Well, if you read their document from November 2017 on how they will monitor, inspect and regulate Adult Social Care services, it would suggest that by now we should all be using a PIC (Provider Information Collection). However, according to the most recent document released by the CQC (click here), it seems that this is no longer the case, which is what I want to talk about today…
It looks like the CQC are going to stick with the original name of PIR (Provider Information Return)…
Is this a good thing?
Well, from what I can see, it could be. Why? Because, going forward, it’s going to pick up on some of the elements which they had hoped to introduce with the PIC (outlined in Nov 17 version) which I liked the look of…
For example, completion will be on an annual basis – good, because it’s a lot easier to keep on top of things rather than waiting for 2 or 3 years before updating the information about your service. Who remembers when & why they changed an ‘agreed way of working’ 18 months ago because it now feels like it’s always been like that? This of course means we miss out on recording some crucial evidence of continuous improvement! It’s a real shame that it will only be available on an annual basis, as opposed to being constantly available to update (maybe even forming part of our monthly QA checklist). I liked the idea of it being available to update quarterly, if not more often – it supports the formation of good habits.
Another addition to the new PIR process is that if the return is not sent back to CQC by the advised deadline, the best rating you can receive for Well Led is “Requires Improvement”. I love the idea of this; why wouldn’t you want to make sure you reply in good time? Like it or not, in everything there are consequences; this is one of them.
There’s some good guidance around on how to complete the PIR e.g. this document hasn’t long been published and will keep us on track with not only the question coverage, but also gives some hints and tips on how to complete it and it also gives some rationale behind the guidance.
Page 15 reminds us all of the AIS. “The what?” I hear some of you ask…this relates to the Accessible Information Standard (which happens to have been around for a few years now – but I’m still hearing from people that they’ve never heard of it!!!). So now that you’ve heard of it – are you compliant? Do you have good robust evidence to show your regulator?
And whilst we’re at it, are we all up to speed with the Protected Characteristics? Can we even remember how many of them there are? We might be good at being able to evidence equality & diversity for the people we support – but what about towards our staff? I know a manager who was unable to answer this when asked by her inspector…what evidence do you have available to you?
Residential PIR click here
Community Services PIR click here
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