Common borders ‘assist regulation’

The different geographical boundaries of health and social care
bodies pose “real challenges” when inspecting partnership working,
according to a senior Healthcare Commission figure.

Deborah Klee, head of the older people’s national service framework
at the commission, said the lack of coterminous boundaries had
hampered a series of pilot inspections it had undertaken with the
Commission for Social Care Inspection and Audit Commission.

“In terms of regulation being easier… there would be benefits to
coterminosity,” she said.

The three regulators have inspected 10 areas as part of a project
assessing how councils, health bodies and other partners are
implementing the older people’s NSF.