Display or pay – CQC ratings need to be visible

From 1 April 2015 Care providers must display their Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings, whether they have been ruled as Outstanding, Good, requires Improvement or Inadequate so that families and visitors can see how the CQC has rated them on their most recent inspection.

Providers who have already been rated have 21 days from 1 April to comply.

Care providers will be able to download, and display, posters from the CQC’s website to promote the results of the CQC inspection results for all visitors to see.

CQC’s guidance details the following points:

  • your CQC ratings must be displayed legibly and conspicuously in each and every premises where a regulated activity is being delivered, in your main place of business and on your website(s) if you have any.
  • your ratings must be displayed at the premises where your service is being provided unless you are delivering care to someone in their own home.
  • you have a maximum of 21 calendar days to display your ratings from the date your inspection report is published on the CQC website.

It is anticipated that care group and provider websites will start to promote their inspection ratings alongside displaying them in waiting areas and communal spaces within the home.

If you fail to display your rating at all or it is displayed illegibly, inconspicuously, or inaccurately, CQC will ask you to remedy that and if you fail to do so you are likely to face a fine under a fixed penalty notice or other more stringent enforcement action.   Failure to comply with the new regulations may also impact on your future inspection rating.

There is a toolkit and guidance for care providers on how to display ratings on the CQC website at: https://www.cqc.org.uk/content/ratings-display-toolkit

If you are rated Outstanding or Good then you should consider advertising this as widely as you can, such as with banners and hotel style signage at the front of your homes and on your other publicity material.

For advice on issues with CQC, buying or selling a care service, or other matters, contact Giles Gillingham at rhw Solicitors LLP, specialist legal advisers to care providers, who will be pleased to help.

Email:

Tel: 01483 302000