The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is seeking views on its plans for the next five years as it develops its approach to regulation.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is also asking for views on its proposed approach to using data, which will support a risk-based approach to regulation. In turn, this will support a more targeted and tailored inspection programme that allows CQC to inspect services rated good and outstanding less frequently and to lend greater support to those performing less well.

CQC has changed the way it works over the past three years and in its consultation document Shaping the future, published today, it sets out a vision for the future regulation of health and social care.

The way health and social care is delivered has changed and is continuing to change, with increasing numbers of acute NHS trusts providing social care, more GP federations, and technology playing a greater role in the way services are delivered - coupled with the demographic challenge of increasing numbers of older people with needs that will be met by more than one service. In this consultation document, CQC sets out proposals that respond to these new ways of working. 

Feedback from the consultation paper published last October indicated broad support for CQC’s regulatory approach. Respondents said CQC should focus on areas such as working better with its partners and ensuring it stays on the side of the public and people who use services.

For more information see the attached letter from CQC’s chairman and our chief executive.

The consultation is open until 14 March 2016. CQC will formally respond to the feedback provided when it publishes its strategy in May this year.

·         A link to the consultation document Shaping the future can be found here.

·         You can respond to the consultation through our web form

          or by email strategyconsultation@cqc.org.uk.

·         You can also tweet us your thoughts at #cqcstrategy.