CQC excellence scheme for adult social care

Commenting on the CQC's new excellence scheme for adult social care, Age UK Charity Director Michelle Mitchell said:

'The concept of an ‘excellent' rating is a good one, but this should be awarded as a result of the CQC inspection of service, not as a result of an assessment performed by the providers themselves.

'The benefit of the CQC star ratings, whilst they were not perfect, was that all providers had the same opportunity to achieve an excellent rating through their inspection and submission of paperwork.

'The new system relies on the proactiveness of providers and, more importantly, their ability to find resources and time to complete the assessment process for their ‘excellent' rating.  This will be of benefit to larger organisations with more staff.  But it may be more difficult for smaller providers.

'If the new system, which comes nearly two years after star ratings were scrapped, is to command public confidence there will need to be independent verification of claims made by providers; self assessment will not be good enough.'

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Notes to Editors

Age UK

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We provide free information, advice and support to over five million people; commercial products and services to over one million customers; and research and campaign on the issues that matter to people in later life. Our work focuses on five key areas: money matters, health and well being, home and care, work and training and leisure and lifestyle. We work with our national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI (together the Age UK Family), our local Age UK partners in England and local Age Concerns. We also work internationally for people in later life as a member of the DEC and with our sister charity Help Age International.

Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (registered charity number 1128267 and company number 6825798). Age Concern England and Help the Aged (both registered charities), and their trading and other associated companies merged on the 1st April 2009. Together they have formed the Age UK Group ("we").  Charitable services are offered through Age UK and commercial products are offered by the Charity's trading companies, which donate their net profits to Age UK (the Charity).

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