LIVE-IN CARE REGULATION
An independent body, The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates all health and adult social care services in England, whether they are provided by the NHS, local authorities, private companies or voluntary organisations.
According to its website,
“The CQC makes sure that essential common quality standards are being met where care is provided, from hospitals to private care homes… The CQC’s aim is to make sure better care is provided for everyone, whether that’s in hospital, in care homes, in people’s own homes or elsewhere.”
Organisations which exclusively recruit and employ their own staff of live-in carers, such as The Good Care Group, are obliged to register with the CQC and are expected to comply with their Essential Standards for Quality and Safety. Registered organisations are periodically inspected and reported upon by the CQC to ensure that the services they provide continue to be “safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs and well-led”.
Why live-in care regulation is beneficial for everyone
Studies and surveys, such as Age UK’s ‘Later Life in the United Kingdom’ (2014), regularly report that the majority of UK residents of retirement age and older wish to retain their independence in later life, living in their own home for as long as they can. For this reason, live-in care presents a desirable alternative to residence in a nursing or care home for many elderly people and especially for those living with long-term conditions such as dementia.
Those seeking a professional, full-time live-in carer generally have two options. They may engage a self-employed freelance carer by using a care ‘introduction agency’ or they can choose a carer who works for an ‘employment business’ such as The Good Care Group.
The distinction between these two sources of live-in carers is that every care providing employment business is required to be registered with, and be regulated by, the Care Quality Commission. Many care introduction agencies are not.
Choosing a live-in care provider that is regulated and has been rated by the CQC provides the assurance that you are dealing with an organisation that complies with fundamental and essential standards of care quality, safety and management. This ensures that you or your loved one will receive care that is professional, reliable and of a high standard.
The Good Care Group and CQC live-in care regulation
As one of the UK’s leading providers of quality live-in home care, The Good Care Group is registered with both the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England and the Scottish Care Inspectorate in Scotland. We consistently achieve the best inspection outcomes.
Our control and quality assurance procedures including recruitment, training and monitoring of clients’ conditions help us to achieve and maintain the highest standards in home care.
Since our establishment in 2009 we have been inspected three times by the CQC, and on each occasion have obtained their highest possible rating. You can learn more about our exceptional fully-managed live-in care services here. Alternatively, if you wish to speak to someone about your home care requirements please call us on 0808 2522 939.
Talk to us about your care needs
To talk about your care needs, contact one of our friendly advisors. Calls from landlines are free.