HSC has ‘real concerns’ over some counselling services
HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE has ‘real concerns’ about some local counselling services that are currently unregulated.
Yesterday it held the first of three drop-in sessions outlining its proposals to introduce a regulatory regime for health and care services.
Last month the HSC committee released a policy letter explaining how the new regulatory regime would probably prioritise currently untouched areas such as care in the home and acute hospital services. The plan is to have an independent commission to oversee the new legal regime, which it estimates will cost £368,000 a year to run.
In the first of three drop-in sessions held at the PEH, head of risk Martin Gavet explained some of the reasons the island needed further regulation.
‘We have some real concerns about particular aspects such as some counselling services about the professionalism of those counsellors and how they are conducting themselves,’ he said.
‘Some of them have been subject to investigation. This is evidence that there are some real issues for community safety.’
The ‘unregistered workforce’ currently has no need to get criminal background checks.
‘You could be inviting into your home, or the home of a vulnerable relative, someone who has a significant criminal past,’ said Mr Gavet. ‘This is one of the main reasons why we are ensuring we have a robust framework. The unregistered workforce, which includes home care, is currently the biggest area of risk.’
The new framework would ensure those providing care in people’s homes are properly vetted, filtering out those with convictions and making sure of appropriate training and registration.
Regulation will seek to ensure public safety and confidence by establishing high standards.
Some of the unregulated premises include dentists, psychotherapy practices and some States premises, including the PEH.
‘We are proposing a commission model looking to introduce a system in conjunction with Jersey which will have a statutory body with an independent panel of experts and islanders,’ said Mr Gavet. ‘It will monitor activity through accreditation and regulation schemes.
‘Providers will be consulted over the setting of fees and charges and the end cost on service users. We will make sure the vulnerable are not affected by this.
‘We will consult with providers and stakeholders about introducing charges, as we are aware that inevitably they will be passed on to customers.
‘This is about ensuring there is a high degree of insurance that these services are safe – keeping services safe, improving quality and using best practice standards.’
The policy letter is due to be debated on 27 February, but any system is unlikely to be up and running until at least 2022.
HSC has consulted some businesses which would be affected.
‘So far they have been broadly supportive, which is encouraging,’ said Mr Gavet.
One of the services which would be regulated by the new regime would be St John.
Chief officer Ali Marquis said she welcomed the opportunity to be part of the consultation and looked forward to the States debate on the issue.
‘Patient care is at the heart of the Emergency Ambulance Service as we aim to provide a high standard of care when we deliver medical treatment to our community,’ he said.
‘Paramedics, like many other health care professionals, are already registered and regulated by a national body. The new contract between the ambulance service and HSC also continues to set out a number of key performance indicators centred around providing a high standard of patient care in the pre-hospital emergency setting.’
