Problems identified in CQC’s State of Care report cannot be ignored

Care Provider Alliance responds to CQC State of Care Report

Responding to the publication of the CQC’s State of Care report, Michael Voges, Executive Director of ARCO and Chair of The Care Provider Alliance said:

“Today’s report sends a powerful message that the inherent structural problems of our health and social care systems can no longer be ignored.

“Social care needs to be seen as an integral part of the wider health and wellbeing system. CQC’s report is testament to the problems that a lack of coordination in funding creates first for social care, and then ultimately for A&E departments across the country.

“Tinkering is no longer an option, and what is needed is wholesale structural change with a major focus on prevention and care. We need a persistent focus on integrating health, social care, wellbeing and housing services to prevent the situation from reaching a tipping point. The upcoming Social Care Green Paper must address these issues as a matter of urgency.”

 

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Gareth Lyon, Head of Policy and Communications at ARCO, garethlyon@arcouk.org 07535088498

 

About the Care Provider Alliance

The Care Provider Alliance (CPA) brings together the 10 main national associations which represent independent and voluntary adult social care providers in England. We work to represent the sector and ensure a coordinated response to the major issues that affect it.

Together our members provide care and support to 1.2 million people through residential, home-based and community services, whether commissioned by local authorities and the NHS or privately purchased. Together our members employ over 620,000 care workers.

The Care Provider Alliance is an informal body with a rotating chair. Membership is of the representative associations with a national membership across the whole of England. However, some CPA members also represent services in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

We meet regularly with all the main national agencies involved in social care including Care Quality Commission (CQC), the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Association of Directors of Adults Social Services (ADASS). We have close links with the Department of Health, NHS England, Skills for Care, the Social Care Institute for excellence (SCIE) and the Think Local Act Personal Partnership (TLAP).

Our members’ services include residential and nursing care, homecare, supported living and extra care housing, shared lives schemes, advocacy and telephone helplines. They support children, adults of working age and older people.

The purpose of the Care Provider Alliance is:

  • To offer leadership to the care sector at a time of considerable change and uncertainty
  • To develop an effective way to engage and influence policymakers, national bodies, commissioners, regulators and other key influencers
  • To develop ways to work together to share information and extend our potential reach and influence
  • To collect and collate information relevant to market trends and changes in order to offer advice, guidance and support to our respective members
  • To share representation (and reporting responsibilities) at national events
  • To demonstrate innovation within care and support services and new ways of working

More information on the Care Provider Alliance can be found at www.careprovideralliance.org.uk.