Today the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published its report following an unannounced inspection in March and April 2022.
The CQCs overall rating for community health services provided by First Community was ‘Good’ across each of the five CQC domains; Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-Led with an overall outstanding rating for their Community Urgent Care Service.
Throughout the report it identified that staff felt well supported by competent leaders and recognised an open, transparent and supportive culture that was centred around the needs and experiences of people that use the services. As a result, the Community Urgent Care Service which was inspected for the first time, was rated 'Outstanding' overall.
Several outstanding practices were acknowledged in the report which included the proud and passionate attitude shown from staff at the Minor Injury Unit at Caterham Dene Hospital. CQC inspectors reported a very positive team culture and found that feedback from service users was constantly positive.
Community adult services were commended for developing a procedure to support carers to safely administer end of life care medicines, meaning that patients could receive more timely pain relief at home.
Children, Young People and Family services demonstrated how they had gone the extra mile to support families from vulnerable and hard to reach groups and had introduced extra visits during the Covid-19 pandemic to help combat loneliness for new mothers.
Sarah Billiald, First Community’s Chief Executive Officer was very pleased with the results of the inspection and said: “Achieving Good across the board with several outstanding elements is something we’re all very proud of.
“Our staff have worked incredibly hard throughout the pandemic and we’re pleased the CQC recognised the strength of our services throughout their report, having visited at the peak of the Omicron outbreak in March 2022.
“Following an unprecedented two years this is a great achievement for the organisation as we’ve had to adapt and transform to new ways of working and this result is testament to the hard work and dedication of our workforce.
“I’m glad to see that CQC inspectors recognised the extensive partnership work that forms a core part of our business and that local stakeholders described having a positive and open relationship with us, working cohesively with other providers and providing services in partnership. This is the future for all of health, care and wider public services and I am pleased this was identified as a strength.
“It’s also the first time our organisation has had a full Well-Led element of the inspection, being rated ‘Good’ for this demonstrates that our leadership has a clear strategy, together with strong governance and assurance processes that are grounded in the experiences of patients, users and staff to support decisions now and in the future – something that is very important to us as an employee-owned organisation.
“With any inspection there will be learning, and we’re pleased that the areas mentioned by the CQC were ones we had already identified ourselves and are in our Business Plan for the year. Delivering First-Rate Care by First-Rate People at First-Rate Value remains our passion and this was clearly seen by the inspection team when they visited.”
The full report can be found on the CQC website: https://www.cqc.org.uk/provider/1-274331683
Background:
First Community is an employee owned social enterprise providing NHS community health services across east Surrey and in parts of West Sussex. It also runs Caterham Dene Community Hospital with an Inpatient Rehabilitation Ward and Minor Injury Unit. First Community employs more than 600 local nurses, therapists, other health care professionals and support staff.