Post Winterbourne – CQC’s changes to registration of LD Services

Topics covered: Ridouts professional advice

As of July 2013, the CQC made changes to the way they register providers of services exclusively for people with learning disabilities.

Why are CQC making these changes?

Following the exposure of abuse at Winterbourne View and the serious case review by South Gloucestershire Council the CQC found there was a real need for ‘outcome-based commissioning’ for hospitals looking after people with learning disabilities.

As a result they have changed how leadership and corporate responsibility in service providers is assessed for learning disability services. The CQC’s new approach is the first step towards improving the way they assess all service providers and they expect there to be stronger tests in place for all providers by 2014.

The changes mean that new providers who want to register a service will have to be clearer about the service they intend to offer.

The CQC have revised their application forms and how they assess both providers and managers. Training has been improved for the CQC staff who will assess applications.

Future service providers will need:

  • Systems in place to quality assure the services they intend to provide
  • Named individuals to take responsibility for meeting quality and safety standards.

Statements of purpose

As part of the CQC’s work to strengthen the registration process, they are updating the statement of purpose requirements and will strengthen their approach to how they use it.

This means the information required in the new statement of purpose will differ from that currently expected and from that set out in the regulations.

More guidance and templates on statements of purpose can be found on the CQC website.

Application forms

There are new application forms for providers registering a service but for managers the existing ‘new registered manager’ application form should be used.

There are separate forms for providers registering as individuals, partnerships and organisations. Each form has a guidance document to accompany it on the CQC’s website.

After registration

Once a service has been registered with the CQC, the service provider will need to inform the CQC of certain events or changes in their service (known as ‘notifications’).They will also need to apply to the CQC if they want to change the details of their registration – the services provided, where they are provided or who manages them.

The CQC hopes that the changes detailed above will encourage providers to take into account current thinking about people-centred services for people with learning difficulties.

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