Almost all care homes that close because they put children and vulnerable adults at risk turn a profit, according to a landmark study examining the long-term effects of outsourcing care to the private sector. It was revealed that it was run for the purpose of
Research results published last week A University of Oxford study found that 98% of adult care homes (804 out of 816) had closed. Care Quality Commission (CQC) In the UK, it was run by a private company from 2011 to 2023 to protect disabled, mentally ill and elderly people from harm. Only 12 homes were run by local authorities or charities.
Researchers also found that just over 90% (48 out of 53) of children's homes closed by Ofsted in the UK between 2014 and 2023 were run for profit. The watchdog will only cancel a provider's registration if standards designed to protect children are consistently breached, or if there is evidence that children are misbehaving. has been damaged. There were only five local authorities and charities.
Anders Bach Mortensen, who led the study, said that in social care for both adults and children, for-profit providers were grossly over-represented in forced closure statistics. He said: “Previous research and reporting has shown that for-profit provision is often rated worse than public and third sector provision, but it is unclear how this is reflected in practice.” said.
“Tracking forced closures over the past decade has proven that the strongest regulatory measures available to CQC and Ofsted are far more likely to be taken by commercial interests.”
Over the past two decades, the outsourcing of health care to the private sector has increased, but research has found that a disproportionate number of companies continue to be deregistered for serious breaches of standards. During the study period, for-profit facilities operated 82% of adult care facilities and 79% of children's care facilities.
Study co-author Ben Goodair said involuntary closures were the most extreme example of a failure of care. “Forced closures are a last resort with serious consequences for residents. These closures often include severe neglect and abuse. They also require significant financial costs for local authorities responsible for relocating residents. “It's expensive,” he said.
The data underlying the report. observershows that one company, Atlas Project Team, was ordered to close 14 care homes in 2012. It has closed more facilities than any other facility in the past 12 years. adult Safety protection review In 2019, adults with learning disabilities, autism and mental health problems suffered systematic neglect in homes run by the company, which made pre-tax profits of £3 million before it was wound up. It turned out. Police investigations identified 2,600 cases of confinement, with some residents having been wrongfully confined up to 400 times. Vulnerable people were left without food, drink, heat, or access to toilets.
The study, which analyzed millions of data points recorded by regulators, found that the long-term care market has led to a concentration of nursing homes in wealthy areas, where companies are more likely to attract wealthy residents with their own funds. It was also found that there was a concentration of children's homes. Companies build housing in poorer areas, where they can source cheaper real estate and generate higher profits.
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Researchers say these trends are leaving older people in poorer areas without adequate care homes and leaving more vulnerable children far from family and friends. points out.
The Labor government promised to create a national care service, but the party is no longer committed to providing care. The majority of care is delivered through the public sectorRachel Reeves scrapped the planned social care spending cap in July as part of efforts to plug a £22bn black hole in the public finances.
A Department of Health spokesperson said it was tackling the critical challenges facing social care, adding: “As part of this, we are building national standards to improve consistency of care and ensure everyone has peace of mind. “We are also working to build a national care service that is supported and locally delivered.” You can live an independent and dignified life. ”
