Charity chief takes issue with care watchdog over ratings

JEWISH CARE’S chief executive has voiced his frustration at the Care Quality Commission inspection grading system.

Simon Morris was speaking after the release of a CQC report on its Vi and John Rubens home in Redbridge.

Although the home was rated good overall across the five assessment cat- egories, it was reported as “requires improvement” in the effectiveness section. In a generally approving summary, the CQC noted that for those with dementia, “the environment was not suitably adapted to meet their needs”.

It also reported that “sufficient arrangements were not in place to meet people’s social and recreational needs”.

Mr Morris argued that “the balance of the inspection exercise is still heavily weighted towards a tick box and outcomes focused exercise rather than on the quality of care on offer in a home. This is frustrating.

“At a strategic level we will continue to work with the regulator to ensure that the inspection process is intelligent.”

He added that relatives and residents “regularly tell us — and some told the CQC inspector — about the excellent care they receive. We know we don’t always get things right and if we don’t, we ensure we learn from our mistakes.

“In the current regime, good CQC inspection ratings are, it appears, something to celebrate. However, we will continue to strive for better.”

He attributed t he “r e quires improvement” warning to “outdat- ed signage that we had planned to replace”.

Inanothernewreport,theCQCfound Jewish Care’s Hyman Fine home in Brighton good overall and in all individual elements. People interviewed were complimentaryaboutthestaff andfood andtheinspectorsnoted“afocusonproviding care and support that looked at the need of the person but also empowered their individuality and identity”.