Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what contingency plans his Department has made for the maintenance of the provision of services as a result of Four Seasons Care Homes going into administration.

The Department and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have been and will continue to monitor the administration and sales process of Four Seasons Health Care Group closely over the coming weeks and months. There will be no immediate impact on people receiving care from Four Seasons Healthcare Group, nor the company’s 22,000 employees.

The CQC’s Market Oversight regulatory responsibility is to advise local authorities if they believe that there will be likely service cessation as a result of business failure. They have been monitoring the company’s position and will continue to do so until the sale is completed. They are clear that there is no risk to continuity of care at this time.

The Care Act 2014 places duties on local authorities to intervene to protect individuals where their care provider is no longer able to carry on because of business failure. There should never be a gap in the care that an individual receives.

Departmental officials are working closely with the CQC, the Local Government Association, the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services, NHS England and Four Seasons Healthcare Group to ensure that individuals’ care and support needs continue to be met.