May 2016 |
drinkanddrugsnews
| 17
Do you know what’s is happening with CQC
inspections? You may have had a CQC inspection
already, or you may be waiting for the next
email or visit. Well, from now on all inspections
will be announced approximately 20 weeks in
advance, giving you an opportunity to send all
the information to CQC in a ‘Provider
Information Return’ in advance of the visit.
ComplianCe
David Finney
gives the latest
essential chapter on preparing for
Care Quality Commission inspection
1. DETOX SERVICES:
The emphasis during inspection will be on the clinical and prescribing aspects of
the service and CQC’s expectations are that there will be:
•
Medical oversight by:
•
A consultant psychiatrist with specific addiction treatment knowledge or
•
A GP with at least RCGP part 1 in the treatment of alcohol and drug misuse.
•
Nursing staff with the right training.
•
Adherence to NICE guidelines on alcohol and drug misuse.
•
Clinical assessment tools.
•
Thorough physical health assessments on all people joining the service.
•
A multi-disciplinary team (MDT) which coordinates treatment.
•
A clinical governance framework which includes audits, a track record on safety
and quality assurance.
2. MENTAL CAPACITY ACT AND THE DEPRIVATION OF LIBERTIES
SAFEGUARDS (DOLS)
CQC have a statutory duty to monitor the implementation of this Act. Obvious
examples of where this Act applies are when a person is intoxicated and so has no
capacity to make a sensible decision, or when they have alcohol-related brain injury
which limits their cognitive functioning. So:
•
Staff need to be trained and be able to explain the principles behind the
legislation.
•
Staff need to be able to explain that any restrictions in the treatment programme
are not infringements of people’s liberty, but agreements which people make to
ensure effective treatment.
3. ENFORCEMENT
It is important to highlight the fact that CQC have become much more robust in
their enforcement procedures. This means that where services are found to be
non-compliant:
•
CQC may initially seek the voluntary agreement of the provider to cease admitting
people to the service until certain measures are in place.
•
In some cases CQC may quickly issue statutory warning notices if they believe that
concerns about practice are serious.
4. OTHER CRUCIAL AREAS
•
Risk assessments and risk management plans need to be clearly outlined. Recently
CQC have specifically been asking about risks associated with early discharge,
suicide or self-harm and destabilisation following detoxification.
•
Documentation must be thorough. There must be an audit trail of decision
making and care planning. Also CQC may ask for a whole range of policies and
procedures be sent to them.
5. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO?
Ensure all staff are inducted into the meaning of the CQC regulations and the five
key questions.
Undertake a thorough audit of the operation of your services before your
inspection. If you are not sure what to do, then seek advice from an external
advisor/trainer who can explain exactly how to achieve compliance.
David Finney will be running a one-day workshop on 30 June in central London
focusing on mental capacity and detoxification in CQC inspections. Details at
/
The inspecTor calls
