Care homes need star ratings reintroduced, according to National Care Forum

The National Care Forum (NCF) is looking to persuade the new Secretary of State for Health, Jeremy Hunt, to support the return of the star ratings system for care homes.

The system was abolished by England’s care regulator the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in 2010, at the same time as the body demanded care services sign up for a new registration process. At the time the regulator said it would consult over whether a similar or new ratings system should be developed and there has been no attempt by the CQC to rule out a return over the long term, but no recent developments that suggest a new system is being planned either.

NCF executive director Des Kelly OBE comments: “The decision by CQC to discontinue the quality rating system introduced by CSCI now seems perverse. The process did drive improvement and was nationally recognised as independent, authoritative and easy for the public to understand. The NCF supported the initiative from the outset and it received almost universal support over time.”

“Jeremy Hunt has gone on record to emphasise that quality of care is as important as quality of treatment. We would like him to add ‘quality of life’ by developing a new quality rating system for care services that the public, commissioners and providers can have full confidence in. Whilst there have been a significant number of effective quality schemes since 2010 the picture is becoming more and more confusing.”

Last week, speaking to the National Children’s and Adults’ Services Conference, in Eastbourne, Jeremy Hunt singled out dementia care as “one of the biggest challenges we face” and announced £50m of fresh funding to help care homes and hospitals achieve more dementia-appropriate environments.

Read and vote on our star rating Debate here: www.carehome.co.uk/news/article.cfm/id/10/should-the-government-bring-back-an-official-independent-rating-system

Image: Jeremy Hunt speaking at Conference 2012; courtesy of Conservative Party photostream