Would your practice be ready if the CQC dropped by tomorrow?

Do you dread the knock on the door that means an inspection from the CQC? You’re not alone – even though you and your staff work hard every day to make sure you’re providing the standards they require.

To remind you: the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is England’s independent health and social care regulator. It ensures hospitals, dental and GP practices and care homes deliver high-quality care that meets government standards.

The CQC checks your practice at least once every three years (within six months of opening if you are running a care home and can come unannounced at any time and on scheduled visits )

It means your standards need to be constantly kept up to scratch – and at Bison Assist, we know exactly how to help you do that.

The CQC checks if your practice is:

• Safe
• Effective
• Caring
• Responsive
• Well-led.

So can you prepare for a CQC inspection?

One of the best ways to make sure your practice is in good shape, according to Chris Hickman, CEO of risk assessment specialists Bison Assist, is to enlist the help of experts.

Bison’s CQC Compliance Package helps care providers all over the country to be prepared and organised for inspections.

“In more than a decade in the industry helping over 2,000 clients nationwide, we’ve seen the stress that can be caused by a CQC visit,” he says. “It doesn’t need to be that way, even though Health and Safety is an ongoing, ever-evolving challenge.

“Remember, the risk assessment is the beginning of the journey, not an end in itself – and Bison is there to help you all the way through the process.”

What does CQC look at?

As part of the CQC inspection, a risk assessment must be completed. This allows inspectors to see that safe and effective care is being provided in well-led policies and procedures. Mitigating risk and identifying any hazards is essential for an excellent inspection rating.  Having these recorded in a risk assessment can make identifying any risks easier to manage and reduce the likelihood of accidents.

The CQC examines a wide range of potential risks to the health of your staff and patients, including:

1. Health & Safety

• Accidents & Incidents
• First Aid Facilities
• Chemical Safety
• Workplace Safety

2. Disability Access

• Hearing impaired, visually impaired
• Contrast provision between the toilet door, walls and floors
• Hearing Induction loop signage
• Access and car parking

3. Legionella

• Legionella Management Control
• Infrequently Used Outlets
• Dead Legs & Tails
  
• Temperature Recordings & Sentinel Points

4. Fire Risk

• Identification of Fire Hazards and Controls
• Fire Warning & Alarm Systems
• Means of Escape & Fire Doors
• Fire Safety Signs & Notices

But don’t panic!

Chris says: “It’s quite a long list, and any practice might understandably feel overwhelmed. That’s where our Bison experts come in, to take away the strain.

“Unlike your busy practice, Health & Safety Management is our everyday speciality; we know best, and have a deep understating of what the CQC requires.

“We’re here to make sure you provide the tip-top standards you need and want, and our CQC Compliance Package means we handle all your risk assessments in one go. Easy!”

How does the risk assessment report link to your CQC rating?

The CQC rates service standards on a 4-point scale:

Taking necessary action

Chris says: “These ratings help you to compare services and make choices about care.

Within the report we prepare for the CQC, there’s an Action Plan section.

“It’s vital that you understand the actions you need to take and implement them – in fact it’s a legal responsibility. The Health and Safety Executive warns: ‘A risk assessment is only effective if you and your staff act on it. You must follow through with any actions required and review them on an annual basis.

Action plans can have so many recommendations that it can sometimes feel overwhelming. Bison provide a free compliance support service after your visit, so you can call us and speak to our compliance team at any point in your journey. Understanding your next steps is essential to excellent compliance.

“You may be able to achieve some of the required actions in-house by your responsible person or a member of your team, while others need to be carried by specialists with the relevant qualifications, skills and competence.”

Where can you find the best help?

Once you are part of the Bison herd, you never have to deal with these issues alone.  Health and safety Is our business – so let us focus on that, while you focus on yours.

Our multi-service discount is there to make our services as cost-effective as possible for you. And as your trusted partner in safety, we’ll help and guide you on every step of your path to CQC compliance and excellence.

What does our CQC Compliance Package include? 

Our goal is to make it as simple and straightforward as possible to stay on top of your Health and Safety requirements and obligations.

That’s why we offer all of our customers the 4-in-1 multi-service compliance package completed in one visit: 

• Legionella Risk Assessment
• Fire Risk Assessment
• Health & Safety Assessment
• Disability Access Assessment
• Legionella Water Sampling
• Pseudomonas Water Sampling

If you require any advice and would like to chat with the herd, call us 0800 862 0066 – even if you don’t need a quote right now.