The business impact target is part of the government’s drive to encourage more efficient regulation of business.
The target requires us to assess the impact on businesses of any eligible changes we have made to the way we regulate.
The business impact target is undergoing reform and we do not expect to publish any further submissions.
Overview: business impact target (17 December 2021 to 16 December 2022)
This is an overview of our business impact target report for 7 December 2021 to 16 December 2022.
Download the full submission
Qualifying regulatory provisions
We did not have any qualifying regulatory provisions for this period.
Non-qualifying regulatory provisions
Measures with an equivalent annual net direct cost to business (EANDCB) below plus or minus £5 million
We introduced a new condition of registration to strengthen regulation of services for people with a learning disability and autistic people.
We amended guidance for the scope of registration under the Health and Social Care Act 2008. This added information to clarify some sections and reflect changes in the way health and social care is delivered.
We began a trial of a new provider online registration process ahead of wider sector roll out in 2023. This includes implementation of a new assessment framework.
Casework
We undertook the following casework activity (by 24 November 2022):
- 10,712 inspections (7,424 in adult social care services; 2,325 primary medical services; 963 core NHS hospital services)
- 52,144 applications for the registration of healthcare services processed
- 62 urgent enforcement decisions published against 50 locations
- published 16 fixed penalty notices against 15 locations
- 647 safeguarding alerts referred (for example, alerts to protect people's health, wellbeing, and human rights)
- 21,197 mandatory actions (for example, actions taken if care services do not have suitable arrangements to keep people safe)
Education, communications and promotion
Our 'Because we all care' campaign encourages people to share their experience of health and social care services with us. We use what we find to shape future care. The campaign focuses on different user groups, including:
- unpaid carers
- people who are deaf or hard of hearing
- people who have long-term and chronic illnesses
We communicate regularly with healthcare providers to tell them about ongoing regulatory developments. Webinars and other events are optional for healthcare providers to attend.
Activity related to policy development
We undertook the following activity related to policy development:
- published State of Care 2021/22, our annual overview of health and adult social care in England
- launched a new maternity inspection programme to gather an overview of the quality and safety of maternity care across England
- published findings from the 2022 community mental health survey, exploring the experiences of people who use services
- published 'Who I am matters', a report looking at experiences of being in hospital for people with a learning disability and autistic people
- published an annual report about enforcing the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations in England
- issued a joint consultation with Ofsted on a new framework for inspecting services for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities in a local area
- published a report exploring how community treatment orders have been used in 9 boroughs across London
- published findings from an adult inpatient survey, capturing experiences of people who stayed at least one night in hospital as an inpatient
- undertook research exploring how the regulatory process can capture and consider innovation in general practices, to respond to health inequalities
- undertook a maternity survey exploring experiences of women who had a live birth in early 2021
- undertook a survey exploring the impact of lockdown measures on the mental health and dignity of people who use care services
- monitored how providers are caring for patients under the Mental Health Act, and whether patients' rights are being protected
- published a report addressing progress against recommendations made in our ‘Out of sight – who cares? restraint, segregation and seclusion review' in 2020
- published findings and insight on the use of controlled drugs in health care and adult social care services
- published findings from research into the impact and experience of our regulatory approach on ethnic minority-led GP practices
Areas with no measures for the reporting period
- EU regulations, decisions and directives and other international obligations, including the implementation of the EU Withdrawal Bill and EU Withdrawal Agreement
- Measures certified as concerning EU Withdrawal Bill operability measures
- Pro-competition
- Systemic financial risk
- Civil emergencies
- Fines and penalties
- Misuse of drugs
- Measures certified as relating to the safety of tenants, residents and occupants in response to the Grenfell tragedy
Changes to management of regulator
Ian Dilks OBE was appointed as our Chair, starting in April 2022 on a three-year role. He replaces Peter Wyman.