Cornwall Partners in Care News

At a recent CQC led adult social care trade associations meeting, the CQC discussed the report they are in the process of creating on Sexual Safety in adult social care settings and the need for examples of good practice in this area.

Negative incidents are reported as part of our notifications more often than examples of good practice, such as where an incident has taken place but has subsequently been resolved in a positive way.

CQC have asked for examples of providers supporting people to have safe sexual relationships/positive practice within organisations and would like to ask Providers the following questions;

• Can you give us an example of good practice, where sexual safety and supporting sexual wellbeing and relationships is taking or has taken place? Or do you have advice on how other providers/staff members can support people using services to have positive relationships?
• Have you, as part of your role in an adult social care setting, supported a sexual relationship between those who use your service? If so, how have you done this and what do you think is key to good practice in this area?
• Have you had to handle an incident which could have been very negative or damaging to the people using your service, but has had a positive outcome because of the way this has been managed? If so, please let us know how and what was done.
• Do you have examples of processes that have been put in place to keep people safe, possibly as a result of concerns around the safety of people using services? For example, setting up peer groups with family members.
• Have you seen an incident take place, such as a sexual assault, which has led to a change in your organisational policies or procedures?

If you are able to provide any responses to the above, please contact Abigail Walker, Provider Engagement Officer at the Care Quality Commission via Abigail.Walker@cqc.org.uk or 07768700367