Care providers will have to undergo an annual risk assessment from April 2006, despite the removal of requirements that they be inspected every year.
The proposal comes in a consultation on changes to the regulatory framework for adult social care, launched last week.
It includes the well-trailed plan to give the Commission for Social Care Inspection the liberty to inspect providers as frequently as it wants, above a minimum of once every three years, replacing the current mandatory annual or bi-annual inspections.
However, to assuage fears this would increase risks for users, the CSCI will have to conduct a risk assessment every year based on past inspection information, analysis of complaints, service user ratings and provider self-assessments.
The frequency with which the CSCI inspects a provider will be based on the risk assessment.
The proposals also allow for the CSCI to carry out themed inspections of and random visits to a sample of providers.
Annual assessments of risks proposed
October 20, 2005 in Inspection and regulation
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