Care homes forced to give residents a voice

Reporter: Matthew Simms
Date online: 09/10/2008

Residents in Rochdale’s care homes are to get new powers of complaint when new government legislation is brought in.

The Times says that elderly residents or family members who pay for care, will soon be able to take their grievances to Local Government Ombudsmen.

Ombudsmen currently deal with complaints made against councils over school admissions, housing and social services, but will soon have the power to deal with problems at care homes.

People who pay for care currently have no procedure for complaints, and if disputes arise with care home managers, self-funded residents can be asked to leave.

The move will also see large private companies that own many care homes, registered as a group so that senior managers can be held to account.