The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has recently broadened its inspection remit to encompass adult social care services provided by local authorities. This marks a significant shift from their previous focus, which was primarily on residential homes. The new inspection framework highlights the importance of safe and effective systems, particularly the integration of health and social care data.

The CQC Inspection Remit Changes

Below are a few changes from the Inspection.

Expanded Inspection Scope

CQC now inspects adult social care services provided by local authorities, a new addition to their traditional focus on residential homes. This aligns with Ofsted’s long-standing practice of inspecting both local authorities and children’s provisions.

New Assessment Framework

The new framework highlights the need for effective data sharing between health and social care systems. There is an emphasis on early intervention and home-first policies to prevent hospital admissions and long-term residential care.

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 provides the legal basis for requiring the information sharing and collaboration. Meaning that local authorities which do not have a shared care record are more likely to be notified in their respected CQC reports.

Introduction of New Government Policies

The government’s “home first” policy and recent directives emphasise the need for early intervention and care at home to reduce hospital admissions and long-term care costs.

The Adult social care winter letter 2024 to 2025, released in September 2024, set out the critical actions needed across the adult social care sector to protect individuals and their carers to deliver operational resilience in winter 2024 to 2025.

Importance of Shared Care Records

The importance of Shared Care Records has become increasingly evident with these recent shifts made by CQC. Shared care records can help facilitate seamless data sharing between health and social care, which is crucial for effective service delivery.

Integrating Shared Care Records in Liquidlogic Adult’s Case Management ensures that healthcare data is easily accessible for social workers. Access to shared care records also allows for better coordination of care, particularly for older adults with complex health and social care needs. These records help in identifying and addressing care needs early, preventing hospital admissions and reducing long-term care costs.

Shared Care Records for Local Authorities

Local authorities with integrated shared care records are better positioned to meet the CQC’s inspection criteria. Effective data sharing is highlighted in CQC reports as a positive practice, as seen in the example of the Great North Care Record. Shared care records support early intervention strategies by providing a comprehensive view of an individual’s health and social care needs.

The integration of shared care records is vital for meeting the new CQC inspection requirements as they enhance care coordination, support early intervention, and ensures compliance with regulatory standards. As local authorities navigate these changes, the focus should be on fostering effective data sharing and collaboration to improve outcomes for individuals receiving social care.

If you would like to learn more about Shared Care Records and integration opportunities with Liquidlogic Adult’s Case Management, please contact us.