News
Sharing your Views with the Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Share this page
Discussions on the ‘State of Care’ report and our future plans for you to get involved
Thank you to everyone who came to our PEN Members’ Meeting and the PEN Advisory Group for Autistic People and People with a Learning Disability Meeting about the CQC’s annual ‘State of Care’ report.
PEN Member Reflections on the State of Care
Four colleagues from the CQC joined our members’ meeting and delivered a summary of the State of Care report 2024/25.
PEN members widely felt that the report’s findings raised issues that were ongoing rather than new, reflecting long-standing challenges already recognised within the health and social care system.
The consensus was that the focus of the CQC and people who support people receiving care should be on taking action and implementing solutions, rather than on only identifying the problems.
Members identified the need for joined-up access to care, including via community hubs to support locally accessible healthcare in the form of ‘one-stop’ access points.
Concerns were raised around digital exclusion, particularly for older people and those with disabilities, in addition to language barriers faced by asylum seekers, refugees and people whose first language is not English.
Participants added that people should receive clear written information upon leaving care settings to help manage their health and avoid unnecessary readmissions. They highlighted a need for better data sharing and continuity.
The Oliver McGowan Training model, where people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people co-deliver staff training, was cited as an example of good practice in staff training which could be emulated.
Participants also advocated for co-designing services with people with lived experience, especially for those unable to use digital platforms.
Peer support networks, especially those led by people with lived experience, were seen as powerful but inconsistent across regions.
Have Your Say
Our next PEN Members’ Meeting will be on ‘How the CQC Assess and Rate Providers’. The CQC are testing and refining their proposed assessment approach, to ensure it is inclusive, informed by evidence and geared toward continuous improvement.
The meeting will take place online via Zoom on Tuesday 24th February at 2 - 3:30pm.
The CQC are currently running a consultation on the same subject, including in Easy Read. This closes at 5pm on 11th December.
