§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance the Government will provide on assessing the physical and mental fitness of(a) a registered provider, (b) a registered manager and (c) care home workers, as required in the Care Homes Regulations 2001; who will carry out the assessments; who will pay for these assessments; and if he will make a statement. [7993]
§ Jacqui SmithThe requirements for a report on the physical and mental health of registered persons and employees of care homes are set out in both the draft Care Homes Regulations and the National Care Standards Commission Registration Regulations. This is standard practice as required by many registration and inspection units throughout England currently.
Reports for registered persons should be requested from a general medical practitioner. Where a general practitioner intends to charge for such a report it will be the responsibility of the person applying for the report to pay any fee. People working or seeking employment in a care home may seek a report from a GP but if the GP is unable or unwilling to provide a report they may sign a statement as to their physical and mental health.