Platt: sector needs to stop making excuses

Commission for Social Care Inspection chair Denise Platt yesterday called on the sector to “stop making excuses” for the failure of services to meet people’s needs, and to change them.

In a speech to a CSCI conference in London, Platt said too often services were provided inflexibly and without regard to people’s circumstances, particularly during transitions.

She cited examples of disabled children losing services on reaching 18, and adults having their care changed on reaching pensionable age.

Platt said: “The labels we apply get in the way of the services people need.”

She also said many care plans were just “lists of services” and failed to take account of people’s circumstances.

But she claimed: “This is our best opportunity to get things right for people who use social care now and in the future.”