Care Quality Commission updates from NCA

Update for 10th June 2010

Consultation on revised enforcement document

Please see link below which takes you to two downloads on the revised enforcement policy and consultation document.

Update for 3rd June 2010

Important Guidance from CQC for Nursing Homes

We have received the following new guidance for nursing homes from the Care Quality Commission.

We are currently taking legal advice about this and will post their advice here as soon as possible.

Sheila Scott
Chief Executive 

Latest updates from Care Quality Commission

Find the latest updated guidance about registration for adult social care and independent health care providers.

Additional scope guidance for providers that are care homes with nursing (or providers of ‘accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care’) and domiciliary care agencies

These providers should consider whether they need to apply for the following regulated activities:

• Treatment of disease, disorder or injury.
• Diagnostic and screening procedures.

Either of these regulated activities may be provided in care homes with nursing.  For example, the treatment of disease, disorder or injury may be carried on if pressure damage ulcers, skin conditions or minor ailments are treated.

In the case of diagnostic and screening procedures, procedures such as taking blood specimens (other than simple finger prick tests), catheter specimens of urine or wound swaps are examples of procedures that would require this regulated activity to be registered.

In exceptional circumstances, care homes without nursing may also need to apply for these regulated activities where their care workers perform the above treatments under the supervision of, for example, a district nurse.

Domiciliary care agencies who also carry out the above activities under the supervision of, or at the request of, a healthcare professional (such as a district nurse) should also consider whether they need to apply for these two additional regulated activities.

All providers should review our Guidance about compliance document on the essential standards of quality and safety to see whether they are currently providing services that fall into the scope of these regulated activities. Where providers have already submitted their application they should contact our national contact centre to discuss whether they need to re-submit their application.  We have produced guidance for providers on resubmissions.

If a provider is not currently providing these services, but is likely to be doing so in the next 12 months, they should not include these regulated activities as part of their current transitional application. They will need to complete a full application for a new regulated activity before they begin to provide the service.

• Read our guidance on essential standards of quality and safety
• Read our guidance on resubmissions
• Find out how to get in touch with our national contact centre

Existing adult social care and independent healthcare providers and new in scope regulated activities

Some existing CSA registered providers may also be carrying on activities that are new to regulation under the Health and Social Care Act. These include running a laboratory or a diagnostic facility where ultrasound is used. Please review our guidance document for existing providers who are new into scope for further information.

• Read our guidance document

Where required, any additional regulated activities should be included as part of the provider's application. Where providers have already submitted their application they should contact our national contact centre to discuss whether they need to make a resubmission.  We have also produced guidance for providers on resubmissions.

• Read our guidance on resubmissions

Update for 27th April 2010

National Care Association has put together some guidance notes for the following part of the re registration with CQC. 

Section 2.3 Respecting and involving people who use services
Section 2.4 Equality, diversity and human rights

Members are asked to email info@nationalcareassociation.org.uk to request a copy.

Update for 16th April 2010

Link to QRP Cover Letter.

Dear colleagues

A further update for you on CQC registration.

E-learning module
Our e-learning module, to guide providers through the application process for registration, has gone live on our websitetoday. A link to the module will be included in our monthly provider e-newsletter publishing later this week and it is also highlighted in the registration login emails that are being sent out to providers for each 'application window'.

Here is a link to the e-learning module on our site: http://www.martonhouse.net/sites/clientarea/cqc/Reg2A_External/

Application windows
The second 'application window' has opened today. The 885 providers in this 'application window' were sent two emails this morning containing a link and login details to the online application form. These providers should submit their applications to us by no later than Wednesday 12 May.

We plan to open the third 'application window' on Thursday 22 April and to close it on Wednesday 19 May. The providers in that batch will receive their legal notification early next week.

In total, we plan to have in the region of 15 'application windows' but we may have weeks when we do not initiate a window. I will continue to keep you updated on these dates as they get agreed.

As of this morning, we have received a total of 55 completed applications. 54 from the first 'application window' and 1 from the second.

