Benefits for care providers and managers
"We saw that a mock CQC inspection of the home was conducted in May 2019 by the provider. Findings identified some areas that required improvement which we saw the provider had implemented and completed an action plan for.”
Extract from a CQC report of a nursing home where an inspection was done
Safe Care and Treatment
Staffing
Environment
Management
When you book an IPC Preparedness audit, the selected TRST framework implementation partner will carry out the audits either remotely or at the site on the agreed date/time. The implementation partner will share the report directly with you. Any queries about the report should be discussed with the chosen TRST partner. The payment should be made to your chosen implementation partner. Should you wish to claim the cost of this IPC Preparedness audit from the Government's Infection Control Grant, we recommend that you check with your local authority in the first instance.
An independent assessment based on the TRST framework will help care home providers and their management teams form a view of the processes in place and the preparedness of their care home should any infectious outbreak occur in the future.
It can help them focus on infection prevention and control and assess their compliance against the Department of Health Code of Practice and the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
It is inevitable that when CQC resumes inspections, after easing of lockdown rules, they are likely to focus on infection prevention and control and in particular the Department of Health Code of Practice and the Health and Social Care Act 2008. IPC Preparation (Infection Prevention Control) will be essential to ensure your care home maintains it’s outstanding CQC rating.
An IPC Preparedness Audit will help the home manager and provider gain an independent view of the processes in place and to assess the preparedness of your home should an outbreak occur. It will also help assess compliance. e.g. the fitness for purpose of the Annual Infection Control Statement.
*The cost of such an inspection may be funded as part of the Infection Control Grant provided to care homes announced in May 2020 and disbursed in July and August. We recommend that you verify this with your local authority in the first instance.
"We saw that a mock CQC inspection of the home was conducted in May 2019 by the provider. Findings identified some areas that required improvement which we saw the provider had implemented and completed an action plan for."
Care Quality Commission, June 2020
The Care Quality Commission's (CQC) Emergency Support Framework (ESF) introduced in May 2020 in response to the COVID 19 pandemic had fallen short of expectations in reassuring consumers and users of care home services. One of the main reasons for this is because of the lack of an evidence-based approach.
This is one of the reasons why CQC does not publish their ESF reports in the public domain.
There is then a need for a framework that can assure various stakeholders involved in the care home sector: whether buyers and users of care home services or staff working in care homes.