Well-led services are expected to engage and involve the people they support, their staff and the wider community and partnership working to ensure the organisation is fit for purpose.
It is important that all regulated care providers are actively connected and involved with their wider community. What this looks like in practice will vary but you should be prepared to share examples of how you engage with the community, including integrated healthcare systems.
Care and treatment should feel as seamless and joined-up as possible to the people you support. This is only possible if you have identified and built connections that enable this to happen.
Be ready to evidence how you work closely with others and avoid operating in isolation. Peer support is also important – so the CQC will want to know how you work closely with other organisations – to ensure you work well together and collaborate on improvements that benefit the wider community.
When working with others, the CQC will expect you to pass information safely and securely between services. Again, have the evidence at hand to demonstrate how you ensure that is the case.
People, their families and friends may be asked in interviews about how the service engages with them and how the service supports people to engage with other organisations to access the care that is needed.
Inspectors may choose to speak to external organisations, including commissioners, Healthwatch and community-based organisations you are connected with.
Regarding documented evidence, this may include business plans, minutes from meetings, external accreditation schemes or monitoring reviews etc.
If you are looking at how to meet this area of CQC inspection, visit GO Online for resources, practical examples and other recommendations.
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