Independent Age, the charity which empowers older people across the UK and Ireland through its „A, B, C‟ of advice, befriending and campaigning, is delighted to announce that its 2013 Graham Lecture will be given by the Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission, David Behan.
In delivering this year‟s Graham Lecture 'Ensuring the quality and safety of care: the way forward for regulation and the CQC,' Mr Behan will offer a timely opportunity to discuss this vital issue, and the CQC‟s three-year strategy, which was unveiled last month, and which sets out to ensure people can expect safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care.
Janet Morrison, Chief Executive of Independent Age said: “The calls we get to our advice service each year show the extent to which older people, their families and carers remain concerned about this issue. Everyone has a fundamental right to get good quality care and up-to-date advice and information about the standard of care services in their area, so we are delighted David Behan is joining us to give this year‟s lecture. Mr Behan will outline and discuss the steps the CQC is taking over the next three years to ensure patient voices are heard, and to encourage on-the-ground action amongst care providers in an effort to make a positive difference to the care and support received by older people.”
David Behan said: “People want to know that the care they receive is safe, effective, compassionate and of a high quality. CQC's job is to ensure providers deliver care which does just that. Independent Age is an important champion of quality in care and I look forward to sharing and discussing our plans in more detail.”
For media enquiries contact Rebecca Law at Independent Age on 020 7605 4291 or 07545 209 589, or email Rebecca.Law@independentage.org
For media enquiries to the CQC press office, call 0207 448 9401 during office hours or out of hours on 07917 232 143
Notes to editor
About the Graham Lecture
The Graham Lecture was set up by Counsel and Care to commemorate the death of their founder, Bob Graham. Former lecturers include David Blunkett, Germaine Greer and Lord Heseltine. The lecture is hosted by Independent Age for the first time this year following our merger with Counsel and Care at the end of 2011.
This year‟s Graham Lecture takes place on Tuesday 7 May between 5.30pm and 7.30pm at One Great George Street, London
About Independent Age
Founded 150 years ago, Independent Age is a growing charity empowering older people across the UK and Ireland through the „A, B, C‟ of advice, befriending and campaigning. We offer a national telephone and email advice service focusing on social care, welfare benefits and befriending services, which is supported by a wide range of printed guides and factsheets. This is integrated with on-the-ground, local support, provided by a network of over 1,500 volunteers offering one-to-one and group befriending.
For more information, visit our website www.independentage.org Speak to one of our advisers for free and confidential advice and information. Lines are open Monday to Friday between 10am - 4pm. Call 0845 262 1863 or email advice@independentage.org
About the Care Quality Commission
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England.
We make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate high-quality care and we encourage care services to improve.
We monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and we publish what we find to help people choose care.
David Behan: Chief Executive, Care Quality Commission
David was previously the Director General of Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnerships at the Department of Health, the President of the Association of Directors of Social Services, and the first Chief Inspector of the Commission for Social Care Inspection.
From 1996 to 2003, David was Director of Social Services at London Borough of Greenwich as well as a member of the Greenwich Primary Care Trust Board and the Professional Executive Committee. David Behan is a member of the CQC Board.