Inspectorate announces drive to improve care inspection awareness

The Care Inspectorate has announced a drive to better inform people about poorly performing care services, and highlight those which demonstrate leading-edge practice.

The body, which inspects and regulates some 14,000 nurseries, care homes and other vital care services, says those that fall below adequate standards and don’t improve sufficiently fast will be highlighted on the Care Inspectorate website as well as those who regularly excel.

Every care service in Scotland is regularly inspected by the Care Inspectorate, mostly unannounced, and is graded across quality themes on a scale from 1 (unsatisfactory) to 6 (excellent).

Where services cause concerns, the watchdog inspects much more frequently, to ensure people are protected. The Care Inspectorate also has legal powers to enforce change, and close a service where necessary.

Care Inspectorate Chief Executive Annette Bruton said: “Almost everyone in Scotland will use a care service at some point, and the vast majority perform well. Our specialist inspectors rate more than 80% as good, very good or excellent.

“We already publish all our inspection reports online, but now want to be more open and transparent by highlighting services which cause us concern or impress us.

“As well as demanding fast action when services need to improve – or closing them when they don’t – we have a duty to inform the public about what we find on inspection.

“Everyone in Scotland has the right to compassionate, high quality care which meets their needs and respects their rights, and everyone has the right to know how care services are performing.

“Easy to find and reliable information about services which they and their loved-ones use inform people’s choices.

“We also want to flag up really good practice where services are leading the way towards higher standards for everyone.”