Carers Want Competence (https://www.facebook.com/carerswantcompetence/ ) is an organisation attempting to improve duty of care, engagement and transparency within the health and care sector in relation to abuse, neglect and disregarded or ignored concerns.

Our objective is to encourage a high standard of care, treatment and dignity. We advocate for the oppressed and the vulnerable.

Our intention is not to insult care professionals that are sincere – for those, we have the utmost respect and admiration. But for the unscrupulous that willfully attempt to conceal neglect and abuse to protect a reputation – we will use unethical methods such as naming and shaming to expose.

Abuse and neglect are sometimes referred to as “mistakes”. How often do we hear the stock phrase “Lessons have been learnt”. I often interpret this as ‘lessons have been learnt on ‘how to avoid consequences and retribution’.

Perpetrators of abuse and neglect frequently receive little or no consequence for deplorable actions. Their identities are often undisclosed in the media. They may even possibly be able to continue working in the care sector and hide their dirty little secrets under the protection of unprincipled management.

Benevolent, honest and trustworthy care workers may be subjected to hostile retaliation tactics, or even dismissal when raising concerns (or ‘whistle-blowing’), . There is little protection for them, which builds a reluctance to speak out. This has to change.

Families and informal carers are often met with total disregard and indifference when raising concerns. Care regulators, social care safeguarding teams and care provider management may not take these concerns seriously. Often this leads to relatives being labelled as “difficult” and “intimidating”, even so far as applying to the courts to impose Transparency (gagging) orders on them to prevent speaking out. This also has to change.

Care home.UK and other care provider review sites do not give an accurate portrayal. They often will not allow a description in poor reviews.

We would like to compile an unofficial ‘care worker/company/providers and care homes register’ that will be accessible to all. (We’re trying to get assistance from a web designer, so please comment or message if you’re interested).

Ours will allow publishing names of both undesirable and recommended care homes and care providers.

It will be publicly available to view and contribute to – with positive and negative reviews.

There will be two sections, divided into sub-sections – ‘proficient’ and ‘undesirable’.
(the descriptive words ‘proficient’ and ‘undesirable’ are subject to change for something more professionally appropriate).

1). Care providers/homes/companies:

a). Proficient (recommended) and (b). ‘Undesirable” (speaks for itself).

2). Paid/employed health and care workers:

b). Proficient and (b). ‘undesirable’ (abusers and those who wilfully neglect)

The register will geographically list and rate care facilities/providers (together with your reviews) in all 48 English counties, 32 Sottish counties and 6 Northern Ireland. It will have an added section for countries outside UK.

All health and care professionals will be able to register, should they wish to.