As the Educational Partner, CQC is really looking forward to exhibiting at UK Care Week.  We will have various publications on our stand, J44, one being our recently published Out of sight – who cares? Restraint, segregation and seclusion review progress report. 

We believe that it is essential that services for people with a learning disability and autistic people, their families and carers are at the centre of care planning, so they can be supported to live fulfilling lives in the way they choose.

CQC has been concerned about restrictive interventions in mental health, hospital and social care settings for some time. Restrictive interventions include practices like restraint, seclusion and segregation. In 2018 the Secretary of State commissioned CQC to review the use of restrictive measures. We looked at this across health and social care, government, commissioning, local authorities and public services. In 2020 we published our first Out of Sight report, with recommendations.

The progress report found that not enough headway has been made since 2020. There are still too many people in hospital unnecessarily, and too many people are subject to restrictive interventions. People continue to face challenges with getting the support they need in the community. Moreover, there are still too many people in mental health inpatient services who often stay too long, and do not experience therapeutic care - all this results in further trauma, ill health and further upset for their families and advocates.  This must change.

In the report we’ve outlined the part CQC can play in making this change happen; Recommendation 6 focuses on improvements to how CQC regulates services for people with a learning disability and autistic people. We’re doing this by ensuring inspectors focus on specific areas that are particularly relevant to people with a learning disability and autistic people on inspection. We are developing new tools and approaches to assess, monitor and inspect providers from registration onwards. Using our guidance Right Support, Right Care Right Culture as the fundamental basis for benchmarking that providers should use when setting up services for people with a learning disability and autistic people.

In addition, we are working to improve our regulation of community health services and mental health services. And we’re exploring the way we listen to advocates.

As can be seen throughout this report there is still much to be done to ensure that people with mental ill health, those with a learning disability and autistic people, get the right support at the right time.

For more information about this, the Out of sight – who cares? Restraint, segregation and seclusion review reports, Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture and to speak to an inspector about this or any other issue, visit us at stand J44.

We look forward to seeing you there.