CQC 2023: The Role of Specialist Advisors in Helping You Prepare for CQC Assessments

Working to regulate all health and social care services in England, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) ensure that healthcare services provide people with safe, compassionate, high-quality care. 

However, in recent months the CQC has been taking monumental steps towards streamlining its assessment framework to place greater emphasis on people’s experiences of care. With changes being made to how the CQC will assess local authorities and adaptations to their single assessment framework, the commission hopes the changes will be “in the best interests of people who use the services.”

What Changes Are Being Made to the CQC Assessment Framework?

Single Assessment Framework

CQC have confirmed that they are altering their existing key lines of enquiry (KLOEs) with new ‘quality statements’. These changes will help to reduce the current duplication within the frameworks, allowing the commission to focus on specific areas. 

The CQC has also explained how they will base all their “assessments of quality in all types of services, and at all levels” on the single assessment framework. For more “structured and consistent” judgements to be made, the CQC has developed six new key categories, including: 

• Individual experiences 

• Staff feedback

• Observations of care 

• Feedback from partners 

• Processes 

• Care outcomes

For each quality statement, the CQC will state which evidence they need to collect and look at. However, this will depend on the service being assessed, with the evidence for a GP surgery differing from that needed from a care home. 

The New Scoring System 

Alongside the new assessment framework, the CQC is also updating their scoring system, helping to support consistency and transparency in the industry. Whilst the current rating system the CQC uses to describe the quality of care will remain in place, a new evidence-scoring structure will be used to help determine a more accurate score. 

The new system means that healthcare providers can expect much shorter and more frequent assessments that cover different aspects of the quality and safety of the services. Once the new system is in place, providers should be able to see how the CQC have reached their judgements. 

However, as the year continues, additional information will be rolled out regarding the new scoring system. To help care providers see if their quality of care is improving, the CQC has promised to provide an “update on what good looks like” under their new assessment system and the evidence they'll prioritise.

Ensure Your CQC Inspection Runs Smoothly 

Our team are always happy to help ensure that your care home is compliant with the updated CQC regulations. By providing a full asset register and researching your equipment to make sure it is mutually compatible, we can guarantee the best working order for your care home. 

Amid the ever-changing requirements, we will not only remind you of your upcoming inspections but will also inform you of when your last inspection took place and how you can work to improve. 

Keeping up to date with the CQC regulations can be tricky, which is why our team are always on hand to help. If you have any questions, a member of our team will be happy to help.