As we approach 2024, there are some key areas that managers, nominated individuals and
providers should focus on in England. This allows you to ensure the best possible support
and care for all the individuals you support.
1. New Single Assessment Framework
CQC’s regulatory approach is changing. The most important thing that providers can do is stay updated about the new guidelines and best practice requirements to ensure compliance and deliver the highest standard of care and support. This includes addressing any ethical or legal issues that may arise within your setting. How are you going to provide evidence of compliance with the new framework? You should be networking with other providers and forums and taking part in webinars to ensure you are ready.
2. Embrace New Technology
In 2024, the ambitious plan in social care is for 80% of CQC registered providers to have digital social care records by March 2024. Have you taken any steps towards achieving this and are you aware of the funding that is available to help you transform your service’s digital care planning. Keeping up with advances in technology will be crucial.
Embracing digital audit, communication and monitoring tools can effectively streamline administrative tasks, improve communication between providers, health services, commissioners, families, and regulators. These tools can free up frontline staff to focus on delivering great care and in turn, enhance the overall quality of your services. Consider adding ‘New Technology’ to your service development plan.
3. Culture
Does your business have a good work culture? Is it a culture of empathy and inclusivity? As a health and social care manager, you should prioritise creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected regardless of their background, abilities or beliefs.
Is your setting Dementia, LGBTQ+, Autism and Learning Disability friendly? If it is, you will be promoting diversity, actively listening to different perspectives, and ensuring that the care and support provided is tailored to meet the unique needs of everyone.
Consider how you will evidence this key area with the new Single Assessment Framework. Is it time to review your surveys? What other ways does your service encourage feedback and participation, and do you act on it? – Yes, you should.
4. Employee Wellbeing
Nurturing and supporting the wellbeing of your staff team is fundamental and a key feature of the quality statements under the new Single Assessment Framework. Encouraging learning and development, offering emotional support, and recognising hard work are key elements in aintaining a motivated and dedicated workforce. Staff retention often leads to a happy and well trained team, which leads to continuity of care and support and better outcomes for those receiving care.
Is it time to review your staff wellbeing resources to show that you care?
5. Person-centred Care and Support
Under the new CQC quality statements you must evidence what you do to deliver high-quality,
person-centred care.
Being able to evidence person-centred care and support should be at the forefront of your service. This means being able to provide evidence of individuals’ preferences, aspirations, outcomes, and goals, empowering them to actively participate in designing, monitoring and reviewing their care and support and any decisions made as a result. Placing the individual at the centre, providers, managers, and teams can ensure that the support provided is truly tailored to enhance their quality of life.
6. Co-production
Under the new Single Assessment Framework, CQC will gather information about your business from a variety of sources when assessing the quality of your service. Being actively involved in strong partnerships, co-production and collaborations within health and social care as well as the wider community is essential in gaining positive feedback.
Building relationships with other healthcare providers, local authorities, community organisations and families can help create a network of support.
Do you have co-production on your service improvement plans? Spend some time and note who the people who can support and evidence your active involvement are. Are they included in your feedback surveys or given the opportunity to feedback on the quality of service you provide? If not, then address this.
7. Finally
2024 is just around the corner and QCS is always here to get you ready for any challenges ahead.
We have lots of resources for you, and if you are a customer, the following can be found in the Resource Centre.
There are dedicated sections on Single Assessment Framework, health and wellbeing, lots of information about audits and the extremely popular Good Governance Planner 2024.
