Caring about CQC Compliance

CQC Compliance isn’t just about ticking the boxes for sector standards and regulations. Ultimately, it’s about safe, high-quality care for everyone.

DKJ can help you with

CQC Registration - Full Registration Process

Support new and emerging organisations and services with preparing documentation, including statements of purpose, policies and procedures, governance documents and full registration process.

CQC Registration - Registered Manager

Support new and emerging organisations and services with preparing for the Registered Manager's process, including applying for a counter-signed DBS and obtaining relevant information such as references.

Responding to CQC Inspections

Work with organisations to respond to warning notices or actions arising from a CQC inspection, including action planning and ensuring the organisation can implement these before the deadline.

CQC Mock Inspection and Deep Dives

Undertake service/organisation health checks aligned to the CQC KLOEs, prepare RAG reports and action plans highlighting areas of best practice and areas for improvement. Support organisations to implement and embed the actions before their inspection, including monthly assessments.

CQC Compliance Packages

While CQC compliance responsibility truly falls with teams and how they perform their jobs as well as the leadership, the actual paperworkof compliance generally falls to one person. Thats a lot of pressure on somebodys shoulders. Even more so when you throw audits and CQC registration into the mix!

Release some pressure with a package of support from DKJ:

Time: Up to 2 hours.

  • Overview of CQC registration and the requirements including Registered Manager process.
  • Undertake a CQC checklist to determine CQC perimeters.
  • Overview of CQC Inspection and what to expect.
  • Q&A session.

Time:  The whole process, if everything is required, will take up to 8.5 days however you can ‘mix and match’ for the services you require so you may not need the full number of days.

We would be able to undertake the following:

  • Prepare all relevant documentation including statement of purpose, policies and procedures, staff files and processes, governance documentation, quality assurance documentation and any other associated documents.
  • Undertake and complete the online new provider application process.
  • Support with the Registered Manager process, if required and relevant.
  • Full management of the online process including follow up questions. 

Time: 5 days

  • CQC Single Assessment Framework Workshop for all staff detailing the changes, I & We Statements, evidence categories and emphasis on feedback for evidence gathering. We will also cover feedback from what we know from the early adopter GP Practice sites.
  • Undertaking baseline activity to understand feedback from patients, staff and leaders and partners.
  • Policy and procedure review including clinical searches ensuring all evidence is available and up to date.
  • Specific focus on communication and engagement with patients and using digital methods.
  • Action Plan Advice, Guidance and Support.
  • 6-month access to DKJ CQC Helpdesk.

Time: 6 days including access to our CQC Digital Tool powered by Redmoor Health.

    1. Full Mock Inspection based on 5 KLOEs including policy and procedure review and ensuring all evidence is available and up to date. This includes looking at your clinical searches.
    2. RAG Report and Action Plan.
    3. Implementation, embed and monitor actions identified ready for CQC inspection.
    4. Follow up support after CQC inspection (if required).

Time: 3 days including access to our CQC Digital Tool.

  • Mock Inspection based on 5 KLOEs including policy and procedure review and ensuring all evidence is available and up to date.
  • Overview to team members of what to expect.

Time: 2 days.

  • Deep Dive into a specific KLOE if there is a particular area of concern for example CQC are focusing on Safe in their new regime.
  • Policy and procedure review Action plan and RAG rating.

Time: Up to 4 days

    • Detailed Assessment of your policies and procedures as a practice.
    • Update all policies and procedures so that they meet statutory and national policy guidelines.
    • Arrange policies and procedures in evidence files ready for CQC.

Support Packages

Pathfinder Digital Tool

Welcome to Pathfinder, our easy-to-use digital tool which helps you and you team prepare for your CQC Assessment.

Pathfinder allows you to:

  • View each Key Line of Enquiry Quality Statement
  • Assess your organisation against what Good looks like
  • Securely upload your evidence to each of the quality statements.
  • Prioritise next steps in a CQC action plan.

You can use Pathfinder in a way which is most suitable to you and your team. 

