A recent tweet suggested that the Care Quality Commission were thinking of using telephone calls to check on the quality of GP's. Clearly this is a different environment from Social Care businesses e.g. Residential or Domiciliary care, however it is a more general worry that the body responsible for quality of care is thinking of simply telephoning someone to establish if good quality is being delivered.

Our view at the Association of Social Care professionals is that improved quality needs to come from those working at the 'sharp end' in Social Care, this means achieving a couple of things;

Firstly overall professionalization of the Social Care sector.

Secondly individuals at all levels, Care worker, Team Leader\Supervisor Registered Manager need to both operate at a professional level but as important are trained and developed as professionals. This then needs regular follow-up Continuous Professional Development.

Finally the Social Care sector and those working therein need to be recognised and valued as professionals.

As far as we are concerned this should happen, the responsibility placed upon all concerned in Social Care in itself is reason enough to call it a Profession.

For more information about how we are supporting Social Care as a Profession visit: www.tasdcp.org