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Waiting For Ratings – NCF Quality First Supports Outstanding Services

quality_first_NCF_logoThe National Care Forum is taking care provider concerns direct to the Care Quality Commission following a member survey of service ratings by the regulatory body.

The survey of NCF care organisations, providing services to thousands of vulnerable people across the UK, has found almost 60% of care services within our membership are still awaiting inspection and/or subsequent ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). In addition, member comments on the process of inspection, report delays and communication failings of CQC, together with the recent proposed rise in fees, show provider confidence in the regulatory body to be worryingly low.

Des Kelly OBE, NCF Executive Director, said

“Whilst NCF supports the need both for a strong regulation and ratings system and to recognise the quality of care provision, we reiterate the importance for service users and their families, as well as care providers and commissioners, to have complete confidence in the ratings, which at present are simply too slow in coming.”

Des Kelly continued

“Our members rely on the strength and influence of the National Care Forum to voice concerns at a national level. NCF will continue to represent members and share findings in our regular meetings with CQC.” 

On a positive note, while CQC recently reported 60% of UK services were rated ‘good’ and 34% ‘requires improvement’, our survey found NCF member services to be significantly outperforming the sector with 72% ‘good’ and higher ratings, including 4 ‘outstanding’ services – the highest rating available in the new system!

NCF Quality First is the framework demonstrating commitment to continually improving services. As befits the spirit of the National Care Forum, we will be supporting all members to improve their services and to make full use of the Quality First resources in the coming year.

The Quality First logo gives people using services, care staff, regulators and the public confidence in the quality of care and support.

NCF continues to provide benchmarking opportunities and the NCF Quality First resources are freely available to organisations who have signed the commitment to continuous quality improvement.

 

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