This can be to self-assess your practice against what good looks like, work with us to go through the assessment providing additional help, advice or guidance where needed like policies, procedures, clinical searches and much more or attend one of our Action Learning sets – the choice is yours.

Includes access to our CQC Assessment Tool, Pathfinder.

  • Focused support on specific Key Lines of Enquiry following CQC Assessment.
  • Action Plan Advice, Guidance and Support
  • 6-month access to DKJ CQC Helpdesk

Includes access to our CQC Assessment Tool, Pathfinder.

  • Full Mock Inspection based on 5 Key Lines of Enquiry.
  • Policy and procedure review including clinical searches ensuring all evidence is available and up to date.
  • Action Plan Advice, Guidance and Support.
  • 6-month access to DKJ CQC Helpdesk.

Includes access to our CQC Assessment Tool, Pathfinder.

  • Full Mock Inspection based on 5 Key Lines of Enquiry.
  • Policy and procedure review including clinical searches ensuring all evidence is available and up to date.
  • Action Plan Advice, Guidance and Support.
  • Implementation, embed and monitor actions identified ready for CQC inspection.
  • Provision of templates, as required.
  • Support Practice Staff with CQC preparation for current and new processes/
  • 12-month access to DKJ CQC Helpdesk.

If you are considering using Pathfinder at scale for your practices within your Primary Care Network or GP Federation, let us know.

We are currently booking in demos for Pathfinder, if you would like to book one or to chat about this, get in touch!

Pathfinder

Ready Set Go Clinics

With our Trusted Partner Primary Care Comms Clinic, we have developed our Ready Set Go Clinics.

For a long time, teams have been asking both of us for help with comms and engagement around three of the trickiest areas of primary care; CQC inspections, patient participation groups and inclusion health groups. But we couldn’t do one without the other. So we’ve teamed up to deliver these workshops.

Get in touch for more information or to book your place.

Training Packages

Choose our team of experts at DKJ to train you and your team in statutory, mandatory and bespoke training which ticks the boxes for CQC and your organisation.  Delivered from the perspective of health and social but also with plenty of inspiring examples from other industries you can be assured that we cover everything.

Our training rolls theory and practice into one whilst also giving you and your team the time and headspace to focus on those key areas which will benefit your organisation.

CQC Mandatory, Statutory and Organisational Specific Training

Safe Key Line of Enquiry

Online – 2.5 hours

Face to Face – Half a Day

Covering:

  • Effective IPC Policy and Procedures
  • Knowing who your IPC Lead is and what they do
  • Your IPC Audit Programme
  • Staff Training
  • Access to Occupational Health

Online – Two x 2.5 hours

Face to Face – Full Day

Covering:

  • The importance of health and safety in primary care including the legislation
  • The risk management process
  • Reporting, recording and learning from the incident information
  • Risk Assessments in the workplace
  • Hazards in the primary care workplace
  • Action Planning

Online – 2.5 hours

Face to Face – Half a Day

Covering:

  • What is a chaperone?
  • Describe what is meant by an intimate examination
  • Be aware of the rights of the patient
  • Describe your role as a chaperone
  • Communicate the service to patients

Online – Two x 2.5 hours

Face to Face – Full Day

Covering:

  • Recruitment, contracts of employment, staff handbooks and policies
  • Implied, statutory and contractual employment rights
  • Changes to terms and conditions
  • The Equality Act
  • Flexible working, time off (including maternity and paternity), part time working)
  • Discipline and grievance
  • Bullying and Harassment
  • Poor performance and absence
  • How to retain staff

Online – Two x 2.5 hours

Face to Face – Full Day

Covering:

  • Understanding safeguarding including vulnerable people
  • Categories of abuse, why and how they occur.
  • Whose responsibility is safeguarding?
  • Barriers to safeguarding
  • Why Is Safeguarding necessary in Primary Care
  • How to seek advice and appropriately share concerns
  • Local policy and procedure awareness
  • Action Planning

