Myth of watchdog’s independence shattered
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) can no longer lay claim to being an arm’s length regulator after the admission in The Times this week (16.2.10) by former Commission Chair, Barbara Young, that after only five months in the job she realised that the Government did not want her brand of ‘rugged independence’.

While Baroness Young claims to have left on a point of principle (CQC’s independence), it is equally likely that she left because she could see the writing on the wall: ‘CQC’s days are numbered’. Experienced inspectors who are fed up with the downgrading of their professional role and the ever decreasing frequency of inspection are also leaving in droves.

In a hard hitting article in ‘Caring Times’ (July/August 2009) John Burton, Head of the Association of Care Managers (ACM), questioned CQC’s independence, and accused the Chair and the Chief Executive of being ‘supreme bureaucrats with a track record of doing as they are told’ . Given that Barbara Young snapped back in a letter to the editor telling Burton to ‘play the ball not the man’ and now admits to deciding to resign shortly afterwards, Burton claims to have had a ‘fingernail if not a hand’ in her resignation.

Although we won’t mourn the loss of this overblown and ineffectual quango, we do worry about the loss of real inspection which is vital to the health, safety and wellbeing of the people who depend on good social care. Frequent, constructive and effective inspection is essential. Clients and their relatives need an independent outsider with the power to intervene when necessary. This can only be done by locally based, truly independent professionals in conjunction with the people who use the services. It cannot be done by a monolithic quango which is more interested in serving the government that created it than in the minute details of improving care and following up concerns.

The Association of Care Managers (ACM) represents people who manage direct social care.

ACM campaigns for the experience, commitment and ideas of care managers to influence policy.

ACM supports care managers and shares good practice but never defends bad practice.

 
Visit www.caremanagers.org.uk

Source: ACM