There is growing evidence that the CQC are carrying out more inspections than usual in care homes, domiciliary care, and supported living services. This has come about with the phasing out of the Key lines of Enquiry and replaced by the new CQC Quality Statements and Related Regulations.
In addition, I am sure that inspectors will be ascertaining the effectiveness of the new CQC assessment framework to see if there are any adjustments required with the process.
New CQC Single Assessment Inspection Model
There will be a single assessment framework for adult social care. The new single assessment model will consist of one overall set of expectations, making it easier to establish what clearly defines ‘quality’ care and ‘good’ service.
The CQC will continue to use 5 Key Questions to establish if a service is safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led in the new inspection process and ratings will remain.
The key lines of enquiry have now been replaced by Quality Statements which sit under the
5 Key Questions. In the new Single Assessment Framework, the KLOE (containing 335 prompts) has been replaced by just 34 Quality Statements (pitched at the level of ‘Good’) and these Statements will apply to all services which the CQC assesses.
The aim of CQC is that the system of Quality Statements will be much clearer to providers and their staff, as well as to service users and their families, as to what to expect of a ‘Good’ service.
CQC will assess a service against the new topic areas and quality statements collecting evidence in a range of areas including:
• People’s experience of health and care services
• Feedback from staff and leaders
• Feedback from partners
• Observation
• Processes
• Outcomes
When reviewing their internal quality assurance processes, it will therefore be important for providers to ensure that these reflect not only the new Quality Statements themselves but also the underlying Evidence Categories relevant to their types of service.
Providing evidence of meeting the quality statements
The Bettal Cared4 CQC Compliant Quality Management System includes references in policies and procedures of all the quality statements and how they will be met. Providers should keep a records log of evidence on how the new quality statements are being met.
Bettal Cared4 CQC Compliant Quality Management System -compliance at a reasonable cost
We can help managers to take the stress out of the change from Key Lines of Enquiry to Quality Statements. Our new system includes all the documentation you will need to address the CQC Quality Statements and where to find evidence. In essence, we have cross-referenced the requirements of the CQC to where they can be found in the relevant policy or procedure making it easier for inspectors to ascertain evidence.
The system also includes comprehensive audit tools that will enable managers to provide supportive evidence on how they are complying with the quality statements and regulated activities.
What Bettal can offer you
Switching the content of policies and procedures from the Key Lines of Enquiry to Quality Statements will involve providers in a great deal of work. Managers need to be confident that they can supply the CQC with evidence statements that comply with the CQC requirements.
We can offer care homes, domiciliary care and supported living services who are looking for a robust evidence-based quality management system that meets the CQC Quality Statements and Related Regulations, for as little as £70 per month plus VAT.
Summary
Managers of care homes, domiciliary care, and supported living services must ensure that their quality management system (policies and procedures) is up to date and addresses the quality statements and regulated activities within the new CQC Assessment Framework.
Managers should arrange quality assurance audits to ensure their service meets the requirements of the quality statements and records should be kept of evidence of compliance.
If you would like to learn more about the Bettal Quality Management System please browse here or:
Email: info@bettal.co.uk
Telephone: 01697741411
Albert Cook BA, MA & Fellow Charted Quality Institute
Managing Director
Bettal Quality Consultancy