly to the


view that to deliver the best, kindest and most compassionate service possible in our care homes, we need to attract and retain the very finest team members with the right outlook and attitude to this important role. Our challenge was to ensure we could attract the best candidates and develop them into sector leaders of the future.”


A housing trust that failed in its duty to provide safe care and treatment has been ordered to pay £163,185.15 in fines and costs by Leeds Magistrates’ Court following the death of a 98-year-old man in its care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC)


brought the prosecution against the owners of Lamel Beeches, a care home in York, following two offences of failing to provide safe care and treatment, with one offence resulting in avoidable harm to a resident, Mr Colley, and a second offence resulting in people using this service being exposed to a significant risk of avoidable harm. In a victim impact statement, Michael


Colley, Alfred’s son says: “Any bereavement is distressing, but these circumstances have made my father’s death particularly so. At the age of 98, death is not an improbable event. However, my father underwent unnecessary pain and distress.”


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