The Care Inspectorate independently assesses the quality of care provided to ensure it meets high standards. Care services should not operate unless they are registered with the national regulator as this ensures it abides by the law.
The Care Inspectorate register and inspect services,
investigate complaints and take enforcement action when necessary for
improvements. This regulation is important so that vulnerable people are safe,
people know the standards they have a right to expect, reporting which reviews
the quality of services, and better ways of delivering services are
recommended. Inspections involve gaining feedback from service users, meeting
with staff and examining systems or records to check how things operate.
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How can I check if a holiday company is care registered?
- In Scotland, the Care Inspectorate website click here allows you to search by service name, location, service type and so on. Here you can find the details of every registered care service in Scotland.
- In England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are the independent regulator of health and social care in England click here for their website to search for services.
- In Wales, the Care Inspectorate Wales register, inspect and take action to improve the quality and safety of services for the well-being of the people of Wales click here for their website and to find a service.
- In Northern Ireland, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) is the independent body responsible for monitoring and inspecting the availability and quality of health and social care services in Northern Ireland, and encouraging improvements in the quality of those services click here to find registered services.
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Why are some supported holiday companies not care
registered?
- The Care Inspectorate has required services to be registered as care home services if personal care or support is being provided – as holiday accommodation is provided with this.
The main purpose on an Activity Club trip for example, is to
enable the person to participate in social activities – this does not need to
be registered as this does not include the provision of any other personal care
or personal support, or together with accommodation.
If personal care or personal support, but no accommodation,
is being provided, the ‘holiday provision’ falls within the definition of a
support service.
This means that services supporting people with a disability or additional support needs to go on holiday are to be registered and regulated by the Care Inspectorate, offering a level of assurance and protection. Assessments are also more tailored to meet the inspection of holidays as support services rather than care homes, to ensure checks and processes are relevant to a supported holiday. *Reference: Care Inspectorate 2021 Official Policy position on holiday provision click here to view online.
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- Some supported holiday providers may operate as charities with volunteers or staff experienced around different people with disabilities, and these may carry out background checks, but unless it is clearly shown as Care Registered it may not be.
These providers will not be inspected as
registered services are. Group holidays may also offer a staff ratio 1 to 4
clients which may not provide adequate support. Some companies may also
describe ‘friendly professional carers on holidays’ having a ‘care manager,
holiday assistants, holiday staff’, terms like 'practical support' or ‘tiered
care packages’ – then state in the small print or T&Cs ‘We are not a
substitute for social care and are not governed by the Care Standards’ or offer
personal care support without being registered.
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- Some people also choose to employ a Personal (care) Assistant either privately or by finding them online.
As you are the employer,
it is your responsibility to carry out a Disclosure or background check and
obtain credible references. Self-employed PAs or private arrangements with
self-directed support do not require to be registered as care services, and they are unlikely to have liability insurance.
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- If a provider does not clearly show they are registered, you could also ask if they are or search online for registered services (UK links provided above).
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Altogether Travel is Care Registered (the first in the UK) and our Holiday & Travel Companions would be delighted to support you on your next trip click here to check out our Supported Breaks Guide, available to download free online – showing holiday photos, some info about us and how things work.
If you’d like to get in touch with us click here we look forward to hearing from you.
Take care,
Altogether Travel
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