Following the announcement that the CQC will be carrying out new inspections of adult social care services from January 2023. I have no doubt many providers will be considering if their current policies and procedures will be up to the new CQC Inspection Process.
Here at Bettal we have been carrying out a revision of our Cared4 Quality Management System to ensure that our customers can feel confident that our revised QMS will meet the requirements of the CQC Single Assessment Framework that is underpinned by Quality Statements.
Substantial changes involved in moving from KLOES to quality statements
Providers will need to be aware that the CQC Quality Statements are a different animal to the KLOES.
Although the CQC will continue to use the five key questions (safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led) the Quality Statements are all about Related Regulations.
The inspection approach using KLOES was specific, where inspectors used prompts to gather information on the quality of a service. Now the CQC are using Quality Statements that are enforced by regulations.
The upshot of it all means that the way the statements are written bears no resemblance to the KLOES, resulting in the need to change a large number of policies and procedures. I would suggest that unless these changes are carried out, providers may have problems at their next inspection.
Evidenced based inspections
The CQC will use the following evidenced based categories:
• People’s experience of health and care services • Feedback from staff and leaders • Feedback from partners • Observation • Processes • Outcomes
Given that recent research suggests that the CQC are carrying out far fewer inspections, it is not hard to see that in future they will be relying more heavily on evidenced based documentation. For example, they could ask managers to submit a record of the complaints they have received and action they have taken to resolve them.
They may well adopt a similar approach to information requests about safeguarding or infection control issues.
Bettal have taken the view that our customers need a robust quality management system that enables them to provide evidence of the day-to-day operation of their service.
The Bettal approach to compliance with the CQC Quality Statements
All of the documentation within the Cared4 Quality Management System addresses the quality statements and related regulations. In essence we have cross referenced the requirements of the CQC to where they can be found in in the relevant policy or procedure.
We have also provided managers with additional sources of evidence and a record of the actions they have taken which they can submit to the CQC.
Summary
Providers will find there is a marked difference between the CQC Quality Statements and the former KLOES. Changes to policies and procedures are required to address the new CQC Quality Statements.
The new inspection approach will demand more evidence-based documentation as the number of inspectors continue to contract.
Albert Cook BA, MA & Fellow Charted Quality Institute Managing Director Bettal Quality Consultancy
Readers who are looking for a robust evidence-based quality management system that meets the CQC Quality Statements and Related Regulations may be interested contact:
Bettal’s CQC Compliant Quality Management System Developed by Managing Director, Albert Cook former Principal Inspector and Fellow of the Chartered Quality Institute, and Director Stuart Cook former Care Home Manager.
System content • Over 360 online documents. • Comprehensive step by step policies and procedures that staff find easy to use. • Regular updating and alerts. • Guidance for managers on where the documents address CQC Quality Statements and Related Regulations • Guidance for inspectors on where evidence is contained in the documents.
For free demo: Please call Stuart Cook on: 01697 73284 or 07483 166 942 Or email: info@bettal.co.uk