CQC Responds To ADASS Budget Survey On Adult Social Care

Responding to findings from the Association for the Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) annual budget survey published today, Andrea Sutcliffe, CQC Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, said:

“Over the last two years the Care Quality Commission has raised concerns in its State of Care report that the adult social care sector is precarious with mounting pressures continuing to push the sector towards a tipping point. The ADASS budget survey reinforces our concerns and lays bare the financial pressures Directors are facing which we know can have a direct and detrimental impact on the quality of care and support people receive.

“While most people do experience good care, the fragility of adult social care is real – and through CQC’s targeted reviews focussing on how older people move through health and social care services at a local level – we are seeing the impact of this across the whole health and care system.

“With around 1 in 5 adult social care services currently rated as either requires improvement or inadequate, the reality is people cannot always rely on safe, effective and high quality care being available when they need it. That is no way to treat our older citizens and people living with disabilities or in vulnerable circumstances. The forthcoming Green Paper must have quality and the needs of people, their families and carers, at its heart so we can be confident these issues will be tackled effectively.