Volcareno Warning

The heat on the world of health and social care is turning up. Don't underestimate the tacit reference to a cap on social care costs in the lacquered mid-term review. I can feel the earth rumbling under our feet. There is a volcareno brewing.
The Health Select Committee today released a report on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) that will be missed by many because of the Con/Dems audit. They have been backed into a corner and need to change now or face extinction. I'm amazed that they have lasted this long under DC to be honest.
Amidst a catalogue of criticism is the odd sliver of acknowledgment, but really, very little for the new CQC Chair to hang on to.
So, like a trapped animal, CQC must come out bearing their teeth. They have recruited over 100 locum inspectors in an effort to meet inspection targets. Don't be fooled by the spin that this is to promote better quality. It is driven merely by spreadsheets.
An actual positive is the widening of the Specialist Advisor role. Compliance Inspectors are jacks of all trades. The breadth of caseloads cover 2-bed care homes to NHS Trusts. It is impossible for one person to have knowledge that spreads that widely.
Dilnot is also looming large giving every social care provider kittens. Unlike CQC, care homes generally just have to roll over and play dead when they are faced with a mortal threat. Care home providers and services work in their own little bubbles and there is no sense of organisation to carry any sort of fight to the regulators. DC, Jeremy the Hunt and Normal Lamb have yet to reveal what watered down version of the Dilnot report they plan to follow, but for the people it is potentially an election issue. The big care home providers are still making a pretty penny out of care, but I fear the consequences will have the effect that big business has had on the high street. Soon you will only be able to choose from Tesco or Sainsbury's care homes and all the little independents will be boarded up.