News

The CQC and Department of Health have this month issued a full response to the Government’s Focus on Enforcement Review of the Adult Care Home Sector. The Review identified a number of key findings about the impact of regulation and suggested that unnecessary burdens are being placed on adult care home providers, who felt that as a result they are having to focus on providing ‘paperwork not care’. The Review also highlighted a number of concerns within the adult care sector about the effectiveness of regulatory enforcement.
In what appears to be good news for care home operators, the CQC has responded by committing to:
The CQC has emphasised that it is committed to becoming a strong regulator that is effective in protecting the best interests of people who use services and their families, without placing unnecessary burdens on providers of care.
As part of their revised approach, the CQC promises to deliver greater transparency and expertise in its judgements against five key questions it will ask of all services: are they safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led? This will involve building a definitive view of ‘what good looks like’ that will enable it to make clear judgements about the quality and safety of services. The CQC also plans to introduce a ratings system for all adult care homes, starting this year.
For further information, please contact Jonathan Waters on 0191 232 8345 or email: jonathan.waters@hay-kilner.co.uk