Caring Key Line of Enquiry

Online – 2.5 hours

Face to Face – Half a Day

Covering:

  • What is customer service and why is it important in general practice
  • Understanding effective communication
  • Active listening and customer service
  • Managing challenging behaviour and situations
  • Action Planning

Customer Service

Online – 2.5 hours

Face to Face – Half a Day

Covering:

  • The definition of resilience
  • How to proactively develop resilience
  • Exploring self-awareness
  • Understanding where you can access support from in the NHS
  • Your own personal action plan

Online – 2.5 hours

Face to Face – Half a Day

Covering:

  • Understanding why a difficult conversation may happen
  • How to prepare for a difficult conversation and building resilience.
  • Skills for a difficult conversation and listening exercise
  • Models of feedback (giving and receiving)
  • Transactional Analysis/Modes of conflict
  • Action Planning

Online – 2.5 hours

Face to Face – Half a Day

Covering:

  • Understanding Communication
  • Recognise their own personality style and those of your colleagues, patients and other customers.
  • Understanding conflict
  • Enhance awareness of your response to different conflict situations and personality types
  • Manage and understand the expectations, feelings, fears and needs of the patients.

Exhibit more confidence, motivation and control when dealing with challenging situations

Effective Key Line of Enquiry

Online – Two x 2.5 hours

Face to Face – Full Day

Covering:

  • Introduction to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • Understanding Equality Act 2010
  • Unconscious bias and prejudice
  • Benefits of a diverse workforce
  • Discrimination law and associated risks
  • Reasonable adjustment obligation for disabled people
  • Action Planning

Online – Two x 2.5 hours

Face to Face – Full Day

Covering:

  • The patient expectation versus the reality.
  • Effectively communicating with patients
  • Creating understanding with a diverse population
  • Access and appointments including the Capacity and Access Plan
  • Improving your system and protocols
  • Planning improvements in your practice

Online – 2.5 hours

Face to Face – Half a Day

Covering:

  • Defining Whistleblowing and the law
  • The role of the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian
  • Focus on the Policies and Procedures
  • Understanding what CQC require
  • Action Planning

Online – 2.5 hours

Face to Face – Half a Day

Covering:

  • Introduction to social media and the platforms
  • Setting up your practice’s social media pages
  • Measuring success
  • Replying to comments and reputation management
  • Action Planning

Online – 2.5 hours

Face to Face – Half a Day

Covering: 

  • What is the Accessible Information Standard (AIS) and who does it apply to?
  • Five steps of AIS and Providing accessible information
  • What does you practice need to know?
  • Action Planning

Well Led Key Line of Enquiry

Online –Two x  2.5 hours

Face to Face: Full Day

Covering:

  • What is a Vision and why do you need one.
  • Where are you now and where do you want to be.
  • Setting Your Vision and developing the who, what, how and the why.
  • SWOT Analysis of Your Vision
  • Action Planning

Online –2.5 hours

Face to Face: Half Day

Covering:

  • Knowing why you need a business plan and the benefit of one for your practice
  • Linking your vision, values and mission statement to your Business Plan
  • Considering the tools you need in your Business Plan
  • How to get started
  • Consulting your Stakeholders
  • Action Plan

Online –2.5 hours

Face to Face: Half Day

Covering:

  • Understanding Succession Planning and why it is important
  • The link with workforce planning
  • Getting Started and Getting Buy In
  • Personal Action Plan

Online –Two x  2.5 hours

Face to Face: Full Day

Covering:

  • Understanding the different income streams coming in to general practice
  • Monitoring and maximising practice income
  • Controlling costs and working effectively
  • Calculating staff costs
  • Costing new services
  • Understanding practice accounts and accounting terminology
  • The importance of financial governance and probity

Online – 2.5 hours

Face to Face: Half Day

Covering:

  • Defining Quality Improvement?
  • QI & QOF
  • Principles of Quality Improvement
  • Cultivating a Learning Culture
  • Action Planning

Need help finding the right training course for you?

