CQC publishes 20 more reports from its review of services for people with learning disabilities

29 February 2012

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) today publishes a further 20 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 20 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.

CQC served one location, Walkern Lodge, with a warning notice following the inspection. The inspection team reported that systems to prevent and identify abuse were inadequate and that patients did not always have their concerns listened to and appropriately reported to the local safeguarding team. We have been back to inspect again and are now satisfied that the provider has made the necessary improvements.

Inspectors also reported concerns with the safeguarding standard at Bloomfield Court and 5, 6 Ivy Mews. They found that staff did not understand their roles in safeguarding vulnerable patients and the provider had not made an appropriate referral to the local authority safeguarding team when a patient sustained an injury. The provider has told us how it will ensure compliance.

Overall, of the 20 locations inspected:

• four locations were compliant with both outcomes, two locations had a major concern and a moderate concern, and three locations had a moderate concern for both outcomes.

Specifically for outcome 4 (care and welfare):

• five locations were compliant, eight had minor concerns and seven had moderate concerns

Specifically for outcome 7 (safeguarding):

• seven locations were compliant, seven had minor concerns, four had moderate concerns, and two had major concerns.

Thirteen locations were from the NHS and seven from independent healthcare.

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 have to 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.

- ends -

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 29 February. http://www.cqc.org.uk/LDReports4

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.

Update on Beech House

Our press release of 8 February reported that as a result of the inspection carried out under this programme, we had served a warning notice on Beech House. We have been back to check progress and can now report that Beech House has made the necessary improvements.

Read the latest report

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 this website 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. Click on the name of an organisation to read more information.

Support for families

Families provide long-term love, care and support for their disabled relatives, and speak up for them. Even when people leave home, they do not leave the family. Families continue to offer a lifetime of involvement and support, and know a great deal about their relative’s needs and wishes, likes and dislikes.

When the services and support for a relative go wrong it can be very difficult for families to deal with. They may be faced with a barrage of information and decisions to take, as well as coming to terms with what has happened. It is important that families know where they can get impartial information, and find out what support is available to them. There is a list below of organisations which you may find useful.

It is important to note that family carers must be consulted and involved in important decisions about the care and support of a relative who is unable to make these decisions (unless you have specifically asked not to be involved). There is a proper legal process that must be followed, under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. For example, your relative cannot be moved to another service without involving you, and others who know your relative well, in the decision-making process. For more information about this, see Making Decisions: A guide for family, friends and other unpaid carers. Copies available by phoning 0300 456 0300.

Organisations providing independent support

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