Latest Care News |
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February 2007 |
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NCA rejects suggestions that elderly
nursing home residents are “unprotected” from
abuse |
National Care Association today moved to counter claims by
the BBC Panorama programme that some elderly nursing home
residents may be “unsafe and unprotected” from abuse.
But today NCA pointed out that robust legislation is in
place to give the Commission for Social Care Inspection wide
ranging powers to fight against cases of abuse in the care
sector.
The Care Standards Act, implemented in 2002, states that:
• Inspectors have a right of entry to a care home both day
and night
• It is a criminal offence not to admit an inspector
• Inspectors have the right to interview both residents and
staff in private
• Inspectors have the right to seize records in the home
• CSCI can go to the Magistrate’s Court to obtain an
immediate cancellation
of registration in the most serious cases
NCA also pointed out today that under the National
Assistance Act 1948 (as amended) Local Councils have powers
to remove all their placements into care homes.
Nadra Ahmed, Chairman of National Care Association said
today: “Members of National Care Association will be
extremely concerned if CSCI is going to say that their
powers are insufficient to protect older people.
“We believe that their powers, in conjunction with the
protection of the criminal law, are more than adequate. We
would suggest that training of inspectors needs to be
strengthened to ensure that inspectors have the confidence
and competence to inspect in those areas that may be more
difficult to measure beyond red tape and bureaucracy.”
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