What does an inspection involve?
Inspectors typically spend a day on-site and another remotely examining all aspects of the care home. Before the site visit, several documents and records are required so they can be reviewed before the inspection.
The inspection process utilises an electronic inspection tool CAREINSPECT®; this system reduces inspector opinions and ‘judgements’ and gathers evidence to support improvements,
The inspector(s) will observe practice and discuss with staff, residents and visitors in a supportive and conversational manner.
Within the sections above, 700+ aspects are reviewed, evidenced, checked and comprehensively reported. This process includes reviewing documentation, interviewing management, staff, residents and relatives, and observation.
Are you able to inspect individual homes or groups of homes?
CIUK is the largest and has the widest scope of Independent Inspection Bodies for adult care homes in the UK.
This means that should it be one, or any number of care homes, CIUK can carry out inspections promptly and professionally.
Why was there a move to set up Independent Registered Inspection Bodies?
In 2014 representatives from the care sector and others (UK Health and Social Care Regulators, UKAS, British Standards Institute (BSI), care providers (including HCMS), professional bodies, representative bodies and academics) contributed to a programme that established the creation of Registered Inspection Bodies for care homes with the intention that these bodies would be accountable and impartial, and would allow a subsequent distancing of Inspection from Regulation based on the most effective inspection models in other countries.
There is a strong need to make Quality the focus of activity rather than confusing regulation with an inspection.
What is the point of having an independent inspection?
The CIUK inspection provides irrefutable evidence of the quality and compliance of a care home. This evidence will support the home in improving its position with regulators and commissioners. It also provides a basis of objectivity on which to develop improvement action plans.
CIUK, as a Registered Body, can provide detailed information to stakeholders that will help improve care standards, improve performance and reduce risk. The inspection report is detailed and provides information on sources for standards, regulations and best practices.
Do you help care homes sort out any issues raised?
The report and backup information assists care homes in pinpointing issues, and the source data gives clear information on resolution. CIUK will assist in providing information and improving care and performance.
Who can organise an Inspection?
A CIUK inspection can be organised by a care provider, investor, or financier and has benefits in improving care and the operation of a care home and understanding the risk and recovery steps needed to be taken. This information supports the care home to improvement and provides investors with objective and verifiable data that can be relied upon.
To what extent would a CIUK inspection provide assurances of the quality of management, and would it assist management in making improvements that might be required?
The CIUK inspection objectively benchmarks the quality within a care setting against the legally required or national standards. In identifying the degree to which a service meets those standards and requirements, you can get an excellent measure of care home quality. By identifying areas of weakness, you can direct management efforts to improve.
Repeat inspections will objectively demonstrate the progress over time.
Why would an operator look to get an independent CIUK inspection rather than wait for a regulator visit?
An operator might do this for a number of reasons.
Firstly, to get an objective measure against which to benchmark internal quality, secondly, to provide reassurance to stakeholders, thirdly, in anticipation of a sale or refinance, particularly where the existing regulator rating is poor or dates back some time.
Is the CIUK Inspection process intrusive to the business or likely to alienate staff?
CIUK inspectors are very experienced in putting the staff team at ease. Remember that the findings are not public unless the company/business/management chooses to make them so. The purpose is not to find fault, as is often the feeling with regulatory visits, but to help benchmark against requirements and standards.
How long does a CIUK Inspection take?
The pre-inspection form is completed, and a few documents are securely uploaded to CIUK before the inspection.
The onsite inspection is usually 1 to 2 days involving one or two inspectors.
You guarantee your inspections - what does this mean?
The CIUK guarantee is that if a care service addresses the non-compliance issues raised and maintains the areas evidenced as compliant, the next regulatory inspection will result in improved gradings.
