Call to simplify inspection regime

The Association of Directors of Social Services has called on
social care inspectors and the government to simplify its
inspection and performance monitoring requirements.

The ADSS has warned that social services departments face a
mounting “burden” of demands from various inspectorates and
auditors, which are not properly co-ordinated. It wants the
Commission for Social Care Inspection, Ofsted, the Audit Commission
and government departments to tackle the issue.

David Johnstone, director of social services at Devon Council,
said: “We are concerned that far from getting a lighter touch
inspection regime, there’s a more extensive performance monitoring
framework coming in.”

Alongside the formal performance assessment framework, additional
performance measures were being added to social services
departments’ twice-yearly delivery improvement statements, he said,
while more reporting requirements for social services were being
included in NHS local development plans.

“When inspectorates talk about a lighter touch they are just
talking about the formal inspection model, but there’s a huge
burden of reporting and monitoring over and above that,” he said.