B4: The Role of the Organisations which Regulate or Inspect Health and Care Services

Question 1

How are regulations and inspections carried out?

Answer 1

• The different regulating bodies require that service providers register with them before offering care services. When a service providers applies for registration, there are checks carried out to ensure that it meets the required and necessary standards of safety and has the resources to ensure that high standards of care and support can be given (including levels and experience of staff). Once registered services are continually monitored, including regular inspection.​
• Inspectors will come as a team and will cover a range of different backgrounds to ensure that the services is checked in all the particular areas for the service that it provides. The inspection team makes judgements on the evidence that it sees during the inspection; looking at quality of care, effectiveness of services, provision of care, staff and leadership.

Question 2

What do each of the national regulators publish?

Answer 2

each of the national regulators publishes ‘National Minimum Standards’ (NMS) of provision in these areas for the types of setting that they inspect

Question 3

What are the main sources of evidence used to support the national regulators’ judgements?

Answer 3

the main sources of evidence used to support their judgements are:
- feedback from the service users, their family and friends, and from staff at the setting
- written reports of care practice and procedures
- information from other linked organisations
- records of complaints
- on-site inspections of practical care provision