Every care home operator knows that the star rating awarded by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) for their home can make a real difference to the reputation of their business as well as the profitability and resale value.

Whilst the justification for awarding stars to homes is done for the correct reasons, unfortunately the rating of stars can be inconsistent, prone to human error and at worst plain wrong. Questions are being raised within the sector about the accuracy and fairness of the ratings and we are seeing a rise in enquiries to this effect.

how we can help

We recently acted for a domiciliary care agency that had been refused registration by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (now the Care Quality Commission). There were several aspects to the refusal, including the financial position of the company, the choice offered to potential service users, the competence of the proposed Registered Manager, the wording of the adult protection policy and the contents of the staff handbook.

We were able to work with the domiciliary care agency to satisfy CSCI that the company and proposed registered manager met the required standards, and registration was granted.  Our client was delighted with the outcome:

"Now the dust has settled I must write to you to thank you for all your help in overcoming the bureaucratic inanities of registration. Your wise counsel was a great help in ensuring we did, finally, achieve our object despite all the frustrations along the way. I would have no hesitation at all in suggesting to someone in a similar position that he instruct you - but I hope such a situation never arises again!"

Blake Lapthorn has introduced a fixed fee service to help those operators who feel they have been unfairly rated by the care quality commission. For more information, contact Irene Lawrenson, solicitor in Blake Lapthorn solicitors' Care Homes team on irene.lawrenson@bllaw.co.uk or call 023 8085 7495.