Supporting the nation
When you look around, there are people stepping up, you’ve got to feel proud. Whether it’s 1000’s of volunteers to the NHS, Joe Wicks keeping the nation fit, or CQC supporting providers to ease the pressure of bureaucracy.
A. FACT: The things you need to do as a service may need to change
The activity you need to undertake, the number of people you need to treat and where this happens may change due to COVID.
B. CQC changes
In a bid to support, CQC is temporarily changing some of the ways it registers which may affect you. This relates to COVID-19 registrations. CQC says
A COVID-19 registration is any ‘application’ from a health or social care provider where they:
- Intend to deliver services which provide additional health and social care capacity in an area; or
- contribute to the control of the outbreak of COVID-19 or the treatment of people who have contracted the illness.’
C. Don’t
Whatever you are sending, don’t send paper applications – due to the outbreak CQC staff are working from home. Paper slows the process.
D. Do
CQC says ‘If you have any queries about DHSC’s COVID-19 response or an application related to it, please contact CQC before you apply. You should have COVID-19 in the title to ensure its priority.
E. What is changing and for who?
- Registration applications for new providers Health or Social Care that are not related to COVID-19
are continuing as usual and will follow the process outlined on the CQC website.
- Existing Health Providers making changes in response to COVID-19
maybe able to do this by submitting a notification online and update their statement of purpose rather than a usual application.
This means changes are made as soon as CQC receive the notification.
- Changes in regulated activity, however, will need an application to add a new regulated activity. Assessments will be more focused.
If you aren’t sure whether your application should be through the speedier process of a notification, you can check out their scenarios online, and/or contact
CQC.
- Existing Social Care services making changes in response to COVID-19
There are two different scenarios in your response to COVID 19.
- Adding beds which CQC say should be done by an application to vary the condition on your registration
- Add a location you would need to contact CQC to discuss this.
Not everything felt clear in the CQC update. I’ve no doubt things will change further, and we will be with you every step of the way to support you in this.
Thinking of you all today and in the days to come.
Stay safe!