Carers respond to CQC State of Care report
THE Government must act on a growing shortage of care for older, vulnerable and disabled adults after a report warned of a ‘precarious’ situation in social care.
Campaigners say the Government must address a shortage of funding in the sector which has robbed providers of the staff they need to provide care.
And The Independent Care Group said urgent measures were needed to prevent a serious increase on the two million people who currently can’t get care.
It says social care has gone beyond the point of no return.
The warning comes after the CQC released a damning report on care in this country.
It spoke of a “precarious” situation in adult social care with the number of people not getting care jumping by a quarter over the past five years. And its State of Care report revealed that half of those well enough to be discharged from hospital could not leave because there were no care home beds or homecare packages available.
It warns that the staff vacancy rate is three times the national average and that care workers “despite the crucial job they do, remain among the lowest paid members of society”.
ICG chair Mike Padgham said: “We are past the point of no return for social care. Unless we get action on funding soon, the system will grind to a halt, that figure of two million people who can’t get care will rocket and the number stuck in hospital beds through a lack of social care will go through the roof.”
The ICG has sent an open letter to the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves urging her to support social care when she presents her Autumn Statement next week.
In the letter to the Chancellor, Mike said the Government needs to increase the funding it gives to commissioners like local authorities to buy care from providers. That would inject more money into the social care sector and enable providers to recruit, tackling the current 131,000 shortfall in staff. He warned the Chancellor that an increase in National Insurance would hit social care providers and be at odds with the Government’s desire to see more people looked after in the community.
Mike also argues that the Government must support social care if it is to succeed in its proposals to reform and improve the NHS, as it is impossible to reform one without supporting the other.
Tickets to this year’s Caring UK Awards at the Athena, Leicester on Thursday, December 5th are now available. For more information and to book your tickets visit https://script-events.co.uk/cuk-awards-tickets/
A Lymington care home resident has been reunited with former colleagues at the Port of Southampton after a gap of nearly 20 years. Robert Nock, known as Vernon, was a manager in the vessel traffic services team at port operator Associated British Ports from 1981 until his retirement in 2005. When he moved to Colten Care’s Court Lodge earlier this year, carers asked him if there was a special wish they could make happen for him. He told them he would love to go back and visit VTS again, so they liaised with current managers to arrange a trip to the present-day operating room.
Vernon Nock, right, is pictured with former colleague Alf Hunnybun.
Charity joins forces with tea merchant
ROYAL Star & Garter has teamed up with a veteran-owned tea and coffee merchant for the relaunch of a campaign designed to promote conversation and connection in the community.
Brew For Two: Creating Connections
One Sip At a Time, encourages people to purchase a Brew For Two pack for just £5, which includes two customised Rosie & Java tea bags, an invitation card to write, and a stamped envelope to make it easier to organise a gettogether with someone they want to connect with. They can use this to invite a friend, family member or neighbour for a cup of tea and a chat.
Heather Perkins, senior partnerships officer at Royal Star & Garter, said: “By having a Brew For Two, supporters
can make a meaningful impact while enjoying a special moment with someone they care about.
“These packs serve as a prompt to sit down, enjoy a cup of tea, and share stories, thereby reinforcing the community spirit that is central to
Royal Star & Garter’s mission.
“I’m delighted that we have teamed up with Rosie & Java, a veteran-owned and run tea and coffee company, which also holds the care and wellbeing of veterans close to its heart.”
The donation goes towards supporting veterans and their partners living with disability or dementia at Royal Star & Garter’s Homes, in Solihull, Surbiton and High Wycombe. The charity also launched new services reaching out into the community.
The Learning Lounge – driving towards positive change in the industry
By Sanjay Dhrona
THE Outstanding Society’s Learning Lounge made its return to the Care Show at NEC Birmingham, offering a welcoming, informative, and secure space for sharing and celebrating best practices.
We were thrilled by the turnout over the two days, as the Lounge featured a diverse range of discussions that drew in large crowds.
