Minister Paul Burstow & Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults

 Paul Burstow on BBC Radio 4 'World this Weekend' Sunday 5 June

The Government is suggesting it will strengthen Adult Protection Boards to give added safety measures to protect vulnerable adults – in line with powers given to safeguard children.

Run by local authorities they will bring together the Police, NHS and Social Services.

The BBC says the measure would require new legislation.

In his first interview since the Panorama programme Minister Paul Burstow said he thought it right that Dame Joan Williams should continue as head of the CQC following the apparent failure of the organisation to take ‘appropriate action’ after twice ( at least ) being told of problems. Dame Joan had admitted earlier in the week that the organisation had made an 'unforgivable error of judgement.'

The Minister did admit that, under his instructions, there had been a freeze on recruitment at the CQC, which he said had been lifted since October and another 75 staff were in the process of being recruited. He would not agree, or disagree, whether or not the CQC had enough staff for the increasing tasks it had been given by the Government.

A statement to the programme from the King’s Fund said that pressures were beginning to build up within the care sector, made worse by flat, or declining budgets, coupled with an increase in the number of elderly people who need care.

 

Mr Burstow said it was clear there would never be enough inspectors but that providers should not be ‘let off the hook’ and had the ultimate duty of care. He said it was their responsibility to recruit and train suitable staff. He also said that the NHS and others who commission services had a role to play in this respect.

Mr Burstow said he was committed to follow through on proposals from the Law Commission to set up statutory safeguarding boards which would require the Police, NHS and Social Services to work together to ensure that they had what he described as ‘an appropriate response’ – which he said would be close to the areas where the problems might arise.

Again he re-iterated the need for providers to have the right staff, properly trained and well supervised.

The financial model for Southern Cross was outlined on the programme as an indicator of growing problems within the adult socila care sector.

Mr Burstow described the company’s business model as ‘odd’ and said that Government would put its focus on ensuring, that if the worst did happen,  that residents did not suffer. But he said the Government was not in the business of 'bailing out' a private business.
The Minister said the company and others were working towards making it a business which would continue to support its 31,000 residents.

It is perhaps worth adding, although not covered in the Radio 4 interview, that the Sunday Times today reports a supposed £50,000 cap, over two years, on the cost of care after which the Government would step in and offer financial support. However the report also suggests that money the Government spent on that care might later be recouped from the proceeds of any estate after death.

The paper also has a full-page article in the main section which looks at the current state of care in the country and the likely progression following the Dilnott report which is due out in the coming weeks.