The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is changing the way it assesses private ambulance companies. The new approach to regulation is being developed by the CQC, which will enable a more structured and consistent method to assessing ambulance providers, across the health care sector. This new approach is called the Single Assessment Framework (SAF).
In essence, this single assessment framework will replace the existing method of assessment which emphasises on five Key Lines of Enquiries (KLOEs), that determines whether an ambulance provider is;
Caring
Effective
Responsive
Well Led
Safe
The new SAF will still continue to use the concept of the 5 KLOEs, but they will now be called the Five Key Questions which will contain a set of topic areas and quality statements. In addition to this, CQC will maintain the current rating system of Outstanding, Good, Need Improvement and Inadequate.
One of the main significant changes implemented by the new SAF, is the ongoing monitoring and assessment of a provider. Previously, CQC will periodically assess a provider by conducting on site assessment and desktop reviews, but with the new framework, assessment of a provider is dynamic and ongoing throughout the year which means that a provider’s CQC rating could be amended at any time.
As previously mentioned CQC’s five key questions will remain central to their approach. The main change here is that under each section there will be Quality Statements that demonstrate what good care looks like for an ambulance provider and will link to the regulations.
To ensure consistency with their judgment, CQC have developed six categories for the evidence they collect. The type evidence they will collect will depend on the following points;
- The service type/mode
- The level of assessment
- Whether for an existing service provider or new registration.
The six evidence categories are;
- People’s experience of health and care services
- Feedback from staff and leaders
- Feedback from partners
- Observation
- Processes
- Outcomes
Assessing an ambulance provider has been improved and the process should now provide fair and consistent results. The main improvements include how CQC gathers evidence, the frequency of assessments and assessing quality. The assessment of an ambulance provider’s quality is dictated by two types of activity; 1) Planned activity and 2) Responsive activity.
Planned Activity is where each evidence category in the assessment framework has an initial schedule for ongoing assessment.
Responsive Activity means that the CQC will receive regular pieces of information. If they receive information that suggests that there is an immediate risk, concern or change of quality with an ambulance provider, this could trigger action to collect evidence.
This blog only provides headline information with regards to the Single Assessment Framework. For more detailed explanation of the new system, please refer to the CQC website: www.cqc.org.uk.