Regulatory Inspections....What to expect and how to prepare

1. & Advanced
Clinical Quality Services
www.advancedclinicalsolution.co.uk

2. Welcome to our latest
issue of Hints &Tips!
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write about in a future edition, please email it to:
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Contents
01 Preparing for a CQC Inspection
info@advancedclinicalsolution.co.uk
The right approach ?
02 The 5 Key Questions.
Team Effort
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3. Issue 03 4
Foreword
Welcome to our latest issue of Hints & Tips, your regular newsletter full of
updates and information.
If there are any topics, you’d like us to cover in future issues please let
us know at info@advancedclinicalsolution.co.uk
5
CQC update
CQC Insight is a tool that brings together and
analyses the information the CQC hold about
your service.
It uses indicators that monitor potential changes
to the quality of care that you provide. CQC
Insight will help to decide what, where and when
to inspect and provide analysis to support the
evidence in our inspection reports.
If you would like further information on the
metrics and data sources used by the CQC
insight model, please contact us at:
info@advancedclinicalsolution.co.uk
Preparing for an Inspection ?
Taking the right approach…
Welcome the CQC inspection as an
opportunity to shine. You will be able to
showcase good work happening in your
service and any improvements that the
team has been working towards.
Recognising areas for improvement is
important , as is the follow up actions.
Why is it important?
The CQC inspection is a great time to
demonstrate how feedback is listened too, how
lessons are learnt and how you are improving.
As always, it is expected that service -users’
and patients’ needs come first ALWAYS. The
CQC are well aware of this and expect this
Key to success
Be professional, honest and helpful. Always
answer any questions to the best of your
ability. Be proud, working in healthcare is a
passion and you should be proud of the
support you provide.
Preparation is key, ensure you are familiar
with the environment and surroundings,
sounds simple but you may be working in a
new area on an inspection day.
Responsiveness is important , if an issue is
raised deal with it promptly to the best of
your ability or escalate it to the correct
person. Ensure you are proactive, raising
even a small issue with your manager now
may save it escalating later on.
First page 3 7 8
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10 11 12

4. Issue 03 6 7
Preparing for an Inspection… Aiming High …
Get to know your organisations values, visions
and mission. You are then aware how to act in
accordance with them. Have you read your
organisations statement of purpose ? This
outlines the aims and objectives of your
service, what your service does, where you do
it and who you do it for
The CQC will visit your service, talk to the
manager, clinical teams and possibly any
member of staff. They will directly observe
care and review documentation including
healthcare notes and other files.
.
What does it take to be outstanding ?
High performing organisations encourage and
embed ways of working which will provide
outstanding care for the people they support.
Preparation for inspection is a constant
endeavour rather than a short-term or last-
minute process.
This section looks at what you can do in
advance of CQC inspectors inspecting your
organisation.
That means, as well as consistently monitoring
the quality of your service and supporting your
staff.
You need to build into your day to day practice
the habit of thinking ahead to your next
inspection by collecting evidence, keeping
policies and procedures up to date and
ensuring staff are well informed about the
process of inspection.
Check out similar services !
You should be considering how you will
demonstrate to the CQC that you are providing a
service that meets CQC’s Key Lines of Enquiry.
It is also advisable to look through inspection
reports on the CQC’s website for services similar
to yours that have been rated as ‘outstanding’.
You can use those as a benchmark to review the
service you provide. It will also be useful to look at
reports from other services which indicate there
has been poor practice as this will help you to
develop your service and deliver better care and
outcomes.
Most outstanding services share 3 things in
common, that is they have:
✓ Outstanding leadership, who are valued
and supported.
✓ Sufficient resources ,that are supported to
do the job well and supported financially.
✓ Clear values , vision and ethos which is
shared from the board to ‘shop floor’.
Are you preparing for an Inspection ?
No time to prepare
Staff shortages
Lack of knowledge
Not sure how what to expect? Tell us what you think
Our aim for is to help you deliver better outcomes for your patients, so it is important that
we work well for you. Please let us know about your experiences of using external
consultancies as well as any suggestion as this will help us to drive improvement. Please
forward your feedback to: info@advancedclincalsolution.co.uk

5. Issue 03 8 9
The 5 KEY QUESTIONS
The CQC will ask questions about
the quality of the service based on
what matters most to service-
users. During a CQC inspection,
inspectors will want to check your
organisation against its key lines
of enquiry, which relate to
whether you are safe, effective,
responsive, caring and well-led.
SAFE.
Is the service SAFE ? Are service users
protected from harm and abuse?
CARING
Is the service CARING ? Are service users
treated with dignity ,compassion and respect?
EFFECTIVE
Is the service EFFECTIVE? Are service user
needs being met in line with national standards
and up to date and current evidence base ?
RESPONSIVE
Is the service RESPONSIVE ? Are service users
getting the right care and treatment at the right
time , without delay. Are service users involved?
Is their feedback listened too and acted upon ?
WELL-LED
Is the service WELL-LED ? There is evidence
of good leadership and governance. Is there an
open and learning culture, which is evident
across all levels within the organisation?
CQC inspectors use these questions to assess
all providers. For each question the CQC has
set out what 'outstanding', 'good', 'requires
improvement' and 'inadequate' looks like.
We will focus on types of inspections and
ratings in part 2 of the download series
Everyone in the team can do their part in
preparing for an inspection. These are
probably things you do as part of normal
everyday practice.
Stay informed with any updates within your
service. Ensure you read newsletters, staff
communication lines (e.g. noticeboards,
communication books) ,attend meetings, read
your emails or talk to your manager.
Read up on the 5-key questions, get to know
the questions that will likely be asked. You can
also do this as a team. Share best practice
and learning with your team and colleagues.
Try a mock inspection ? As with most other
training in healthcare , a simulated
environment is a safe and effective way to
learn.
BOOK A SERVICE REVIEW /SIMULATED
INSPECTION WITH ADVANCED CLINICAL
SOLUTIONS HERE
TOP TIPS: REMEMBER THE BASICS
✓ Wear your staff ID at all times
✓ Make sure all areas are clean and tidy.
✓ Replace broken items and equipment,
remove those no longer in use.
✓ Ensure all mandatory training ,appraisals
and supervisions are up to date.
✓ Remind yourself of where to locate
policies and procedures.
✓ If it is part of your role, update all
paperwork and documentation including
care plans and risk assessments.
✓ Refresh your safeguarding knowledge, it
is imperative you know how to raise a
concern.
✓ Refresh your knowledge of how the
service learns lessons, e.g. from
complaints and incidents.
Everyone can help…… It’s a
team effort

6. Your dedicated
support line
For further information please contact the team:
info@advancedclinicalsolution.co.uk
01633 415 427
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