Independent Age Chief Executive, Janet Morrison said,
“Jeremy Hunt’s plan to put failing care homes onto special measures is welcome. But the challenge will be to make what’s worked successfully in health also work in social care where there are far more providers - 20,000 care homes and care agencies compared with fewer than 200 hospital trusts. Success of the plan will come down to a re-energised CQC, which, now armed with more inspectors and better senior management, will need to work closely with residents, relatives and on other local knowledge to make sure the plan succeeds, ensuring it’s those homes where the quality of care has fallen below an acceptable standard that go onto special measures – not those where the paperwork has fallen below par.”