Page 18 - IDF Journal 2023

IDF – Guest Contribution IDF News – Spring 2023
CQC Changes and Developments
Martha Walker
Independent CQC adviser to the IDF
The CQC’s much publicised single assessment framework and new approach to inspection and regulation is to be rolled out during the course of 2023. Ongoing monitoring and more real- time data being made available to the CQC will become a routine addition to their portfolio of assessment tools, enabling them to respond more effectively
to changes in risk and
update ratings at any time. However, probably the most significant change will be
the introduction of the new Quality Statements. The
key lines of enquiry (KLOEs) introduced in 2018, and used by independent doctors since then, are being replaced at some stage this year by a series of Quality Statements that will apply to every service provider registered or undergoing the registration process with the regulator.
During 2023, the CQC will move
away from only using inspection
visits to regulate and rate services to continuously collecting evidence and receiving information and data on an ongoing basis, resulting in more targeted inspections when they do take place. Providers will have their own interactive portal with the aim of uploading data from audits, surveys and investigations into incidents to enable the CQC to constantly review provider activity. The new interactive portal is expected to start later in the year, beginning with the ability to upload statutory notifications. Alongside a wider range of monitoring tools, there will be a greater emphasis on dialogue between the provider and the CQC. This dialogue will come in the form of monitoring calls. Independent doctors saw an increased number of monitoring calls during 2022. It is the aim of CQC to eventually carry out these calls monthly, so that a constant dialogue between doctor and regulator is developed and forms part of the real time information held by the CQC.
As with most things CQC, different inspectors approach the calls in different ways. Some ask doctors to prepare
for the hour long call by looking at the KLOEs, others directed doctors to the specific page on the website about
the monitoring approach, whilst some inspectors just gave a verbal list of topics likely to be discussed. I would expect
a more unified approach to advising
the doctor on preparation as the year goes by, especially when the KLOEs are removed and replaced by the Quality Statements. The monitoring call does not involve the doctor sending any evidence to the inspector, however if the inspector had a cause for concern during the
call, they may ask for evidence to be submitted to them, or undertake a more targeted conversation or site inspection.
Having spoken with a large number of doctors both before and after the call, all of them said it was a positive experience and offered an opportunity to explain what they were doing. For example, if
Having spoken with a large number of doctors both before and after the call, all of them said it was a positive experience and offered an opportunity to explain what they were doing.
there were any changes to the service, how they handled complaints, and unexpected events. However, even with such upbeat feedback, I still caution doctors to be mindful of these (and all) conversations they have with the CQC as they are calls to monitor how your practice is performing.
Last year also saw a distinct change in the methodology used in the registration process. Independent doctors applying to register were asked to provide far more evidence around quality assurance, with greater emphasis on planned clinical audit schedules and detailed explanations regarding how the doctor intends to collect clinical data from their records, what practice management software they would be using, and what inbuilt data extraction the system held. Although not expressed by registration inspectors, it became clear as the year went by that provision of more detailed documentation at this stage was in preparation for
the move to the Single Assessment Framework, the Quality Statements,
and how clinical data is recorded and extracted for CQC use. It is also intended that, at some stage, new providers will be
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