Case Studies

We have a lot of experience supporting health and social care teams with their compliance. Read about some of our projects below:

Introduction & Problem

A GP practice based in East London contacted us to get help with their CQC registration for a New Provided and Registered Manager. They wanted to make sure they were following all the necessary steps, so they hired us to assist with the process.

The Process

The CQC registration process is tricky, but we made it easy for them to get through it.

We met with members of the practice, kept in regular contact, and helped them complete their registered manager process. Then we took care of all the paperwork that came next, including providing information for the manager’s interview. We also helped explain policies and procedures that were required, although we were not commissioned to complete these on behalf of the practice.

We were able to help the GP practice with their CQC registration process further by responding on behalf of them to any CQC queries and completing registration documents via the CQC portal including KLOES and Statement of Purpose.

The Results

Our assistance in getting the GP practice’s CQC registration granted was a great success, and we are happy to be able to work with them again in the future.

We believe that our services are valuable for any business that wants to get their CQC registration granted.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about what we can do for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Introduction & Problem

A hearing aid provider located in the UK approached us to help with their registration for new providers and registered medical practitioners (RM).

The Process

In addition to completing the registration process, we also helped them complete all policies and procedures.

To start off our work together, we met with the client’s management team to explain the processes they would need to follow in order to complete their registration. As they had not dealt with this process before, it was important that they had a clear understanding of what was required of them by the CQC. From there, we began working closely with them to help them get through each step of the registration process.

When we received questions back from CQC regarding some of their documents or policies and procedures (which is normal), we responded on behalf of the client so that they didn’t have to worry about it themselves. Additionally, when we ran into issues with getting through certain sections of their KLOES questionnaire (which is also normal), we were able to help them figure out what needed changing so that it could be submitted successfully.

The Results

Once everything was submitted successfully, it only took a few weeks before they received confirmation from CQC that both new provider and RM registration had been accepted!

The benefits of hiring a professional company to help with your CQC registration process are many. First, having a team that has the expertise necessary to handle the intricacies of the CQC registration process can help to reduce the time and effort required on your part, leaving you more time to focus on what matters most: growing your business. Second, a qualified company will be able to provide you with valuable insight into how best to proceed with each step in the registration process. Third, hiring a professional means that your personal information is kept safe and secure throughout the entire process.

Introduction & Problem

A Community Diagnostics Service approached us for help with their CQC registration. They work with the public and private healthcare sector to provide vital services to hospital trusts and patients by delivering tailored interim staffing solutions and managed equipment services.

The Problem

The client contacted us because they were being turned down for contracts due to lack of CQC registration, which was pausing their valuable service delivery to hospital trusts and patients. The CQC kept on rejecting their applications because they didn’t feel they needed to register as they worked within already established hospital trusts.

They wanted us to help prepare all the documentation for the new CQC registration application and provide advice on how to proceed.

The Process

At DKJ, we’re committed to helping our clients succeed. That’s why, when we were contacted about their CQC registration process, we jumped at the chance to help.

We prepared all necessary documentation for their new registration and produced new policies for them to meet CQC requirements. We also supported their registered manager with the registered manager application and countersigned the DBS process.

We held regular team meetings to give updates on progress and ensure that the work being produced fitted the needs of the service.

The Results

The results we received after helping with their CQC registration were very positive.

We submitted a full written explanation of the need for registration, which was accepted by CQC and led to the registration going ahead.

The clients are very happy with this outcome and are now able to focus on their work, knowing that they are compliant with all regulations.

We hope this case study has helped convince you that hiring a professional company to do a strategic review can help you make sure your company is where it needs to be.

Introduction & Problem

We helped a GP practice in Merseyside prepare for an upcoming CQC Inspection. The practice had a CQC inspection rating of ‘Requires Improvement overall’ and an inspection was imminent. The practice manager was looking for support to guide them through the preparation.

