On 24 March 2021 the three Chief Inspectors published a joint statement about the CQC’s future approach. In the statement they outline changes that will take effect from April 2021, and what they mean for providers from all sectors. The main message from the statement is that the CQC will continue to respond to risk …
Over the past 2 to 3 years we have witnessed an increasing distaste from the CQC for any form of challenge to their decisions in relation to care services. Added to this the CQC have shown a strong preference to follow registration and enforcement action based on their own devised practices and procedures rather than …
Letters of Intent – A serious threat from the CQC – as published in Caring Times Read More »
At Ridouts, we are seeing an increase in the use of ‘letters of intent’ as the CQC moves away from timetabled inspections towards a more risk based approach. A letter of intent indicates that the CQC has concerns about a service. The will say that the regulator is considering whether to use its powers pursuant …
On 16 February 2021, Shadow Minister Chi Onwurah asked the Department of Health and Social Care the written question, “… when the Care Quality Commission will resume routine inspections; and how many care homes have not had an inspection for two years or more.” Helen Whatley, Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care) responded to …
CQC inspection figures confirmed by Department of Health and Social Care Read More »
In the wake of the pandemic, the CQC changed its entire approach to inspections in order to limit inspectors “crossing the threshold”. The CQC initiated remote monitoring through initial conversations with Providers which could result in a site visit if the CQC had concerns, and enforcement action if the CQC found the service to be …
What has happened to the CQC’s Transitional Monitoring Approach? Read More »
CQC announced a consultation on its new strategy to take it from 2021 and beyond recently. In this article I pull out some key observations from this consultation and what impact they may have on the health and social sector. There are some positive measures proposed by the CQC but the one area which appears …
This has been a significant year for regulated social care and has seen a number of dynamic changes and changes, made in response to crisis, which will remain after this crisis is long past. The crisis is, of course, the COVID-19 Pandemic. Registered Care has been affected very significantly but has risen to that unplanned …
In October 2020 my colleague, Caroline Barker, wrote about the CQC’s new transitional regulatory approach, the shift to inspections based on risk, and how this could impact GP practices. One of the identified risks of this new approach is that of conclusions, informed by non-triangulated or incorrect evidence arising out of inspections carried out without …
HSJ reported last week upon CQC having taken enforcement action against an NHS Trust by the issue of a Warning Notice. A Warning Notice is a step which records that the regulator believes that evidence to the criminal standard (beyond reasonable doubt) is established which justifies the prosecution of the provider (in this case a …
It can happen and does happen. The CQC can cancel your registration. It could be one location, it could be your entire registration. The CQC might stop you from trading by a number of means: asking a magistrate court to cancel your registration with immediate effect; serving a piece of paper on you urgently which …
What if the CQC tries to cancel your registration? Read More »
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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