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Maintaining compliance | The crucial role of mock inspections in the care sector
Given the enduring financial and daily difficulties facing care service providers, it’s never been more important to prioritise the quality of care provided to service users, and to ensure commitment to upholding the highest standards.
This pursuit, however, isn’t without its challenges. As staffing issues continue to plague the sector, it proving to be incredibly difficult for services to attract and retain staff – particularly carers, nurses, and even registered managers. This shortage has put a significant strain on services, and as a result, many managers have had to focus more on immediate needs to ensure that the care of their service users isn’t compromised.
Unfortunately, this sometimes means that other important tasks, such as audits and compliance checks, become deprioritised. If services start falling behind in terms of their own quality checks, they may need external help to meet the increasing demands.
That’s where mock inspections come in.
The necessity of inspections in care
Inspections can be nerve-wracking for staff and management alike, particularly during challenging periods. Nonetheless, they play a crucial role in maintaining and enhancing the quality of care.
A comprehensive review can provide assurance that the service has a robust governance system in place and help providers focus in on where improvements need to be made, allowing valuable time and resources to be used most effectively.
Mock inspections are a great way for organisations to successfully prepare for external inspections. Carried out by experts in the field, a CQC mock inspection offers an excellent opportunity for health and social care providers to identify areas that require improvement and evidence of continuous improvement.
By simulating the inspection process, organisations can uncover weaknesses in their operations and systems and proactively address issues before they escalate into serious problems, ultimately improving the quality of care provided to patients and service users.
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How do mock inspections work?
Mock inspections are a powerful tool in highlighting deficiencies in documentation, record-keeping, training gaps, and other important aspects of care provision that can get overlooked in the day-to-day operations.
Essentially, an experienced consultant in your field conducts an on-site inspection of your service over a specified number of days to assess it against the CQC Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOE), inspection framework, and, most importantly, against the regulatory requirements.
The consultant simulates a real inspection by reviewing the service’s care plans, risk assessments, supporting documentation, health and safety documentation, governance records and staff files, as well as undertaking observations, gathering feedback and assessing various other areas of the service, all in a supportive manner.
Mock inspections also offer staff the opportunity to gain confidence and familiarise themselves with the real inspection process. This helps them to understand the importance of regulatory compliance and quality care within an inspection environment, promoting the adoption of best practices and consistent high-quality service delivery.
Changes to the assessment framework
It’s important to note that CQC regulations and standards are continually evolving and keeping up with these changes can be challenging.
Despite the forthcoming introduction of a new single assessment framework, the CQC continues to carry out approximately 600 on-site inspections per month and conducts thousands of monthly service reviews across the country under the current methodology.
While we await the nationwide implementation of the new framework and inspection methodology, it’s crucial that services do not become complacent but instead maintain a diligent approach to ensure compliance with CQC regulations, which will remain unchanged.
Failure to comply with these regulations may lead to a ‘requires improvement’ rating, inadequate KLOE rating, or an overall rating that negatively impacts the service’s operation and viability as a business.
Buying and selling: the role of compliance and due diligence inspections
Compliance with care delivery standards is crucial not only for service users and the ongoing operation as a whole but also plays a vital role if a service provider intends to sell the service. Due diligence inspections have gained popularity among prospective buyers because want to ensure that the service aligns with the information they have received.
To stand out to a buyer, you must provide evidence that your business is viable and the foundational requirements are met. Your value is influenced not only by revenue and occupancy rates but also by your ability to demonstrate compliance with HR, health and safety, and care standards. Brokers often recommend conducting a thorough inspection of your service to provide evidence that everything is ready for sale.
A lack of proof of continuous compliance can adversely affect the sale price of a service. However, an external mock inspection can provide the necessary evidence for a smoother transition during the sale. In our experience, services that undergo frequent external inspections tend to exhibit a higher standard of care and service delivery compared to their counterparts.
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How can WorkNest assist?
WorkNest has been working collaboratively with various individual services and care groups for over a decade through our sister company Care 4 Quality.
During this time, we have conducted both announced and unannounced mock inspections, providing valuable support, advice, and insight to enhance compliance and governance systems. Our expertise has enabled services to furnish substantial evidence, and positively align with the regulations and Fundamental Standards. In numerous cases, our efforts have even prevented enforcement action from being imposed.
Our nationwide panel comprises 45 experienced consultants who, in conjunction with the internal quality team, offer a personalised service tailored to meet the unique needs of each service. We understand that every service is unique, with its own set of challenges and requirements. That’s why we prioritise building relationships with our clients to understand their needs fully.
We offer the flexibility to carry out bespoke work or audits in specific areas of the service and conduct comprehensive mock inspections. Our customer-focused approach allows us to consider your organisational goals, specialisation, and operational nuances to ensure a targeted approach.
With an extensive nationwide clientele, we have a proven track record in identifying potential gaps and areas for improvement, providing industry-leading advice to proactively address these issues. We assist organisations in enhancing their overall performance every day. Each visit results in a report and action plan, providing clear direction and structure for providers, managers and staff to work from.
To enquire about a mock inspection or for additional support with your requirements, contact our team on 0345 226 8393 or request your free consultation using the button below.
