Stay up to date with the latest CQC COVID-19 information
We're making changes to the way we work during the COVID-19 outbreak. We've developed a dedicated area on our website so that you can stay up to date with the latest information. Find out more.
Registration with CQC and changes to statements of purpose during COVID-19
We want to support health and social care providers as they look to increase capacity as part of the ongoing effort to respond to COVID-19. To help ensure that registration does not act as a barrier to these different ways of working, we have developed a special COVID-19 registration framework, which covers both new registrations and change to service that can be made by submitting a notification online.
Read the full update, which explains what constitutes a COVID-19 registration and what this means for providers.
Changes to how to contact CQC
Following Government advice to stay at home and limit movement where possible, Care Quality Commission has taken the decision to close its offices. This means that from now, all communications and correspondence from us will be electronic. We ask that providers do not send post to us. We will continue to check post temporarily to allow for correspondence already sent to be collected.
In the event that we have to issue a formal notice, we will contact the provider by phone to discuss this and to confirm the approach for further contact. Providers are also reminded of their duty of care to people using their services. For those detained under the Mental Health Act, this may mean supporting people to access the internet or make telephone calls if they ask to contact us. Visit our website for contact information.
Interim guidance on Trusted Assessor schemes
Trusted Assessor schemes are a national initiative designed to reduce delays when people are ready for discharge from hospital. We have produced an interim supplement to our guidance on Trusted Assessor agreements, which has been written to support NHS and social care providers and Trusted Assessor schemed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is also available as an appendix in guidance from the Department of Health and Social Care on hospital discharge service requirements.
Complaints handling during the COVID-19 pandemic
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has set up a dedicated web page answering questions about how to manage complaints and complainants, and the impact on ongoing investigations, during this time.
It is inevitable there will be times when care providers will have to deviate from processes. The Ombudsman’s message is to document your reasons and explain them to the complainant. Many complaints are made worse by poor expectation management. Please set realistic timescales with complainants and keep them informed of your actions.
Personal protective equipment distribution
The Department of Health and Social Care began distribution of fluid repellent facemasks from the pandemic flu stock to care homes and home care providers on 18 March.
Every care home and home care provider will be receiving at least 300 facemasks.
Providers are not required to take any action; the stock will be delivered to them. The National Supply Distribution line is working rapidly with wholesalers to ensure longer-term supply of all aspects of personal care.
If care providers have immediate concerns over their supply of PPE, there is now a dedicated line: The National Supply Disruption line Tel: 0800 915 9964 Email: supplydisruptionservice@nhsbsa.nhs.uk
Impact of COVID-19 on restraint, segregation and seclusion review and Right support, right care, right culture
CQC has been reviewing the use of restrictive interventions for the past year, including restraint, segregation and seclusion, in hospitals and care homes across England. Engaging with our stakeholders, including people who use services, their families, providers, staff and other stakeholders in the form of our Expert Advisory Group is at the heart of this review and will be key to the development of the report and its recommendations.
Due to the pressure put on the health and care system by the COVID-19 pandemic we do not feel that we are able to engage our stakeholders fully in the final stages of this report. We have therefore decided to delay the publication for now and will release a new date as soon as possible.
Our update to Registering the right support, soon to be Right support, right care, right culture, is very closely linked to this work, and will also be delayed with similar timescales. A full news article has been published on the CQC website.
Information governance and information sharing guidance
During the outbreak of COVID-19 carers, social care professionals and clinicians need to be able to talk to each other and to the people they care for.
Under the Health and Social Care (Safety and Quality) Act 2015 it is legal to share information to support a person’s care.
Read the latest guidance on sharing information and information governance.
Information from the London Fire Brigade for residential care providers in London
Any progressive horizontal evacuation arrangements, which are often in place in residential ASC services, need to be supported by appropriate levels of staff. If these staffing levels are seriously affected by COVID-19 you will need to review your risk assessment and emergency plan and if you believe that your staffing levels are not sufficient to support your evacuation strategy you should inform the London Fire Brigade on fsr-adminsupport@london-fire.gov.uk. If a fire does occur in your premises you must ensure the fire brigade is called at the earliest opportunity and inform the operator that an evacuation is in progress.
If your fire alarm operates during a COVID-19 affected period please react as follows:
- Immediately the fire alarm sounds, put into action your normal evacuation routine.
- Investigate the source of the alarm to establish if it is a fire or a false alarm.
- If, during the investigation a fire is discovered or there is a smell of burning or smoke that cannot be accounted for then dial 999 and ask for the fire brigade immediately – stating that an evacuation is in progress.
- If, following the investigation, you are certain that there is no fire and no suspicion of a fire then the evacuation routine can be cancelled. Under these circumstances, do not call the fire brigade.
- The fire alarm system should be re-set and your fire alarm engineer contacted if necessary.
- To prevent any unnecessary disruption, please ensure that any known problems resulting in false fire alarms are corrected so that there is a high degree of confidence that fire alarms that do occur are genuine.
Accessibility resources to help you communicate about COVID-19
Further information
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