Health written question – answered at on 5 September 2011.
To ask the Secretary of State for Health
(1) what estimate he has made of the number of care homes which may close as a result of the collapse of Southern Cross;
(2) whether his Department has issued guidance to local authority directors of adult social services on placing residents they fund in care homes where the operator may be an offshore company;
(3) what (a) financial support and (b) other support he provides to local authority directors of adult social services to help ensure that new operating companies of care homes where they fund residents have sound financial models.
No such estimate has been made at present. Southern Cross remains in operation and will continue to operate all of its care homes until any transfers to new providers have taken place.
Under the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2010, made by the previous Government under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, responsibility was given to the Care Quality Commission (CQC), as regulator of health and adult social care, for determining questions of the financial viability of care providers.
No guidance regarding the offshore status of care home operators has been issued by the Department to directors of adult social services at any point. The CQC is required to satisfy itself that any prospective care provider is capable of delivering safe, high quality care and of meeting all regulatory requirements and standards.
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