A director of adult social services (DASS) has been appointed chief inspector of adult social care and integrated care at the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Chris Badger, who has been director of adult social care at Hertforshire council since 2021, will join the regulator in September to take responsibility for its regulation of care providers and system for quality assuring local authorities.
He is the third consecutive DASS to take up the position, following current incumbent James Bullion, who joined from Norfolk council, and his predecessor, Kate Terroni, who was formerly director at Oxfordshire.
CQC's assessments of local authorities
Badger will join the organisation as it comes towards the end of its two-year programme of assessing all 153 English councils on their delivery of their adult social care duties under the Care Act 2014, which began in December 2023.So far, of 41 reports published, one council (Camden) has been rated outstanding, 24 good and 16 requires improvement. Hertfordshire received a good rating.
Badger is the last of four CQC chief inspectors appointed recently to lead on its inspection activity across different sectors, following a turbulent period for the regulator.
Regulator labelled 'not fit for purpose' by Streeting
In July 2024, health and social care secretary Wes Streeting declared it was "not fit for purpose", after a damning review by Penny Dash found inspection levels were still well below pre-Covid levels, a lack of expertise among inspectors, inconsistency in assessments and problems with the CQC’s IT system.At the time, Terroni, who was then interim chief executive of the organisation, said the regulator accepted the findings in full and was working "at pace" to increase inspection numbers, cut registration waiting times and improve how it communicates with providers.
In March this year, the regulator's incoming chair, Mike Richards, who produced a separate review of the CQC's assessment framework last year, said it was clear that the regulator was "not where it needs to be".
He pledged to play his role, alongside chief executive Julian Hartley in "making sure CQC becomes the effective regulator the public and providers need and deserve".
Developing 'trusted and robust regulation' of social care
Commenting on his appointment, Badger said: "I recognise the important role strong regulation plays in helping to ensure people receive the high level of care they deserve. I know there is a shared commitment across care providers and councils to help develop trusted and robust regulation of the sector.
“Ultimately, it is vitally important that people have access to timely and accurate information when making choices about who supports them."
'A pivotal opportunity to reshape regulation' - provider body
Independent providers' body Care England welcomed Badger's appointment. Its chief executive, Martin Green, said: "His experience and understanding of the social care landscape make him well placed to lead at a time when the role of regulation has never been more important."This is a pivotal opportunity to reshape regulation so that it reflects the complexity of care, values the contribution of providers, and most importantly, improves outcomes for those who draw on care and support."
Hartley added: “The challenges faced by adult social care in England have been well documented, around funding and recruitment and retention of staff.
"Chris’s experience of working directly with providers, councils and people who use adult social care will be important in improving how we regulate the sector, and setting high standards for the care provided."
He also paid tribute to Bullion, the chief inspector since 2023, saying that his "professionalism and experience has proved invaluable over the last two years".
