§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to introduce guidelines, with clear advice to those called upon to inspect nursing and residential homes, to the effect that they are required to make specific checks to ensure that the personal liberties of residents have not been infringed; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe code of practice for residential care, "Home Life", and the "Handbook for Health Authorities: Registration and Inspection of Nursing Homes", which complement the Registered Homes Act 1984 and the associated regulations give registration authorities detailed guidance including advice on the rights of residents and on respect for residents' dignity and autonomy.
In his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Forman) on 12 July, at columns 169–70, my right hon. Friend announced further steps being taken to strengthen the registration process including the rights of residents.
We have commissioned distance-learning material for the training of the registration and inspection staff of local authorities and health authorities, which will deal with these issues.
Individual registration authorities are statutorily responsible for deciding within the general guidance precisely how the various aspects of care are examined in individual establishments.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received regarding the impact on adult family placement schemes of restrictions on the operation of unregistered residential homes.
§ Mr. PortilloRegulations were introduced in July 1987 with respect to small unregistered residential care homes. 833W This was aimed at ensuring that the higher limits of income support applicable to registered residential care homes were payable only where the small home or placement provides, at increased cost, standards of care clearly equivalent to those to be found in registered homes.
We have received a number of inquiries including approximately 25 from hon. Members.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average annual cost to the local authority of(a) registering, and (b) inspecting a private or voluntary residential home under the provisions of the Registered Homes Act 1984.
§ Mrs. CurrieA study during 1987 by the Department's social services inspectorate and the social work service of the Welsh Office found it impracticable to calculate the average annual cost of registering or inspecting a home. The study team calculated the unit cost of the principal activities involved in this work for the authorities in the field work sample as follows:
£ Initial registration application1 539 Change of owner 528 Registration of manager 147 Inspection 26.23 1 Excluding inquiries prior to application. A copy of the study team's report, entitled "The Registered Homes Act 1984: Study of Local Authority Costs 1987" is in the Library.
§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average annual cost to a health authority of(a) registering and (b) inspecting a private nursing home under the provisions of the Registered Homes Act 1984.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe estimated average cost of registering and inspecting private nursing homes is broadly reflected in the annual charges levied by health authorities. I refer the hon. Member to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Carshalton and Wallington (Mr. Forman) on 12 July, at columns169–70 for details of revised charges from 1 August 1988.