1. Quality Assurance Lincolnshire County Council Provider Forum Handout 2010

2. 2 Objective TO DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF: THE STATUTORY ROLE OF THE LOCAL AUTHORITY COUNCIL RESPONSIBILITY SUMMARY OF THE QUALITY ASSURANCE ROLE QUALITY ASSURANCE IN LINCOLNSHIRE OUR JOINT RESPONSIBILITY CONTACTING QUALITY ASSURANCE

3. 3 Statutory Role of the Local Authority The Care Standards Act 2000 – Transferred the Regulation and Inspection from Local Authorities and Health Authorities to the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC). From that date Health Authorities and local councils with social services responsibilities were no longer responsible for the registration and inspection of private and voluntary health care and social care, nor for the inspection of independent boarding schools. However, they remained purchasers and providers of services regulated by the Commission now known by the name of Care Quality Commission (CQC) and as such The County Council has a statutory duty to meet the needs of those service users assessed as having eligible needs. This includes services which the council commission.

4. 4 Council Responsibility Whilst services are contracted out, the County Council retains responsibility for the statutory provision of these services including the responsibility to demonstrate that such services are needed and valued by service users. It is about us managing the ‘service’ provided within the contract – ensuring that the performance meets the needs of the service users as intended. You might ask “what does this mean to me”? Well, this means that through our contract we are discharging these duties to you, so you should demonstrate to us that services we have commissioned are needed and valued by service users.

5. 5 Quality Assurance in Lincolnshire Our Joint Responsibility Lincolnshire County Council as a commissioner and you as provider play a vital role in ensuring that people are receiving care services which implement standards that prevent neglect and abuse. Successful prevention of adult abuse and neglect demands that service providers tackle the factors which contribute to it’s occurrence at all levels. It is your duty of care as a commissioned service to inform us of any concerns, impacts or changes to the quality of the service you are providing. All staff, including volunteers, across all agencies have a duty and responsibility for reporting any concerns about suspected abuse and the standard procedure to be followed. To do this you should contact the Customer Service Centre for Adult Social Care on 01522 782155.

6. 6 Quality Assurance in Lincolnshire Summary of the QA role To work with all external social care providers to ensure service users of Lincolnshire are protected and receive a quality service that delivers continuous improvement, for whom the Council has a responsibility. To monitor services commissioned by Lincolnshire County Council across Adult Social Care. Communicate and work with Internal and external stakeholders to improve services to adults in Lincolnshire.

7. 7 Quality Assurance in Lincolnshire Triggers which could instigate a Quality Assurance visit Referral to QA from Safeguarding Concerns raised by internal staff-LCC Concerns from another agency or Local Authority New Manager in post New Provider Viability concerns Historic/consistent non-compliance Requested by the provider

8. 8 Quality Assurance in Lincolnshire Gathering Information Quality Assurance visits Contract & Commissioning Information Safeguarding Service Users & The Sector Care Quality Commission Other Local Agencies; The Police, Health etc. Regional Colleagues & Other Local Authorities Complaints & Compliments Local & National Statistics

9. 9 Quality Assurance in Lincolnshire Information sharing Internal staff: Operational managers Contracts Officers Members of the Senior Management Team Legal Services Information from these reports may also be shared with: Care Quality Commission District Councils Primary Care Trust & Other stakeholders The Police and other agencies

10. 10 Quality Assurance in Lincolnshire Quality Assurance & Safeguarding It may be necessary following a Safeguarding investigation for the QA Officer/Team to complete some follow-up work with a service. If there has been a Non-compliance/Breach in relation to the contract (this may be connected to the Safeguarding investigation) an Improvement Plan will be produced by the QA Officer. The QA Officer will apply timescales to this and a review date will be set to ensure that the necessary improvements have been commenced/completed. We are looking for you to be co-operative and work with us to ensure that the improvements are made. We may also need to liaise with you when complaints/concerns are raised in relation to concerns about staff employed by you to ensure that the appropriate action is taken. (Please refer to the Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA) guidance)

11. 11 Quality Assurance in Lincolnshire Quality Assurance recommendations Temporary suspension of placements Breach notice Lifting temporary suspension Breach clearance Further Safeguarding investigations required Referral to other agency/department Exit Strategy required Further QA visit required

12. 12 Quality Assurance in Lincolnshire Quality Assurance & Risk Management/Prevention Identifying risks in the services we monitor Assist the service in addressing those risks Refer concerns to other colleagues and agencies who are better placed to address the risks e.g. for Nursing Homes Provide factual reports & action/improvement plans with set timescales for to address the risks identified Review the situation to ensure the risks have been reduced/eradicated Identify further monitoring frequency

13. 13 Quality Assurance in Lincolnshire Some of our expectations for services we commission Zero tolerance of abuse/neglect within the organisation Acknowledging that “it could happen here” Upholding service user choice, rights, dignity and respect Quality care planning and delivery of service Recruitment and selection screening of staff and volunteers Employing sufficient qualified staff for the needs of the service users Effective training for staff and volunteers Developing clear policies which promote good practice Good communication Effective feedback mechanisms for service users, their carers, staff and stakeholders Effective quality assurance, governance and performance management processes

14. 14 Quality Assurance in Lincolnshire Quality Assurance Framework (QAF) Financial Rewards Commensurate with quality All QA Officers involved in the assessment 1st round of QAF completed (approximately 205 services) Review of 1st QAF has commenced Consultation with sector In the process of producing QAF II to be agreed planned & implemented

15. 15 Quality Assurance Team Contact details Lincoln & North Hykeham: Tel: 01522 554033 rosaline.flack@lincolnshire.gov.uk Sleaford/Stamford/Grantham: Tel: 01529 302127 sue.harvey@lincolnshire.gov.uk Boston/Spalding: Tel: 01522 554033 paul.saunders@lincolnshire.gov.uk Louth/Horncastle/Skegness: Tel: 01522 554168 ross.turpin@lincolnshire.gov.uk Market Rasen/Gainsborough: Tel: 01522 554168 rebecca.walukiewicz@lincolnshire.gov.uk