Care Inspections UK

Almost half of residential care homes* inspected by the Care Quality Commission over the 12 month-period to 1 December 2022 were found to be failing, according to figures obtained by Independent Care Inspections.

During this period, 2,934 residential care homes were inspected by the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

The research showed that:

• 1,224 were ‘failing’ ie rated as Inadequate or Requires Improvement (49.8%)
• 20 were rated as Outstanding – less than one percent
• East England was the region with the greatest percentage of failing care homes (58%)

The figures were compiled using publicly available information and analysed by Independent Care Inspections, which is the UK’s first and only independent Registered Inspection Body to receive UKAS certification allowing it to inspect care homes offering residential, nursing, dementia, learning disabilities, acquired brain injury, and mental health services for compliance with the latest British Standard for Adult Residential Care.

Kevin Groombridge, chief executive of Independent Care Inspections, said: “These figures are deeply concerning for care home residents, their families, the Government and care home operators. They demonstrate that half of the services inspected were failing to deliver care to the level deemed acceptable.

“This emphasises the importance of regularly reviewing care home practices, policies, and procedures, as well as working with home managers to develop the skills of their team. The best way to do this is to carry out audits, identify any shortcomings, and build a plan to get a home on track to an Outstanding rating.

“Delivering Outstanding residential care is not easy and requires constant work to implement best practice, which is always evolving and changing. The foundation of Outstanding care will always be placing the needs of residents at the heart of a home’s delivery, but without a clear pathway to do so it can be difficult to achieve.”

Independent Care Inspections supports care homes to improving care and better outcomes for residents and offers a guarantee that regulatory ratings will improve. Its inspections differ significantly from those of the State regulators in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland because they are evidence-based rather than judgements. This means that a care home can understand what is compliant and what needs to be addressed.

The comprehensive report that is produced after each Independent Care Inspections visit provides authoritative and objective evidence that will support care homes’ improvement plans by identifying strengths and weaknesses, risk factors and the effectiveness of risk management.

It also provides reliable, evidence-based information for potential residents and their families when making a placement decision. Operators can commission an Independent Care Inspections assessment to ensure that the service will meet the expectations of the regulators at the next regulatory inspection.

*CQC defines residential social care as care home services with nursing, care home services without nursing.

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF INDEPENDENT CARE INSPECTIONS

CONTACT: Caroline Walker on 01325 363436

Notes to editors:

As a registered independent inspection body, ICI undertakes inspections of care homes and issues detailed inspection reports to assist operators of care homes, care home groups, financiers and insurers, to achieve a higher level of compliant care, and to identify deficiencies or risks to the care home. ICI can assess homes against all English, Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Ireland Care Home Regulatory and Inspection Standards, and in addition assess care home compliance to the British Standard for Adult Residential Care – BS8606:2019.