The Board will receive a verbal update on the CQC Inspection Notification.
Contact: Michelle Cross, Executive Director for Adults and Health.
Minutes:
Michelle Cross, Executive Director for Adults and Health provided the Board with a summary update on the current notification received in Kirklees from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The Board was provided with background information particularly for those who are not subject to regulation or inspection. The Board was informed that the CQC are the regulator for health and care in England. They already inspect all registered provision such as care homes, hospitals and specialist care providers.
Local authorities were previously inspected by the then Commissioner for Social Care Inspection, however that duty was removed some years ago. CQC piloted their new framework last year with five different councils, and through that pilot there were several learning aspects and CQC have started to roll out inspections across the country.
The focus of the inspections is how well local authorities perform against their duties under the Care Act, with an interest being on the frontline. Whilst is has not focused on managers and leaders, that approach is maturing, and they are now speaking to leaders and that is through feedback from pilot sites and also from councils that have been inspected.
On the 9th December 2024, Kirklees received its notification. The expectation is to provide a return which has 38 elements to it and that return had to be completed by the 10th January 2025. The teams worked tirelessly throughout Christmas to ensure that the relevant evidence was gathered. One hundred and 20 pieces of evidence was submitted to the CQC which comprised of data, intelligence, performance data, case studies and a whole plethora of information that supported the IR38.
Once that is completed, a formal notification from the CQC is awaited, where they come and undertake the inspection, and the formal notification can take anywhere from between six weeks to six months.
A lengthy self-assessment will need to be submitted which is undertaken once the date that CQC will be on site has been received. Following formal notification, there will be eight weeks to gather the evidence which should give teams sufficient time. During that period, briefings will be held and will include briefing the Health and Wellbeing Board, the Portfolio Holder, key partners and leaders across the council.
There is a great deal of support from the Local Government Association (LGA), and from Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) colleagues. Currently work is being undertaken to ensure that there are workshops being planned with frontline staff and leaders and there will be a specific session planned for Elected Members, the portfolio holder and the leadership team. The LGA will undertake a session with up to 100 staff.
The difficulty being faced is that if there is six months wait, this will require the information being constantly updated and gathering case studies. When the formal notification is received, 50 cases have to be submitted which they will then decide which cases they will look at, assessing cases that addresses the customer journey. CQC will only be on site for two days, therefore they will need to be succinct about who they speak to and in terms of the opening presentation.
The Principal Social Worker (PSW) plays a key role because the assessment is against Care Act duties and the PSW will be working across the region making sure they are well prepared for the inspection, because a lot of time is spent with the PSW.
The Board was advised that once the formal notification has been received, a further update will be provided at a future meeting. This is to ensure that Board members are fully briefed on what the intentions are and how much support and preparation will need to be given to partners across the whole partnership across Kirklees.
RESOLVED:
That Michelle Cross be thanked for providing an initial update on the CQC Inspection Notification and that the information be noted.