Working with providers
During last 12 months, Coventry’s (Care Homes and Community based Adult Social Care services) Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings have not changed significantly. There has been an increase in “Inadequate” rated provision but a larger reduction in ‘Requires Improvement’ rated services since last year, similar numbers remain the same for ‘Good’ rated providers. The Joint Health and Social Care Quality Assurance Team worked with operational colleagues to ensure the safety of service users including where provision was rated as Inadequate’ or ‘Requires Improvement’ (Please note since March 2022 a number of the inadequate providers no longer operate in Coventry).
In comparison to national figures, Coventry Adult Social Care CQC ratings fair well, Coventry has higher rated good providers compared to the national average (6% more) however the requires improvement providers are slightly above the national average (by 2%) with the same number for inadequate rated provides nationally. Work is ongoing with providers in 2022/23 to improve this position.
March 2022 - CQC Rating for the Coventry Care Market
- 5% (6) - inadequate
- 4% (4) - outstanding
- 16% (18) requires improvement
- 75% (85) good
Care home improvement
The COVID-19 pandemic impacted on our ability to conduct visits to care providers and although visits continued to take place where essential, In the last 12 months the Joint Quality Assurance Team started work with all care homes to ensure a full quality assurance visit and a continued focus of assurance activity on commissioned community providers with poor ratings.
In addition to the above programme in the last 12 months we developed a refreshed quality assurance approach and reviewed the effectiveness of our Provider Escalation Panel (PEP). PEP is a multi-agency panel led by the City Council, made up of agencies across health and social care working together to address any provider quality or market concerns.
During 2021/22 the quality improvement campaigns restarted with a focus on Infection Prevention and Control, reinstatement of the care home provider forums and the creation of improved service engagement and involvement activities within care provision.
Care providers providing the love
Care providers across the city needed to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and as the pandemic subsided kept a focus on keeping their clients and staff safe whilst continuing to provide support for people and help them maintain contact with friends and family. This included paying attention to special occasions.
Tenants at Copthorne Lodge Housing with Care scheme enjoyed a special Valentine’s lunch. Staff worked hard to ensure that those who are widowed or single were not left out or feeling lonely. Whilst Valentine’s Day can be a great day for some, it can be a difficult day for those whose loved ones have passed or those who are living on their own.
Although there were no wedding proposals! Everyone felt loved and had an opportunity to remember their loved ones.
Tenants commented on the day;
"Very, very nice and thank all the staff it was lovely and very beautiful. The card, arrows and how the tables were set were so beautiful".
"I enjoyed it very much and to thank all the staff, I felt was in love, and it was very beautiful and brilliant".
Jon Reading, Head of Commissioning and Quality said;
"The Valentine's celebration beautifully illustrates how it is possible to deliver care and support in a way that is person-centred and treats people in a way that we would all like to be treated. It is just one example of where providers go above and beyond each and every day to support people to live a full life. In our quality assurance work, we strive to build on good practice like this as well as tackling issues where standards fall below what we would all expect".