The announcement that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) will develop a new fundamental standard on visiting in care homes, hospitals, and hospices is a significant step in addressing the concerns raised during the government's consultation on visiting in these settings. This development reflects a growing recognition of the importance of visitation in the overall wellbeing of individuals in care settings.
Key Points of the New Standard:
1. **Inclusion in Regulatory Assessments**: The new standard will enable the CQC to include visiting considerations in its broader regulatory assessment of providers. This means that when the CQC evaluates the quality and safety of a care home, hospital, or hospice, how they manage and facilitate visits will be a part of this assessment.
2. **Enforcement Powers**: The CQC will have the authority to use civil enforcement powers in line with its published enforcement policy if providers fail to meet the new standards. This could involve taking action against establishments that do not facilitate appropriate visiting opportunities.
3. **Response to Consultation Feedback**: The development of this standard is a direct response to the feedback from the consultation "Visiting in care homes, hospitals and hospices." Respondents highlighted issues such as unclear government guidance on visiting, restrictive visiting times, and complex complaints processes.
4. **Encouraging Visits Outside Care Homes**: The government plans to include in the standards that residents should be encouraged to take visits outside the care home. This is aimed at supporting their overall wellbeing, recognising that interaction with the outside world is beneficial for residents.
5. **Changes to Complaints Processes**: There will be modifications to the complaints processes in care homes, likely aimed at making them more accessible and responsive to concerns about visiting.
6. **Provisions for Exceptional Circumstances**: The standards will acknowledge that there may be exceptional circumstances or reasonable explanations for providers to restrict visiting. This is important for maintaining the safety and wellbeing of service users and staff, such as during outbreaks of infectious diseases.
7. **Current Guidance on End-of-Life Visiting**: The existing guidance, which particularly encourages visiting in end-of-life situations, is likely to continue, emphasising the importance of supporting residents and their families during these critical times.
Overall, this move represents a balancing act between ensuring the rights and wellbeing of individuals in care settings to receive visitors and maintaining the safety and operational effectiveness of these facilities. It underscores the importance of social interaction in the health and wellbeing of individuals in care settings, while also recognising the need for flexibility in certain situations.
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