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Caroline Barker

Legal Director

Why choose me

Working in health and social care law requires a deep level of analysis – this is to understand the evidence and formulate a strong argument to showcase the positives of our clients while also highlighting the regulators’ weaknesses. As a detail-driven person, I interrogate regulatory allegations to find weaknesses and fight my clients’ corner.

Across my career I’ve worked with care homes, specialist hospitals, children’s homes and SEND schools as well as slimming and cosmetic clinics, home care services and prison healthcare services. My specialisms include regulatory legal advice; advising health and social care providers in respect of CQC and Ofsted regulation and enforcement. This includes inspection reports, warning and compliance notices, notices of proposal, notices of decision and restriction of accommodation.

I also carry out regulatory due diligence, provide advice to providers facing a Serious Case Review following the death of a child in their care and give advice regarding local authority safeguarding investigations.

Outside of work, my passions include illustration and tap dancing – having recently restarted after a 25-year hiatus!

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Teams I work with

Working in health and social care law requires a deep level of analysis – this is to understand the evidence and formulate a strong argument to showcase the positives of our clients while also highlighting the regulators’ weaknesses. As a detail-driven person, I interrogate regulatory allegations to find weaknesses and fight my clients’ corner.

Across my career I’ve worked with care homes, specialist hospitals, children’s homes and SEND schools as well as slimming and cosmetic clinics, home care services and prison healthcare services. My specialisms include regulatory legal advice; advising health and social care providers in respect of CQC and Ofsted regulation and enforcement. This includes inspection reports, warning and compliance notices, notices of proposal, notices of decision and restriction of accommodation.

I also carry out regulatory due diligence, provide advice to providers facing a Serious Case Review following the death of a child in their care and give advice regarding local authority safeguarding investigations.

Outside of work, my passions include illustration and tap dancing – having recently restarted after a 25-year hiatus!

Related services and specialisms from HCR Law

Questions my clients ask me

This depends on a number of factors, including the type of enforcement action the CQC is taking against you, whether you have credible evidence to counter the allegations and the actions of CQC and ultimately a Tribunal, if the enforcement action has the right of appeal. Time ranges from a matter of hours (for example if the CQC issue a Letter of Intent), to months (if they seek to cancel a provider’s registration under section 26 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008).

If you are, or wish to become, a provider of health and social care, whether that’s for adult or children’s services, facing a regulatory or operational concern, then I will most likely be able to assist you.

Yes, I often help providers who receive a draft report following a CQC assessment to submit challenges to facts, judgements, and ratings. We work together to assess what information is wrong and how we can present as robust evidence as possible to demonstrate that amendments should be made to the report.

Read what my clients say about me

They are saviours! They rescued my business – they are worth every penny!

Client testimonial Healthcare Regulatory

We have always always found the advice and support from the team extremely helpful and reassuring. They provide a positive and welcome service to care providers tackling difficult legal and regulatory issues.

Client testimonial Healthcare Regulatory client

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