CQC Quietly Changes Gear
- Details
- Published: Friday, 23 December 2022 10:39
- Written by Peter Ingle
- Hits: 1459
The CQC have announced a delay in the introduction of their new single assessment framework.
It is a very discreet announcement with an article put up on their website, “Our revised plan and approach for transformation.” At the time of writing it cannot be seen by clicking on the News tab on the CQC website. It can be found by using the keyword search facility.
Earlier in the year after some trailing, the CQC announced that it would move to a new single assessment framework for all registered organisations. This would take effect from January 2023. Compliance providers swiftly moved into action to help dental practices deal with yet another regulatory change. And now, with ten days notice, the CQC have changed their mind.
In their announcement the CQC say that, “We want to drive improvements across the health and care system, helping to tackle health inequalities. But we need to need to make sure that we’re able to do this as smoothly as possible, particularly as providers continue to experience persistent pressures”
Under the heading, “What we’ve learned” the CQC explain that feedback from stakeholders has convinced them of the importance of giving providers time to prepare for the changes. They add that it was important for them to consider the pace at which they were proposing to implement the “complex changes.” Early experience as the new system was rolled out, has encouraged them to carry out more testing of the changes and take feedback on board. They needed to “spend more time testing and developing future changes to make sure providers would be able to adapt to them smoothly.”
The CQC have set out how they hope the changes will proceed, and will implement the new approach in phases. A new Regulatory Leadership Team will be involved. The new online provider portal will launch in the summer of 2023 and it is intended to become the CQC’s main means of interaction with providers. Towards the end of 2023 the CQC will then gradually start to carry out assessments in the new way using the single framework. There will be new integrated assessment teams too.
The single assessment framework bears a resemblance to the one size fits all approach that the CQC initially took. Practice managers will fondly remember the delights of trying to describe their practice’s nutrition policies and various other requirements, apparently cut and pasted from the inspection criteria for hospital trusts. After a while the CQC changed to the more tailored approach that it now seeks to replace. It is likely that those personnel at the CQC who saw the failings of their earlier single assessment system have now moved on, taking any useful experience with them.
The softly-softly approach to making announcements is a technique well used by the GDC, for example in their recent belated decision to look into the numbers of registrants taking their life during the Fitness to Practice process. Perhaps, like delivery vans and refuse trucks, our regulators could be fitted with an audible siren to warn passers-by when they go into reverse gear.
Our revised plan and approach for transformation - Care Quality Commission (cqc.org.uk)
CQC Quietly Changes Gear
I think its good that a Regulator can say, Quote :In fact we were aware that the changes would not be applied to the dental sector until at least April 2023. Personally, apart from probably an increased contact with the CQC inspectors online, I don't think most dental teams will see very much difference.
We are publishing a new version of the RP4 Poisoned Chalice which is now known as 'The way we do things around here' and we think it will help to clarify the CQC wishes.
No need for an audible siren just yet though, have a nice Christmas break, you deserve it!
You need to be logged in to leave comments.
Report