CQC care standards might not be at the top of your list as a busy manager, but they’re about as important as it gets when it comes to keeping your care home in business. Inspections don’t happen that often, and it can be difficult to keep them to mind on a day-to-day basis, but, it’s vital that you do. Approximately one in six adult social care providers were found inadequate in 2018, making failed inspections more common than you might think.
In this blog post, we examine the importance of maintaining the right level of care, whether it’s to justify the right staff training, or just to reinforce the importance of keeping on top of your care standards.
The impact of a failed inspection
With more than 20 percent of adult social care providers requiring serious improvement in 2018, it’s not at all rare for a facility to fail their CQC inspection. The results can be disastrous for a care home. The CQC has the power to restrict a failed home’s operations in several ways, ranging from preventing the intake of any new residents, to fines and legal action in severe cases.
In some cases, a poor CQC rating can mean the threat of closure for an otherwise successful care home. Insurance providers are less likely to provide coverage, and the publicity that comes with a failed inspection won’t do your PR any favours.
A care home in Essex recently claimed that their ‘future is in jeopardy’ after a bad rating. Keep on top of your CQC standards and ensure that you’re always prepared for a surprise inspection. If you don’t, you might find your own care home’s future in jeopardy.
Keeping employees happy
According to the CQC’s State of Care report, there are around 110,000 vacancies in adult social care, and significant employee turnover. It may seem unrelated, but maintaining your care standards could mean keeping employees for longer, as well as attracting motivated staff.
The CQC standards involves adequately training and supporting care staff. Whether this means ensuring that employees have the required Care Certificate or further voluntary development, you should make sure that you’re up to standard. Employees that feel as if they’re valued and empowered are more productive and less likely to leave their job.
When it comes to attracting new employees, signposting that you make training and high-quality care a priority can be a significant draw. Research has found that only 40 percent of millennials – and 30 percent of Gen Z-ers – feel as if they have the skills they need to succeed at work. Who do they see as responsible for providing those skills? Employers.
Providing the best care possible
The CQC standards don’t have to be approached as if they’re chores, and they can be useful guidelines and reminders when running a busy social care facility. In fact, the CQC standards are a ready-made outline for looking after residents, who are, after all, the reason you’re there in the first place.
A 2018 report from Age UK showed that only 36 percent of survey respondents over 50 were confident that those in care received dignity and respect. Keeping the care standards in check, then, makes for successful CQC ratings, and successful CQC ratings foster trust.
There are two avenues to take when it comes to care standards – you can hope for the best when inspectors come knocking, or you can take an active approach and guarantee that you’re running a care home deserving of an ‘Outstanding’ rating.
For more help with care standards and printable checklists, check out our detailed guide to CQC standards here.
Thanks to freepik.com for the picture.