The Process

DKJ worked with the practice manager to create a comprehensive action plan for the practice. The process began with a series of Teams meetings and the use of a shared folder, which ensured there was just one version of documents and plans and that it was easy to share templates and examples.

Together we completed a comprehensive action plan through a series of guided conversations, noting where the practice met and could evidence standards and where actions or evidence needed to be put in place. The practice was also being supported through the local CCG, and our action plan was incorporated into theirs to avoid duplication of effort by the practice manager.

The practice received the inspection call as we came to the end of our project together, so we worked together to complete the pre-inspection document submission.

The Results

After the CQC inspection, the GP Practice was rated ‘Good overall’ after taking the steps we suggested to improve their practice management. They also received a number of positive comments from patients and staff.

The practice manager was very pleased with the result and said that DKJ’s approach had been flexible and supportive. She had an action plan she could continue to update, and she felt confident that this would help her practice maintain its good standing in the future.

Introduction & Problem

We were approached by a GP Practice based in the UK after a recent CQC inspection. The practice had recently been inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), who found that there were some areas of improvement needed. The practice had already started working on an action plan to address the issues, but they needed help with how to respond to CQC and what kind of responses would be likely to get results.

The Process

To ensure that the practice addressed these issues, we met with our client’s business manager to discuss ways in which they could improve their practices. We advised them on further actions needed to address KLOE and discussed what would be required to ensure follow ups/ written procedures/ audits. We also added amendments to the file before reporting on an action plan to take to meet Health and Social Care Act 2008 [Regulation 18 and 12].

After reviewing policies and procedures we provided feedback on improvements or amendments that would need to be made before re-inspection by CQC could take place.

The Results

After implementing the recommended improvements, it’s great to see that our client has received positive feedback from the CQC. We are awaiting the final scoring from CQC and will share this with you soon!

Introduction & Problem

A highly rated GP Practice in London approached us as they needed help with their CQC registration after a recent partnership merger.

The Process

The team at the practice recently underwent a partnership merger with two other local practices and were looking for help with their CQC registration process.

We were brought in to help the team with their registration by reviewing the information they had already put in place, creating new SOPs where necessary, updating policies and procedures and adding new partners and locations.

The first step was to meet with the Business Manager and lead admin to discuss the service, then review the information input so far. We created SOP Part 1-4 together and made changes as we went along. The next steps involved reviewing policies and procedures, ensuring all information required was accurate (including KLOE), updating information onto the CQC portal, and adding new partners/locations with all relevant documents attached (e.g. contracts).

The Results

Applications to the CQC have been submitted, and we are awaiting the results.

Introduction & Problem

A community health service based in the South East contacted us to undertake a review of their policies and procedures to make sure that they were legally compliant, fit for purpose and CQC ready.

The Process

We initially met with the client to understand which of their policies and procedures were classed as mandatory and statutory within their sector so we could priorities the review.  Following this meeting, using our tailored policies and procedures digital tool, we reviewed over 105 policies and procedures checking for compliance.  Following this review we were able to provide a RAG rated list for areas which required immediate attention, those which required a few amendments and those which were compliant.  We finally updated all of those which required immediate attention and was able to share with the client a full set of up to date policies and procedures arranged by CQC Key Line of Enquiries.

The Results

Our assistance in leading this policy and procedure review was a great success, and we have been able to work with them again by providing a CQC mock inspection utilising these updated policies and procedures.

We believe that our services are valuable for any business that wants to get their policies and procedures compliant. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about what we can do for you, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Dr D Kaushal, Broughton House Surgery, West Yorkshire.

We initially needed a CQC audit for a GP Practice which we had taken on under an APMS contract and contacted DKJ to deliver this piece of work in late 2019. Following the development of the CQC action plan, we engaged the services of Kiran Johnson to support us with all aspects of practice management including further CQC registration activities, finance, HR and business services for a further 12 months. We have been pleased with the level of support provided by DKJ and professionality, knowledge and expertise provided by Kiran Johnson in her role as an interim Practice Manager.

Need help with CQC compliance?