How the Edith Ellen Foundation Can Help You Achieve a Successful CQC Inspection
I thought long and hard about this post and how I would entitle it, as I
know many will criticise it without having read it. However, through The Edith Ellen Foundation
Kindness Audit ultimately this is what we hope to achieve – a successful CQC
Inspection. Though it would not be as
simple as following steps 1-10 it never should be that simple, a successful CQC
inspection will promote your provision of care and rate it accordingly. Therefore, a successful inspection is
extremely important – in a time when we read so many reports on the failing
standards of care, abuse of our elderly is widely reported.
So how can The Edith Ellen Foundation help your service? How can we promote your service as being one
of those which provide an excellence standard of care?
The Health and Social Care Act 2008 Regulated Activities Regulations
2014 introduced a new emphasis for health and social care providers. The
emphasis is centred on 11 fundamental Regulations that are inspected under 5
Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOE). The 5 KLOE ask is the service:
Safe?
Effective?
Caring?
Responsive?
Well-led?
The Inspection will focus on records, documents, interviews and other
evidence that prove the company is operating effectively in each of the KLOE
domains. Remember – inspection is evidence based and this is used to
either confirm that the company is operating compliantly OR that the company is
non-frame compliant.
Each KLOE will be marked either Outstanding, Good, Improvement Required
or Inadequate. The overall rating will rest with what grade has been given in
each of the 5 areas with Safe and Well Led taking a prime role in this.
Since the launch of the Internet and Search engines, independent
reviewers and websites for everything it has become increasingly easier to
locate a service provider’s details, reviews and website. The CQC publish their reports so anyone can
locate a provider and make an educated decision on whether this is
fundamentally the right environment for their loved one.
It’s easy to simply check the
CQC website and have a look at companies who provide a similar service to your
own and read their overall ratings. Where they have been rated – you will
see from the reports as to where they have succeeded and where they have
failed. Applying this to your own service is where it gets harder, because
without the right standard of care being delivered you will continually fail in
the eyes of those “purchasing” your service.
So for example if your own business website boasts:
“Our team of nurses and well-trained senior carers and
care assistants offers 24-hour care to a very high standard.”
You actually need to ensure
that your staff and nurses are in fact well trained to a high standard and that
reports such as this one
or even this one
are in fact prevented. Even if your CQC report is recorded as Good.
Now, this article is not just
a belittlement over one service provider, I also know that this provider also
has in its employ good, caring, supportive carers and nurses it’s just rarely
reported or celebrated. It is also
important to realise that the achievement of meeting the KLOE’s for the CQC is
not the end, there is actual commitment needed to ensure that the best possible
standard of care is being delivered always not just when the inspectors come.
The biggest failing of the
CQC, is that they have two forms of inspection
announced, when they give you
a fixed date they will be arriving on site and
unannounced when they send you
documents to be completed because they will be on site in the next 6 weeks, you
just aren’t given a fixed date.
The unannounced is incorrectly
described, it allows service providers to prepare even without the knowledge of
a fixed date and good care should be deliverable continuously, and by all.
First impressions can be the
downfall of most service providers.
1 – First Impressions –
The Building
Think of how your service gives an impression to an Inspector. As they approach the building or enter your offices – what impression
does it give?
- Is there a mal odour?
- Are there overflowing bins?
- Is there rubbish in the garden?
- Is there an impression of neglect?
When the Edith Ellen Foundation first approaches a home, we have been
invited to audit, these are the discussion points we have as we approach your
service.
Now the saying goes “you don’t
get a second chance to make a first impression”, but The Edith Ellen Foundation
allows a second attempt – we look at the staff on duty
2 – First Impressions –
The Staff on Duty
When the Inspector makes an unannounced inspection – are the Staff
prepared to greet them politely?
Do the Staff understand they have a part to play in being able to show
the Inspector to a room and sign the Visitors Book?
Know who is Shift Leader and how to contact the Registered Manager.
Can show the Inspector records without being unduly nervous?
Can answer questions like ‘What is Whistle-blowing or What would you do
if you suspect a safeguarding issue?’
Know where the Safeguarding Policies and other Policies are. Answer
the questions - when did you last receive supervision or when did you last have
a full fire drill?
