Plans to establish a new group of "dignity guardians" to help the Government toughen up social care regulations will be unveiled at a Midlands university today.

Care Services Minister Liam Byrne will announce proposals to help provide quality services for the ageing population in a speech during an Action on Elder Abuse conference at the University of Warwick, in Coventry.

Representatives from Help The Aged, Action on Elder Abuse, Which?, Age Concern and the Alzheimer's Society will work together and report to the minister ahead of a national consultation over changes to the National Minimum Standards in care homes.

The move follows a number of recent cases including the inquiry into 28 deaths at the Maypole Nursing Home, in Kings Heath, which highlighted how vulnerable care home residents were at risk of abuse and neglect by care workers. Dr Jamalapuram Hari Gopal and his wife Dr Pratury Samrajya were struck off by the General Medical Council in January after they were found guilty of a catalogue of failings with elderly residents left in inadequate conditions with little care.

A report by Action on Elder Abuse, based on local authority data, revealed that almost a third of adult victims are abused in their own home and 20 per cent are abused by a carer, partner or relative.