Quality and risk profiles
Guidance on quality and risk profiles (QRPs) is now available on our website. There are two documents for each provider type: an overview document and a set of technical guidance. These documents can be accessed via the following links:
- Adult social care
- Independent healthcare

The final version of the cover letter, which will accomapny the indivual QRPs when they are sent out to providers, is also attached. QRPs are being sent to providers in the first 'application window' tomorrow (Friday 16 April). We plan to send them to providers in the second 'application window' next Wednesday (21 April). We plan to continue this pattern going forward so a provider's 'application window' will open on a Thursday and they will be sent their QRP the following Wednesday. Again, I will keep you updated on this.

Escalation of queries or concerns
In order to provide you with an escalation route if your members raise any concerns to you about the service provided by our National Contact Centre or National Processing Centre we are pleased to provide you with specific contact details as detailed below. Please note that providers should continue to use the normal National Contact Centre number (03000 616161) for all enquiries in the first instance. However, if they raise any concerns to you about the service provided the people below would be your points of contact to address these:

1st line of escalation for any queries or concerns 
Alan Hussey - Customer Service Team Leader New Registration - National Contact Centre  - 07919 570 950
Fiona Cole - Customer Service Team Leader New Registration - National Contact Centre - 07919 066 210
Grant Hennessey - Customer ServiceTeam Leader New Registration - National Contact Centre  - 0191 233 6383
Mandy Atkinson - Business Service Team Leader New Registration - National Processing Centre -  0191 556 2128

2nd Line of escalation if required
Debbie Hind - Business Services Account Manager New Registration - National Processing Centre 07717 547 574
Joanne Rowe - National Contact Centre Manager - 07789 875 871

Update for 14th April 2010

National Care Association ‘Putting Service User’s First’ Manual goes live today for members only.

If you wish to receive a copy of this manual please email info@nationalcareassociation.org.uk providing a contact name, your home’s full name with postcode and the company email address.

Following is a snapshot of the introduction and the chapter on ‘How this fits into the Care Quality Commission Inspection Outcomes’.

The Care Quality Commission has declared since it’s inception that care homes will be monitored around outcomes and not inputs.

The Care Quality Commission indeed they have declared that the first principle of their inspections will be to concentrate on outcomes and peoples experience of the service.

We believe that the first principle identified by Care Quality Commission is addressed by this manual.

If you complete a separate questionnaire each month you will have an invaluable record of the views of your service users within a few months.

The final chapter of the Manual contains the analysis and action plan forms which you will use to demonstrate how you have taken the views of the service users into account.

As you build up a portfolio of views of your service users you will have a valuable archive of the way your service has developed by taking into account their views.

At National Care Association we are clear that it is as much the small things in life that matter to the people in your care as the more strategic approaches.

HOW THIS FITS INTO THE CARE QUALITY COMMISSION INSPECTION OUTCOMES

Annual Quality Assurance Assessment Self Audit 

It is clear to us that it is the way that service users experience the care home that is the outcome of the services.

We believe that for most users of your services it will be easier for them to comment on parts of the service on a regular basis rather than annually.

Most of the consultation will be by survey but if you hold residents meetings from time to time the minutes of the meeting will be an important addition to the whole quality audit.

We suggest you establish a folder either manually or electronically where you store the information as you collect it.

One of the most important aspects of these survey forms is that they are intended to address issues that are important to service users and not the overview issues that service users do not perceive to have a direct impact on their lives.

Service Users particularly older people are generally careful about criticising a service so it is important always to note the praise they give as well as any concerns.

For you the importance of this work is that you will be able to demonstrate how you have improve the service to meet residents’ views and wishes.  Over the course of the years this will be a valuable record of your service.

In the final section of this manual is a form for you to analyse and evaluate the responses to the questionnaire or meeting and for you to record how you have taken into account the service users comments.

Update for 12th April 2010

NCA Social Care Challenge. Please click on the link/image for more information.

Update for 9th April 2010

CQC have just published this useful document. Download from the link or by clicking on the image.

How to complete the transitional application and declaration form to register under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 Guidance for providers who are currently registered under the Care Standards Act

Please revisit the website later today we may have further information.

Update for 7th April 2010

We think you should know that the promised Guidance about registration as promised by CQC is not yet on their website.

Update for 6th April 2010

At our seminar in The West Midlands last week a member asked the following;

We are in the first tranche of re registrations. We are also due a key inspection and have been told that we will be inspected before June. Which set of regulations will we be inspected against?

I wrote the following to the Director of Registration at CQC:

Our member will have been reregistered by then and will have declared that she is compliant with the new regulatory framework. Will she be inspected against the new regulations or the old ones?

