The Care Workers’ Charity (CWC) is deeply concerned by the findings outlined in Dr Penelope Dash Review into the Operational Effectiveness of the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The report reveals significant operational issues that are directly affecting care workers and the social care sector as a whole.
Karolina Gerlich, CEO of The Care Workers’ Charity, commented, “It is incredibly worrying to see this assessment of the regulator in our sector. We have heard from care providers struggling to get on the system, with some waiting as long as six years to be inspected and up to 18 months just to be registered. These delays have a direct impact on care workers, contributing to instability in the workforce and uncertainty in the quality of care.”
The review also highlights the severe backlog in inspections, with the number of inspections halving since 2019. Such delays in regulatory oversight have left care providers and workers unclear about compliance and care quality standards. One positive outcome of the new framework is the requirement to demonstrate support for care worker wellbeing. However, the report makes clear that this alone is not sufficient.
“We need an overhaul of the CQC,” said Gerlich. “A regulator should be approachable, efficient, and effective. A four-year gap between inspections simply doesn’t help. What we need is an inspectorate that is willing to collaborate with the sector to improve care standards rather than penalise providers.”
The Care Workers’ Charity supports the findings of the report and calls for the regulator to shift towards a more supportive, rather than punitive, role. “Care workers work tirelessly to improve the lives of others, and they deserve a regulator that fosters improvement in the sector, not one that serves as a barrier,” Gerlich added.
As the social care sector faces mounting challenges, the need for a functional, responsive regulator is more urgent than ever. The Care Workers’ Charity urges the government to act swiftly in addressing the recommendations laid out in the review.