With such strong and UK-wide demand for healthcare providers across Primary, Acute and Adult Social Care, there has naturally been an upturn in applications to the Care Quality Commission (CQC). When so much depends on having your new venture registered with the CQC, having your application denied can seem like a minor disaster.
The first thing to say is, don’t panic!
There are a number of reasons why CQC applications are refused, and most of them are relatively straightforward to tackle.
Missing or incorrect data
What sometimes happens is a CQC application fails to get passed the initial screening phase, before the crucial quality assessment takes place.
When you send in your paperwork, within five days of receipt the CQC puts your application through a process of validation. This involves checking that all the essential data has been provided. If you miss anything out, or there are discrepancies in the information you provide, then the application is refused.
Just to be clear. This is not the CQC rejecting your registration. They are simply indicating that something is wrong or missing.
What happens next?
Usually, the CQC returns your application with relevant forms and guides which clarify what you need to do to ensure your application is successfully validated the next time.
However, what happens if you are not sure what you need to do to resubmit your CQC application correctly? We can step in and point you in the right direction.
Can the application still fail?
Once you’ve got your CQC application passed the validation stage, and your assessment takes place, you should receive confirmation of CQC registration promptly.
However, if the inspector is not satisfied with some aspect of your organisation’s policies and procedures, medicines management and staffing levels, for example, you could face a Notice of Proposal to Refuse (NoP). That is a more complex issue and one we would be pleased to explain if you get in touch with our team.