Yesterday I received the following reply:

Your colleague will be inspected against 'old' standards as key inspections will continue as before until Oct 2010.  Obviously, if anything is picked up that may have implications for the new standards and regulations, then that would need to be followed up as part of compliance with registration. The monitoring of compliance has been designed to be flexible so that we can respond to new information.  One potential source of new information is an inspection done for another purpose.‪

Update for 1st April 2010

With tomorrow being Good Friday we doubt if there will be any updates from CQC.  If there are we will upload them over the weekend.

Wishing you a peaceful Easter Weekend from all at National Care Association.

Update for 31st March 2010

We have now received a copy of the email that CQC is sending out to notify Care Providers when their registration date will be.  (Some of you will of course have already received the email). This is an email that you will receive during the next four months. It gives you notice and a unique provider identification number that you will use to re-register on line.  It will particularly ask you to confirm your email address.

If members of National Care Association would like a copy of this document , please call us on 020 7831 7090 or email the office - info@nationalcareassociation.org.uk - we will happily send you a copy (best to be prepared!).  Please quote: CQC copy email.

Update for 30th March 2010 - 9.30am

It’s another busy day in the life of National Care Association.  At 10.15 this morning Sheila Scott will be speaking at the Care Show in Bournemouth on ‘CQC compliance guidance’.  Don’t forget we will be on stand number W10 with Peter Hawkins of Required Systems with a copy of the new CQC system produced in conjunction with National Care Association, if you would like to see it just come by.

Since 16th March 2010 National Care Association has been delivering a number of regional seminars around the CQC registration process. Here is part of Sheila Scott's presentation for your information.

Update for 29th March 2010

Further to Sheila’s meeting on Friday 26th March 2010 with CQC they have agreed to let us have a copy of the reregistration form. Once we have it we will share it with our members by email.

To receive a copy of the reregistration form, please send us your up to date email address to: info@nationalcareassociation.org.uk

Update for 26th March 2010

Sheila is at a high level meeting at CQC today. We will post any updates relation to this as soon as we can.

On Tuesday 30th March 2010 Peter Hawkins of Required Systems will be on our stand number W10 at the Care Show in Bournemouth with a copy of the new CQC system produced in conjunction with National Care Association, if anyone would like to see it.

Update for 25th March 2010

Are you looking for a system to help you meet the new regulatory framework? 

If so National Care Association has worked with Required Systems to produce a system that meets your needs.

We are offering a special discount on the New CQC Outcomes to NCA members. Click on the image for more details.

Update for 24th March 2010

Today we have decided to give you links to the key guidance documents for Adult Social Care providers that are available on CQC’s website:

General information

The Scope of Registration

Guidance about Compliance

What is a ‘Location’

How to Apply

This is information will help you to navigate your way through the registration process.

Come back tomorrow for further updates on the CQC from National Care Association.

Update for 23rd March 2010

A small number of members (we think about 2000 people in total) will have received an email yesterday notifying them that they will be the first organisations to re-register with CQC.

The first thing they have been asked to do is to confirm their email address.

They have been given their re-registration number (unique provider identification) to be used to access their registration form on line. They have also been provided with a URL (www. address link) to access the online registration form.

It will be worth keeping an eye on your inbox as you may receive an email from CQC shortly.

This is all the information we have so far but we will keep you informed.

Sheila Scott

Update for 22nd March 2010

There are a series of essential books which you need:

• Guidance about Compliance; Essential Standards of Quality and Safety – What providers should do to comply with the section 20 regulations of the Health and Social care Act 2008. This guidance contains the regulations as well as the guidance and can be obtained via the Care Quality Commission website either by requesting a hard copy or follow the links to obtain an electronic copy of all 279 pages! Essential Standards of Quality and Safety

• Code of Practice for health and adult social care on the prevention and control of infections and related guidance. This is an important document which you will be required to comply with. For you the most important part is Appendix A which spells out how the Code of Practice should be used in a care home: Code of Practice

The important thing to remember about both these publications is that they apply to all regulated providers from an NHS hospital to a domiciliary care provider and all different kinds of care homes so when reading check out the small print which will tell you about proportionality.

Tomorrow we will tell you about the work we have been doing to develop manuals to help you to be able to confirm that you are compliant with each regulation.