CQC: working in a pandemic

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has suspended routine inspections. It has continued, however, to inspect risks and concerns that have been raised. Services have continued to be subjected to close scrutiny with the CQC using a range of intelligence sources, including, for example, the Emergency Support Framework (ESF) monitoring tool. The ESF has provided information to assist in better understanding of the impact of COVID-19 on staff and those who use services. The CQC is also able to identify where inspections may be needed or where concerns should be escalated to partner organisations.

The coronavirus alert level has been reduced. As restrictions are being progressively relaxed, the CQC and other regulators will need to revisit and adapt the emergency frameworks they have in place in order to return to routine inspection of those lower risk services, potentially in the autumn (CQC, 2020a). Over the coming summer months inspections of higher risk services are to take place.