CQC publishes plans on how it will assess health and social care in 2009/10

The Care Quality Commission has recently published plans on how it will assess the provision and commissioning of health and adult social care in its first year.

Building on the work of predecessor regulators, the Commission is introducing an approach that assesses quality across health and social care as it moves towards a single registration system for providers of care in both sectors in 2010.

The approach features both periodic and special reviews and draws attention to how the sectors of health, mental health and adult social care work together. There will also be indicators that measure the outcomes for people and their experience of care.

Where the Commission's reviews reveal poor performance, it will work with commissioners, providers and other bodies to make sure services improve, while aiming to be equally prompt in recognising quality and good practice.

In 2009/10 CQC will be carrying out three types of assessments: periodic reviews of commissioners, periodic reviews of providers and special reviews and studies, including an overarching State of health and social care annual report.

CQC chief executive, Cynthia Bower said: "We recognise this transitional year brings significant regulatory reform and we will not overburden providers of care, councils and PCTs. But we do expect robust quality standards to be maintained and will continue to be rigorous in our scrutiny of health and adult social care services both in 2009/10 and beyond."

For more information on the assessment criteria and results visit the Care Quality Commission website.

10.08.09

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