THREE in four homecare providers in Worcester do not have up-to-date ratings from the Care Quality Commission.

CQC is an independent body that regulates health and social care in the UK, including care homes, dental services and clinics.

Across the 40 providers in the city, only 10 have received a rating in the last four years.

Nine of the 40 have never received a rating from the CQC.

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Across the UK, six in ten homecare providers have out-of-date ratings or no ratings at all, according to the Homecare Commission.

The analysis comes after an interim report published in July found "significant internal failings" affecting the CQC's ability to identify poor performance in several care settings.

A report from Dr Jane Townson, chief executive of the Homeware Association, found that, while the number of registered community social care locations had grown from 2,303 in 2013 to 12,574 in 2024, the regulator's resources have been largely static and is struggling to cope with an increased demand.

Dr Townson said: "The state of homecare regulation in England is like a ship taking on water, with a crew using buckets instead of pumps to bail it out.

"People relying on care services are at risk of being left adrift, while dedicated care providers are fighting to stay afloat in a sea of regulatory dysfunction.

"Imagine running a restaurant where health inspectors haven't visited in years, yet you're still expected to maintain the highest standards with no feedback or support."2"

A spokesperson for Worcestershire County Council said: "The CQC rating alone of a care provider is not considered as full assurance of the quality of care provided. 

"Worcestershire County Council also has a Quality Assurance and Compliance Team dedicated to monitoring the standard of care provided in Worcestershire.

"The Quality Assurance and Compliance Team works in partnership with the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board Quality Team and the council meets frequently with CQC and other partners specifically to consider care provider quality and exchange information."