Ellie Ames 10 September 2024

Call to scrap single-word ratings in adult social care

Call to scrap single-word ratings in adult social care image
Image: PeopleImages.com - Yuri A / Shutterstock.com

The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for the scrapping of single-word ratings in assessments of adult social care services.

It comes after the Government announced it was ending the controversial ratings in Ofsted inspections, including for children’s social care teams and settings, with immediate effect.

The LGA said Care Quality Commission (CQC) assessment reports, which provide narrative summaries and analysis by themes, were sufficient and provided a balanced picture of the quality of services.

The association argued that single-word ratings did not do justice to the ‘complex and difficult state’ that adult social care was in after ‘a decade of underfunding’.

LGA community wellbeing board chairman David Fothergill said: ‘While assessment and regulation are both important and helpful in driving improvements to services, single-word or phrase judgements cannot ever adequately capture the complexity of adult social care and the work councils do to meet their legal obligations.’

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘We are thoroughly reviewing the CQC and as part of that work we have asked the CQC to improve the transparency of their ratings.

‘We are not currently considering a change to the single-word ratings system.’

Health secretary Wes Streeting has said the CQC is ‘not fit for purpose’ and has promised to increase oversight of the regulator after an interim report uncovered low levels of physical inspections, a lack of consistency in assessments and problems with its IT system.

The £37,000 SEND Problem image

The £37,000 SEND Problem

Natalie Kenneison, COO at Imosphere, argues that the real SEND funding crisis isn’t just about budgets - it’s about the systems behind the decisions.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Financial Strategy Manager (Revenue)

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Negotiable
Bring clarity to complex decisions and help shape how we invest in our borough's future.Bring clarity to complex decisions and help shape how we inves England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

Team Manager - Locality

Wakefield Council
£55,979.00, Grade 13
Wakefield Children’s Services have been rated by Ofsted as GOOD with outstanding leadership. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Safeguarding Business Support

Wakefield Council
£12,792.00 - £13,634.50, Grade 5, 18.5 hours, Temporary- 12 Months Maternity Cover
An opportunity has arisen for an Administrator to support the Integrated Front Door Service Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Registered Homes Manager

Durham County Council
Grade 14 £48,710 - £52,805 (Pay Award Pending) plus £2,500 recruitment/retention allowance and £3,500 market supplement. The salary with additional payments equate to an earning potential per annum of £58,805 at the top of the grade.
Salary
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Team Manager, Connected Carers

Durham County Council
Grade 14 £48,710 - £52,805 (Pay Award Pending)
Are you passionate about supporting children to remain within their family networks? Do you have the leadership skills to guide a dedicated team worki Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner