Articles & Publications

The Government recently conducted a review of the level of regulation in the health and social care sector, entitled ‘Cutting Red Tape’.  The review included a consultation with care homes and asked providers about the time spent responding to inspections and requests for information.  The results of the consultation with providers suggests the monitoring functions …

Caring Times: Cutting Red Tape – The Cost of too many Inspections Read More »

In April 2015, adult safeguarding for the first time was placed on a statutory footing under the Care Act 2014.  Although the Care Act has been described as the most important piece of social care legislation in 60 years, in many ways it was an opportunity lost in terms of establishing clear investigation processes in …

Healthcare Business: Having a voice in safeguarding enquiries- Providers should know their rights Read More »

In April 2016, the Care Quality Commission announced that it is carrying out a review of how NHS trusts identify, report, investigate and learn from deaths of people using their services. The findings will be published in a national report by March 2017. This review was prompted by the Government response to the independent Mazars …

HSJ Insight and Influence Channel: The Duty of Candour and Disclosure of Investigation Reports following Serious Incidents Read More »

It is essential that care workers understand not only their obligations in reporting safeguarding issues but also what the “new” legal requirements are on local authorities in relation to safeguarding investigations. In April 2015, the law changed in relation to safeguarding with the introduction, under section 42 of the Care Act 2014, of a duty …

Care Talk: Safeguarding obligations in light of the changes in the Care Act 2014 Read More »

The great news coming out of inspections of care services carried out by the Care Quality Commission is that care workers in the vast majority of cases are found to be caring and compassionate. This finding is reflected in the fact that almost two thirds of providers have been rated either outstanding or good by …

Care Talk: No-one is above the law and the law relating to care workers has changed Read More »

In June 2015 (Ridout Report: ‘Inherent weaknesses in CQC’s rating system – will you get caught out?’), we highlighted struggles experienced by Providers initially rated as ‘Requires Improvement’ or ‘Inadequate’ as they tried to increase their overall ratings through subsequent inspections. In this article, we reflect on a potential shift in CQC’s approach. The issue …

Healthcare Business: Challenging ratings – a shift in CQC’s position? Read More »

All registered nurses should be aware that, starting in April 2016, you must revalidate with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to renew your professional registration and to allow you to continue to practice as a registered nurse. The new process of revalidation replaces the Prep (Post Registration Education and Practice) requirements and requires to …

Care Talk: Nurses Getting ready for Revalidation with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Read More »

Under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 CQC can take steps to cancel a provider’s registration on an urgent basis on application to a magistrates’ court.  Such powers can be taken against a single home registrant or in order to cancel a provider’s ability to carry on any regulated activities everywhere, by cancelling the …

Healthcare Business: They think it’s all over… Read More »

The CQC was created in 2008 to take over the function of the previous English Health and Social Care regulators (The Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Healthcare Commission). It took on its role from 2009, at first merely continuing the functions of the previous regulators and subsequently introducing the new system of regulation …

Nurse and Residential Care: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) Its origin. How it works. How it can improve. Read More »

Over the years it has attracted the highest penalty from the law, namely that a life be taken in retribution, by way of punishment, for taking the life of another. Since the mid-1960s, English sentencing, according to the law, has mitigated the ultimate sanction. Some would suggest that decades in prison is a more cruel …

Healthcare Business: Thou Shalt Not Kill. It was and is the first of Moses commandments. It remains the first and enduring crime against human society. Read More »