The panels featured inspiring individuals from all areas of the sector, including care providers, care workers, people who use a service, regulators, lawyers, recruitment consultants, and insurers—all united by a shared passion for making the sector the best it can be.
Driving inclusion: LGBTQ+ best practice and benchmarking in adult social care
In a sector that prides itself on delivering personcentred care, it is crucial that we ensure every individual, regardless of their background or identity, is treated with dignity, respect, and understanding.
In October, The Outstanding Society through its diversity arm the OSDF hosted a ground-breaking LGBTQ+ training roundtable at the Care Show in Birmingham.
Key players from across the adult social care sector, alongside people supported with care and advocates, came together to discuss how we can move beyond the traditional approach to inclusion and build something more lasting, impactful, and measurable.
What initially began as a conversation about advocating for mandatory LGBTQ+ training for care providers has evolved into a broader movement focused on accreditation, benchmarking, and best practice. This shift reflects the sector’s understanding that mandatory requirements often lead to box-ticking exercises, rather than delivering the meaningful change we need.
A shift from mandates to best practice
At the heart of the roundtable discussion was the recognition that change must be embedded in a way that encourages continuous progression and improvement.
The aim now is to create a framework that empowers care providers to self-select into highquality, benchmarked standards.
This voluntary approach will encourage greater commitment, ensuring that the changes made aren’t just procedural but embedded in the culture of care.
By introducing peer-led accreditation, providers will be driven to raise the bar, offering truly inclusive and respectful care for LGBTQ+ individuals.
This shift not only aligns with the desire to make long-term improvements but also fits with the CQC’s new Single Assessment Framework and quality statements, which emphasise the need for personalized, inclusive care that responds to the diversity of the population.
People supported with care: The voices at the heart of change
The roundtable wasn’t just an industry discussion— it was an inclusive dialogue that placed the voices
of LGBTQ+ individuals supported with care at the forefront.
Three people supported by LDC Care, who live with learning disabilities and/or autism, attended an event in London a week before and shared their perspectives.
Additionally, a person supported through the Shared Lives scheme, an often under-represented part of the sector, also attended the round table itself.
Their involvement was vital in highlighting the diversity of experiences in adult social care.
These individuals, many of whom had participated in London Pride earlier this year— where adult social care was represented for the first time—shared their insights on what truly matters when it comes to LGBTQ+ inclusion in care, their voices matched the thoughts and discussion and showed the synergy and commonality of the LGBTQ+ experience whether you live or work within the sector:
Inclusion is empowerment
The participants expressed how being involved made them feel valued and included.
“We are not separate from care, we are part of it,” one person emphasised, underscoring the need to view care recipients as equal partners in their care journey.
Avoiding stereotypes and not being ‘othered’: They shared the importance of receiving support that doesn’t box them in. “So much of what people know about being LGBTQ+ can box you in,” they said, asking for care that reflects them as individuals, not stereotypes.
Safety and allyship
The individuals emphasised the importance of feeling safe in public, knowing their carers not only have their best interests in mind but are proud allies of the LGBTQ+ community.
n Understanding LGBTQ+ diversity: They highlighted that many people lack a full understanding of the LGBTQ+ spectrum and its various identities. Better training would help care staff meet the unique needs of each person. “It’s not just to see, it’s to understand,” they said.
n Consistency and standards: They noted the inconsistency they have experienced across different services. “Having a standard would make it fair for all people supported with care,” they observed, stressing the need for unified best practice across the sector.
n Trauma and trigger awareness: it was noted across the board that lived experiences can really impact a person’s current ability and understanding and thus teaching and sharing the good and bad, the challenges and problems alongside the success will be as important to make actual change for the people that work with us and those we support.
One particularly powerful remark came from a person supported by LDC Care, who said, “I have a future and a life. I want adventure, not roadblocks.”
This statement captured the spirit of the movement—care should be about enabling
individuals to live full and adventurous lives, free from unnecessary barriers.
Aligning with the CQC’s Quality Statements
The new CQC Single Assessment Framework emphasises the need for inclusive, high-quality care that meets the diverse needs of individuals across the adult social care spectrum.
