Care Quality Commission visit Camden
Date: 02/04/2009
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) chose to visit some of Camden’s high performing services for older people and people with mental health problems, to mark their launch on Wednesday 1 April.
The CQC is a new body set up to regulate health and social care in England.
Representatives from the organisation visited Camden because inspections have consistently shown the borough to have high performing services in adult social care.
Camden Council was recently given top ratings by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) for adult social care, and was judged as ‘excellent’ in seven out of nine areas. Last month the Council also received Beacon status for its services for older people.
CQC Chair Baroness Young visited Daleham Gardens, a mental health recovery and crisis support service, and Chief Executive Cynthia Bower went to the Kingsgate Resource Centre.
Daleham Gardens has a crisis service offering a short term residential alternative to hospital admission, as well as providing support for people leaving acute mental health hospital care.
People staying in the centre have access to professional care and support for up to two weeks. They can refer themselves, or be referred by a GP or carer, and can then be put in touch with other mental health services in the borough.
The Kingsgate Resource Centre is a centre for older people and people with physical disabilities offering a range of services and activities. These include UK Online computer courses, yoga, tai chi, keep fit, a stroke rehabilitation project, carers support, arts, crafts, and a nail cutting service.
Cynthia met users of the centre receiving direct care payments, which give them the funds to manage their own care. She also met members of the Kilburn Older Voices Exchange (KOVE), which is based at the centre and supports older people to get together and discuss issues affecting them. KOVE was one of the projects praised by Beacon award judges.
Cllr Martin Davies, Executive Member, Health and Adult Social Care, Camden Council, said:
“I am delighted the CQC chose to visit Camden and see some of the services we provide for older people and people with mental health problems. I am proud of the work we do in this area, and I hope we can act as an example of best practice for other councils across the country.”
-Ends-
Notes to Editors:
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) was established by the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to regulate the quality of health and social care and look after the interests of people detained under the Mental Health Act.
From April 2009 it brings together the work of the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), the Healthcare Commission, and the Mental Health Act Commission.
Daleham Gardens is run by the Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust, and is jointly funded with Camden Council.
An assessment by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) awarded Camden the highest possible rating, three stars, for adult social care and the Council was judged ‘excellent’ in seven out of nine areas.
Camden Council was awarded Beacon status for ‘positive engagement of older people to support and promote greater independence and well-being in later life’ by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA).
The Beacon scheme is designed to recognise councils who are leaders in their areas, and those which improve the quality of life for residents and their communities.
Judges rated all of Camden’s work engaging with older people in the borough as ‘excellent’.
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Page last updated Apr 3, 2009 4:16 PM
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