CQC publishes guidance on new approach and timetable for roll-out

The Care Quality Commission has published new guidance for regulated providers on its website:

1. How we will roll out our new assessments.
2. How we will calculate the first scores.
3. How we gather evidence.
4. Display your ratings: posters.

The Commission has also updated online information to include a list of all the evidence categories it will be using when assessing individual quality statements for different types of services, including homecare and shared lives services:

Evidence categories for sector groups

This update follows CQC’s various consultation exercises to obtain feedback from providers on their proposals.  There is an opportunity to share feedback on the above guidance via the usual Citizenlab surveys.

The timetable for roll-out of the new approach to regulation has now been confirmed as follows:

• Between 21 November and 5 December 2023 CQC will undertake a small number of planned assessments with 14 early adopter providers in the South region, whilst continuing to respond to risk. CQC’s South region includes Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Buckinghamshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire. CQC will then expand its new assessment approach to all providers based on a risk-informed schedule. 
• From 5 December 2023 CQC will be using their new regulatory approach with all providers in the South region and with providers in local authority areas including Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes.
• From 9 January 2024 CQC will start using their new single assessment framework in the London and East of England region.
• From 16 January 2024 CQC will start using their new regulatory approach with a small number of providers in the North and Midlands regions.  
• From 6 February 2024 CQC will start using their new regulatory approach with all providers in the North and Midlands regions. NHS well-led assessments will start in all regions.

CQC say they will contact providers directly in each area, ahead of their rollout date with more information (source: CQC update, 17 November 2023).

Separately, CQC has started a WhatsApp Channel to share updates: WhatsApp Channel Invite.

CQC intends to invite small groups of providers to join their new Provider Portal from October.  The regulator asks that providers make sure their contact details are up to date so they receive their invitation.

UPDATE: Since publication of this news item, there have been minor alterations made to the CQC timetable. This news item has been updated to reflect these.