BEXLEY councillors are doing more visits than ever on residential care homes and learning disability homes in the borough in a bid to crackdown on bad practice.

Members of the Adult Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee want to vulnerable adults are being well cared for and are treated with dignity and respect.

Advance notice is given so that members of the resident's family can also be there to talk to the councillors and share their experiences of how the home is run and the care that is being given.

Councillor Eileen Pallen, chairman of the committee said: "We want the same level of care for our residents in these homes that we would want for our mum and dad."

Feedback has been given to the councillors that family members welcome their visits and provide reassurance.

Visits have been increasing substantially in the last four years and the aim is to visit every home in the borough at least once a year.

Cllr Pallen added: "We hope to complete 27 visits this year.

"Information gathered through the visits as a result of councillors questions' is used to improve services, a recent example being the way and amount incontinence pads will be supplied in the future.

"Questions are also asked around the 111 service, GP provision of services and other services."