On 27 January 2022, the CQC announced that, following the easing of Covid restriction across the country, it has reviewed and updated its regulatory approach, with the changes to take effect from 1 February 2022. What is changing? The main changes relate to providers of acute hospitals, ambulance services and general practice. In December 2021, …
CQC’s Updated Regulatory Approach – Has Anything Really Changed? Read More »
As its 2021-2025 strategy has developed, the CQC forewarned us that it would be taking a more flexible approach to inspection activity and ratings. We have been a vocal critic of some of the rigidities of the past regime, but increased flexibility in regulation is not without its pitfalls, and we have been waiting patiently …
A New Approach for CQC Inspectors, Draft Inspection Reports and Ratings Read More »
In its latest publication on the 21 December 2021 the CQC has announced that it will finally begin to inspect care homes rated ‘Requires Improvement’. This means that up to 14% of care homes in the UK (3,271) care homes will now be subject to inspections once again. As part of a wider amendment to …
CQC finally set to inspect ‘Requires Improvement’ rated care homes Read More »
Under its new strategy and its current monitoring approach CQC is clearly and unapologetically focused on risk and not improvement. As a result, at Ridouts, we are seeing clients experience a rise in enforcement action. In recent times we have seen CQC inspect services and inform providers, before they have issued a draft report, that …
Introduction In the latest 2020-2021 healthcare professional regulators whistleblowing report, whistleblowing disclosures have risen to 192 from 107 in the previous year. This substantial increase has largely been attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic, but is also indicative of a rising trend of whistleblowing within the health and social care sector, due to a growing divide …
Whistleblowing Disclosures On The Rise – How Effective Are Your Governance Systems? Read More »
On 20 September 2021, CQC hosted a webinar for adult social care providers in relation to its current monitoring approach and set out how it is currently monitoring and prioritising inspections. What did CQC say about its current monitoring approach? During the webinar, CQC said that the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented normal inspection of services …
CQC Focus On Decline, Not Improvement – Are You At Risk? Read More »
Since August 2016 the CQC has had decisions it has made in respect of the registration of health and social care providers appealed 55 times before the First Tier Tribunal (Care Standards). Of those 55 occasions, only four appeals have been successful. This translates to a ‘success rate’ of 92%. This figure should come with …
CQC ratings can have a substantial impact on a registered Provider’s business. They are relied on by the public when choosing a preferred health or care provider, local authorities use ratings to inform contracting and placement decisions and let’s not forget the CQC itself refers to inspection histories when considering whether to take enforcement action …
After the announcement of the first lockdown, CQC announced that they would significantly reduce in-person inspections. However over the last 12 months there has been a notable increase in activity. The CQC are clearly pursuing a policy of visibly and aggressively challenging providers. However the content, growing as these actions are, is seen to be …
Whilst going through a regulatory inspection can be a stressful and high pressured situation, coping with the resultant draft report can be equally challenging. Inspection reports are essentially the most compelling piece of marketing for any health or social care service and so the contents of any inspection report ought to accurately reflect what the …
Ridouts is a team of specialist health and social care lawyers, providing dedicated legal advice for care homes, GP practices, children’s homes, dental practices, domiciliary and home care agencies, supported and independent living services and both private and NHS hospitals.
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