The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling for the
scrapping of single word ratings in Care Quality Commission (CQC)
assessments of councils' adult social care services, following
the decision to end single word ratings in Ofsted inspections.
The LGA, which represents 350 councils across England, said CQC's
existing assessment reports, which provide helpful narrative
summaries and more detailed analysis by different themes, is
sufficient and provide a useful and balanced picture of the
quality of services.
This call comes in light of the recent decision to end single
word ratings in Ofsted inspections, including for children's
social care teams and settings with immediate effect. The LGA
believes this judgement is relevant and should extend to CQC's
assessment of councils' adult social care services.
Adult social care has faced over a decade of underfunding and
unmet and under-met need has grown as a consequence. Councils
believe single word ratings do not do justice to the complex and
difficult state that adult social care is in.
The LGA said government needs to provide immediate investment to
end this crisis, address unmet and under-met need and urgently
agree a long-term funding and reform plan to allow all people to
access the care and support services they need to live an equal
life.
Adult social care has faced over a decade of underfunding and
unmet and under-met need has grown as a consequence. Councils
believe single word ratings do not do justice to the complex and
difficult state that adult social care is in.
Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA's Community Wellbeing
Board said:
“Local government fully supports transparency and accountability.
But 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.
“The Government must ensure that the assurance process is, and
remains, productive and supportive for councils. Sufficient time
must be given to learn the lessons from councils' experiences as
more go through the assessment process.
”Working with people who draw on care and support, councils
and care providers, the Government also needs to urgently develop
and implement a fully costed, long-term, sustainable plan to
fund social care. Investment and reform are critical for bringing
about real change and better outcomes for people.”
