CQC plans inspection and fee reforms

Government watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is considering moving towards regulating different care sectors in different ways. It is also considering, in the long-term, linking the cost of inspections to operator’s performance against the essential standards. Under the plans contained in CQC’s strategy document for 2013-16, the frequency of inspections will be decided by the service’s track record and the vulnerability of people, for example, those receiving mental health and learning disability care. Other factors taken into account would include local levels of deprivation, how many people in that area have dementia or a learning disability, and if the service is assessed by other regulators. CQC says it will use its data, intelligence and knowledge to produce a risk assessment specific to each sector which would guide both the frequency and intensity of inspections. This forms part of CQC’s planned switch to a more evidence-based’ model of regulation. It believes that, in the longer term, using historical evidence may allow us to anticipate where risk is the greatest and take action more swiftly than ever’. This evaluation programme will be guided by a framework set out by an external senior academic specialist in health regulation. The CQC also plans to review evidence about what works in regulation in other industries and in other countries.