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

Resources