CQC publishes 12 reports from its review of services for people with learning disabilities

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) today publishes a further 12 reports from a targeted programme of 150 unannounced inspections of hospitals and care homes that care for people with learning disabilities.

The programme is looking at whether people experience safe and appropriate care, treatment and support and whether they are protected from abuse. A national report into the findings of the programme will be published in the Spring.

The 12 inspections covered locations that provided a range of services including assessment and treatment, rehabilitation and longer term care.

Inspections were focused on two outcomes relating to the government’s essential standards of quality and safety: the care and welfare of people who use services, and safeguarding people who use services from abuse. Of the 12 locations inspected:

• four locations were compliant with both outcomes (although one has been told to make improvements to make sure it continues to comply)
• two locations had moderate concerns with both outcomes
• no major concerns were found at any of the locations.

Specifically, in relation to the care and welfare of people who use services, four locations were compliant, five had minor concerns and three had moderate concerns. The type of issues highlighted by CQC’s inspection teams included a lack of evidence that people had been involved in the planning of their care, care plans not being produced in accessible formats and only a limited range of activities for people using services.

In relation to safeguarding, seven locations were compliant, one had minor concerns and four had moderate concerns. Failings included a lack of understanding of policies and alleged incidents of abuse not always being responded to appropriately or promptly.

Nine of the locations were NHS and three from independent health care.

CQC inspectors were joined by ‘experts by experience’ – people who have first hand experience of care or as a family carer and who can provide the patient or carer perspective as well as professional experts in our learning disability inspections.

Where inspectors identified concerns, they raised these immediately with the providers and managers of services.

All the services where concerns are identified must tell the CQC how and when they will improve. Those failing to meet essential standards could face enforcement action by the regulator if improvements are not made.

The national report will be based on the findings from all the 150 inspections and will make conclusions about the overall state of this type of service.

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Notes to editors

For media enquires call the CQC press office on 0207 448 9401

The reports will be published on CQC’s web site on Wednesday 25 January here.

The reports published today are for the following providers and locations. The table shows our findings in relation to the two outcomes we focussed on, but some reports also show concerns in respect of other outcomes.

Inspection teams are making unannounced visits to 150 services. More than 100 are NHS and independent services that provide services such as assessment and treatment, rehabilitation and longer term care. The others are adult social care locations.

They are checking two outcomes:

• Outcome 4: Care and welfare
• Outcome 7: Safeguarding adults from abuse.

But where our inspectors find problems with other outcomes, they will report on these.

Our inspection teams are led by CQC inspectors joined by two ‘experts by experience’ - people who have experience of using services, either first hand or as a family carer and who can provide the patient perspective and a professional advisor.

CQC set up an advisory group to help it plan the programme. CQC’s Chair, Dame Jo Williams, chairs the group. The members come from a range of voluntary, charitable and other organisations that work with or represent people with learning disabilities and their families.

The learning disability inspection programme was launched in response to the abuse revealed by undercover filming by the BBC Panorama programme. CQC apologised for failing to respond to warnings of abuse at Winterbourne View. Matters concerning Winterbourne view are the subject of serious case review.

Further information

There is information on CQC’s web site about How to share concerns and complaints about a social care service, a council, independent healthcare services, the NHS or CQC.

People can telephone concerns to CQC on 03000 616161.

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation has provided this list of organisations providing independent support to families with disabled relatives.

Ann Craft Trust: Provides advice to anyone who has a query about the protection of vulnerable children and adults, including professionals, parents, carers and family members. Tel: 0115 9515400 (Mon-Thurs 9am-5pm, Fri 9am – 4.30pm) or email: ann-craft-trust@nottingham.ac.uk

The Challenging Behaviour Foundation: Provides telephone and email support from a Family Support Worker on challenging behaviour associated with severe learning disabilities and related issues. Tel. 0845 6027885 or email: info@thecbf.org.uk

Free information sheets and DVDs about good support for people who have a learning disability and behaviour described as challenging. www.challengingbehaviour.org.uk

Disability Law Service: Provides telephone or email advice on community care law. Free to disabled people and their family carers www.dls.org.uk Tel: 020 77919800 e-mail: advice@dls.org.uk

Mencap Learning Disability Helpline: Provides advice and information on all issues relevant to people with learning disabilities and their families in England, Wales & Northern Ireland.

England: Telephone: 0808 808 1111 Email: help@mencap.org.uk

Northern Ireland: 0808 808 1111 Email: mencapni@mencap.org.uk

Wales: 0808 808 1111 Email: information.wales@mencap.org.uk

National Autistic Society: If your relative has an Autistic Spectrum Condition you can contact the National Autistic Society which offers advice and information to people on the autism spectrum and their families: Mon-Fri, 10am – 4pm.www.autism.org.uk Tel: 0808 800 4104 or email: autismhelpline@nas.org.uk

Respond: works with children and adults with learning disabilities who have experienced abuse or trauma, as well as those who have abused others, through psychotherapy,advocacy, campaigning and other support. Respond also runs a free helpline: 0808 808 0700. If you call outside opening hours leave a message and someone will get back to you.

For more info see their website: www.respond.org.uk/

Voice UK: are a national charity supporting people with learning disabilities and other vulnerable people who have experienced crime or abuse. They have a helpline for carers, parents and professionals on 080 8802 8686 (Mon-Fri, 9am – 5pm) or email helpline@voiceuk.org.uk

Other useful contacts

Samaritans: Confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to those experiencing despair, distress or suicidal feelings. Tel: 08457 909090. Email: jo@samaritans.org