Background to quality ratings for care services
As part of CSCI's work in modernising the way we
regulate and inspect social care services we have introduce quality
ratings to give people a really easy way of comparing different
services.
For the first time people will be able to see at a glance the
quality of a care service.
In 2006 we carried out a public consultation on how the details
of the star ratings system would work. Nearly 3,000 people said
they supported the use of stars to describe ratings.
The final shape of the star ratings system was decided at a
Commissioners' meeting in December 2006.
Key decisions made by the Commissioners were:
- to use a star ratings system ranging from 0-3
- to use extra words such as poor, adequate, good and excellent
to show what each star means.
Publishing quality ratings
We have been working with people who use services, providers and
councils to introduce quality ratings.
We began publishing a quality rating for each care service
following a key inspection in our inspection reports from January
2008.
In May 2008 we began publishing these quality ratings on our
website.
We have also included some of the ratings produced in 2007 for
services who have not yet had a key inspection this year.
Ratings awarded prior to 2008 are only included where the
providers of that service has given their written agreement.
Services that have not had a key inspection this year or who have
not given their agreement are listed under 'not yet rated'.