News from our Members

Regulation & Inspection of Social Care: CFW's response on regulations to replace National Minimum Standards

The consultation on regulations under the Inspection & Regulation Act (RISCA) which will replace National Minimum Standards ended on July 25. Another consulation, on the workforce aspects of RISCA implementation phase 2, ends on August 7. 

• Responses to the consulation on National Minimum Standards will be published here. 
• Responses to the consulation on workforce aspects will be published here. 
• Download CFW's full response here.

Mary Wimbury, interim chief executive of Care Forum Wales, said: "CFW's response included points on physical standards, shared rooms, the new inspection regime and exemptions for small providers to have the same person as RI and manager, 24/7 nursing, DBI checks and written materials including service guides and statements of purpose."

Points raised in CFW's response:

• Physical Standards – we have made extensive representations on this issue which means that the current proposals for higher standards in terms of room sizes and requirements for en suites including showers only apply to new builds, extensions and re-registering empty care homes. As well as asking for views on this the consultation explicitly asks whether this should be phased in for all provision;

• In particular providers may have concerns about shared rooms only being allowable in future for those who are related or are sharing at the time the regulations are introduced;

• The new regime puts much more emphasis on the RI and for example requires a given level of seniority in the provider and at least monthly visits. There is currently a proposal for an exemption to allow small providers to continue to have the same person as RI and as Manager.

• There are new proposals on staffing, including ending the requirement for a nurse 24/7 to provide nursing care and requiring at least annual DBS checks.

• There will also be new requirements for all providers including comprehensive requirements around statements of purpose and notification for changes as well as written guides to the service.

FOR A COPY OF CFW'S FULL RESPONSE TO THE CONSULTATION PLEASE CONTACT MARY WIMBURY