CQC Notifications Policy

Aim

This organisation aims to ensure that it meets its responsibility to notify the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of incidents, events and changes that affect the service or the people using it.

Policy

This policy details how Cavendish Homecare Professionals will meet its legal obligations regarding notifications. This policy applies to the Registered Manager and the Nominated Individual.

What needs to be notified?

• Regulation 12 – changes to the statement of purpose
• Regulation 14 – absence of the registered manager for more than 28 days
• Regulation 15 – changes to the management of the care provider
• Regulation 16 – death of a client
• Regulation 17 – notification of death or unauthorised absence of a client who is detained or liable to be detained under the Mental Health Act 1983
• Regulation 18 – Notification of other incidents.

Notification of other incidents

• Any injury to a client that has resulted in:

1. 1. an impairment of the sensory, motor or intellectual functions of the client which is not likely to be temporary
   2. changes to the structure of a client’s body
   3. the client experiencing prolonged pain or prolonged psychological harm
   4. the shortening of the life expectancy of the client.

• Any injury to a client that requires treatment by a health care professional in order to prevent:

1. 1. the death of the client
   2. an injury to the client which, if left untreated, would lead to one or more of the injury outcomes mentioned in the paragraph above.

• Any abuse or allegation of abuse in relation to a client.
• Any incident which is reported to, or investigated by, the police.
• Any event which prevents, or appears to the service provider to be likely to threaten to prevent, the service provider’s ability to continue to carry on the regulated activity safely, or in accordance with the registration requirements, including:
• 1. an insufficient number of suitably qualified, skilled and experienced persons being employed for the purposes of carrying on the regulated activity
  2. an interruption in the supply to premises owned or used by the service provider for the purposes of carrying on the regulated activity of electricity, gas, water or sewerage where that interruption has lasted for longer than a continuous period of 24 hours
  3. physical damage to premises owned or used by the service provider for the purposes of carrying on the regulated activity which has, or is likely to have, a detrimental effect on the treatment or care provided to clients
  4. the failure, or malfunctioning, of fire alarms or other safety devices in premises owned or used by the service provider for the purposes of carrying on the regulated activity where that failure or malfunctioning has lasted for longer than a continuous period of 24 hours.
• Any authorisation of a deprivation of liberty.
• Regulation 20 – Duty of candour apology.
• Regulation 21 – Death of service provider.
• Regulation 22 – Appointment of liquidators.

Medication errors

There is no requirement to notify CQC about medication errors, but a notification would be required if the cause or effect of a medication error met the criteria to notify one of the following:

1. a death (Regulation 16)
2. an injury (Regulation 18)
3. abuse, or an allegation of abuse (Regulation 18)
4. an incident reported to or investigated by the police (Regulation 18).

Management duties

Managers and supervisors in the organisation have a duty to:

• ensure that this policy is operated throughout the organisation at all times
• regularly audit the use of this policy and the effectiveness of notifications procedures and initiatives.

Staff duties

Staff in this organisation have a duty to:

• always act in full compliance with this policy in reporting incidents and completing notifications
• attend appropriate training.

Associated policies and procedures

• Accident and incident reporting.

Date: January 2024

Version: 7 (Review)

Source: ECM