Preparing for excellence: How mock inspections transform care home quality standards
A CQC inspection often marks a pivotal moment for care staff, especially those encountering it for the first time. The prospect of an inspection can evoke a mixture of apprehension and uncertainty due to the unfamiliarity of the process. Conducting a mock inspection serves as an invaluable preparatory tool, offering an opportunity for staff to familiarise themselves with the inspection criteria, protocols, and expectations.
It not only simulates an inspection scenario but also enables the team to identify areas needing improvement and refine their practices. Through this simulated experience, staff members gain confidence in their abilities, enhance their understanding of compliance requirements, and develop a sense of readiness to face the inspection with proficiency.
What issue did the care home have?
Stoneyford Care Home, situated in Nottinghamshire, provides residential services and specialised dementia care for up to 58 residents. Facing the ever growing pressure to meet stringent quality and compliance standards, Stoneyford sought to ensure residents’ freedom, safety, and individuality within the care environment, enabling residents to feel liberated and unrestricted.
A management representative at Stoneyford Care Home said: “You need support from an additional service to be able to drive that improvement and to ensure that we’ve got at least the systems and processes in place. Fulcrum have been absolutely amazing at supporting us internally with ensuring that those things are met. What’s really good about Fulcrum is that not only do they come in to inspect to tell you where you’re going wrong, but they’re absolutely fantastic at supporting you to go on and correct things too.”
How did Fulcrum Care help?
Fulcrum visited Stoneyford to assess every aspect of its business, in line with the CQC’s rigorous new guidelines. Additional things were looked at, such as the inclusion of a communication care plan, storage for residents’ hearing aids and glasses, who is responsible for applying glasses and maintaining the cleanliness of them — all person centred information that is meaningful and matters.
The management representative continued: “To be able to have somebody to prompt us to be able to provide exceptional care has been absolutely required and we’re already seeing huge improvements just from one inspection.”
What were the results for the care home?
Fulcrum allowed the care home staff to experience an inspection without it being an inspection, building confidence ahead of the real thing, when the time comes. The consultants help the care team understand the importance of their role and the significance they play in the care environment.
Finally, the representative said: “I believe that any care service that does not receive support with their quality, should absolutely consider Fulcrum. They’re supportive. They are very kind and considerate in their interactions with the staff. Their improvement is being driven in a positive manner and it could help to improve any service, in my opinion, because it’s already done that for us and the Serene Care group.”
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