Many aspects of HR and staff management will be relevant to a CQC inspection, not least whether staff have the appropriate skills, abilities and employer support to carry out the role they are undertaking.
The information within this section of CQC Essentials aims to clarify who requires a DBS check, what practices should do regarding immunisation of their staff and the importance of practice induction packs.
There is also advice on management of specific staff groups, including information about their roles, responsibilties and level of training. This includes practice nurses, healthcare assistants, advanced nurse practitioners and GP locums, along with information on nurse revalidation.
HR processes
- Who should have a disclosure and barring service (DBS) check?
The CQC expects practices to have recruitment procedures that incorporate DBS checks. This article provides guidance on what the CQC will expect to see during an inspection.
- Immunisation of healthcare staff
The CQC expects practice to ensure that staff receive the appropriate immunisations according to the roles that they undertake.
- Practice induction packs
During an inspection, the CQC will check practice's arrangements for ensuring its policies and procedures are communicated to staff and implemented effectively - a practice induction pack could form part of this.
- SMARTcards
NHS providers are required to obtain proof of identity (with a recent photograph) when recruiting staff, the CQC will accept SMARTcards as proof of ID when assessing whether practices meet this requirement.
Training and education
- Mandatory training considerations in general practice
The CQC explains its position on mandatory training for staff working in general practice, outlining what inspectors will expect to see during an inspection.
Management of different staff groups
- GP locums
In its inspections of GP practices, the CQC asks whether staff have the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment - this includes temporary staff and GP locums.
- Healthcare assistants in general practice
Practices should be prepared to demonstrate how they have trained HCAs for all aspects of their role and assessed their competence during a CQC inspection. This article highlights the tasks HCAs can undertake and explains how the Care Certificat standards apply to general practice.
- Practice nurses
CQC inspectors will consider whether staff have the skills, knowledge and experience to deliver effective care and treatment. This article sets out what this might involve for practice nurses.
- Advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) in primary care
Practices employing nurses in an extended role should be prepared to demonstrate the underpinning training the nurse undertook and how they support their CPD during a CQC inspection.
- Practice-based pharmacist
If your practice employs a pharmacist, what will the CQC expect to see during an inspection?
- Nurse revalidation
CQC inspectors will ask GP practices how they support their nurses to meet the requirements of registration with their professional body. From April 2016, this will include nurse revalidation.
More CQC resources
- View the full CQC Essentials series on Medeconomics
- CQC's recommended reading to help practices meet regulations and prepare for an inspection
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