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In his first blog as Chief Inspector for Mental Health Dr Arun Chopra talks about his career so far, and reflects on the importance of community in mental health care.
Arun discusses the results of our , as well as the comprehensive programme of inspections of community mental health services for working age adults and crisis services we have started following the findings of our.
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 It is important that people who use services are safe from the risk of harm from carbon monoxide gas. Care providers have a duty under Regulation 15 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 to ensure that the premises and equipment where care is delivered are suitable for the intended purpose, maintained, and used properly.
Employers have a duty under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 (GSIUR) to ensure that gas appliances, installation pipework and flues at any place of work under their control are installed and maintained by Gas Safe Registered engineer/business. The Health and Safety Executive’s GSIUR code of practice should be referred to by care provides when managing the risk of gas systems in service(s) you run. The code of practice specifically notes the use of carbon monoxide alarms as a useful back-up precaution if you have gas appliances in use at your service.
The Health and Safety Executive’s Health and safety in care homes guidance is also a useful resource for care home providers to refer to.
CQC and the Health and Safety Executive continue to work together to ensure the safety of care services for the people who use them.
We have been made aware that a small number of providers have been contacted by people posing as CQC inspectors. Genuine inspectors visiting in person carry ID badges that include:
- a photograph of the inspector on the front
- a copy of our warrant on the reverse
- the signature of our Chief Executive (see details of our ).
If you are unsure about the identity of an inspector, please contact our enquiries team on 03000 616161. Our team can check the inspector's details before you allow them onto our premises. For more information, including how to check the identity of a Specialist Advisor or what to do if an inspector contacts you by phone or email, .
 The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is conducting a review of the effectiveness of Care Quality Commission (CQC) Regulation 9A: Visiting and accompanying in care homes, hospitals, and hospices (Regulation 9A), one year from the regulation coming into force.
Regulation 9A requires care homes, hospitals and hospices to facilitate visits into, and out of, the setting, and facilitate accompanying to outpatient appointments, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
As part of the review, DHSC have launched a call for evidence on Wednesday, 28 May, seeking views from patients, care home residents, providers and professionals, family members, friends, carers and advocates.
Your feedback is vital to this review. Please complete the survey to share your thoughts on the effectiveness and impacts of Regulation 9A. The survey will be open for 6 weeks, closing at 11:59pm on 9 July.
An easy read version will be made available in the next few weeks, via the same link.
For further information please visit GOV.UK.
If you have any questions, please email visiting@dhsc.gov.uk
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