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<p>The Government is taking a variety of actions to drive up the quality of home care
services and improve the working conditions of staff.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The
Care Quality Commission (CQC) has introduced a new system of inspection of social
care providers. The new inspections are structured around five key questions that
matter most to people – are services safe, caring, effective, well-led and responsive
to people’s needs?</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>From 1 April 2015, providers will
be under a legal duty to meet a new set of registration requirements that include
new fundamental standards. The CQC has a range of enforcement powers it can employ
to ensure providers comply with these standards, including the ability to prosecute
both providers and directors that are responsible for unacceptable standards of care.
We are also introducing a “fit and proper person” test for directors. Where a director
is deemed by the CQC to be unfit for the role, it will be able to insist upon his/her
removal.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Department worked with the Association
of Directors of Adult Social Services, the Local Government Association and the Health
Services Management Centre at the University of Birmingham to develop a set of commissioning
standards for local authorities. The standards were launched successfully at the National
Children’s and Adults’ Services conference in October 2014 and will now be piloted
by a number of local authorities.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Local authorities
will be encouraged to use them to support improvement in their commissioning practices,
including those which impact on the social care workforce, such as provider compliance
with National Minimum Wage requirements and fair employee contracting terms.</p><p>
</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The Government is also naming and shaming employers that break
National Minimum Wage laws and helping staff to recover the pay owed to them.</p><p>
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