AQW 38829/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 14/11/2014
Answered On Date: 01/12/2014
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safe how his Department communicate with The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority to ensure correct staffing ratios in private care homes.

Answer:

My Department has published minimum care standards for residential and nursing homes, which include a requirement to have sufficient staff on duty at all times to meet the assessed needs of residents.

The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority inspect care homes in both the statutory and private sectors against the minimum care standards.

Where RQIA identify any facility which is not compliant with any aspect of the minimum standards, they can issue a Failure to Comply Notice in respect of individual standards. My Department is provided with a copy of these notices.