CQC Updates “Plan and Approach” for Transformation

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has issued an update on its complex transformation programme” and evolving inspection strategy

This outlines the regulator s work so far in 2023 and sets out what health and care providers and others can expect for the rest of the year, including the new regulatory approach engaging with providers reorganising CQC s operational teams and work on assessing local authorities and integrated care systems

THESE CHANGES WILL:

• Introduce a new regulatory approach for health and care providers, integrated care systems (ICS) and local authorities

Establish a new Regulatory Leadership team to shape CQC priorities and drive improvement

Change how CQC s operational teams are structured to better deliver its regulatory activity

Deliver a new and improved provider portal

CQC s strategic ambition is to drive improvements across the health and care system helping to tackle health inequalities This has not changed

CQC had planned to introduce their new regulatory approach this month However following a full review of their timeline this will now happen later in 2023 This is to ensure that improvements can be made as smoothly as possible, as providers continue to experience persistent pressures

LISTENING TO FEEDBACK

Having listened to feedback CQC is taking time to work in partnership with their stakeholders and to be clear around what is and is not changing This is so that providers can be clear about their requirements and have time to prepare for changes

CQC is currently doing more testing of the changes already released and taking feedback into considera- tion before extending changes to other services to ensure providers will be able to adapt to them smoothly

They will continue to develop their new approach and in addition to their regular inspection programme, will prioritise their:

National programme of inspections in maternity services

‘People First’ resource which aims to help all elements of the urgent and emergency care (UEC) pathway

Monthly reviews of services

During this period providers will not see any changes to their local relationships with CQC Over time, providers will engage with their local teams in different ways

NEXT STEPS

CQC will continue to implement the new approach in phases, ensuring each phase is properly implemented before moving to the next

From spring they will focus on making sure the technology they require is in place and testing it with providers and checking that their new regulatory approach is ready to launch

Because services are under pressure CQC will minimise the changes they make and focus on mainly internal priorities

In summer CQC will launch their new online provider portal in stages and with support and guidance

Towards the end of 2023 CQC will gradually start to carry out assessments using the new assessment framework

This will be powered by new integrated assessment teams and supported by new technology CQC will provide regular updates and more detail during the year

Halcyon House Shop Named in Honour of Former Staff Member

Residents at Halcyon House in Formby are enjoying the use of a newly opened shop stocked with essentials that they may need in their day-to-day lives

Carer Liam Brown put his creative skills to excellent use to create the shop, following the residents expressed wishes to have somewhere where they could buy toiletries, stationery, snacks and anything else they may need in their day-today lives

Liam explained “We recently had a new storage facility put in which meant that we had a store room that was unused

I built the entire shop took over the course of a week spending about two hours every day on it after my shift finished I was given a small budget of £150, so I removed the existing door and installed a barn-style door in its place I also put in a shutter so it can be kept locked when it’s not in use, and added a counter-top and some shelves which I manage to salvage from around the home

The shop is named Stevenson’s Shop in honour of Chris Stevenson a carer who sadly recently passed away after working at the home for 15 years

Manager AnnMarie Roberts says Our lovely carer Chris is very much missed She loved a boiled sweet and was always putting her lip balm on so she would have loved the shop It symbolises many of the things she loved to do For example, she enjoyed a good chat with our residents, and they use the shop as a way to catch up with each other as well It is a lovely way for us all at Halcyon House to reminisce about the happy times we have had with her ”

Resident Mary Kent added It was the little things that Chris always remembered that made her so special and dearly missed ”

On the shop opening Chris children said It s so nice to see how well thought of our mum was at Halcyon House A big thank you from our family to her work family ”

The residents were given the opportunity to propose their thoughts on what the décor of the shop should be A 1940s-50s theme was chosen and the shop features typical posters from that era on the walls and a vintage till which it is hoped will help the residents reminisce about shopping and shops they use to visit when they were younger

Open twice a week the shop has proven popular with the residents since it was announced in the house’s newsletter, bringing the things they need to just a stone’s throw away

Resident Freda Gore said “Knowing everything in in walking distance for both me and my husband is comforting

AnnMarie added We are all so grateful for Liam and all his hard work He is always full of new and interesting ideas and makes a great difference to our residents who miss him greatly when he is not in It was a lovely thing to do and helped bring some comfort to us all at Halcyon at a difficult time Exciting times ahead, as we never know what new feature or activity he will come up with next!