Commissioning care homes: common safeguarding challenges
Underlying causes – Choice of service
From the perspective of people using services, it is clear that as long as there is a lack of choice and alternatives in service provision, poor services will continue to operate. There are many reasons why people may use services that are poor including lack of alternatives, affordability, location, choice and pressure from family members.
With real choice, individuals would choose not to use poorer services and such services would consequently have to improve or go out of business. This is a key point for commissioners as they must, where the market has failed, encourage variety and flexibility in provision to promote quality, choice and control for individuals. This in turn will reduce the risk of abuse, neglect and harm.
Prevention checklist
- Commissioners plan, through the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, to meet future identified care needs in the area.
- People are not placed far away from their local area due to lack of provision.
- Local services offer a good range of choice and flexibility.
- Gaps in the local market are identified by commissioners and they work with people using services and providers to address local need.
- Existing providers are encouraged to diversify the services they offer.
Resources
- The Department of Health: Practical approaches to market and provider development' sets out a framework for development based on strong engagement, market intelligence, provider development and flexible arrangements.
- Think Local, Act Personal: Resources to support market development
