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Website reviews used by watchdog

Care homes and homecare agencies that received bad reviews on a publicly created website will be risking their reputations as the health and social care watchdog begins using the website to inform its inspections.

The Good Care Guide, launched in February 2012, provides an opportunity to find, rate and review local care providers.

The site works like travel review website TripAdvisor.

From Tuesday the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will be using the website as a key part of its work.

Ben Black, director of Good Care Guide said: “The CQC has a hugely important job to do and we are pleased to support them in ensuring that high standards are maintained across the UK.

“Our reviews are honest and impartial, and depict the views of real people using care homes.

“People get no reward for leaving the reviews other than helping others looking for a care home so the CQC are wise to capitalise on this feedback to help form a judgement on the quality of a care home or home care agency.”

Recent analysis of the reviews on the site showed that care of older people was in particular need of improvement.

In April 2013, Good Care Guide’s reviews were selected by the Department of Health to help populate their new care comparison section of the NHS Choices website.

Paul Bate, CQC director of strategy & intelligence, said: “The views of the public are of paramount importance and this service helps bring people’s views about the quality of care services that people are receiving straight to the attention of our inspection teams. It is vital that wherever information is posted about the quality of care services, we get to hear about it.”

Have you referred to the Good Care Guide for their reviews?

 

 

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Mother of three grown-up daughters and a proud grandma too, I am the ultimate multi-tasker and am passionate about my role as Silversurfers Website Editor and Social Media Manager. Always on the lookout for all things that will interest and entertain our community. Fueling fun for the young at heart!

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