Chris Badger has been appointed as the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC’s) new Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care.
Chris will be joining CQC from Hertfordshire County Council where he is currently Director of Adult Care Services.
Chris has spent 15 years working across roles in adult social care, and has shown clear commitment to improving the care provided to people who use and rely on adult social care services.
As Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care, Chris will lead on CQC’s regulation of services which provide care to older people and adults with complex care needs. Chris will also have oversight of CQC’s role in assessing how local authorities meet their duties to provide adult social care support for people in their area under Part 1 of the Care Act (2014).
His appointment is the fourth of 4 CQC Chief Inspector roles that will lead on regulation and improvement across mental health, hospitals, primary and community care, and adult social care – marking a realignment of the organisation around sector expertise.
Commenting on the appointment, Sir Julian Hartley, Chief Executive of CQC, said: “I am delighted to announce the appointment of Chris Badger as our new Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care. He has shown unwavering commitment in his career to ensuring people who use adult social care services receive the highest level of care.
“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.
“I would also like to thank James Bullion as departing Interim Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care, who did not apply for the role, and whose professionalism and experience has proved invaluable over the last two years. On behalf of all at CQC I wish him well for the future.”
Chris Badger said: “I’m honoured to be joining CQC as Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care and Integrated Care. I’ve seen first-hand the difference great adult social care can have on people’s lives, and the challenges that adult social care faces in this country. 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. The care they receive should be highly personalised to their needs and aspirations.
“I look forward to meeting CQC colleagues and working together to improve both how we work and our role in wider reforms for adult social care.”
Chris will join CQC in September.
