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Further to a report brought to Committee in November 2022, a draft Quality and Suspension Policy had been prepared for Commissioning, Contracts and Quality Monitoring of Providers for agreement by Committee.

The Policy identified how Wirral Council ensured its compliance with its duty under the Care Act 2014 to commission care services of a good quality. In that, those services which do not have a good quality rating from either the Care Quality Commission (CQC) or from the Councils Independent Quality Assessment - Provider Assessment and Market Management Solutions (PAMMS), will be suspended and have restrictions on new referrals for placements from Wirral Council, until such time that they have a good quality rating or show an improving direction towards a good rating. As there were often capacity issues in the market, especially in the right place to meet carer needs, Providers that Require Improvement (RI) Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated services would need to be commissioned to allow for people to receive the type of care that they require. However, this was to be ordered on a case-by-case basis, and with close contractual and social care monitoring of the new placement. In addition, the Policy identified that Wirral Council will publish the details of any provider that is suspended to new placements. This is seen as an important factor in providing quality information to people and their families before making a decision regarding placing their relative in a home.

Members gave their approval of the suspension policy, and the move to a system that was more transparent. In regard to the ratings issue, and the possibility that ratings may be available to the public. Members were informed that the recommendation gave officers the ability to take action. It was noted that providers went through a legal process with the CQQ in terms of their ratings.

Resolved – That the principles set out in the Draft Quality and Suspension Policy (Appendix 1) covering Commissioning, Contracting and Quality Monitoring of Providers be agreed, the suspension of those Providers/Services without a good quality rating be supported, and the Director of Care and Health be authorised to agree the final version of the Policy.