If you are a healthcare provider, receiving a ‘Special Measures’ designation from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is a critical juncture that demands immediate, comprehensive, and proactive action. It signifies that a healthcare provider has fallen below the threshold of acceptable quality, and the consequences of inaction can be severe.
At HLTH Group, we understand the gravity of this situation and are here to provide specialised support tailored to the unique challenges faced by healthcare providers in ‘Special Measures’.
Healthcare Compliance. HR. Software Solutions – Learn more about us by clicking here.
Key Lines of Enquiry (Quality Statements)
The CQC assesses healthcare services using Key Lines of Enquiry (“KLOES”) and rates them as ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Requires Improvement’, or ‘Inadequate’. It’s important to note that, according to the “Fundamental Standards of Care,” only a ‘Good’ rating is considered good enough when a service is evaluated against the legal service compliance standards. Any rating below ‘Good’ is regarded as a breach of regulations, which may trigger some form of “enforcement action.”
If a service receives an ‘Inadequate’ rating in any aspect during an inspection, it will undergo re-inspection within six months. If it receives another ‘Inadequate’ rating, even if unrelated to the previous finding, it may trigger ‘Special Measures.’ This can have far-reaching consequences, including reduced income, local authority concerns, negative local media coverage, and a loss of consumer confidence. This has led some healthcare providers to make the difficult decision to close services rapidly, fearing the repercussions of ‘Special Measures.’
Healthcare Compliance. HR. Software Solutions – Learn more about us by clicking here.At HLTH Group, we believe that addressing ‘Inadequate’ findings comprehensively and promptly is crucial to a healthcare provider’s recovery. Our approach includes:
Launching an Internal Inquiry
We work with you to launch an internal inquiry to understand the root causes of the issues identified and develop a strategic plan for improvement.
Crisis CQC Compliance Support
Our team of former CQC inspectors, healthcare professionals and compliance experts will provide expert guidance on the approach needed to rectify problems and continuously monitors progress.
Communicating with the Care Quality Commission
Transparency and demonstrating your proactivity to the CQC is incredibly important.
Independently Assessing the CQC's Findings
We review the CQC’s findings and, when necessary, challenge the draft inspection report to ensure accuracy and fairness.
Seeking Support for Residents and Service Users
We help you engage positively with residents and service users to build support and trust within the community.
Interim Management Support
Often, in-post Registered Managers leave their positions following a difficult CQC inspection. We can place an experienced Interim and Crisis Manager to help steady the ship.
HR Management
We provide guidance on addressing personnel issues, ensuring that staff are aligned with the goals of improvement.
PR Support
We can offer advice and guidance on communicating transparently, proactively and effectively with your local community, media and service users.
Navigating the challenges of ‘Special Measures’ demands a strategic, proactive, and informed approach. At HLTH Group, we stand ready to assist healthcare providers in this critical phase, offering the expertise and support needed to emerge from ‘Special Measures’ stronger, more resilient, and committed to delivering the highest standards of care. Contact us today to discuss how we can help you navigate this challenging journey and work towards a brighter healthcare future.a
Healthcare Compliance. HR. Software Solutions – Learn more about us by clicking here.
At HLTH HR we provide purpose-built HR software and expert support to healthcare providers nationwide, ensuring they successfully optimise their management of staff and HR processes. HLTH HR provides the expert support you need to remain legally compliant with your obligations as an employer. Supported by our HLTH Manage software system, you can manage your staff more easily, and improve employee satisfaction and wellbeing.
We specialise in finding highly skilled, compliant professionals for a wide range of roles within Healthcare, Adult Social Care, and Medical Services. We believe the success of healthcare services begins with their staff, and at HLTH Group we are industry-leading experts in interim management and permanent healthcare recruitment. Learn more by clicking below.
HLTH Manage is the UK’s leading CQC Compliance Software. The system is an innovative software solution that ensures providers are one step ahead of CQC requirements via our state-of-the-art system and the support provided by a team of compliance experts – ensuring that we offer holistic, tech-enabled solutions. Learn more by clicking below.