Our Support for the CQC Single Assessment Framework

24th April 2024

Under the old system, inspections were the primary method of collecting evidence on service quality. These were usually scheduled according to your service’s current rating. The new approach changes this: there will be much more use of information – including people’s experience of services – as part of regular monitoring and assessment. Evidence gathering will be broader, ongoing, and submitted through a new online portal.

The old key lines of enquiry are replaced by quality statements: detailed descriptions of what high-quality care looks like in practice. The five key questions (safe, effective, caring, responsive, well-led) and the four-point ratings scale, remain, however, and there are no changes or amendments to the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

How can W&P help?

The CQC have now started to use their new assessment approach across all regions in England. Here at W&P, we continue to make sure our clients remain up to date with recent changes by consistently tracking the very latest developments and implementing them into our services…

Compliance and CQC’s New Approach to Inspection Webinar We have run regular CQC compliance webinars on the new assessment framework since Spring 2022, regularly updating our training as new information is published. We’re now on the fourth update of these popular webinars and continue to make sure our clients remain up to date with the most recent changes. Join one of our webinars to make sure you’re ahead of the game!

Policies and Procedures We have been continuously reviewing our health and social care policies and procedures to make sure they reflect any changes as part of the new way of working.

Compliance Audits

We’ve looked at our audit processes and made sure that our reports reflect your evidence for the new quality statements. We’re aware this is a big change for many providers, and we can help during audits and mock inspections to focus your approach on the SAF and quality statements.

You may be asked to submit regular evidence through the new portal as part of a CQC assessment, including your audits. This means your audits are more important now than they have ever been! Will the evidence that you submit under the new SAF tell the inspector what you want them to know? Does it show how you are meeting the new quality statements?

Inspector Calls Webinar We also know the CQC will spend more time speaking to staff. Our new webinar – An Inspector Calls – aims to support your staff through any engagement with a CQC inspector. Dates are on our website now.

Our team has extensive experience in social care, with expertise in policies and procedures, and regulatory compliance. For more information, advice, and support with CQC’s new Single Assessment Framework visit wandptraining.co.uk or call us on 01305 767104. Our team are on hand to steer you through the changes.

W&P Training Centre are proud to be headline sponsors at Care Roadshow North West and Midlands. Secure your free ticket to meet their team!