Standards to be applied flexibly

National minimum standards in care homes will be applied in a
flexible way in future, rather than being rigidly applied as at
present, the government has said.

The government will also establish a single point of information
for social care services and simplify the minimum standards.

The government’s proposals are a response to a report on social
care regulation published in the autumn by the Better Regulation
Task Force (news, page 16, 9 September).

The task force’s report criticises the standards as preventing
older people from receiving good care and removing choice from
them, as well as preventing charities from providing some
additional support services.