“Adult social care assurance: learning from the CQC pilots and the elected member perspective”

What is the notice period before onsite activity?

We think this will be approximately nine to 10 weeks from receiving the information return to the onsite part of the assessment but we are currently evaluating this.

Can LAs chose the focus group attendees?

We will be arranging drop in sessions during the on-site part of the assessment. The nature of the session will be set up so that staff have a choice to join the session on the day and meet the local authority assessment team. The purpose of this drop in is so that people can share their experiences. Local authorities cannot necessarily choose who attends.

Does the size of the council influence the size of the assessment team, and how many people you will see or interviews you will hold

The same methodology applies to all local authorities. The size of the assessment team may vary slightly depending on geography and size. The exact number and type of interview may vary depending on local circumstances, for example if a local authority works with more than one ICS.

How do you choose which local authority to assess?

Our operational planning principles will inform which local authorities we select for assessment. These include the following:

• local authority types, structures and location
• timing of ICS assessments, aiming for alignment where it makes sense to do so, e.g.: where there is a coterminous ICS/LA boundary
• known factors which could adversely affect practical delivery, eg: transport and accommodation pressures in the area due to major events in the area such as Glastonbury Festival
• other regulatory activity taking place at the LA
• existing knowledge of LAs, eg: prioritising LAs where there is innovation or new models of care that we wish to understand more about, or where there are concerns that may require an earlier assessment.

Will CQC publish what information is required in the information return, or will this only become known when you write to each LA individually?

Yes, we will be publishing the information return on our website.

How much focus is placed on the relationship with the ICB?

The Integrated Care Board and Integrated Care System are important elements of the context within which the local authority works. We will want to understand how the local authority is working in this wider context but the focus is on the local authority's delivery of its Care Act responsibilities.

When are you likely to share the criteria for the case tracking?

Was there a method used for selecting the 50 case for case tracking and what is the learning from that?

There was a method for selecting the 50 cases that was based on the methodology used by our Childrens Team in the joint work that they undertake with Ofsted. We are reviewing our approach as part of the learning from the pilots and we will share information on this when this is finalised.

When it comes to formal assessments - how will the final report be received? Will the Local Authority be responsible for publishing it and making it publicly available?

Each local authority will get a draft inspection report and have the opportunity to comment on the factual accuracy of it before we publish the final report on our website.

Is there a date planned in for when CQC will publish their report on findings from the pilot work?

We will publish a report of our assessment of each pilot local authority, in the same way we do for providers. For the pilots, all reports will be published together once we have completed factual accuracy checks and finalised the reports. We expect these reports to be published by the end of November.

We have seen a massive increase in demand for Adult Social Care since lockdown has ended. To what extent is this taken into account by the CQC?

We are aware that demand for services has increased. We will want to understand the particular challenges that each LA is facing and how Care Act functions are being delivered in the face of them.

We've heard that the next local authorities to be assessed are likely to be contacted around early December. Will these be staggered or happen all at once? When is the related on-site work be expected to take place?

We will be able to confirm our approach after we complete the evaluation, and receive ministerial sign off of our methodology as required by the legislation. We will not be announcing the assessments as such, each local authority will receive their individual notice and all local authorities will have a similar notice period.

When will the 'draft' framework become a full framework? Are we expecting any changes?

We will be able to confirm a date for this after we have completed our evaluation and received ministerial sign off of our methodology as required by the legislation.