This ties directly into the shift towards benchmarking and best practice, as care providers will now be evaluated on how well they meet personalised needs, promote equality, and embrace diversity.
The focus on Quality Statements that reflect person-centred care, dignity, and respect for all individuals, regardless of background or identity, fits perfectly with the goals set during our roundtable.
The accreditation process we are working towards will help care providers demonstrate their commitment to these principles, ensuring that LGBTQ+ individuals supported with care receive not only adequate care but care that truly reflects who they are.
What’s next: Continuing the movement
As The OSDF move forward, they are committed to continuing this momentum.
The insights gathered during the roundtable will be compiled into a white paper, which will outline the need for this new model of LGBTQ+ inclusion and offer a roadmap for its implementation.
The OSDF invite feedback and contributions from across the sector, as it is critical that this movement remains a collective effort where all voices are heard.
This is not just about improving care—it’s about transforming it. By developing voluntary accreditation and benchmarking standards that reflect outstanding practice, The OSDF can ensure that care homes and providers across the UK rise to the challenge of offering truly inclusive care.
The Outstanding Society encourage all providers, policymakers, and care professionals to join them in this mission.
The next stages of this initiative will involve wider consultation and development of the accreditation framework, and we invite anyone passionate about equality, diversity, and inclusion in social care to get involved.
Get involved
If you’re interested in being part of the next stages, contributing to the white paper, or simply learning more about how you can implement inclusive practices in your care environment, check out The Outstanding Society website, as they would love to hear from you.
In lead director Sanjay Dhrona’s own words: “Let’s continue the conversation and work together to build a future where diversity is celebrated and care is outstanding for all.”
https://theoutstandingsociety.co.uk/os-forum/ n Sanjay Dhrona is the managing director of The Close care home and a director of The Outstanding Society.
Sanjay Dhrona
Registered managers should take important steps to ensure they maintain high care standards and aren’t at risk of prosecution in the event of a serious incident, writes Carl May-Smith, barrister at UK and Ireland law firm Browne Jacobson.
Prosecutions shed light on registered managers’ legal responsibilities
TWO recent cases illustrate the threat of prosecution that hangs over registered managers where a serious incident occurs on their watch.
Birmingham Magistrates’ Court ordered Denise Mary Clark to pay £10,000 in February after failing to protect a resident from exposure to a significant risk of avoidable harm at Cherry Tree Lodge, in Warwickshire.
A £40,000 fine was issued by Blackpool Magistrates’ Court to Caroline Taylforth, who also had to pay £15,000 in legal costs, in April 2023.
In each case, the defendant failed to adequately protect residents from serious harm, having not followed the necessary processes and systems.
Breaching individual statutory duties and regulations under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 can result in unlimited fines and severe implications for their ability to work in the sector.
Risk of liability for registered managers
Registered managers in care environments arguably carry a greater risk of liability than most other regulated sectors when failing to maintain high standards.
Although often not well understood, managers of care services have long faced the theoretical risk of prosecution for safety failings, especially in the event of a serious incident.
Powers to bring such prosecutions held by the police, local authorities, fire authorities and others have rarely been used, generally being reserved for managers who have themselves
acted wholly recklessly or in bad faith.
These regulators have been, and are much more likely to, target companies and board-level directors.
However, since the Care Quality Commission took over a greater role for enforcing care safety in 2015, this picture has changed significantly.
It is now common for the CQC to investigate and prosecute registered managers alongside their employers in respect of serious harm, or the risk of harm in rare circumstances.
In recent times, it has chosen to prosecute individual managers instead of the care organisations they work for.
These are primary, personal liabilities, and not dependent on the care provider having committed an offence or being prosecuted.
This is an important difference between the CQC and other areas of regulation.
