CQC Resources for GP practices
Useful resource on our website for GPs: GP Mythbusters: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/gps/gp-mythbusters (by key question) or full list https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/gps/gp-mythbusters/gp-mythbusters-full-list-tips-mythbusters
Useful resource for GP practices: GP Mythbusters
1. What is the mandatory training requirements for CQC?
2. Do the CQC have a specific list of required mandatory training modules (and how often)?
CQC don’t have them, we look at other guidance and requirements (such as intercollegiate guidance on safeguarding), see mythbuster 70 above
3. What is required pertaining to staff records including training?
This is where CQC set the standards, or rather the legislation giving CQC powers does.
All requirements are set out in Schedule 3 to the 2014 regulations: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/2936/schedule/3
IMPORTANT – ‘employed’ does NOT mean paid or contracted. It also includes anyone working on behalf of the service but paid through, for example, the PCN. (mythbuster 106: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/gps/gp-mythbusters/gp-mythbuster-106-primary-care-first-contact-practitioners-fcps). Ask yourself – how
are YOU assured the staff meet the required standards? This would also apply to locums etc…
4. Does the CQC have a specific list of policies / procedures / protocols that they would expect a GP practice to have in place?
No enumerated list. What we want is that the service has the policies and processes necessary to run safely and effectively, and how those are carved up across particular policies and procedures is up to them.
REMEMBER, no good having policies and processes if staff don’t know about them or where to refer to them.
5. How often does a DBS need to be done for staff – clinical and non-clinical? We do for all new staff during recruitment.
Mythbuster 2 (DBS): https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/gps/gp-mythbusters/gp-mythbuster-2-who-should-have-disclosure-barring-service-dbs-check
Mythbuster 15 (Chaperones): https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/gps/gp-mythbusters/gp-mythbuster-15-chaperones
If deviate from the ‘norm’ – need a reasonable and clear (and recorded) rationale. This should be related to the requirements of the role and not the particular individual.
6. What is the difference between KLOE and Quality Statement?
Age – less flippantly, the Quality Statements cover (in almost all cases – there are a couple of new areas) the same aspects as the old Key Lines of Enquiry, but are worded in a much more service user-friendly way.
Quality statements can be found here: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/assessment/single-assessment-framework/safe/learning-culture.
This page sets out the previous key lines of enquiry (and in the “Download and print” section the first PDF sets out the ratings characteristics in the second half of the document, which may be helpful – though we are working on new versions of these for quality statements): https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/healthcare/key-lines-enquiry-healthcare-services
7. Updates to the inspections and processes and what to expect on the day?
Nothing different, unless not had a remote clinical review before. Mention Ardens having copies of our searches for free (but these are NOT sufficient for day to day management of patients as these only identify extreme outliers). Mythbuster 12 covers the searches – from about half way down: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/gps/gp-mythbusters/gp-mythbuster-12-accessing-medical-records-during-inspections
8. Do you check to see if practices have Freedom to Speak up processes?
Yes (Mythbuster 87: https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/gps/gp-mythbusters/gp-mythbuster-87-freedom-to-speak-up)