The Care Quality Commission is calling for views from regulated providers on the types of evidence it will use to assess quality statements, when the Single Assessment Framework is introduced.
The Commission issued a regulatory update on 22 September which contained the next part of guidance which groups different types of evidence under 6 evidence categories the regulator will look at to assess:
- The quality of care being delivered
- The performance against each quality statement
The guidance consists of a common section on Evidence categories, with further detail for each different type of service group.
The homecare and shared lives services evidence categories contain examples of the types of evidence the regulator will be looking for in those sectors.
Much of the evidence will be familiar to providers. There is a new section on environmental sustainability, which includes green and carbon reduction plans and policies, processes for recycling and staff training in environmental sustainability.
Providers wishing to comment should read the guidance and complete the survey on CQC’s Citizenlab platform*. Those who have not yet signed up, can do so here. The survey closing date has been extended to 31 October 2023.
There is an evidence category grid at Project • Provider guidance feedback (citizenlab.co) which summarises the evidence categories for each type of service under the headings of Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led.
On the timing of the roll-out, CQC say they intend to give providers a reasonable period of notice before they are directly affected, with the current estimate being about eight weeks between publication of the final guidance and starting the new assessment approach.
The intention is to start with a small group of providers in the South network in mid-November. These may get slightly less notice of the final guidance, but CQC say they will work to mitigate this. The South refers to services registered in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Kent, Oxfordshire, Somerset, Surrey, Sussex and Wiltshire.
CQC intend to continue to work with providers and provide further updates and guidance. (A CQC update issued on 19 October said the new approach will start on 21 November with a small group of early adopters in the South.)
Plans to launch the new provider portal are continuing and CQC held a webinar on introducing quality statements and evidence categories on 12 October. They are expected to produce a recording on their YouTube channel in due course.
CQC emphasise, in their update, that they are not suddenly going to ask providers to operate in a different way, as the five key questions currently used will continue.
The Homecare Association is continuing to liaise with CQC and provide information to support members with CQC's changes to regulation. Members are invited to send us their views to [email protected].
In a separate survey, CQC are asking for feedback on how successful their communication campaign has been in conveying information about the new approach to health and social care providers and professionals. Complete the survey.
