CQC demonstrate a tendency to shift their focus on specific aspects of the Regulations.
Listening to home care providers’ experience of inspections, it is possible to identify consistencies in specific Regulations being breached.
Currently, CQC appear to be focussing on the thoroughness of home care providers’ record keeping on staff recruitment processes.
Regulation 19 (Health and Social Care Act 2008) sets out specific information that registered providers need to evidence to be compliant in ensuring that they have recruited fit and proper persons to carry out regulated activities.
Most of the information required is set out in Schedule 3 and must be recorded before an individual is employed.
It’s all about detail
Clear documentation of evidence is key to show compliance.
Below is a list of most of the evidence and processes CQC will expect to see when questioning the fitness of a home care provider:
-
Proof of identity (including a recent photograph)
-
Copy of enhanced criminal record certificate (where required) + (where applicable) suitability information relating to children or vulnerable adults
-
Copy of criminal record certificate + relevant information related to SOVA 2006 (where required)
-
Evidence of conduct in previous employment in the provision of services relating to health or social care, or children or vulnerable adults (i.e. references from all past employers in relevant roles, at least 2 references, or evidence of requests for references even if no response was received
-
Written evidence detailing why there were no concerns about information provided
-
Written evidence of thought processes and reasoning behind decision making
-
Where someone previously employed working with children, or vulnerable adults, satisfactory verification, where reasonably obtainable, of the reason why employment ended (i.e. written evidence of attempt to contact a previous employer to gain verification, whether or not a response was received)
-
Satisfactory documentary evidence of qualification relevant to the duties for which the person is employed or appointed to perform (e.g. training certificates, nurse PIN numbers, competency assessments, etc.)
-
Full employment history, and a satisfactory written explanation of any gaps in employment (back to the time in full time compulsory education)
-
Satisfactory information about any physical or mental health conditions which are relevant to their capability, after reasonable adjustments are made, to properly perform tasks that are intrinsic to their employment
-
A checklist of all of the points above
By capturing and centralising the evidence above, home care providers can meet inspector expectations and avoid potential Regulation breach resulting in severe action and impacting the inspection rating.
MyHelpa’s versatility allows home care providers to easily capture all information required for every stakeholder.
From staff and service users/customers/patients, to GP’s, Local Authority Commissioners and family members, and many more.
With all data centrally located on the platform, the reporting tool allows for easy retrieval of information for inspectors to scrutinise.
No more paper files, cabinets and costly archive storage boxes.
All the data critical to your business is now available at your fingertips.