Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what action they are taking to ensure mental health services provided by companies and charities are delivered to at least an adequate and safe standard.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) registers, inspects, and rates providers of independent mental health services, following an expansion of the scope of performance assessments of providers regulated by the CQC. This includes private ‘companies’ and charities that provide regulated activities.

As part of the CQC’s strategy, one of its priorities is to encourage improvement where it finds care that is not good. A copy of the strategy, Shaping the future: CQC’s strategy for 2016 to 2021, is attached.

Using its independent voice, the CQC publishes examples of good practice and innovative care to encourage improvement. Additionally, where necessary, it can take enforcement action against registered providers who breach conditions of registration or relevant sections of the Health and Social Care Act 2008, the Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009, the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 and other legislation that is relevant to achieving registration requirements.