It is also significantly different to
A special visitor brought the magic of this year’s Olympic Games to Millway House nursing home in Andover. Olympic athlete Sholto Carnegie, who was part of the British men’s eight rowing team that won gold in Paris, visited to share details of his experience with residents and staff at the home. Manager Claire Lousteau said: “Sholto brought in his medal to show us and he even let everyone wear it. We had a really fun afternoon, which included a video of the medal-winning race. Sholto chatted to us about what it felt like to be part of a winning team and talked about all the training he has done. He is now going off travelling around Asia on a well-earned break. We’re all so grateful to Sholto for coming along and sharing some of the magic with us.”
offences investigated by the police, such as wilful neglect or gross negligence manslaughter, where the level of direct dereliction of duty by a manager must be very high.
A CQC registered manager is often held responsible by the CQC for failings in care for which they are far less immediately involved in, such as where systems and processes are not followed by other staff.
Responsibilities and legal protection for registered managers
Registered managers occupy a crucial intermediary position between organisational leadership and staff, with distinct legal responsibilities that must be carefully managed to avoid personal liability.
They must clearly understand and be able to explain their responsibilities to the CQC if required.
While following employer systems typically provides legal protection, managers must maintain active involvement in daily operations to fulfil their duties effectively.
Their role includes implementing leadership directives and channelling staff feedback upward, serving as a vital communication link in both directions.
Personal liability often stems from communication breakdowns, such as failure to disseminate safety information to staff, inadequate follow-up on reported risks, and insufficient escalation of concerns to leadership.
To protect themselves, managers should maintain comprehensive audit trails of communications and
document all attempts to address issues with leadership.
They must also be able to demonstrate appropriate challenging of unsuitable policies and requests for additional resources when necessary.
While following organisational protocols generally provides protection, managers must exercise independent judgement.
They can be held personally accountable even when their employer isn’t liable, particularly if they fail to challenge inadequate policies or procedures they reasonably should have identified as problematic.
Key takeaways for minimising risk and maintaining high standards
Being a registered manager is a busy role, but there’s some effective ways to ensure they’re following their statutory duties:
n Be professionally curious about standards, including where an unrealistically low number of issues are being raised, and approach staff for regular feedback.
n Ensure you have access to all required policies, procedures and other key information, especially if certain aspects of a service are being controlled by an area or central team.
n Keep a record of any issues communicated to leadership and staff.
n Persevere in making sure any concerns are being handled.
n Be open and transparent in communication with leadership – don’t sugar-coat where quality concerns exist, especially if there’s a safety risk.
All the fun of the Fair
RESIDENTS and staff from Avalon Nursing Home were among the crowds enjoying the annual Bridgwater Fair.
The party of 12 made the most of the sunny morning to travel the short distance between their dementia care home and St Matthews Field where the Fair has been taking place for more than 600 years.
Avalon’s activities co-ordinator Lisa Priddice said: “The stallholders were very kind and supportive, taking time to speak to our residents and
letting them sample their sweets free of charge.
“Our ladies and gents are all familiar with the Fair and they loved telling us about visits they’d had in their younger days and were so happy to be there.
“They really enjoyed all the sights, sounds and smells, and bought themselves a few treats like perfume, sweets, candy floss, fudge and savoury nibbles.”
The group rounded off their outing with a cuppa and cake at Westfield Church Café.
Carl May-Smith
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Care home to bar man for former publican John, 70
A FORMER publican returned behind the bar 40 years after his last job pulling pints as part of a day of volunteering.
John Gorner, 70, a resident at Lever Edge Care Home, spent the day at The Southfields bar and grill after telling one of his carers he was keen to take part in a good Samaritan day organised by the home.
Activities coordinator Manny Patel learned of John’s work history in hospitality so arranged for him to help at the popular Bolton pub.
When pub manager Adrian Stones met John at the entrance, he handed him a uniform and got him stuck into pulling pints behind the bar. He was then paired with a waiter and helped to clear the tables, chatting with the patrons as he went about his duties.
John said: “It was a wonderful experience helping out. Hospitality has always been my career. I find it so relaxing. Partnering with Tim the waiter made it even more enjoyable. And I loved chatting with the barmaid and the customers.”
John made a name for himself as a friendly bar man during his days working at and frequenting the Mosley Arms, in Breightmet, Bolton. He also spent a decade at the Lostock Hall Royal British Legion Club, in Preston, from 1974 to 1984.
