SCOTLAND’S social care regulator, the Care Inspectorate, says there has been a marked increase in care at home services achieving very good or excellent inspection grades in the past three years.
In a new report published today, the regulator revealed that just under 40% of all care at home services in Scotland achieved top marks at their most recent inspection, up from 29% in 2010.
However, the percentage of care at home services with grades of unsatisfactory or weak has also increased.
The figures were revealed as part of a three-year review of care at home services across Scotland. Caring-for-people-at-home-report-1
Care at home is delivered to people who need support to live in their own homes.
These services were traditional domiciliary care provided by a home help to people in their own homes, but now there are wide and diverse arrangements to meet people’s care and support needs provided by private companies, the voluntary sector, and local authorities.
Of the 14,000 care services registered with the Care Inspectorate, about 800 are currently registered to provide care at home.
Paul Edie, the Care Inspectorate’s Chair, said: “The number of care at home services is increasing.
“The types of service being offered are more diverse and creative, precisely to meet people’s needs.
“Our challenge is to make sure that we encourage and support innovation, whist ensuring that vulnerable people are kept safe and receive the quality of care to which they are entitled.
“The report sets out our vision for how poorly-performing services must improve, and how services that perform well can stay at the cutting edge.
“We look forward to working closely with everyone involved so that every person receives high-quality, safe and compassionate care.”
Annette Bruton, Chief Executive of the Care Inspectorate added: “This report draws out findings from our inspections of care at home services between 2010 and 2013.
“The findings show that many care at home services are provided at a good or very good level. This is welcome and shows that care at home services can and do achieve high quality of care.
"That said, too many services are still not providing the level and quality of care that we, and people using services, expect.
“Services and local authorities commissioning them must do more to ensure that truly individualised care becomes the norm.
“We will continue to inspect all care services robustly, but will focus our work on those services that cause us most concern.”
ENDS
Notes
The percentage of care at home services with grades of unsatisfactory or weak for every theme increased from 1.3% in March 2010 to 2.2% at March 2013.
There was a notable increase in the number of poorly performing services during 2012/13, especially in combined care at home services.
You can download a copy of the report here