Get involved in CQC focus groups

We are just four weeks away from our Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection – and now you have the opportunity to give direct feedback to the CQC!

We’re facilitating a series of focus groups on behalf of the CQC so that you, our staff and volunteers, have a real opportunity to provide feedback to the CQC team. These are confidential sessions between you and the CQC, so make sure not to miss out.

With 15 focus groups confirmed, and the potential to have 20 colleagues in each group, there’s a chance for 300 of you to share your views! We’ll be running three sessions a day from 14^th to 18^th March – you can download a full copy of the timetable from East24.

If you are interested in attending, please let your line manager know via email and copy in cqcdata@eastamb.nhs.uk.

As we move towards the inspection date, further updates, information, useful tips, FAQs and feedback will be shared with you. You should also see some handy posters appearing across the Trust this week, with detailed information on the focus groups happening near you.

The CQC is England’s independent regulator of health and social care. It ensures fundamental standards of quality and safety are met, and sets out what good and outstanding care looks like. Then, through inspections, ratings and published reports, it encourages care services to meet those standards. Our inspection here at EEAST is due to start on 4^th April.

Lewis Andrews, Quality Development Team Lead, explains: “The CQC inspection is designed to make sure our services are safe, effective, compassionate, and high quality, and to encourage services to improve in areas as needed. This means that we can continue delivering, and improve on, the first class care we give to our patients.”

Remember, these focus groups really are your opportunity; please make the most of these confidential discussions between staff, volunteers and CQC, and help us to shape the future of our service.

Published 26th February, 2016; updated 8th March, 2016