After learning about National Samaritan Awareness Day, John chose to volunteer at The Southfields because of fond memories visiting with fellow residents and Manny,
enjoying a pub lunch and a game of pool.
Manny added: “When I spoke with the residents about National Samaritan Awareness Day, John said he was keen to be a good Samaritan, so I thought I’d contact our local to ask if he could volunteer.
“The manager, Adrian, was more than happy to accommodate and he and the rest of the team were wonderful with John. Seeing him behind the bar with that big smile was fantastic.
“He truly is a natural and connected well with both the staff and customers. It was heart-warming to witness.”
Supported living service to open
PROPERTY development firm SEP Properties and are provider Radis Community Care have joined forces to turn a former Walsall pub into a state-of-the-art supported living service which is set to open its doors and welcome its first residents in the near future.
With a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony happening in the coming months, the new residents of the recently renovated Bowman Court will have plenty of time to settle in and make themselves at home.
Gavin Dixon, head of supported living services at Radis Community Care, said: “After months of hard work and dedication from everyone involved, we’re thrilled to finally be opening the doors. We’re incredibly passionate about the support we provide and to be able to do so from a new scheme is an absolute joy.
“We look forward to helping the people we support settle into their
new homes and into the local community.”
Consisting of 12 self-contained apartments, communal areas and a manager’s office, the building that was once a pub named The Bowman has been renamed Bowman Court in a nod to its history within the local community.
The accommodation has been built with assisted technology at the forefront of the design, and Bowman Court has been kitted out with topquality 360 degree CCTV and access control.
Prioritising safety, security and accessibility for all, the supported living service includes a 24/7 warden call system and the building will allow for keyless entry in the form of fobs. Managed by Inclusion Housing, each apartment is be made up of a fully fitted kitchen, bedroom, living space and a bathroom as well as being supplied with underfloor heating.
Talented Judith has team down to a fine art
A TALENTED creative artist who lives at a Dorset care home has staged a remarkable exhibition after sketching pencil portraits of its entire roll of 73 staff members.
Resident Judith Forster spent six months on the project at Colten Care’s Abbey View in Sherborne.
The idea of sketching each one of her carers, companions, clinical team, chefs, waiting staff, domestic assistants and others came about in February this year.
Companionship team leader Bev de Bruyn said: “One of our team was talking with Judith. They were in close proximity and Judith immediately thought ‘what a beautiful smile, I should make a picture of that’. And so, an idea was born.
“She invited the first few team members to come to her room and have sketches done and people loved it. Soon, everyone was happy to sit for her.
“For the next six months, Judith could be seen in her room all hours of the day and evening sketching away to her heart’s content.
“She is an avid artist with an amazing talent and a love of art. As a ‘people person’ she has built lovely relationships with the staff
she interacts with and staging the exhibition has come out of those bonds.”
On the opening day of the exhibition, Abbey View residents were told they were in for a treat and invited to make their way to the
lounge where the 73 portraits had been mounted on large panels around the walls.
Bev added: “As they took in the sketches in front of them, residents and staff alike had great fun identifying each subject by name.
“Visiting friends and family, including two of Judith’s grandchildren, Herbie and Gracie, joined us and the room was buzzing with chatter.
“It was a fabulous occasion. Judith thoroughly enjoyed delighting everyone with her art.
“The exhibition was an amazing accomplishment.”
Bev’s companionship team colleague Sara Foster explained that Judith’s passion for art started when she lived in Japan between 1984 and 1990.
“She started lessons there and progressed through various mediums of art. She particularly loved doing miniature portraits,” she added.
“In the past six months, she prepared her Abbey View exhibition while at the same time attending our weekly arts club with fellow residents.
“Her love of art is so evident. She adds tremendous value to the club and even introduced an instruction book ‘Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain’ for fellow members.”
Outside Abbey View, Judith has enrolled at an art studio in Sherborne where she creates and shows pieces. She also participates in a weekly online art course.
Judith Forster, seated, with some of the 73 Abbey View staff members who she sketched.
John Gorner
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