CQC announces Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care

19 July 2013

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has appointed Andrea Sutcliffe as its first Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care.

Andrea joins CQC from the Social Care Institute for Excellence SCIE), where she is currently chief executive.

The Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care will lead CQC’s inspection and regulation of adult social care. Andrea will be responsible for developing the new approach to the way CQC regulates social care, in consultation with people who use and provide services.

She will oversee the development of a new rating system for social care providers, championing the interests of people using services and making critical judgements about the quality of care provided.

CQC Chief Executive David Behan said: ‘Andrea is the ideal person to lead the work on ensuring social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate high quality care.

‘As one of three Chief Inspectors, Andrea will have a key role in delivering CQC’s plans and making sure that people who use services are at the heart of what we do.’

Andrea Sutcliffe said: ‘I am honoured and delighted to be appointed to this vital role.  I am looking forward to working with everyone at CQC and across social care to help make a difference for people who are using services, their families and carers.  Nothing is more important.’

Care and Support Minister, Norman Lamb said: ‘The millions of people receiving care services, and their families, deserve the same level of clarity and rigour that NHS hospital patients deserve and will get. It is vital that care users and patients get the sort of joined up care that is at the heart of the new care and support system and I would expect the new Chief Inspector to champion this.

‘Andrea Sutcliffe brings a wealth of experience to the role and I am confident that she will both be a champion of good practice as well as ruthless in identifying and leading improvements in those areas where poor care exists.  She has an excellent record of delivering change and I look forward to working with her in this new and pivotal position.’

Andrea joined SCIE in April 2012 from the Appointments Commission where she had been Chief Executive from 2007. Andrea has nearly 30 years’ experience in health and social care, managing a range of services including those for children and for older people.  She was also an executive director at the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence for seven years.

Since joining SCIE Andrea has led the winning bid to establish the NICE Collaborating Centre for Social Care, developed SCIE’s training and consultancy service and supported the development of a range of resources sharing the knowledge of what works in social care.

Andrea is regularly invited to contribute SCIE's expertise to various initiatives.  She is an active member of the Think Local, Act Personal board, leading the Information, Advice and Brokerage work stream and is also a member of the Towards Excellence in Adult Social Care Board. In addition Andrea is a member of the Department of Health's Transformation Group and Care and Support Implementation Board.

Welcoming the appointment, Lord Michael Bichard, Chair of SCIE said: ‘Andrea's knowledge, energy and experience make her an excellent choice for the new role of Chief Inspector for Adult Social Care. She brings with her a strong personal commitment to working with people who use services and carers to improve the quality of care. Her time at SCIE has also strengthened her passion for the practical use of knowledge. While I am disappointed to lose Andrea, I am delighted that she will continue to make a crucial contribution to the sector through this important new role.’

Bill Mumford, chair of VODG (Voluntary Organisations Disability Group) , and chief exec of MacIntyre, a national charity that provides learning, support and care for more than 1000 children and adults with learning disabilities, said: ‘The sector needs a strong CQC and I believe under its new leadership it is regaining wide confidence and support as it embarks on a new direction- there is no doubt in my mind that Andrea’s appointment will give this renewal the credibility and focus it will need to be successful. Andrea is a champion for people who use services and their families and is fully committed to ensure people are fully involved in all aspects of their care and support.’

For media enquiries, call the CQC press office on 020 7448 9401 during office hours or out of hours on 07917 232 143.

For general enquiries, call 03000 61 61 61.