Comprehensive Support for Care Services

 Sometimes a service doesn't need a full inspection. It just needs a fresh pair of eyes.

A one-day review visit is an overview, not a detailed audit. It gives you an experienced, independent snapshot of your service in a single day. I spend the time on site walking around, having conversations with staff and residents, and looking at the paperwork behind the paperwork. My background is in turnaround, so I know where the hot spots tend to sit, and that's where I focus.

What you receive is a clear written report and an action plan you can put straight into use. This isn't a deep dive into every file. It's an honest, high-level view of what's working, what isn't, and what needs attention before someone else spots it first.

I'm also happy to focus on specific areas if there's something in particular you'd like a second opinion on. Many providers book a one-day review as a starting point, then move into more detailed support if it's needed.

 Sometimes a care service needs steady consultancy support rather than crisis intervention.

I work alongside care home providers during periods of change. That might mean implementing new care plan software, embedding new systems across your service, or managing through restructure. I can help you build and work through an action plan, offer advice on CQC compliance and operational decisions, or provide regular oversight when an internal operations manager isn't available.

This works particularly well for smaller care homes that don't have a head office team behind them. You get experienced care home consultancy without the cost of a full time senior role.

I also review existing audit systems and help strengthen them, so the evidence you're capturing for CQC inspection actually reflects the quality of care you're delivering.

CQC consultancy can be a one-off piece of work, a regular monthly check-in, or ongoing advisory support. We shape it around what your care service needs.

Care plans and audits are the foundation of safe, person centred care. When they're done well, the rest of the service follows. When they aren't, everything else suffers.

I provide hands-on, practical support with care planning. That includes writing care plans from scratch where one is needed, reviewing and rewriting existing care plans that aren't fit for purpose, and auditing care plans to identify gaps in detail, person centred content, or risk management. I work with services using Person Centred Software and other electronic systems, as well as paper based records.

This often comes into its own when a manager has fallen behind due to the daily demands of running a service. Care plans get pushed down the list, audits sit half completed, and the paperwork no longer reflects the quality of care being delivered. I step in to support with the work itself, rather than just advising on it from a distance.

On the audit side, I complete the audits a provider has in place, whether that's care plans, daily notes, MAR charts, environmental checks, or other operational areas. Providers can use my reports as part of their own quality assurance and oversight.

I also offer coaching for staff and managers on care plan writing and recording standards. This works particularly well alongside an audit, where the findings can shape what the team learns next.

For more on how the way we record care affects everything from safeguarding to person centred practice, see my blog on Refused or Declined: Why Care Notes Need More Than One Word.

 A mock CQC inspection gives you a realistic sense of how your service would perform under regulatory scrutiny, helping you identify and close gaps before a real inspection.

I deliver mock inspections aligned to the current CQC single assessment framework and quality statements. The work focuses on the evidence and practice CQC would observe on the day, including care plans, audits, training records, safeguarding logs, complaints, accidents, policies, and how the leadership responds under inspection-style questioning. I observe practice on the floor, speak with staff and residents, and where appropriate, visitors and relatives.

It's important to be clear about what a mock inspection can and cannot do. CQC have access to information I don't, including statutory notifications, provider returns, and concerns raised directly to them. They also bring multiple inspectors over multiple days. A mock inspection cannot replicate that fully, but it can give you a strong indication of where your evidence and practice would stand on the day, and what to focus on between now and the real inspection.

Mock inspections can be delivered announced or unannounced, depending on what would best support your team. An unannounced mock can be particularly useful for testing how a service performs without preparation time, which is closer to the experience of a real CQC visit.

You receive a written report structured around the CQC quality statements, with clear feedback against each area, the evidence underpinning that feedback, and an action plan to close any gaps before your actual inspection.

Mock inspections work particularly well for services that have had a change in management, are approaching a re-inspection, or want assurance that their evidence and practice will hold up under scrutiny. Booking ahead is recommended, as mock inspections require dedicated preparation time.

 A Nominated Individual carries legal responsibility for a registered service under CQC regulations. When that role becomes vacant, or when a provider needs experienced cover during a period of change, I can step in on a short-term basis.

In this role, I provide the professional oversight, scrutiny, and guidance the service needs while the search for a permanent Nominated Individual is underway, or while a current one is unavailable. The role includes ensuring statutory notifications are submitted appropriately, that the registered manager is supported, and that the provider's regulatory and legal obligations under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 are met.

I have previously held the Nominated Individual role for a registered service and understand the weight of accountability that comes with it.

The commitment for this service is reviewed against the needs of the service. As a baseline, this includes regular contact every other week and a minimum of one on site visit per month, with the rhythm increasing where the service requires more intensive support. Where a service is in crisis or facing regulatory action, additional time on site will be needed to provide proper oversight, and the level of commitment and cost will reflect that.

Open and honest communication is essential. I work closely with the registered manager, the provider, and where relevant the wider team, to address concerns as they arise and keep regulatory compliance on track. Acting as Nominated Individual is a serious responsibility and I take it seriously, including being accountable to CQC for the period I hold the role.

This service is short-term by nature, intended to bridge a gap rather than replace a permanent appointment. I'll work with you to plan transition to a long-term Nominated Individual when the time is right.