At last! I have posted several times about my experience working for, and being inspected by, CQC, but I truly believed that although not exactly a lone voice my words were unheeded. I was even censored for commenting about the appalling record of senior managers at CQC, even though my statements were entirely factual. Now a member of the board is making exactly the same comments. I will re-post what I wrote in May, as that post offers an effective solution which would also save a lot of money. This money could be spent on direct services instead of an anodyne and bureaucratic regulatory system.
"CQC began its life by removing all previous inspection reports from its database - an act of contempt for its predecessors [SSI,NTSC,CSCI] which beggars belief, as I have found that inspection reports from 20 years ago can still have some validity - if you don't believe me, read some of the Audit Commission Joint Reviews from 10 years ago and see if you recognise the authorities. I have been "censored" before on this forum for alluding to the record of the senior managers of CQC, so I will not comment, other than to say that you can google their names and find some very interesting stories. Or just read any copy of "Private Eye" from the last year or so.
CQC is hopelessly mismanaged by a bunch of arrogant incompetents, and staff morale is at rock bottom. Please let's go back to the local inspection units. At least most of them did take action on shoddy providers, supported by local councillors. Yes, one or two were a bit half-hearted and in the pockets of the providers, but that was a tiny percentage of the situation nationally, not as now, the whole picture. Better to scrap CQC entirely, save a whole lot of money, and replace it with the care equivalent of "Tripadvisor".and a revised version of the local inspection units with proper backing from local people."
good on you Andrew..truth will out...it's yet another symptom of what is wrong with all our systems.....you are disbelieved...pressure put on to shut up...then somebody on the Board makes similar allegations and hey presto...front page news.
There are common features with all our failing organisations.....CQC...Ofsted.....Cafcass....GSCC..
1. They are all infected with managerialism...and by and large they are managers who have zoomed up the greasy pole in a very short time. They lack the authenticity of an experienced practitioner. They all spout the same managerialist jargon...and act more like clerks or administrators rather than practitioners.
2.They are disinigenous to say the least in their public statements...they employ spin..are coached by PR experts...and will try to offset any personal responsibility for the chaos in their organisations by blaming front line staff or any other external factor.
3. They all employ bullying techniques to keep any staff who pop their heads above the parapet quiet and compliant.
4. All their top staff are paid a fortune from the public purse.
We really do need a new broom to sweep away these discredited people running discredited organisations.
We need a new authenticity where the executives of these organisations actually put service users first...their frontline staff second and their own needs a long way down the list...if any of them read this...and they know who they are....they could show goodwill by giving back some of their unjustifiable salaries and for others..... speedily resigning.