The CQC is moving away from the traditional “fixed schedule of inspections” approach to a more dynamic assessment. 

We have extensively written about the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) ‘evolving approach’ to monitoring and regulation.  The specific actions of this ‘evolving approach’ are subject to a consultation by the CQC. 

Assessing and rating quality

The CQC are planning to make more use of the information that it holds to update ratings.  This means the traditional means of carry out a site will become less prominent for the purpose of (re)rating the quality of care.  The CQC said: “Rather than following a fixed schedule of inspections, we propose to move to a more flexible, risk-based approach for how often we assess and rate providers.”

Changes for GP practices

The CQC are proposing to giving ratings for individual population groups (rather than the six population groups as currently is the case) for all inspections and rating GP practices.  It said that: “Ratings for the different population groups rarely show any variation, and they tend to reflect the quality of care for all people using the GP practice.”

Changes for NHS trusts

The CQC are planning to “simplify the system of aggregating ratings for NHS trusts. So, rather than having multiple levels of complex aggregated ratings, we want to provide a single rating at Trust level based on a development of our current trust-level assessment of the well-led key question.”

It is important for care providers to be aware of these changes and to prepare for the changes.  It is clear that the CQC is moving away from the traditional “fixed schedule of inspections” approach to a more dynamic assessment.  The practical implications of moving towards a more dynamic assessment approach is that scrutiny will be more persistent and sustained at a level many care providers will be less familiar with.

Disclaimer: This article is for guidance purposes only. Kings View Chambers accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever for any action taken, or not taken, in relation to this article. You should seek the appropriate legal advice having regard to your own particular circumstances.