Care standards
The Commission for Social Care Inspection
The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) is responsible for the inspection, regulation and review of all social care services and to ensure that the National Minimum Standards set by the government for social care and health care services are being met consistently across the country.
- The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI)
- Inspection reports
- Non-registered services
- Your local CSCI office
- Approved domiciliary care providers
- Preferred list of residential care providers
- Membership of local and national organisations
The Commission
- registers and inspects all care homes and, once registered, all homes are inspected twice a year to check that they are complying with these standards.
- registers and inspects Domiciliary Care Agencies – which offer personal care. Domiciliary agencies are listed on the CSCI website. After they are registered, agencies are inspected at least once a year.
- registers and inspects Nursing Agencies. You can find details of registered nursing agencies on the CSCI website. After they are registered, agencies are inspected at least once a year.
Inspection reports
The CSCI publish inspection reports on their website - you need to click on ‘inspection reports’ to find out about the inspection process and then search via the ‘Directory of care services’ for the relevant report. Alternatively, you can order a printed copy of a report by phoning 0870 240 7535.
Non-registered services
If you do not need either personal or nursing care, you may wish to contact organisations that offer other home care services. At present these services do not have to be registered or inspected. They include domestic help, shopping, transport/drivers, companion/social, sitting services, gardening and meals. Some are run by voluntary agencies such as Age Concern, others by private businesses. You may wish to ask about police checks of their staff and ask for references before you buy unregistered care services.
Your local CSCI office
Commission for Social Care Inspection, Hampshire Area Office
4th Floor, Overline House, Blechynden Terrace
Southampton
SO15 1GW
Tel 023 8082 1300
Approved Domiciliary Care Providers
Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council maintain a list of Approved Domiciliary Care Providers for community care funding purposes. This means that the Councils already have bought, or may buy, home care services from them. These approved providers of care are all currently registered with the Commission of Social Care Inspection (CSCI).
Preferred list of Residential Care Providers
The County Council through its Adult Services Department maintains a Preferred List of Residential Care Providers for community care funding purposes. These providers have accepted the Terms of Inclusion on Preferred List of Residential and Nursing Care Providers agreed between Hampshire County Council and representative bodies of the care industry. This form of contract is also used by Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils. The Preferred List covers independent sector providers of residential services to adults and older people.
Membership of Local and National Organisations
Some organisations providing help at home belong to local or national associations. The two mentioned in the lists are the Hampshire Domiciliary Care Association and the United Kingdom Home Care Association, which both promote high standards of care and have a code of practice / code of conduct that members agree to follow.