To deliver our strategy, we have made changes to how we work. This will help us adapt and respond to risk, uncertainty and demand. Our approach will help us to understand the quality of care in a local area or healthcare system to improve it and keep people safe.
Our new approach to assessment
Our new single assessment framework is for providers, local authorities and systems. It focuses on what matters to people who use health and social care services and their families. It will let us provide an up-to-date view of quality.
It covers all sectors, service types and levels – from registration, to how we look at local authorities and integrated care systems.
Our framework
- Ratings and the 5 key questions remain.
- Quality statements focus on specific topic areas under the key questions. They set clear expectations of providers, based on people’s experiences and the standards of care they expect. They have replaced our key lines of enquiry (KLOEs), prompts and ratings characteristics.
- We have introduced 6 new evidence categories to organise information under the statements.
- Registration is also based on this framework. It is the first assessment activity for providers in an integrated process.
How we will use it
We will:
- use a range of information to assess providers flexibly and frequently. Assessment is not tied to set dates or driven by a previous rating
- collect evidence on an ongoing basis and can update ratings at any time. This helps us respond more flexibly to changes in risk
- tailor our assessment to different types of providers and services
- score evidence to make our judgements more structured and consistent
- use inspections (site visits) as a vital tool to gather evidence to assess quality
- use data and insight to decide which services to visit. When on site, we will observe care and talk to staff and people who use services
- produce shorter and simpler reports, showing the most up-to-date assessment
People's experiences of health and care services
We encourage people who use services, and organisations acting on their behalf, to share their experiences.
Find out about the importance of people's experience in our regulation.