Commission aims to revamp guidelines

Changes need to be made to the national minimum care standards to
cut paperwork, provide better protection for children and close
loopholes that could threaten quality of care, according to the
National Care Standards Commission.

In a report submitted to the Department of Health detailing
problems that have occurred in its first year of operation, the
NCSC makes 22 recommendations on how care standards can be
improved.

The NCSC said it had uncovered a number of “anomalies and
difficulties” in the regulations from talking to service users and
care providers.

These included significant cost and regulatory burdens on
organisations that offer short holidays for disabled
children.

NCSC chairperson Anne Parker said the proposals, which would reduce
regulatory burden, would be “warmly welcomed” by the government and
“help improve the care system, particularly for children”.

Sally Bamsey, manager of the children’s residential care unit at
the National Children’s Bureau, congratulated the commission’s
inspectors for having spoken and listened to children about what
would improve services for them.

– Go to www.carestandards.org.uk