1.3 Compare the fundamental standards of quality and safety across different types of care provision.

Qualification: Level 4 Certificate in Principles of Leadership and Management for Adult Care (RQF)
Unit: Unit 4: Regulatory Processes for Adult Care
Learning outcome: 1 Understand the systems and requirements for the regulation of adult care services
Assessment criteria: 1.3 Compare the fundamental standards of quality and safety across different types of care provision.

• The 13 fundamental standards of quality and safety, as set out by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are:
  • Person-centred care
  • Dignity and respect
  • Consent
  • Safety
  • Safeguarding from abuse.
  • Food and drink
  • Premises and equipment
  • Complaints
  • Good governance
  • Staffing
  • Fit and proper staff
  • Duty of candour
  • Display of ratings
• It is perplexing why we are asked to compare them across different types of service provision because all registered providers should adhere to them in the same way (they are ‘fundamental’ after all!)
• Some tenuous examples could include:
  • A healthcare assistant would ask for consent from a conscious patient before applying a cream but a paramedic would perform first aid on an unconscious patient without obtaining direct consent (in this case consent would be implied)
  • Hospital staff may bring food and drink to the patient, whereas support workers in a supported living setting may encourage the client to prepare their own food and drink to maintain independence
  • Both a supported living and care home setting would display their CQC ratings on their website and marketing materials but only the care home would display them at the front door (because the supported living setting would belong to the client)