Care Inspectorate Restructures to Help Care Services Improve

Care Inspectorate Press releases

Annette BrutonScotland’s care regulator is to underpin its commitment to ensure every person using a care service in Scotland receives good quality care by implementing important changes to its operations.

Inspectors no longer focus on a geographic area but instead will work in specialist national teams, allowing them to focus on inspecting services in which they have direct frontline experience.

A new, streamlined senior management team – which includes a number of external appointments – has also been appointed to advance the Care Inspectorate’s aim to develop an expert organisation that delivers excellence in all its operations.

All care services in Scotland are being advised of the changes to senior management and the inspection regime. They are also being reminded of the need to encourage staff to be at the forefront of championing and promoting good practice at every opportunity.

Change

Annette Bruton, the chief executive of the Care Inspectorate, said the changes have been introduced after consultation with both service users and providers, as part of her drive to bring new ideas and perspectives to the way the organisation works.

She said: “We know the way children and adults are cared for in Scotland is changing and so is the Care Inspectorate.

“These changes aim to ensure that every person using a care service in Scotland receives good quality care that reflects their needs and promotes their rights.

“We know the majority of services in Scotland perform well. While the Care Inspectorate will not dilute its regulatory role, we want to place our expert staff at the heart of the improvement agenda. By using their expertise to spread good practice, we can help make every care service in Scotland achieve the highest standards of care.

“Instead of working in local geographical teams, inspectors will as far as possible – given the diversity of services – form specialist teams to inspect and work with the type of services in which they have direct frontline experience.

“It’s an important step change for us and one I believe that will have a crucial impact on the lives of many people.

“The senior directors I have appointed will also play a crucial role in focusing what we do and making sure the care provided to people in Scotland is world class.”

Smarter

The senior management team comprises Karen Anderson, director of strategic development / depute chief executive; Dr Robert Peat, director of inspection and Gordon Weir, director of corporate services.

Two new depute directors of inspection have been appointed – Sarah Blackmore (responsible for children’s services and criminal justice) and Sue Neilson (responsible for adult services), along with eight individual heads of inspection

The Care Inspectorate hopes that the creation of specialist teams will make the scheduling of inspections more efficient and smarter.

Care providers or people using services will not be adversely affected by the changes to the inspections, but some changes to the guidelines about when certain types of services are inspected have been agreed with Ministers.

The inspection methodology will remain unchanged but continues to constantly be reviewed to ensure all services are being regulated and inspected in the most appropriate way.

The inspection plan summary, new frequency rules, and updated provider inspection guidance are available to view on the Care Inspectorate website.

Annette added: “We aim to make these two structural changes as seamless as possible for all services.

“As the changes bed in, we hope that care providers and their staff will work closely with us to champion and promote good practice across Scotland.”

Media relations and the press office function for the Care Inspectorate is handled by PR agency Holyrood PR.