These are just samples but other questions can be about things like
their interview, induction and training.
3 – Availability and Quality of
Records and Documents
Records must be readily available. An audit of the type of records
that will be required should be made. These must be well presented –
digital records should be easy to access with Staff able to show the Inspector
the records required.
Records must be up to date – documents must be signed and dated. NO
LOOSE ENDS!
TIP 4 – Staff
Staff should present as smart in appearance, knowledgeable, using
protective clothing, using hygienic procedures and wearing their uniform and ID
badge (if appropriate).
Staff will be observed in the way they interact with the Service Users –
how they speak to them and treat them in general. Members of Staff
will be interviewed – see Step 3.
Senior Staff will be tested on their knowledge to judge if the service
is well led.
The number of Staff on the duty roster will be checked against the Care
Plans.
5 – Service Users
Service Users will be observed and interviewed.
Questions will focus on the choices they have and how much they are
involved with their care provision?
Other questions will surround the information they are provided with
i.e. – do they know what has been agreed in their Care Plan?
Do they know how to complain and who to complain to?
How do the Staff treat them?
The relatives or representatives of the Service Users may also be
contacted or interviewed if they are visiting at the time of the inspection.
6 – Is the Service Safe? KLOE
This decision will be based on the examination of the Safeguarding
Policies, Accident and Incident records, Risk Assessments (are they relevant
and do they set out the steps taken to control the risk or eliminate
them).
Staff records:
- Are there at least 2 references and at least one from the last employer?
- Does the work history have any gaps and are they accounted for?
- If a person has a criminal record and you decide to employ them – is there a judgement framework to show that it has been risk assessed?
- Medication – are the MAR examined for gaps, errors and alterations and are they properly signed?
- Are the drugs locked in a suitable cupboard or trolley?
- Are drugs kept at a suitable temperature?
- Do the drugs tally with what has been taken and what remains?
- Are Controlled Drugs kept in a separate locked cabinet and what are the arrangements to administer them?
- Are there satisfactory arrangements for storing and returning unwanted drugs?
- Care Plans – are they personalised?
- Are they updated at suitable intervals?
- Do they contain sufficient information?
- Assessments including Initial Assessments will be examined.
7 – Is the Service Effective?
KLOE
A training matrix or chart will be required.
Details of induction will be checked to see if it is sufficient for the
role being carried out (is induction carried out per the Care
Certificate 2014?).
Supervision of Staff – is this carried out every 4 to 6 weeks?
Are samples of the current Staff Roster available?
Are there policies that include Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation
of Liberty?
Are Staff knowledgeable on this subject?
How is their knowledge measured and signed off?
Menu planning. Are menus put together with the preferences,
dietary, religious and cultural needs?
Is there proof of this?
Does the person preparing the food have information regarding this and
how is it conveyed to them?
What is the recording process for logging what each person has eaten and
(if important for health) how much they have eaten each day?
Is there input from healthcare professionals – is this included in the
notes and care plans?
8 – Is the Service
Caring? KLOE
Minutes of meetings held for the people including their relatives and
representatives?
Do the minutes include their input?
Are there quality surveys carried out with people, their
representatives, Staff and professionals?
Are the outcomes analysed and included in an annual audit with
information as to how the service has improved because of the people’s input?
9 – Is the Service Responsive?
KLOE
Are pre-admission assessments comprehensive?
Are there Specialist assessments e/g forensic support/mental health
input?
Complaints – are they kept in a file with a front log for east of
analysis?
Is each complaint properly investigated against the Complaints Policy
and within the set time-frame and do the records show how it was resolved or
the action taken and by whom?
Records must be signed and dated.
What emergency or out of hours’ support is there?
10 – Is the Service Well Led?
KLOE
Is there a quality assurance programme that includes an annual overview
of the information taken from the various areas to produce an outcome on the
performance of the service?
Is there an external body carrying out checks/audits on the service and
are their reports available?
Is there a Development Plan for the service for the next 12 months
stating what developments or improvements are planned?
Don’t wait for you service to
be the next headline:
"care home rated inadequate and put into special measures"
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