Home inspector in bribery arrest
A former care home inspector has been arrested over allegations that she pressured homes into giving money in exchange for "favourable" reports.
The woman, who used to work for the Care Quality Commission (CQC), was arrested on suspicion of bribery and money laundering.
The CQC said it sacked her after an investigation and had informed the police.
It said the woman had failed the organisation and people in care.
The unnamed 43-year-old was arrested on Thursday morning at her home in Northamptonshire.
City of London Police said care homes were "pressurised into paying fees for favourable inspection report".
Detective Inspector James Clancey said: "We are working closely with CQC to thoroughly investigate these allegations."
The CQC said it had a "zero tolerance policy" towards fraudulent or dishonest behaviour and that it expected "extremely high standards" from its inspectors.
Louise Guss, director of governance and legal services at the CQC, said: "This inspector has failed the organisation, failed the providers who rely on us to act fairly and impartially, and - most importantly - failed in their responsibility to protect people who use services through identification of poor care.
"Unfortunately, in any large workforce there is a risk that a tiny minority may act in a way that betrays the principles of their colleagues and of the organisation as a whole, which is what has happened here.
"Having investigated allegations made to us about this inspector and found these were substantiated, we terminated their employment with immediate effect and referred the matter to the police."
A care home: the former inspector was arrested following allegations that care home owners were offered 'favourable inspection reports' in return for cash. Photograph: Paula Solloway/Alamy
City of London police have confirmed the arrest of a former Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspector, on suspicion of bribery and money laundering, following allegations that care home owners were offered "favourable inspection reports" in return for cash.
The unnamed 42-year-old, arrested at home in Northamptonshire, is being questioned by police. Detective Inspector James Clancey, said: "We are working closely with CQC to thoroughly investigate these allegations. We are appealing to anyone who may have information linked to these allegations to come forward."
The force, which takes the lead in economic crime, said that anyone with information should contact the Care Quality Commission, which regulates the health and social care system, which had been alerted to this case because of a "whistleblower".
In a statement, the CQC said an "internal investigation revealed that the impartiality of regulatory judgments had been seriously compromised".
Confirming that an inspector had been dismissed for "gross misconduct", the director of governance and legal services at the CQC, Louise Guss, said: "Having investigated allegations made to us about this inspector [the CQC] terminated their employment with immediate effect and referred the matter to the police.
"CQC operates a zero tolerance policy in regard to fraudulent or dishonest behaviour … We take any credible allegations relating to this behaviour extremely seriously and, following a full investigation, will take the swiftest and most severe action possible against any member of staff found guilty."
