As we watch with interest as its new regulatory strategy develops, the CQC has announced that they will be carrying out a monthly risk review of most services in the health and social care sector as part of their “Monitoring Approach”. This approach to regulatory activity appears to build largely on the Transitional Monitoring Approach …
Update on CQC Strategy – Monthly Risk Reviews and Monitoring Calls Read More »
As part of its 2021 strategy, the CQC has published a consultation which promises a significant shift in its approach to inspections and ratings. This article does not explore these proposals nor the merits of them in detail (although, for future reference we do think there will be a lot to say) but in short, …
CQC Strategy Consultation on Inspections and Ratings – Will more flexible mean better? Read More »
The clock is ticking on the UK’s exit from Europe. As things stand, and assuming the government isn’t able to agree an extension to the transition agreement, this will come to an automatic end at midnight on 31 December 2020 and the UK will leave Europe without a deal. What impact will a “no-deal” Brexit …
No-deal Brexit – what can care providers expect? Read More »
Providers are reminded that the HSE is carrying out (often unannounced) spot checks on employers in all types of businesses to ensure workplaces are Covid-19 secure. Visits might be carried out by the HSE, or by agents acting on their behalf. In the latter’s case, they should carry a letter of authorisation from the HSE, …
Reminder to health and social care employers – Beware of HSE Covid-19 Spot Checks Read More »
Covid-19 is leaving many casualties in its wake. This is not limited to the human casualties. Many companies will have gone out of business. Many contracts will have, technically been breached and people will have suffered loss and damage. Many employees will have lost their jobs, or had changes of terms imposed on them. People …
So now the Covid-19 claims might be coming, what should providers do? Read More »
Ofsted will resume visits to children’s services again this month. Most visits were suspended in March 2020 because of Covid-19 restrictions but in August 2020, Ofsted confirmed that visits to children’s services would be resuming again from 1 September 2020. These “Assurance Visits” will be undertaken as part of Ofsted’s phased return to routine inspections. …
A reminder to providers: Ofsted to resume “Assurance Visits” Read More »
As we have reported on previously, the CQC are currently considering their forward thinking strategy and aim to move towards a strategy of “Smarter Regulation”. Their goal is, they say: “to make regulation simpler but dynamic to reflect the changes in health and social care we can anticipate, as well as those we cannot. We …
CQC’s strategy towards Smarter Regulation: Is a change in culture on the cards? Read More »
The CQC have recently requested that stakeholders in the health and social care sector take part in a survey to help frame their strategy for 2021 and beyond. This survey has been published as part of the CQC’s project on “Smarter Regulation” on the citizenlab portal. The CQC says of the project: “We want to …
Public Health England published helpful guidance last week to local authorities and social care providers on who and what they should notify when an employee or volunteer working in adult social care dies from COVID-19. The guidance, which is available here, covers the following: Telling the deceased’s family Telling others at work Reporting to the …
The CQC is already under fire following the Wholrton Hall and Winterbourne View scandals. Various public enquiries have highlighted a number of serious concerns about the treatment of service users with learning difficulties and/or autism in Assessment and Treatment Units (“ATUs” and other mental health hospitals, and in particular on the issue of restraint. The …
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