Safeguarding and quality in commissioning care homes

Partnership

Key points for commissioners

Commissioners:

  • work with residents, carers and the local community to develop services that offer quality and choice
  • work in partnership with providers to improve service quality and reduce risk
  • hold regular provider forums to discuss current issues and share concerns and good practice
  • support providers with common challenges e.g. understanding the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards
  • actively promote contact with small providers and those providing for self-funders. Where there is resistance to partnership working, commissioners work jointly with CQC to encourage it
  • identify gaps in the local market and work with local providers to develop services in line with local need
  • ensure that the local authority planning department alerts commissioners to new providers planning to offer services in the area so that partnership arrangements can be established
  • ensure that care homes that are not online are supported to ‘Get Connected’. For further information
  • maintain regular communication and a feedback loop with out-of-area providers
  • ensure small scale and user-led providers are offered support with safeguarding training.

Serious Case Reviews frequently find that agencies failed to work in partnership, to communicate well and to share the right information at the right time. Partnership working is essential to good safeguarding practice. It will involve clear lines of communication and accountability between the commissioner and: