Improvement notices served on government care homes were not related to standards of that care, Health Minister David Ashford has assured.

In the Keys, he was asked by his predecessor Kate Beecroft (LibVannin, Douglas South) whether registration and inspections standards were being met at Department of Health and Social Care facilities.

Mr Ashford said eight improvement notices had been issued this year, but added: ’Of the eight improvement notices, none of the notices related to standard of care.’

So far, during 2018-19, 24 of the 38 DHSC facilities have been inspected.

They include adult care homes, adult day care centres, domiciliary care services, children’s respite services and the fostering service. Where not all services at a facility met the standards required, an improvement notice was issued.

’The main inspection findings have been issues with the environment, reviews of policies and procedures, staff training, staff supervision, evidence of pre-employment checks for staff being available within the service and annual reports which are the outcome of the internal quality assurance process.

’The service must then develop an action plan to achieve the appropriate requirement.’

He said most services found the inspection process ’positive’ as it allowed them to improve the care they offered.