Care home watchdog hit by staff and jobs crisis

The care home watchdog, which is facing severe criticism over its failure to detect the abuse of vulnerable adults, is suffering a double crisis of unfilled posts and low morale.

More than 280 posts are vacant at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the most recent staff survey discovered that the vast majority were disillusioned with their jobs. Exacerbating the problems, the watchdog is locked in a war of words with the Government over the blame for the lack of recruitment.

The CQC has come under fire for ignoring a whistleblower’s warning over the behaviour of staff at Winterbourne View residential hospital, Bristol, where an undercover reporter filmed shocking scenes of abuse of patients.

Questions over its ability to police the sector have also been fuelled by the parlous financial state of Southern Cross Healthcare, which runs the country’s biggest chain of care home.