Care Quality Commission

Private drug and alcohol rehab centres, such as the services we offer through Rehabs Clinics Group, are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC.)

The CQC plays an essential role in ensuring that adult social care services are safe, compassionate, high quality and effective. They check all registered services, and if any aren’t up to standard, they will protect patients.

Protecting the rights of vulnerable people is a priority for the CQC and gives a voice to all patients who receive care. All registered adult social care settings, including hospitals, GPs, mental health providers, care homes, and ambulances, are regularly inspected, monitored and given a rating (a score.) If there’s room for improvement, the CQC will recommend a course of action.

Registering with the CQC is a mandatory requirement. Care services that aren’t registered are breaking the law.

 

What Do The CQC Look For in a Service?

The CQC wants all patients to be safe and to receive the best care possible. When a CQC inspector visits a service, they ask five questions. Each question splits into many other questions, so inspections are very comprehensive.

• Is the service safe?
• Is it effective?
• Are the staff caring?
• Does the service meet the patient’s needs?
• Are the staff well-led by the management team?

 

Drug And Alcohol Rehab Clinics

The CQC inspect drug and alcohol rehab services, such as the drug and alcohol rehab clinics provided by Rehab Clinics Group, by following the same investigations as they would with all care providers.

With a drug and alcohol rehab centre, they may look at treatments such as the detox process, aftercare, the types of counselling offered and the ratio of staff to patients. The inspector will also check the medications used and the team and their specialities.

Inspectors check inpatient and outpatient services and how they work with external providers and partnerships to offer patient care.

 

Why Is The CQC Important For Patients?

If you’re looking for drug and alcohol rehab, you want to find the best possible treatment. Knowing a service is registered and regulated by the CQC is reassuring. The CQC protects you from abuse and harm and makes sure that staff treat you with dignity, kindness, compassion and respect.

The CQC check if services and treatments provide good results and help patients to have a good quality of life. They also monitor how services address specific patient needs, whether the management is effective, and if their decisions lead to high-quality care.

You may have a shortlist of the services you’re considering staying with or receiving care. You can read inspection reports and check if a service is registered by visiting the Care Quality Commission website. Type in the name of the service you’re considering in the search box at the top of the page, and press search. When you find a listing, you can read the report.

Reports are easy to understand, but if you need help, ask friends or family to run through them with you. You can also contact the CQC. Staff will be more than happy to answer your questions.

 

What Standards Should You Expect From Rehab Care?

Under CQC guidelines, all patients should expect certain levels of care, including:

• Patients should be treated with dignity and respect.
• Care must be tailored to the individual.
• Patients must give consent to any treatment.
• Care should be free from abuse, neglect and degrading treatment.
• Service providers should give patients sufficient food and drink.
• Treatment venues and equipment should be clean and cared for.
• Safe treatment by the well-qualified staff.
• A robust complaints procedure.
• Effective management and governance.
• Qualified and supported staff.
• Staff should be fit for their jobs.
• Care providers should tell patients about their treatments. Staff should apologise if they make any mistakes.
• Venues should display ratings.

 

What Does A CQC Inspection Involve?

A CQC inspector visits a service, usually spending a day investigating, checking procedures and speaking to staff and patients.

Treatment centres such as drug and alcohol rehab clinics are subject to a comprehensive inspection, where the assessor looks at everything, or focused assessments, where they check one area.

An inspector spends time with staff, asking questions about policies and procedures, and checks records and documents. The inspector gathers evidence to determine if it’s providing a satisfactory service for patients. They will watch patient care first-hand, checking if it meets their expected standards. They will speak to patients and read through complaints and compliments from service users.

After the inspection, staff meet with the assessor, who runs through their findings. They make recommendations for improvements, set timescales, and let staff know the areas they are doing well.

 

Inspection Ratings and What They Mean

When reading an inspection report, always check the rating. Select the service with the highest rating if you have a few providers on your shortlist.

• Outstanding means a service is performing exceptionally well.
• Good. The service is doing well.
• Requires Improvement. The service isn’t providing good care. The CQC gives instructions on how they must make improvements.
• Inadequate. The service is failing. The CQC takes action against the service.

 

What Does The CQC Do If A Service Is Failing?

The CQC always acts in the best interests of patients, and if they find that a service is failing or needs improving, they take action. This can involve:

• Issuing requirements or warning notices that outline what the service has to do to improve the care they offer. The CQC sets a timescale, so the service must ensure they make changes by a set date.
• Making changes to what a service can offer if they find failings in a specific area.
• Labelling a provider as under ‘special measures.’ The CQC bring in other organisations to assist with the care provided, regularly checking if they are making improvements.
• Make the service aware that they are failing in specific areas by issuing fines, cautions, and in cases where they are breaking the law, prosecution.

 

How Do I Give Feedback On My Care?

If you’re pleased or unhappy with your care, you can contact the CQC to give them feedback. Click here to share your views.