Standards published for new adult and social care regulations

The new requirements that health and adult social care providers must meet in order to operate under the new registration system have been published today by the Department of Health.

These detail the new framework against which the Care Quality Commission will regulate providers of health and adult social care.   

The requirements set out the essential levels of safety and quality of care providers must deliver for people who use their services, but gives them flexibility on how they do it.

Overarching framework

Some existing adult placement schemes will cease to be registered under the new framework because they do not provide personal care. Personal assistants hired by direct payment or personal budget users and day care providers that provide personal care will not be regulated. 

The new overarching framework is set to be introduced for NHS healthcare providers in April 2010 and for private and voluntary health care and adult social care providers from October 2010.

It will be illegal for organisations to provide services that are under the new framework without registering.

System to be extended to other organisations

The system will be extended to providers of primary dental care and private ambulances in 2011 and to primary medical care in 2012. The Care Quality Commission will develop guidance on how it will judge compliance.

Health Minister, Mike O’Brien said: “People rightly expect the same level of quality and safety of their care regardless of which organisation is providing it – this single registration framework gives them that assurance.

 “All providers of health and adult social care services can now use this framework to ensure they demonstrate an ongoing ability to meet all the requirements.” 

The new Regulations will replace the core Standards for Better Health, which apply to the NHS, and the National Minimum Standards and Regulations, which apply to social care and independent sector health providers.

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