News story

27th September 2001

MP Tells Party Conference About Threat To Local Care Homes

Addressing the Liberal Democrat party conference at Bournemouth this week, Northavon MP Steve Webb told delegates of the threat to local care homes from new Government regulations aimed at driving up standards. The MP was speaking in a debate on the “crisis” in care, which highlighted the increasing problems in ensuring that there are enough suitable places in residential care both for elderly people and for younger disabled people. The motion pointed to the difficulties in recruiting staff for what is often very demanding but often low-paid work, and to the financial crisis which means that three quarters of all councils are currently spending above their planned social services budgets. Steve Webb told the conference that adults with learning disabilities were often “voiceless” in society and that it was important that those who were in positions of power and influence spoke out on their behalf. Whilst he welcomed any improvements in standards, he said that these must not be introduced so suddenly or rigidly that they ended up destroying the very provision that they were trying to improve. Instead he recommended a more flexible approach with new standards applying first to newly-opened services, and with inspectors having the power to waive certain standards if it was clear that they were not affecting the quality of care that was being provided.

Speaking after the debate, Steve Webb said:

“I felt that it was very important in talking about the needs for care places for older people to remember the real concerns of younger disabled adults. Very few of us have direct experience of their needs, and it is important that there is also proper funding for this very important group”.

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Note to editors: New rules about buildings, staff ratios and daily activities for adults with learning disabilities are currently under consultation by the Department of Health. Local care home owners have approached Steve Webb to raise their concerns that unless these standards are amended, they could result in the closure of many homes.