Government reveals plans to “radically drive up” standards of social care for the elderly in England.
Under the new government proposals, local “Health-watch Scrutiny Teams” would visit and speak to residents about their experiences within their care setting. Committees featuring relatives of care users will also be formed to scrutinise care services that are not meeting national standards.
Additionally, any formal inspection would still rest with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care services in England.
Questions remain over what kind of power or authority these “Scrutiny Teams” would hold, if any. Would an added regulatory body help raise the standard of social care for the elderly?