Health Policy in Bottrop: Focus on Supervision and Quality Assurance in the Care Sector

The Activity Report of the WTG Authority in Bottrop: A Mirror of Care Quality

In March 2026, Bottrop presented a comprehensive activity report from the advisory and inspection authority under the Wohn- und Teilhabegesetz (WTG). The report for the years 2023 and 2024 is not merely an administrative document, but a central indicator for quality assurance in the city’s care sector. It highlights how closely the WTG authority collaborates with institutions, residents, and their families, and what challenges arise in practice.

Supervision, Advice, and Training: The Work of the WTG Authority

The WTG authority in Bottrop is a central institution within the Social Office and comprises four employees, including two nursing professionals and two administrative staff. It is responsible for overseeing facilities that provide services under the WTG, such as nursing homes, shared living arrangements, and day care centers.

During the reporting period, a total of 87 advisory sessions were conducted, with a focus on topics such as care, support, staffing, and finances. Particular emphasis is placed on construction projects, where the WTG authority supported facilities such as the Caritas Senior Center St. Teresa or the ASB Day Care "Am Alten Südring".

The WTG authority conducts routine inspections, which typically take place annually, and cause-based inspections, carried out when there is suspicion of violations of legal requirements. In 2023, there were 10 routine inspections, in 2024 only 5, indicating a certain stabilization in care quality.

Deficiencies and Measures: Challenges in Practice

Despite the structured work of the WTG authority, deficiencies were identified in the inspection categories "Care and Social Support" and "Staffing". Particularly frequent issues were found in areas such as medication management, documentation, resident care, and communication with doctors.

In such cases, the WTG authority relied on advisory sessions and orders to resolve the issues. In some cases, measures for gradual elimination were taken, in others, immediate measures were required, for example, in the handling of narcotics.

Complaints from residents and their relatives mainly concerned nursing homes and included topics such as hygiene, medication, food and drink, and the treatment of residents. The WTG authority works closely with the monitoring and complaint office of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) to professionally handle complaints.

Future Perspectives: Expansion and Digitization

A particular focus of the report was the revised version of the WTG, which has been in effect since the beginning of 2023. This expands the inspection tasks of the WTG authority, for example, to include the review of workshops for people with disabilities. In addition, measures for the prevention of violence and awareness of restrictive measures were emphasized.

In this context, the city of Bottrop has established an ombudsperson and a complaint office to actively support residents and their families. In addition, a new project with short-term care places and barrier-free senior housing is being planned.

The WTG authority is also making progress in digitalization: it manages the care database PfAD.wtg and advises service providers on its use. Quarterly reports to the regional authority of Münster on financial risks such as over-indebtedness or insolvency complete the inspection profile.

Conclusion: A Central Role in Bottrop’s Health Policy

The work of the WTG authority is a central component of health policy in Bottrop. It combines supervision, advice, and quality assurance – and relies on close cooperation with institutions, residents, and their families. The 2023/2024 report shows that there are still challenges, but also that the city of Bottrop is actively working to improve the quality of care. With the planned new buildings and the expansion of complaint offices, the role of the WTG authority will further develop in the coming years – and thus also the future of care in Bottrop.