Modernising regulation of social care well under way
21-07-2005

Modernising the regulation and inspection of an industry that affects the lives of over 10 million people in England is well under way, according to the annual report of the Commission for Social Care Inspection published today. 

Over the next three years the CSCI plans to change significantly the way social care services are regulated and inspected. The changes will mean better, clearer inspection reports for the public and a more streamlined regulation and inspection process. CSCI is also placing greater emphasis on listening to the views of those who use care services, and involving them in our work. 

Presenting the Commission's first Annual Report to Parliament, CSCI Chair, Dame Denise Platt said 

"Everything we have done is designed to put the people who use social care services at the heart of the way we inspect, regulate and influence the development of social care in England. 

"It is important that we deliver our modernisation plans for the benefit of the 1.6 million people who use social care services in England and their families and friends. 

"In line with our commitment to 'put the people who use social care services first', CSCI has put great effort into consulting service users in our first year of existence. Their views and experiences have played a key role in formulating the way the CSCI intends to regulate and inspect services in the future." 

Chief Inspector David Behan outlined the Commission's achievements over the past year: 

"We have completed nearly 50,000 inspections of care services; received 11,000 applications to register new care services; completed 70 service inspections of local councils; published Star Ratings for 150 councils with social services responsibilities and three special reports. 

"This puts us in a strong position to provide an overview of social care in England for the first time. A report pulling together the findings from our work will be published later in 2005." 

"Our staff have done a magnificent job in clearing the backlog of inspection reports we inherited from predecessor organisations, while also meeting 100 per cent of our targets for the year."