Tag Archives: care

Flexible working is great but carers should have rights too

If you are a carer, the need for flexibility can creep up slowly or arrive overnight

Andrew Marr experienced the need for a family carer after a stroke. David Cheskin/PA

If you are a carer, the need for flexibility can creep up slowly or arrive overnight. Guardian journalist Jackie Ashley and her broadcaster husband Andrew Marr experienced this after he suffered a stroke and their lives were put into turmoil. Both have written about how this affected them, calling for new ways of supporting carers in similar situations.

Care minister orders review over 15-minute home visits

Care Quality Commission will look at whether visits are long enough to respond to people’s needs, Norman Lamb announces

Norman Lamb, the care minister.

The government is to announce a review into 15-minute care visits to vulnerable elderly and disabled people following concerns that such appointments deprive people of their dignity and put unfair pressure on staff.

Care inspector could use hidden cameras

“Winterbourne View happened two-and-a-half to three years ago. Things should be happening now.”

Carer and man The new inspections will determine whether services are caring and safe

Hidden cameras and mystery-shopper exercises may form part of a revamped inspection regime for care homes and domiciliary care in England next year.

New adult social care chief inspector Andrea Sutcliffe said she wanted to explore the role such techniques could play in uncovering abuse and neglect.

But she admitted their use would have to be balanced against the need for privacy and dignity in such settings.

The move will be considered ahead of the launch of a new system next year.

From next autumn, services will be given an Ofsted-style rating of outstanding, good, requires improvement or inadequate to mirror the system being rolled out for hospitals.

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Confidence in the regulation regime has been shaken, but we have turned a corner”

Norman Lamb Care and Support Minister

The new Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections will determine whether services are:

  • safe
  • caring
  • effective
  • well led
  • responsive to people’s needs