CQC asks users to ‘tell us about your care’ on The Silver Line

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has launched a new partnership with The Silver Line helpline to help reach out to even more elderly people who are cared for in their homes and in residential care.

The partnership was announced as The Silver Line celebrated its one-year anniversary as the national free, confidential 24/7 helpline offering information, friendship and advice to older people who may live alone.

Since its launch in November 2013, The Silver Line has received 275,000 calls, with more than half the callers telling the helpline they had nobody else to talk to.

Through CQC’s ‘tell us about your care’ partnership, anyone can share their concerns – and anonymously if preferred – if they feel they are not being listened to or not able to speak directly to those responsible for delivering care services of the quality the CQC expects.

Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care at the Care Quality Commission, Andrea Sutcliffe, said: “I am very pleased that CQC will be working in partnership with The Silver Line to reach the most isolated older people who are receiving care and may need our support and protection.

“We believe that working together, we will be able to improve the standards of care for older people that may be falling short of the quality they need and deserve. It is also an opportunity to recognise examples of excellence and to highlight best practice to share with others.”

Sophie Andrews, CEO at The Silver Line, said: “Silver Line has been described as ChildLine for Older People and we are delighted to mark our first birthday, with this life-saving new partnership. We will work jointly with CQC to help older people and their families raise concerns about the standard of care they are receiving whether in a care home or in their own homes.

“The Silver Line is in a unique position to reach and be reached by people who would not otherwise report poor standards of care and neglect and to work with CQC to better protect the most vulnerable and growing sector of our society – the frail oldest people. We are now exploring opportunities with Care Inspectorates in all the nations.”